Mind one.
I originally intended to post this right after I got back from AIT and it's just been sitting here, so I present a moderately motivational post for no real damn reason.
Moving on. Now most people don't know this, but before you actually begin basic training, there is a week or so of reception. And reception sucks. So so much. Because you basically get issued a crap ton of clothes, you get poked and prodded by every manner of medical professional possible, and you do a whole lot of sitting around getting yelled at. The DS's (Drill Sergeant's) at reception are 1000x more hateful than the ones at actual training. The DS I remember very vividly from reception is DS H. I'll leave off his whole name because 1. I cannot spell it. And 2. OPSEC.
DS H had a mile wide Colgate commercial worthy smile. He never ever put his teeth away. Even when he would say, "soldiers, I'm going to kick you so hard in the chest that your heart will stop and you will die." he smiled. Which was terrifying. But one thing I remember best from reception is this.
We were marching back from dinner chow. Or trying to, image around two hundred and fifty people trying to stay in step with each other, sound off with the cadence, and not straight fall on their face. Most of these privates had never marched before, so it was just painful all around for everyone. As we are struggling along, all of the sudden DS H calls, "platoon, HALT!". Naturally we stumbled our way to a stop, and stood there in a minor state of panic. The next thing I know, DS H darts past me, whips off his campaign hat and proceeds to yell, "do you see that rabbit soldiers? I'm going to catch it."
...What? You're going to what?
He made a solid effort, hat in one hand, chasing around a baby rabbit. After a good two minutes of chasing the rabbit around buildings, the formation, and through a couple of bushes, he turns back to us, puts his hat on, and nods. At this point we were all caught between wanting to laugh at the sight of a drill sergeant chasing a tiny rabbit frantically, and not wanting to get "nuked so hard you will glow, and then I will shoot you in the dark."
DS H comes to the front of the formation and gave us the most inspirational speech we would hear at reception.
"Soldiers, that baby rabbit is all alone. It's mother is dead on the side of the road. It's foot is broken. But did the baby rabbit want help? Hell no. The baby rabbit keeps on going. If the baby rabbit doesn't need help, neither do you privates. Just remember every time a private quits, a kitten dies." Seemingly pleased with the days work, he called forward march, and that was that.
For those of you who never had a DS, you won't understand how your DS can be the most inspirational figure in your life, while also the most terrifying. I'm not done with DS stories, but that covers it for reception. Because I spent 9 weeks with my Basic DS's I have many more stories, and they impacted me a hell of a lot more. But I can honestly say I will remember DS H chasing a tiny rabbit around the formation for a very long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment