The Journey - Part Four - Settling In

 

Breakfast was certainly interesting. I took way too much to eat and couldn’t finish it. We all pretty much just followed the crowd when it was time to leave. I am also pretty sure they did not give us our full-time to eat.

Before I left the galley, some recruit screamed at me. I had no clue what I had done. It turns out I stepped on the brightwork. I looked at him and asked him what the fuck brightwork was. Well, that made things worse. So, I wiped my supposed footprint off his shiny brass. Our company formed up outside the galley, it took a while for everyone to show up. But, once we did it was time to head out again. 

The next stop, haircuts. My hair had always been thin, but I had never had it clean shaved before. I doubt any of us had. We stood there waiting to go inside as our CCs walked around talking about shoes. We were able to wear tennis shoes for some of our time in boot camp. PT was one time and our initial couple days matching was another. A couple guys had their shoes pointed out as too flashy. I had bought a new pair just for boot camp. But, I was smart; I got plain white Nike cross-trainers.

A few of the new recruits had long hair. I spent most of the morning talking to one particular sailor who had hair down to his butt. After he had it shaved, I didn’t recognize him at all. When we were all getting done with our hair cuts, the sun started to creep into the sky. It turned the sort of cool, humid morning into one hot day. We made our way back to RIF and started getting our clothes.

RIF was a term that was not popular. We were talked down to by the senior companies. And in reality, pretty much every company out of P-days would give us grief. Our uniforms stunk, we marched differently, and we pretty much didn’t have a clue what in the hell we were doing. When our company started to get some seniority, we hassled the RIFs too. 

Talk about one long borning event. Stand around get new clothes. Learn to stencil your name in the right spot with the proper color stencil pen. We also were given a box to mail our clothes home. If it didn’t fit, it went into the garbage. Oddly a few guys couldn’t fit it all in.

Also, the order to wear our Navy-supplied swim trunks made sense now. We had to walk around in them while getting out new clothes. Slowly our gear began to reflect Navy attire. By lunchtime, we were all clad in stinky stiff dungarees. Back into the RIF formation and off to eat. This time we were greeted by sniffing noises. Yeah, we smelled like mothballs. At that time, I knew that the sooner we started training, the better we would be.

Back to RIF for clothes, and as the afternoon drug on, we loaded up our sea bags and matched over to Division 4. We were to spend the next 8 weeks on the ground floor of the north wing facing the main sidewalks.

We were not assigned our racks yet; that happened the next day. Our first night was pretty uneventful. I did somehow manage to scratch my right eye on the pillow’s zipper. So, that led to medical a few days later.

We were set of P-days now. This time was spent learning how to fold clothes. How to make our racks. How to clean our compartment. How to march. And most importantly, how to shut up and listen.

C077 was just getting started.

Since I originally shared my experiences, I have found the letters I wrote to my family. I have also spoken to several others RTC Orlando veterans and pieced together a better picture of what happened. I will be looking at those aspects of our time there over the coming weeks. Remember, I am talking about what happened in 1990; your experience will be different. 

The Journey - Part Three - To Orlando

 

On February 20, 1990, I woke up in a totally civilian world for the final time. I had to be at the recruiter’s office mid-afternoon for the final steps before being sent into Chicago. I was at my parent’s house in Lindenwood, and we planned on a big lunch at Red Lobster. I called my fiancee one final time before we left to say my goodbyes to a few family friends in town. 

Lunch was just my mom and me. I made sure to really pack it in since I wasn’t totally sure when my next meal would happen. We had a couple of final things to wrap up at the recruiter’s office, and then he took us to the bus. One other guy was riding along to O’Hare with me. Once we were there, we had to take another bus to MEPS. My recruiter did not explain much of what would happen once we were at MEPS again. I thought we would be put on a plane to Orlando that night. But, instead, we got on a bus and went to the hotel in Des Plains again.

This time the marines there treated us a little harsher. They did not really tolerate our sloppy replies to their orders. It was a rather eye-opening experience since the next day would get totally real for us all. As we left the bus, I lost track of the other guy from Rockford. He was going to Great Lakes and then to SK school. We were all given rooms and told when it was time to eat. We were also told when we would be woken up the following day. One other piece of advice, get some sleep since tomorrow promised to be a very long day.

