Boot Camp Part 4

After we showered and got dressed we marched to the barracks.  Those who failed had to field day (clean up) the barracks while the rest of us went to use the phone.  It sucked they had to punished but I didn’t make the rules they should have learned how to swim.  For each step in the cadence I called, it felt we were taking two steps back.  My anticipation was getting the best of me.  I had no idea what I was going to say or what she was going to ask.  I just knew that hearing her voice will make everything alright in the world.  We arrived at the MCI building which wasn’t much of a building at all.  This structure was actually a double wide trailer with wooden steps at the entrance.  The building held 20 phone cubicles for calls to be made from.  These cubicles took up half of the trailer and the other half was servers and workers.  Our company could only let 5 people at a time because there were 3 other companies there with us. 

Before I hit the door I could smell something that I have smelled before.  I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time I just made the “who farted” face and proceeded to station #2.  Ah another great perk for being in charge was to be upfront for phone calls.  I sat down and the plastic chair and reached for the phone and ZAP.  Between the chair and my dungarees I conduct a static charge.  Note to self don’t move too much while I am on the phone.  I picked up the phone and I swear it was made my Alexander Bell himself.   It was a rotary phone.  The phone was gray in color and had the clear plastic rotary piece with holes cut out.  We were told once we started dialing the first number we had 15 minutes to make our calls.  I started dialing, I inserted my forefinger in the 1 slot.  I rotated to the right let go and watched the dialing piece return back to the originally position.  My first thought was, “Shit it will take 15 minutes just to dial one number.”  I called my parents told them I was alive and how much I missed them.  They asked me 1000k questions and I answered them fast as I could so I can use the rest of the time to talk to Malina. 

I told them I loved them hung up the phone and had 9 minutes left to talk to my baby.  I got to the 6^th number in the dialing sequence and my finger slipped.  The rotary piece only went half way. “SHIT!”  I had to start from the beginning now I am down to 8 minutes and 45 seconds.  I took my time and carefully rotated each number to the silver stop tab on the phone.  I finished dialing the last number and the phone was ringing.  I felt like a fat person walking up 4 flights of stairs I was out of breath.  One ring passed, two rings then I heard, “Hello?”  It was her mother that answered the phone.  Damn I am not even the state and she still hates me.  I hesitate and say, “He-Hello may I speak to Malina?”  There was a momentary pause as if she was deciding not to tell her daughter I was on the phone.  I heard a sarcastic sigh then she yelled, “Malina phone!”  Malina picked up the phone and her sweet voice said, “Hello?”  With the sound of her voice I felt a warming sensation that started in my head went down to my feet and back up to my head.  All I could say is, “Hey baby I love you and miss you!”  She answered back, “I love you too!”  For the next 6 minutes we talked about boot camp life and what she was doing at the local junior college.  We also talked about our future together once I get out of boot camp.  The buzzer went off and my 15 minutes were up. I tried to be slick and ignore the timer.  I put my head down and told her I can’t wait to see her.  In mid sentence the phone cut off those bastards.  I replaced the receiver on the old ass phone and proceeded to walk outside.  Again I smelled that stench and soon as I close the door behind me.  It smelled like my old dorm room of stale Funions.  Come to think of it, the MCI building had the same 1960’s décor as my dorm room. 

Marching back to the barracks took 15 minutes but in my mind we were there in 4.  The only thing my mind was focused on was Malina.  I thought about her once I laid my head on the pillow and when I woke up the next morning.  I was so energized I was dressed before anyone else and ready to take on week’s challenges.  We are going to learn how to combat casualties on a ship which is also called Damage Control.  The first thing we learned was how to use pipe patch kit.  Depending on the size of the hole it could be fixed using heavy twine line, a rubber patch and heavy twine or metal patch and a band it kit.  There were several stations set up for us to put our skills to the test.  The first station had a 2 inch hole in the pipe so the heavy twine was used.  You wrap the line one way over the hole and back until all the line is used or the pipe stops leaking.  The second station a bigger hole where you used the rubber patch and line.  Same concept as just using the line but you put the patch over the hole first.  The last station was a gusher.  This was a 10” crack in the line and this is when you use the band it kit.  As water is spraying you in the face, one person slides the metal cover down the pipe to cover the hole.  If you decided to place the metal cover in the water stream it will fly out your hand and hit your partner in the head like the duo before us.  No need for my partner and me to send each other to medical and fail this test.  I took the metal cover slide it down the pipe and secured it with two hands.  My partner stood over me and applied the band it on the left side then on the right.  The leak stopped and we were finished.  What we didn’t know is we had the best time which resulted in more phone privileges.  “Yes more time with Malina”, is what I thought to myself. 

The next day was fighting simulated fires.  We had to don (put on) a OBA.  An OBA (Oxygen Breathing Apparatus) is when the area is too hard to breathe.  You lift the OBA up with both hands while your partner latches the straps over each shoulder.  The straps are adjusted to be snug then the waist strap is latched.  The timer is set by turning it to the max then half way.  Then you unseal the O2 can push it in the compartment holder and lift the handle up.  This whole exercise should be done under 1 minute.  Well, it took my partner and me 6 minutes and we all burned up.  No special privileges for us. 

The last day of DC week was the gas chamber.  We all assembled outside the chamber and learned how to put on our gas mask.  I slipped the mask over my head tightened up the straps.  I could still smell the San Diego stale air so I raised my hand for help.  The instructor called me a dumbass because I forgot to insert the canister into the mask.  He told me that my mistake could cost me my life along with my shipmates.  I took the mask off inserted the canister then I was good to go.  Again being in the leadership position I got to go first.  I stepped into the chamber and listened to the orders barked by the instructor.  Some people didn’t have a proper seal on their mask so they were allowed to leave the room.  The instructor took out a small white pill then cracked it.  He asked did anyone smell anything and in unison we all yelled no.  Then we hear, “Take your mask off!”  Hold on why in the hell would we take our mask off isn’t that why we put them on?  I thought the point of having a gas mask was we won’t “smell” the damn gas.  He screamed again but threw a few curse words in there and we knew he meant business.  I slowly removed my mask cherishing my last inhale of air.  We sat there 10 seconds, 15, 20 until we all inhaled that horrible smell.  Not only was stank but it burned my eyes, nose and throat.  It was like swimming in 10k pounds of stale Funions while a midget poured salt in your ears.  He ordered us to leave and again it was like human Nascar as we ran for the exit.  I finally made it outside and took a nice deep breath despite I had snot and tears running down my face.  I ignored the salty mixture running down the back of my throat because I knew I had phone privileges to talk to Malina again.  This time we talk, I am going to hint at her to be my wife………