Monday, February 8, 2010

Chapter 8: Same Old Song and Dance

Fort Sam Houston, November 1992. I had entered a new phase in my Army career, well if I completed the whole twenty years to call it a career. After the two weeks I had encountered already, a career was unlikely at this point. We finally got settled into Charlie Company, our nickname was the X-Men, we had a large wall painting of Wolverine in our platoon bay. For the most part everyone was still adjusting to the new pace of it all, and to each other. Our platoon leader was Staff Sergeant Levalley, who had came to Fort Sam from the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg. He was a tall man with a stern voice, but was about as easy going as anyone else in the platoon. The first real day, we were awakened at 0430 for PT, just like basic training. During the days prior at Fort Sam, it would reach around 80 degrees, this first morning, it was cool, no more than 45 or 50 degrees out. We were dressed in our shorts and t-shirts, shivering all the time. Drill Sergeant Walls took noticed and calmly said, "Soldiers, it is not cold out here, it is mildly crisp." Crisp? To me it was down right frigid. We started our PT as normal, stretching, rounds of push-ups and sit-ups, then started the morning run. The run would take us off to another area of post and around the National Cemetery, up and down some inclines that were unlike our run trail at Fort Jackson. Halfway through the run, a familiar pain started in my legs, my shin splints had returned. I slowed the pace down but kept from falling completely out of formation. Once the run was over, every step I took hurt. I did my best at not letting it get the best of me, I had came so far, I was not going to let my shins do me in.
After breakfast and morning hygiene, we were formed back up in the company area. Senior Drill Sergeant Myers was waiting for us and instantly dropped us for push-ups because we "weren't motivated enough." He then began to tell us how it would be a long road for us if we thought this was a "summer camp" and that he would be constantly watching us, waiting for us to "muck things up." After that, we recovered and he continued on a rant about misconduct and how it could affect our military lives. He went on by telling us that one soldier in the company was facing some serious charges and would be housed with us until his fate was decided by the military court system. All of us kind of looked amongst ourselves, we had only been in the company a short time and someone had already been busted? Senior Drill Sergeant Myers finished and released us to a group of soldiers who introduced themselves as our instructors. Under their instruction, we would become combat medics, learning hospital and field medical techniques. We were split into groups according to a list given to each instructor, males and females integrated. After the groups were decided, we went into our class rooms, which were adjacent to our company area. My group had approximately 25 soldiers in it and was led by 2 instructors, of which I can't recall their names. We were all still in the basic training mode, standing at attention, when the lead instructor told us, "Sit down, Hell, we ain't drill sergeants." He was a sergeant first class, but was obviously laid back. He started out by telling us that over the next several weeks, we would become EMT's, learn how to give IV's, call for helicopter transports and other medical type things. This is exactly what I was wanting to learn. As the orientation continued, I scanned the room at all the new people, as was everyone else. For the first time I noticed there were some attractive females in the class room, and it scared me to death. All during basic training, we were told we couldn't have any contact with females, not even staring at them, so for me to be looking and them looking back, I felt like I was committing a cardinal sin in the Army. Back to focusing on the agenda at hand, the medic class was going to be just what I had wanted when I nearly walked out of MEPS back in July.
July seemed so long ago at this point. So far no one had forgotten me back home, or so it seemed. My mail was still slow getting to me because of the transition, and I was still getting letters addressed to Fort Jackson. Still, the letters from mom came on a regular basis. I hadn't been able to call home as much as I had before, after our duty day, we were kept busy around the clock until bed check, doing a number of tasks that really had no given point. After that first day of class orientation, we had some down time that night in the company area called uniform maintenance. We gathered in the area and worked on shining our boots. Some of the other soldiers who had been in for a length of time were giving us tips on how to get that high gloss shine Senior Drill Sergeant Myers had told us he wanted to see. We were again integrated and for the first time, not within the bounds of looming drill sergeants. I was busy trying to take care of my boots when I heard a voice call out, "Robbie?" Normally, only people I have known since childhood calls me this, and being in the Army where everyone is referred to by last name, this was a jolt to me. I looked up and saw someone I recognized, Rhonda, a girl I had known since we were kids and had went to school with, was approaching me. It was strange to see someone I knew all the way down in San Antonio, but also reassuring. Rhonda was a year behind me in school, we had played little league baseball together as kids and talked from time to time in school. Other than that, we hadn't had much contact with each other until then. We sat together talking about how our basic training experience had been and what we were doing in a place like Fort Sam. We talked all the way up until time to turn in for the night. The time at Fort Sam wouldn't be too bad now that I knew someone.