Not sure how I swung it, but I got a single room. Most people had to pair up. While at dinner, I sat with a guy going back into the Army. We spoke about his prior service and our plans for our respective services. A little later, he and I found the bar in the hotel. We enjoyed a beer when one of the Marines barged in and started giving us a hard time. Since most of the people there that night were minors, he thought we were too. After showing him our IDs, he sat down and had a beer with us.

His attitude slacked up considerably during that 15-20 minute talk. He reminded us not to get drunk since tomorrow would be a very long day. He even let us in on a secret; they would be getting us earlier than they initially told us. Sort of a welcome to the military they do to everyone.

After the Marine left, we had a couple more beers and then found our way to the game room. It was jammed with people just having one last night of fun. Some were dancing, some got in final smokes, and some were trying to score one last time. Myself, I played some pool won $10. I then went to my room pretty early, around 9:00 PM. My room was close to the game room, and the noise stayed pretty constant. Lucky for me, I can typically fall asleep even with the noise. Around 1:00 AM, the Marines broke up the remaining crowd.

At 5:00 AM, there was a pounding on my door. The Marine from last night was correct. It was earlier than the 0600 we had been told. I was up, showered, and eating before most of the others. Many did not eat since they did not get up on time. We were on the bus to MEPS at 0600.

At MEPS, we basically sat around until after lunchtime. Then we were all jammed into one large room. Groups of names were called out, and one person was given a packet of papers for the group. Each group was assigned when their transportation would take them to O’Hare.

One guy, Paul, and I were going to Orlando. We finally made our way to O’Hare by midafternoon. Our flight wasn’t until maybe 9:00 PM, so we had plenty of time to wait. A few groups from MEPS passed us going to their flights. I bought us a couple rounds of beers, and we ate while waiting.

As the time drew closer, I began more excited and more scared. The flight down went smoothly. After we landed, we sort of blindly looked around the airport until we saw another group of confused people. Eventually, we found the bus and made our way to the base. Excitement built as we passed the guardhouse.

We stopped at the RIF building and stood in a hallway, waiting to begin our next steps. I recall it was a humid night. A Chaplin came down the hallway and spoke to each of us. He spent more time with some since he noticed they looked scared.

Finally, we made our way into a large room, where we started filling out some paperwork. Men on one side, women on the other. There was a blackboard with our company numbers, C077 and K051. That is who we would be for the next eight weeks.

Our bags were searched for another “illegal,” we were given orders to shower, shave, and get in a rack. I had a mustache, so that had to come off. Most of what happened that night is a blur. It was already after midnight, and I was pretty tired. The room with all the racks was already dark, so finding an empty one was difficult. But, we all finally did find one.
Oh yes, sleep. It felt oh so amazing. You all know what is coming next, don’t you, the trash can.

Not sure if they just banged on it or tossed it into the compartment, but it did the trick. All of us jumped and made it to the “line.” In the middle of the room paced one of our Company Commanders. He introduced himself and the other CC. Chief Engley, who is a member here, then went on to introduce Petty Officer First Class Adams. Now, I admit I was totally disoriented and confused, but I seriously thought he meant me. Why not? After all, my last name is Adams. So, sure he had to mean me.

I nearly took a step forward when the actual Petty Officer Adams walked past me. That was close to my first be mess up. After some fine words of encouragement, we stumbled outside into the dark morning. Humidity hung in the air, and totally foreign sounds filled my ears. It was the sounds of recruits heading to the galley. Their cadences filled the air in a melody I had never heard or imagined before.

All of the new people marched to the galley in RIF formation, 5 wide and with a monotonous left/right cadence being called. We still had long hair and were in civilian clothes. Oh my, this was going to be interesting. I’ll wrap up that first day tomorrow. 

The Journey - Part Two - MEPS Enlisting

 There are two different times when you go to MEPS. First, get your physical and take the ASVAB. The second time when you actually leave for boot camp. The first time I really had no clue what was going on. The recruiter drove me there and left me with a bus ticket to get back to Rockford. He told me to do my best on the test and pick the job I wanted.

