DSIT (Division Sidewalk Intensive Training)

                         C077 February 21-April 25 1990

                      Division Sidewalk Intensive Training

YES, I went once! I was guilty of the offense of talking during our dental review. Yes, we were told to not talk, but I did. I am guilty, well, I was guilty. I had my one, and only street mark pulled that day.

Remember about me scratching my eye? If you have been reading, you would remember that. So, leading up to dental, I had missed a while going to the hospital, getting my eye looked at. I made it back in time for the dental exam.

Remember they took the whole mouth wrap around X-ray and then a bunch of others? Then, stand in line, wait, and shut up. This recruit behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "How's your eye?" I hardly broke a whisper and said, "It's doing good."

That was it! Yes, I know, still talked.

Whoever it was jumped in and POW, "Shut up! Give me your books!" out goes a street mark.

So, I start my Navy career by messing up my eye and get in trouble in less than a week. Good move.

I was waiting and waiting to get nailed back at the compartment. It didn't happen for a couple days. One evening I hear, "Seaman Recruit Adams post." DAMNIT! Busted. I go to the office to go through the procedure to go in to get yelled at. (It was probably Chief Engley who did it.)

“Talking in Dental?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Thanks for being honest. Too bad, you got DIST tomorrow.”

I get told what to do and when to do it.

I did feel bad because I really did not want to be an F-up.
The next morning I and the others from my company who got in trouble for various things report to the footprints on the division sidewalk were told to go to. Across from us were others from a different company.

The Chief for Division came out and gave us the rundown of what was going to happen.

Then he had us start doing all sorts of stuff. Running in place, pushups, 8 counts, jumping jacks, leg lifts.

I think we cycled for 15 minutes and had a 2-3 minute break between each session. He started asking us what we did to get DSIT. I tell him, and he laughs. The funny thing was when he asked the guys on the other side of the sidewalk. All of them did the same thing, did not shave. Here was the kicker, they were all leaving for home that same morning!

“BS you are going home, you gotta get past me first!”

So, we are there in the humid Orlando morning getting cycled. Since we were early in our training, I am so out of shape, so it was killing me. But, I kept up.

The Chief is looking at the guys leaving, and one of them is not even sweating.

“WTF, SON? You must want to stay for two more weeks, you aren’t even trying.”

“I am, sir!”

“BS! Why are all these guys sweating, and you aren’t?”  The Chief was pointing to us. I think he wanted to see if they called us RIFs.
“I don’t know, sir!”
“You have 5 F ing minutes to sweat, or two more weeks got it?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Tell you what, if he sweats, we are all done.”
“YES, SIR!” we all say.
“Arms out front, run in place knees high, Begin!”

The Chief goes back inside. I will be damned, that guy started to sweat. The Chief comes out and goes to that particular recruit.
“Well, I’ll be damned, you can sweat. I leid, you still have ten minutes!”
Oh hell, pushups, 8 counts, leg lifts, running in place. The time was up!

So, we were told, “Recover.”

We square ourselves away, and the Chief starts messing with the senior guys.

“Do you think you passed?”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Well, get the F off my sidewalk and go the F home.”

“What about you, guys?”

“Yes, Sir!”
“Then get the F back to your compartment. Don’t F-ing come back here either!”

Learning from your mistakes is key. I kept my mouth shut when they told us to from then on. That was my one and only time going to DSIT. Sure there were those times when I did something wrong and heard that famous word, “DROP!”

Some guys made more than one trip to the sidewalk. Some went to IT, Intensive Training, and a few went to Motivational Tours, Might Mo. Those did not come back to the company.

*Sorry for the crappy picture today. Oddly, there is not one easy to find of the Division Sidewalk. So, check your photos and get them scanned for your Shipmates.*