Our Compartment

C077/K051  Feb 21 – Apr 25, 1990

I have not spoken about our amazing living quarters. My particular company spent its 8 weeks of boot camp in the bottom floor of the north wing of Division 4. There were two sets of racks on both sides of the compartment. I believe there was 44 total, so 88 future sailors max. Each rack had space for two individuals.

Not totally sure how we got to the rack we did, but my bunkmate for boot camp was a young guy last name, Dash. He eventually became a flag bearer, carried the company flag.

Each rack had its own locker in front of it. Remember how we slept? Alternating feet and heads? Hmm, social distancing? Sorry, I had to add that. I was right next to an AC vent. The last week there, it kicked in, and I got that darn crud again. Anyone remember how we got Recruit crud when we first got to Orlando? Basically, a nasty cold that did go away?


Down the middle of the compartment were several tables, centerboards. There were also rack holding our rifles. Now, I remember the rifles racks having a rather unique name. I might have gotten this from a movie. If so, I am sure I will get corrected. But, they were called Whorehouses, and they held our pieces.

For a civilian, we had the floor, walls, ceiling, bathroom, benches, drinking fountain, right, left, front, back.
OH, HELL, NO!

We had a deck, bulkheads, overhead, centerboard, port, starboard, forward, aft, and scuttlebutt.

I think there are still people who do not know port and starboard. We had some hard headed people in our group.

We had a lounge, the head, and the CC’s office. There was a large mobile blackboard where our POD was written each night. We also used this for educational purposes. It was used to write down Sefl Destruct rules too. Push up, sit-ups, 8 counts, and other stuff. Start at 25 each, then 24 each, until you reached 1. You had to really mess up to get that.

OK, the first rule about the compartment, no sitting on your rack at any time, unless it is bedtime. The second rule about the compartment, no sitting on your rack at any time, unless it is bedtime. You must earn the privilege of the lounge and centerboard. Kind of sounds like the Fight Clubs rules as I write them.

We had to keep the place inspection ready at all times. That took a little training to get to that level, but we did get there. Every night we rotated the daily cleaning list. Who else would torpedo under the racks while laying on the blanket?

We spent a good deal of time making sure the deck was spotless too. Neutral shoe polish was our friend for all the black marks our boondockers put down. Some days were worse than others.

We all spent 8 weeks in our compartment. Our company lost some people, and we gained some people back in. 

Remember how to gain entry directly into the compartment from the street?
Knock on the door, wait for the watch to shout, “Sound Off!”
“Seaman Recruit returning from Chow in Detail.”

“Carry on in detail.”

I always thought that was interesting.

Outside our entry door, there was a rack to stow our guidon and flags. As we got more, it looked better and better.

We never had a hurricane in our compartment. We did return a couple times, and individual bunks or lockers were gone through. Those persons paid for their infractions.

Example of a hurricane.
(sorry for the poor picture)

Although we were cycles many times, we never did make it rain inside. We did have to do PT inside a couple times because of heavy rain. We pushed the racks back and did it. It was pretty humid inside afterward.

None of us liked to hear the entry door being kicked open. That was a sign of nothing good coming.

Just outside the door that went into the division, each company painted a brick. Ours probably had a theme for our CC MMCS Engley since we were his last company.

I wondered how often those were painted over. Near the door heading into division, we had our watch station. I never did stand match much. Not sure why, but I only remember maybe 3 times. I stood division watch a few times, always as the rover.

Every night after lights out, the red lights went on. The watch would rove the compartment and check the outlets.

So, that is the gist of it. We spent 8 weeks in those elegant accommodations. One morning we walked in with our seabags stuffed with clothes. That final morning we walked out with our seabag and some killer memories.




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