Almost the middle of week 3!

Here we are in week 3, and because of Monday's holiday for MLK Jr Day, this week is half over and it just started! Our day today started out with drill for graduation. Boy do we have a lot of work. Normally, we wouldn't drill until week 5, but a new ODS class is coming in that week, and Sr. Chief's hands will be full. It will be so nice that he is spending his quality time with them and not us. ;) We finally earned our company flag (Go India Company!). It was something that we had to earn, and we finally did it. We also earned the privilage to drink coffee at our meals. Not a real biggie to me since I don't drink coffee, but others were really excited. Those that want coffee cannot get it until after the "Eat" command has been called. It cuts into their 15 mins to eat, but most that are coffee drinkers don't care. Besides, we are getting pretty good at finishing our meals within 10 minutes now. I am looking forward to tasting real food again whenever I get home...and spending more than 10 minutes eating. LOL Maybe by next week we will be able to talk during chow (eating) time.

After drill and chow (which it seems like we are always eating even thought it is 3 times a day and for only 15 mins), the chaplains and the first half of the alphabet went down and we recevied our new ID cards. The other half of our class spent the day in classes. Tomorrow we switch and we will be in classes and they will get their ID cards and have the afternoon for studying.

Unfortunately, I have been sick for the past 7 days. Didn't seem like a big deal at first, but by this weekend, I wasn't sleeping because my ears hurt so bad (felt like they were going to burst). I finally got to sick call this morning and am on a series of meds to take care of it. Not counting my nap today, in the past 5 days, I have had about 6 hours of sleep. Can't wait for a good night's rest again (which here is considered to be 4 hours a night - yep, 4 hours is a good solid night's rest!).

The rest of this week will be interesting. Sorry if some of this is a repeat. Tomorrow is a day full of classes for me, then Thursday I think we will get to tour a ship that is coming to port. Friday is a busy day...we have our second PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment - for me, 54 situps in two minutes, 44 pushups in 2 minutes, and a 12 minute 30 second or less mile and a half run). The PFA varies depending on gender and age; but those are my targets. Then we will have 2 final exams. We also have our dress blues inspection that day. Lot's to do!

Next week will begin leadership training week. If the scuttlebutt is right, we will be learning how to fight fires and do a simulated abondon ship/night swim in the pool. Basically, the mock ship begins to fill with water and we have to escape and swim as a group without loosing people. The catch is that the room will be mostly dark, lightening flashes will be simulated, thunder noises will be simulated (with sheet metal I think), and they will be spraying water with fire hoses to simulate rain. The goal is to make it across the pool without loosing anyone. It will be interesting!

The Chaplain here wants to take all of the chaplains out next Sunday (our last Sunday here) to see the first Baptist church in the United States as well as several other colonial period churches. He also wants to take us to Boston to see the Constitution of the United States. How cool is that! Hopefully none of us will have watch and have to miss out.

For those that have been hoping I would call to say hello, sorry that I haven't been able to do that. Our cell phone time has been restricted to 30 mins on liberty (weekends). 30 mins is not a whole lot, so I spend the time talking to Sally and the kids. How I miss them!

In other news, only 15 days and a wake up until graduation. The first time I said that to Sally, she said "What?" So, 15 more days, then we wake up and graduate at 0900. Looking forward to seeing my family again. :)

Please keep my classmates in your prayers. Some have gone through some very trying times (not ODS related) and because they are here, have not been able to help with the situations at home. We have one classmate here that has bronchitis and has been having a rough time health wise. Others are busy working through the fact that their houses are being packed right now and the next time they will see their family will be at their new duty station. Kind of a scary though. Lastly, please be in prayer for our church, First Baptist Church in Kingston. Each person has been in my prayers by name since I have been here, and I would ask all who read this to keep them in your prayers as well.

Ok, that's about it for now on the personal stuff. For those that might be reading this trying to figure out what they've gotten themselves into before they arrive to ODS, here are a few pointers:

1. Don't call the Sr. Chief "sir." You will pay for it. As he says, "You'll either get smarter or get stronger." I recommend getting smarter fast.

2. Be prepared for early wake up days! Our average day begins at 0345 and ends between 2200-0100 (you'll have a lot of stuff to do outside of instruction, so be prepared). If you can get sleep before you get here, make sure you do!

3. If you drink coffee, start cutting back now. You will not earn coffee until possibly week 3, and it is a privilage, not a right. Also, start practicing eating your food in a hurry. You will have 15 mins to eat at every meal, and by the time everyone sits down, your food will most likely be cold.

4. Start doing pushups, situps, and running now. You will literally do hundreds of pushups and situps in your first week alone.

5. Learn how to get along with everyone and help them out. This might sound simple, but until the team starts functioning as a team, your liberties will be very restricted.

6. If you are on reserve or enlisted pay now, talk to your current command and make sure that they get the right information in the system for pay. We have a few reserves that will not get paid this entire month because their reserve commands have not released them properly to active duty.

There's more I could say, but that would take away from the experience. :)

God bless everyone!