A Day In The Life of a Recruit

                     C077/K051 February 21-April 25 1990

OK, let me see how I can do with a day in the life of a Seaman Recruit from Company C077. This could take on a life of its own. So here we go. I hope the Beatles forgive me for using their song title.

Over the years many things changed at RTC. This is a typical day in 1990. 

Most days started off with Reveille at 0600. I was on a top rack, so I had to jump down. The first thing was to drop my shower shoes to the deck so I’d land on them. We had over 80 guys to get ready to head out in the morning, so I didn't mess around.

I would say most mornings I was one of the first into the head. This habit served me well later at A-school when the hot water was limited.

It was pretty straight forward in the morning, shave, and brush my teeth. I was fast, why waste time? Back out to make my rack. I cheated. I slept on top of my sheets, using only my blanket at night. It was so much easier to snug down the sheets than it was to totally make my rack each morning. So, I folded my blanket in the typical fashion and straightened up my pillow.

Time for the uniform of the day. Dungarees and shirt. Two pairs of socks, thin to the skin. Then on to the boondockers. A note about those, I hated them with a passion! Ill-fitting as hell and zero cushion. I guess that is why were got a double set of inserts to go in them. Today, it was a day for leggings, so I put those on too. I did like how we looked wearing those, and they also gave my ankles extra support. All of this mind you just to go eat breakfast!

We head outside and line up in company formation, by height. The RCPO lined us all up.

Now all of the nuances used to get into watch columns I forget, but it was pretty slick if I remember.

The following was supplied to me, I have a decent memory, but not that good. 

Guidon and any flags upfront per the CC guide.
The marching orders went like this:
Form a column of watch sections (RCPO)
Port watch forward (Port Watch)
Starboard watch stand fast (Starboard Watch)
March! (RCPO)
Starboard watch column half left (Starboard Watch)
March!
Column half right
March!
When the RCPO observed the entire SW in the column, he would move the company back to the right side of the street by ordering
Right oblique
March!
Forward
March.
And off you go...


Down the street, we went until a short side street to the right. This had a small diamond building. We had to march around. So, there was a Half right, then half left, then a half right. Now onto the grinder and off to wait out turn at chow.
“Chow Runner Post!”

Gettig the companies into the Galley was actually pretty smooth too. They moved us right along, and so we were at the porch captain. He or she gave us the lines were to go down, and we did. We ate then assembled back out on the sidewalk by section. Once we were all, there were marched back to our compartment. The first person of each section assumed the leadership position until the recruit PO arrived. The leader across the sidewalk while the remainder lined up across the sidewalk from him. 

After we assembled we all headed to the compartment. This happened for each meal. 

Entry into the compartment was also a set procedure. Whoever was the “leader” of the section would pound on the door. I’ll use myself as the leader

A person inside would shout, “Sound OFF!”
“Seaman Recruit Adams returning from chow in detail,” I would shout.
Back inside, “Carry on. In detail.”
Time to use the head quickly and change for PT.
The company would then go back outside and march to the grinder for PT. And then back to change again for the class. I’ll use a class for this day.

Back outside into company formation, again. Head off to the training class. We even had a particular way to enter the training building. Single file up the stairs to the classroom. We stood at attention and were given the order to uncover. Out came out notebooks and a pencil. Our sister company took classes with us. It was nice to have them there too. And we talked to the girls all the time. We got yelled at to not do it, but we did.

Out of class, maybe back to our compartment for half an hour or so, or sometimes straight to chow. But, if we went to eat, we had to march to the north end of the street. Then loop back around to the side street and the series of half marches, and then back to the grinder.

Anyone else getting tired? I am, and I am only typing. OK. We eat and go back to our compartment. Now, the head is pretty busy. We had partial stalls, short panels with no doors. The very first toilet nobody would use. I guess we didn’t want people watching us doing our business.

We might maybe have 30 minutes to an hour to sort of relax. We would study or maybe write letters. Then back outside for matching practice or some other business.

Back to the compartment, head call again, wait for dinner.

Back to the Galley, eat, and back home. 

Yeah, I know monotonous.

Then we all copied down the POD for the next day and turned in our previous POD. If we had different privileges, we could use some free time for that. Music was a MASSIVE privilege. We loved our boom box. Well, maybe not so much for bugle toots. We would study, play basketball, shine shoes, or write letters.

Then it was time to shower and clean the compartment. We rotated, which two sections showered first. We also rotated who cleaned what. Shower time, I was in and out. Why waste time? I shaved at night too. We had a few who had to shave three times a day!

Tattoo

Evening Prayer

Lights out

One of the few times in my life, I actually slept well was during boot camp. I guess all that physical work did it. Add into the day if we messed up, there would be some yelling and cussing.

All of this writing has me thinking of another book. I hope you all enjoy these little remembrances as much as I have enjoyed writing them.