Couldn’t write for a while again. Been so busy lately. Last Friday, we qualified with our rifles, same range as the 2 days before that. I shot 26 of 40, from 23 minimum. Only one person out of 240 people here got expert, 36 or above, and about 2 or 3 dozen received sharpshooter, 29-35. A lot of people were pissed they received marksmanship, 23-28, like I received, cuz they said they’re not used to being average like everyone else. Lots of people passed, though, with the bare minimum, and a lot more were just happy they qualified. On Saturday, we had white phase testing. they tested us on how to march with arms, read maps and coordinates, what to do in case of chemical attack, properly using communication tools, and putting on a gas mask in 9 seconds and how to duck and cover in case of nuclear attack. Everyone passed, and even if they didn’t, they got to try twice more anyway. Sunday was a really relaxing day. Turns out there was a ‘soldier’s concert’ the drill sergeants didn’t know about. Only 34 of 60 from each platoon got to go, and I did. Damn, tasting candy is such a privilege now, the music was good, too. Too bad when they said ‘drill sergeants, take charge of your soldiers,’ in 2 hours, it was all over. So Sunday was a huge bonus this time besides the church.
Come Monday, we had Confidence Course, which can actually be said to test one’s fear of heights. We climbed with and without ropes up and down, and we had a tower where we had to use each others’ support to climb a four story tower and back down. Today, we had a FITT to win training again, or the obstacle course. Our platoon won again, our squads were far ahead of everyone else’s. Then we came back, and had little exercise on how to tactically move with a buddy, and we put our camouflages on for the first time. Girls were doing pretty well with it, since it’s so much like putting on make-up they say, except it’s all over your face, eyelids, mouth, ears and neck. Tough to remove, too. Then in the afternoon, we had another unarmed combat training. This time, the drill sergeants let us loose, and friends especially enemies, turned vicious. I mean, about 6 groups or so ended up punching each other, biting, girls trying to claw, elbowing, kneeing, and all those ended up bleeding in one place or another. But they didn’t stop them. Later, they just told us now we go back to being friends. There were 3 people from our platoon that went to hospital today because of heat injuries. Apparently, they didn’t drink enough after the wrestling match, especially when it’s hot, humid and we’re all tired and marching back.