The next day, the usual routine started as normal, but after PT we were brought into formation and dropped for push-ups. Senior Drill Sergeant Myers and the other platoon's drill sergeants were all pacing. First Sergeant Trost then appeared and started in telling us "by no means would he tolerate any type of inappropriate conduct in his company." I had no idea what was going on, along with a few others in the platoon. Just then, Drill Sergeant Tharpe called out Bryce, and a female was called out in another platoon. They were led away by Drill Sergeant Walls, Senior Drill Sergeant Myers, and First Sergeant Trost. The confusion of the matter flew over us as we were dismissed up to the barracks to get ready for the day. We were chatting amongst ourselves when SSG Levalley called us into the common area. He began by telling us that we were soldiers, soldiers to be held at a high level of integrity, that we were all adults and should know better to get into situations. Still at this point we had no idea what the problem was. Drill Sergeant Tharpe came in and reiterated what was said and promptly left us in SSG Levalley's watch. After SSG Levalley made sure Drill Sergeant Tharpe had left the area, he told us that Bryce and a female were caught out in the break area in a 'compromising situation'. Apparently, the female had her hand down Bryce's pants and, to put it lightly, helping him enjoy the evening. A drill sergeant was walking near them and somehow spotted the act under the picnic table from a distance and busted them. I had no idea what was going on , since it was on the other side of the company area. Either way, the repercussions would resound all down the ranks. A couple minutes later, Drill Sergeants Walls and Tharpe came back to the barracks area and called SSG Levalley to their office. We were put under the watch of our squad leaders and told to start getting ready for the day ahead. Eventually Bryce rejoined us not saying much about the ordeal, but he was visibly shaken. We didn't at that time ask any questions but went on to our normal business, all the while kind of snickering at the whole incident.
We went to class as normal, sitting in the class room after being up so early and doing PT would be a challenge for us to stay alert. For the next few hours we heard lecture about emergency medical care, learning the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The EMT course in the civilian world takes about six months to complete, giving that classes are two days a week for four hours. We would learn the same course in three weeks, classes five days a week, 8-10 hours daily. In addition to the class room curriculum, we still had to deal with daily inspections, barracks maintenance, PT, repercussion push-ups, and the same old song and dance we had left behind in basic training. The next four weeks would be grueling and stressful, and we were told after that, it would ease up. The instructors in the class were more laid back than the drill sergeants and questioned why we were still having to endure the basic training type treatment, saying that being up at 0430, doing PT at 0440 and going at a hard pace all day would hinder our studies. This I didn't understand either, but we all had to deal with it just the same. Senior Drill Sergeant Myers told us that we had to maintain a 70% average to stay in the medic course, but he would accept nothing less than 80% on our tests and class work. After the first day of class, we retired to the barracks, drained from the barrage of physical and mental pressures of the day. We now had limited liberties outside in the company area, a drill sergeant would be present throughout the time we were out there, looking for any hint of an infraction. We would have to keep a certain distance from the females now because of the incident involving Bryce.
While out in the company area, Drill Sergeant Tharpe announced that he needed our platoon to report upstairs. We formed up and quickly went upstairs to find Senior Drill Sergeant Myers and Drill Sergeant Walls waiting. We were immediately berated by the senior drill sergeant about how our barracks were pathetic and a disgrace to his Army. We were dropped to do push-ups then side straddle hops over and over again until we were all worn down. It was approaching 1930 hours, or 7:30 pm, we were to start study time at 2000 hours, then lights out at 2130 hours. Senior Drill Sergeant Myers expected us to clean the barracks top to bottom, plus study for a test the next morning, then be done by lights out. This was insane, I thought. We hurried and started working on the barracks, each squad splitting up in areas to clean. SSG Levalley would come and look over the areas before going to get the drill sergeants for inspection. At 2045, we all had done what we could, and readied for the inspection. SSG Levalley summoned Drill Sergeants Walls and Tharpe to inspect our hard work. The barracks floors and bathrooms shined like they were brand new. After a while, Senior Drill Sergeant Myers accompanied the drill sergeants and SSG Levalley, tediously inspecting the areas, and of course finding problems. The individual squads responsible for the areas cleaned were punished and forced to redo their work. My squad was in charge of the hallway and common area room, and of course we had infractions. By the time we all got finished with redoing our work and push-ups, it was 2115, only fifteen minutes until lights out, and to study for the test the next day. We hurried up and tried to study best we could, but it seemed that as soon as I got started into the studying, it was time for lights out. At lights out, whoever was on fire guard duty and Drill Sergeant Walls would perform a head count at our bunks and make sure the back door was secure. After his walk through, Drill Sergeant Walls would always sing the line from 'Deep in the Heart of Texas'..."The stars at night, all shine bright...Deep in the heart of Texas..." as he walked out of the room. After the fire guard cleared the room and Drill Sergeant Walls left, most of us retreated into the shower area, the only place safe from being caught with lights on, and studied. We sat and studied until nearly 2330 hours, or 11:30 pm. Wake up was in a few short hours, and the routine would start again.