So, I go with my bag to sit down and take the ASVAB inside. I have no idea how many are sitting in this massive room. But, there is a mixture of every sort of person you can imagine in there. We take the test and then get herded onto busses to ride to some second-rate motel in Des Plains. This place was probably only kept open because the military used it to stay.

If I recall, the military people watching us were all Marines. Since none of us were actually in the military, they were pretty easy on us. It was getting late, so we got rooms and were down for the night. I have no idea how I got lucky, but I didn’t have a roommate. Up early the following day for breakfast before heading back over to get our test results and physicals.

It seemed as if some people went to take the physical, and some reviewed their test results with their various branches. I went to the physical part. I never imagined they could look at you to ensure you were fit for the military in so many ways.

The building we were in was pretty old. I would guess it dated back to WWII. We sat down and filled out some more paperwork, then stipped down to our tighty whities. Then it was into a series of rooms to get poked and prodded. Then came the turn your head and cough time. The room was full of young guys all in their underwear. You could tell some weren’t comfortable walking around like that. And probably many of them were those kinds of people who hated taking a shower after PE in high school. 

This old black doctor walks to the front of the room and tells us how we will go through this next portion. He points to the back of the room, telling us, you will go behind the curtains one at a time. Drop your underwear to your ankles and follow the doctor’s orders. I was standing in the back right next to one of the curtains. So, I get to go first. Not that that bothered me, I was starting to get hungry and just wanted to get done.

They tell us to start, so I step behind the curtain to face this short old Asian lady. Since she is a doctor, I figure she has seen it all before, so I drop them. She takes hold of me, and we do the coughing. She writes done something. Looks me over again and tells me to pull up my shorts. I can only imagine some of those green-looking kids when they had to drop their shorts in front of a woman. 

Funny side note, I talked to another sailor, and he mentioned this old Asian lady who felt him up at MEPS. Turns out it was the same lady, and this guy went through a little later than I did in 1990.

After being cleared medically, it was now time to take the Nuke test. One other guy and I took it that day. He was actually an engineering student in college. I seriously have no idea how I passed, but I did. That test was a bear, but I not only passed it, but I also passed it 5 points higher than I needed. That was probably the hardest test I had ever taken. I had been out of school for close to three years and hadn't used any of the math I'd learned in all of that time. So, when it was time for the math part, I sort of froze. I did my best. 

Not only was there math, but also a good deal of questions on nuclear physics. What in the hell did I know about that? Sure, some of the questions guide you to the correct answer, but damn, it wasn't easy.

By this time, I was really getting hungry. Lunch was almost over, so the Navy group had some E4 take me down to eat. Before I left, I was told, don’t talk to anyone. After getting my food and sitting, the E4 tells me he must use the bathroom. And before he leaves, he reminds me not to talk to anyone.

No sooner does he leave than an Airforce person sits next to me. He starts talking, and the conversation goes something like this.

“So, which branch are you joining today?”

“Navy.”

“Nice. What rating are you looking at?”

“I think nuke machinist, mate. Why?”

“Oh, just curious. Ever consider the Airforce?”

Before I could talk, that third-class returns.
“Hey, leave my guy alone.”

Airforce guy laughing, “Can’t blame me for trying.”

“What was he doing?” I ask.

“Trying to poach you. I’ll show you when we get back.”

Back at the Navy area, I am shown the brag board. It lists the highest-scoring recruits and their comparable scores for the other services. I was in the top 5. Plus, out to the right, there was another field, NFQT (Nuke Test), with my score, and it was circled.

I go back inside and get signed up for boot camp as a Nuke MM volunteered for sub duty. Then time for fingerprints and our first swearing-in. I ran back into the other guy who took the Nuke test too, he didn’t pass. But, he was still joining the Navy.

