#136 - The FOB, an epilogue

It is 4:08pm. Today was supposed to be a recovery day after the FOB. We still had to make early formation for 5:00 am (really 4:45am), but we didn't have to do PT. Instead we had to pick up our weapons from battalion, which entailed spending a long time waiting in line. Then our M-16s were cleaned for at least 4 or 5 hours straight. It was extremely boring, but a necessary evil. The weapons have been turned in now, and I am waiting for others to finish. We have been continually turning in weapons at battalion and checking them out again, though I have no idea why. I'm not sure if our DSs know what is going on, as it seems like the plan has been changing. From what I have heard, we are supposed to be holding onto our M-16s for the next two weeks for "weapons immersion". This is a concept in AIT where you are supposed to get used to having your M-16 with you 24/7. It seems rather redundant, as we all just came from BCT where we had our weapons for two months straight. I don't see what another two weeks here would add to the experience.

Everyone is hoping that maybe, just maybe we won't have to participate in weapons immersion. Carrying around the M-16s all the time is a pain. You have to tote them into the chow hall, sling them over your back, and watch them while you eat. Sometimes the Drill Sergeants will try to "steal" them away if you put them on the floor under your table. An unsecured weapon is a big deal. One day a DS was able to go around and pick up an armload of M-16s. The smoking session for the folks that lost their weapons began with 85 pushups, and progressed from there, ending with some rifle PT. You can bet they won't be making that mistake twice. I guess maybe this may be the reason why weapons immersion needs to continue...

It is 7:26pm. I'm happy since we are back in the barracks, and I'm able to have my cell phone again to keep in touch with my husband.

We are still in the dark here as far as information goes. We don't know when our MOS classes are beginning, and don't know what we will be doing in the interim. We don't even really know what is expected of us at the company, nor even what is supposed to be going on tomorrow. Yesterday we had a formation at 6:00pm. The DFAC closes at 6:15pm. No one told us we were supposed to march ourselves to dinner beforehand, as the DS had told us to stay in the barracks. We figured that we had better risk it and flee for chow, as it was getting later and later, and the prospect of dinner was becoming less of a certainty, so we went on our own. Half the time it seems like we are doing things based on the advice of other folks who have been at AIT for awhile, because the DSs here don't always put out all the necessary information. This is, by far, my biggest gripe about being at this company. Tell us what is going on! We don't know what to do, and what we're supposed to do if we are to avoid getting in trouble.

It is 9:01pm, and I was just able to sneak in a little catnap in the barracks. I'm still sleep-deprived, but slowly catching up. Luckily it looks like none of the girls in my room have duty for the next few days, so we might actually be able to.