This routine of early wake up, PT, breakfast, classes, and all in between was very tiresome as the days went by. One morning, we were ordered into formation and the company commander, Captain Bowden, whom we hadn't met yet, came out accompanied by Senior Drill Sergeant Myers and First Sergeant Trost. We were ordered to attention, and a soldier was led into the company area wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, accompanied by two military policemen and another colonel. The group stopped in the middle of the formation and Senior Drill Sergeant Myers approached them.
"Soldiers of Charlie Company, this is an example of what you can do to muck things up, " he started, "this soldier is a disgrace to mine and your Army. He makes me sick to be around him."
Senior Drill Sergeant Myers then removed the rank from the soldier's collar and continued to talk.
"This soldier is charged with the rape and assault of a female soldier from up the hill. In my company, we do not tolerate this activity. Let this be a reminder to those who muck up in Charlie Company." We were silent as the soldier was led away into a police car. This was the soldier spoken of earlier in the week that was facing charges. This treatment was harsh in my opinion, but got the point across. We went to class still reminded of what we had just witnessed
and tired from the routine of the previous night. We were into our emergency medical class, our test results were not very desirable and definitely not up to Senior Drill Sergeant Myers' goals. We were approaching 2 weeks in and told that our 4 week liberties would not be honored unless our scores came up. By this time, we were fed up with Drill Sergeant Myers and his ridiculous expectations. SSG Levaley asked Drill Sergeant Tharpe if he could speak with the senior drill sergeant and was told, "good luck." He arranged the meeting anyway to address the treatment of all of us. Later, he returned and said the meeting didn't go well at all, that Drill Sergeant Myers had accused him of trying to undermine him and unless SSG Levalley wanted to end his military career, he'd drop the issue and leave the training to him. SSG Levalley warned us that we may be singled out and treated more harshly because of his effort to stand up for us and to be prepared. Sure enough, the next formation, we were dropped for push-ups in front of the entire company. Senior Drill Sergeant Myers then started a tirade about how he didn't like his authority challenged and any soldier who wanted to do so would suffer repercussions. The X-Men had made themselves a target.
Aside from the insanity of the 91B course, I still had time to write home and get mail. Mom and Dee Dee were the constant writers, I had only received a couple letters from Tonya, that relationship was on its last leg. It was now approaching early December and talk of us being able to come home on leave was circulating. I was looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone, but also very anxious to see how I would be accepted now I was a soldier. The pace had increased so much that I had sat aside my journal I had faithfully kept going since I left in September and had not been able to keep it going. My letters home spoke of the hurried pace and general low morale of the others at Fort Sam. I always got a reassuring letter back saying that I should stick it out, so that eased me quite a bit.
I still talked to Rhonda nearly every night outside during uniform maintenance, usually about how things were back home compared to where we had been so far. Another guy in the platoon, Clark, was also from close by Winchester, KY, a mere 25 minutes from my hometown, and another guy, Chase was from Ashland. The four of us formed a kind of bond, the Kentucky connection we called it. About 2 weeks or so into training, we were informed some of the company would be leaving and joining Delta Company due to their class roster being too small or something like that. Rhonda was one of those people who were transferred out. No longer would I have a hometown connection and someone who knew me at all. There was never a real romance connection with us, one at least I was aware of, but the idea of having someone I had known for so long was a type of security for me. I counted the days down until I would get to come home for leave, ready for a break in this insanity called Fort Sam Houston, away from the same old song and dance. And also, who knows when I would see home again after this opportunity. But until then, I would keep positive and look beyond the ridiculous demands brought onto me, and try to do my best to get on with my Army life.