When all was said and done, I would be back there in late February to start my Navy career. Less than a month. A van took me to O’Hare and dropped me at the bus line. Then the ride back to the terminal in Rockford. My recruiter met me and took me home. I spent the next month getting my apartment packed up to move my fiancee and daughter to her parent’s place. It was also winter and cold as hell out. I couldn’t get in much running, but I did try.

I knew my fiancee was not happy with me joining the Navy, but I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t wait to get started. On Feb 17, we moved from our apartment to her parent's place. On Feb 19, I left there and drove to my parent’s house in Lindenwood. My car was parked in my grandparent’s garage. The next day, it would be time!

 

To be continued…..

The Journey - Part One

A short introduction of myself before I start off on my retelling of tales. I am originally from a small town in northern Illinois, Lindenwood. Lindenwood was your typical small Illinois town. It is located about 10 miles south of Rockford. I will begin a retelling of my time in Orlando 32 years ago. When I first did this, I lacked some vital information that I could recover of time. Getting letters I wrote home helped out greatly. Also, finding one of my CC’s here helped out a little. I had initially planned to talk about the events on the days they happened back in 1990. So, the next three days will be rapid-fire. Today is the day company C077 formed in 1990 Orlando and started on our journey.

And we begin…..

Thirty-two years ago, I set out to adventure at US Navy boot camp in RTC Orlando. Let me rewind a little and set up how I wound up going to boot camp at twenty-two. I had recently lost my job as a draftsman/detailer at a small company in Rockford, Illinois. The owner was slowly running the company toward bankruptcy, but people were unaware of that yet. The company was cutting payroll, so the new people were the first to go.

I had actually soured on that sort of work, and I saw this as a great chance to do something I had felt like doing for a few years, I was going to join the military. I seriously was going to talk to both the Army and the Navy. But, when I entered the hallway with all of the recruiting offices, the Navy was the first door I came to. I guess you could say they hooked me.

My initial contact was on a Monday afternoon. I was given a list of documents I needed by Tuesday afternoon. A birth certificate and a high school trans script were necessary. I had to drive from Rockford to Rochelle and get my transcript. I asked if the transcript from my two-year college was needed and was told no since I had the high school one. This miss would play out later on once I made it to boot camp.

Tuesday afternoon, I returned to the recruiter, and we started filling out paperwork. I did not know it yet, but I would be heading into MEPS to take the ASVAB Wednesday evening and follow up with the physical on Thursday.

I was engaged at the time, and we had a daughter together. So, that even created a minor issue. Of course,  the recruiter worked around that as well. During the whole process, he was pretty straight with me. As I saw it, the only drawback was he was so focused on me enlisting as a Nuke. Of course, I would have liked to hear more about other jobs available from the Navy in hindsight. Nonetheless, I did get the issues settled later on regarding Nuke school.

We didn’t finish all the paperwork Tuesday, and I was told to come back the next day. I still had not been told I was heading into Des Plains to MEPS. When I returned the next day, we wrapped up the paperwork, and as my recruiter grabbed his coat, he asked me to get my bag and meet him at his car.

Since I was clueless about going to MEPS, I did not have a bag. Lucky for me, I lived just a couple blocks away. So, he followed me there, and I got what I needed. We then drove the 90 minutes toward Chicago to the old MEPS station in Des Plains. I was dropped off in a state of confusion. I was given a ticket for a bus ride from Ohare to Rockford.

This happened on January 22, 23, 24, 1990.

Some people have also asked me, “Why the Navy?” Well, that is a rather complex answer. As a midwesterner, I did not have much contact with the ocean. When I was a senior in high school, I went out on a fishing boat, but that was my only real experience with the ocean. I am a history nut, and World War II was a big era I concentrated on. I guess the many naval battles I read about had stirred an interest. I am also an aviation nut, and the yearly air show in Rockford would bring in numerous Navy planes.

In the spring of 1989, I was in Daytona and spoke to several Navy aircrew members at an airshow there. I even went to what I thought was the recruiter’s office in the summer of 1988, but it had moved. I wasn’t sure where it had moved to, so I dropped it. So, although I did entertain ideas of joining the Army, I think the Navy had me firmly in its grasp.

Next, MEPS, and how I came to enter boot camp as a Nuke.