C077/K051February
21-April 25 1990
This is probably going to
be the hardest I have written. I am going off some terrible pictures and my
memory. Which if you have read the other you know I admit, I remember strange
details. I also have a couple maps that I have found recently as well. Then I
was really thrown for a loop when I saw a picture that was labeled upside down!
OK, the very basic. The Bluejacket was the North end of the base. DC South. Chaple East. Field House West. OK, now for the details.
RTC was laid out with two sets of 5 Recruit buildings with two galleys in the middle of them. The North Galley was used by recruits. The South Galley was used by CC’s, Staff, Navets, and ATs. Now, I do not have a scale to my maps, so distances are not even going to be thought about.
Each Division building consisted of 4 three-story wings around a central section. During my time, the ladies occupied the third floor of those buildings.
The Divisions were numbered even on the west, odd on the east.
OK, the very basic. The Bluejacket was the North end of the base. DC South. Chaple East. Field House West. OK, now for the details.
RTC was laid out with two sets of 5 Recruit buildings with two galleys in the middle of them. The North Galley was used by recruits. The South Galley was used by CC’s, Staff, Navets, and ATs. Now, I do not have a scale to my maps, so distances are not even going to be thought about.
Each Division building consisted of 4 three-story wings around a central section. During my time, the ladies occupied the third floor of those buildings.
The Divisions were numbered even on the west, odd on the east.
Down the middle of the
whole layout was an idyllic tree line boulevard. Well, probably not, I just
wanted to say that. It was a boulevard set up for the “sidewalks” as they were
called The north end was lined with some good size trees.
If memory serves me,
Division 10 was the AT Division, and Division 9 was for the Navets.
On the east side of the Division was a sidewalk. On the west side were two Grinders, the parade ground, and the field house. I also remember a curved road or paved path that we did some company runs on from time to time. On the far end of the north grinder sat the ever battle-ready USS Bluejacket.
So, Orlando RTC, what one feature do we all remember? The water tower, AKA, The Doorknob to Hell. This was near the chapel. For me, the chapel was a departure from the typical architecture of the rest of the base. In some ways, it reminded me of the chapel at the Airforce Academy. When we visited the chapel during boot camp, I remember as you approached it, there was no cadence called. I only attended 3 or 4 services while at boot camp. I did enjoy them a good deal, should have gone to more.
So, back to the layout. The RIF area had three buildings. A barracks, Auditorium, and In processing facility. I do not remember the Auditorium at all. The other two we did spend a little time in, but since our company formed quickly, we moved to our permanent compartment in Division 4.
On the east side of the Division was a sidewalk. On the west side were two Grinders, the parade ground, and the field house. I also remember a curved road or paved path that we did some company runs on from time to time. On the far end of the north grinder sat the ever battle-ready USS Bluejacket.
So, Orlando RTC, what one feature do we all remember? The water tower, AKA, The Doorknob to Hell. This was near the chapel. For me, the chapel was a departure from the typical architecture of the rest of the base. In some ways, it reminded me of the chapel at the Airforce Academy. When we visited the chapel during boot camp, I remember as you approached it, there was no cadence called. I only attended 3 or 4 services while at boot camp. I did enjoy them a good deal, should have gone to more.
So, back to the layout. The RIF area had three buildings. A barracks, Auditorium, and In processing facility. I do not remember the Auditorium at all. The other two we did spend a little time in, but since our company formed quickly, we moved to our permanent compartment in Division 4.
The fieldhouse was to the
west of the gallies. This was also where the pool was. We did our PT test
inside the building.
To the east of the
gallies was the training building. This was where we went to fraternize with
our sister company. Well, really to learn, but during breaks was different.
One of the more popular
buildings was the Community center building. This had a small exchange, phone
center, travel agent, pay window, barber, and vending machines. I’ll cover the
visits here at another time. But, we did like going when we had earned the
privilege.
Dental and Medical were
just north of the community center. Spending time in dental was a given for
everyone, but medical was a different story. I went to sick call one time after
I had injured my eye. My other doctor visits were over at the Naval hospital.
There was a base bus stop in from of the medical building.
A side story from the main topic. When I got back from the hospital after my first visit there with the Ophthalmologist, I was totally lost. I had been on the base like 48 hours and most of that time in a fog. So, I am on the wrong side of the sidewalk, and a truck full of CCs drives past. They stopped and backed up.
“HALT, RECRUIT!”
“Do you know where you are going?”
A side story from the main topic. When I got back from the hospital after my first visit there with the Ophthalmologist, I was totally lost. I had been on the base like 48 hours and most of that time in a fog. So, I am on the wrong side of the sidewalk, and a truck full of CCs drives past. They stopped and backed up.
“HALT, RECRUIT!”
“Do you know where you are going?”
“Sir, not really, I’m a
little turned around, to be honest.”
“Let me see your walking, Chit.”
“Let me see your walking, Chit.”
“Don’t have one.”
“WTF are you doing out so late?” He jumps out of the truck,
“WTF are you doing out so late?” He jumps out of the truck,
“Sir just got back from
the hospital.”
I guess my eye looked pretty bad. He must have seen it, and he turned into a nice guy.
“Go to the end of the sidewalk turn left, and you’ll see Division 4.”
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate it.”
I guess my eye looked pretty bad. He must have seen it, and he turned into a nice guy.
“Go to the end of the sidewalk turn left, and you’ll see Division 4.”
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate it.”
“Now, get on the right
side of the F-ing sidewalk!”
“Yes, sir,” I salute, and I’m gone.
“Yes, sir,” I salute, and I’m gone.
OK, back to the base.
DC and the Gas Chamber were all the way to the southwest corner of the base. I remember there being a good many pine trees around those buildings. One building probably none of us realized was there until Parents night was the Reception Center, it was to the southeast corner. During my time in the AT Division, we used that a good deal, except on Friday.
The Armory was located east of the training building. During my time, it was being refurbished, so we did not get to shoot during training. We did get to pretend with the chambered-down 45s.
I think about covers it. Chime in if there was any detail I left out. I know there is. For me, RIF was the most significant blur. I had a fractured memory of that area, so maybe some comments will start to clear the fog there.
DC and the Gas Chamber were all the way to the southwest corner of the base. I remember there being a good many pine trees around those buildings. One building probably none of us realized was there until Parents night was the Reception Center, it was to the southeast corner. During my time in the AT Division, we used that a good deal, except on Friday.
The Armory was located east of the training building. During my time, it was being refurbished, so we did not get to shoot during training. We did get to pretend with the chambered-down 45s.
I think about covers it. Chime in if there was any detail I left out. I know there is. For me, RIF was the most significant blur. I had a fractured memory of that area, so maybe some comments will start to clear the fog there.
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