Tracking Kali through her Army career (Moderately non-Valk)

[f6gal]

I didn't have time to look too closely; so I didn't see her initially in the first 2.  I did catch her in the 3rd and I thought maybe one other... but looking now, the other wasn't her... no watch. 

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for the update Serk.

Glad she's.... endeavoring to persevere.

What a terrible thing to blow your head off to get out of basic.  Terrible for the victim, and terrible for the remaining cadre.  Boot is about many things but one of the big ones is building teamwork, esprit de corps and morale, and that is not good for morale. 

I just cannot understand the apparent propensity of young people to suicide out these days. 

[old2soon]

        Can NOT understand Why stead of suicide did the recruit Not seek counsoling? I already KNEW cuz we were told in Boot we had like a better than 95% chance of going to where those then current hostilities were-Nam. Far as I can recall no one opted for suicide. We did on the other hand suffer some losses on Yankee Station with aircraft incidents and flight deck accidents. But That's another tale fer another time. RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

For some reason Fort Leonard Wood has a way higher suicide rate than any other BCT base... So of course, the Army has a totally useless program to address it which at best has no effect, at worst makes life even MORE miserable for the recruits...

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/07/22/fort-leonard-wood-reports-highest-number-of-basic-trainee-suicide-attempts/

---------Hard Topic Switch-----------

Well that was a pleasant surprise. Just got a phone call from Kali. Evidently anyone with family in Texas was allowed a quick call to check on them from the tropical storm.... She played up our friendship with Hotglue and Flamingobabe and how close they are to the storms so got a good 15 minute talk with her.

Her pneumonia was getting better, but during The Anvil field exercise she got "shot" and was "dead" laying down, when one of the DS thought it'd be funny to toss a smoke grenade right next to her head.

Since then the cough has gotten worse again, but she's pushing through. (She said it was awful, but in the 15 minutes or so we had of a call, I never heard a cough, so.....)

Her platoon misbehaved last week at some point (I never got an answer as to WHAT they did) so instead of phasing to Blue phase, where they should be by now, they reverted to Red phase (Phases: Yellow -> Red -> White -> Blue. The further along, the greater the privileges, less strict the DS become, etc.)

[Serk]

From a Facebook group of family/friends of trainees in Kali's regiment, I think I've pieced together what happened...

Evidently some males on Sunday SAID they were going to church services, but instead went to the big PX on base, bought a bunch of candy and other contraband, brought it back to the barracks and were selling it for exorbitant prices...

And with the "group punishment" mindset of the military, the entire regiment got smoked. HARD.

(I haven't heard, but I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if a blanket party was held later that night...)

[The emperor has no clothes]

From a Facebook group of family/friends of trainees in Kali's regiment, I think I've pieced together what happened...

Evidently some males on Sunday SAID they were going to church services, but instead went to the big PX on base, bought a bunch of candy and other contraband, brought it back to the barracks and were selling it for exorbitant prices...

And with the "group punishment" mindset of the military, the entire regiment got smoked. HARD.

(I haven't heard, but I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if a blanket party was held later that night...)

I’m surprised they were able to have access to the PX. I’m not surprised the entire group paid the price.

[Jess from VA]

I've told the story of my boy scout troop staying at a NAS (naval air station) barracks while basic training was going on, and getting some close order drill taught us by real DIs (with nicer language).

We also ate in the chow hall with them, but were not required to eat in 3 minutes.

While on our own time, a Navy boot asked if I would buy him a coke and candy bar and shoved some money at me.  I knew this was verboten so I readily agreed to the conspiracy.      Plus, he looked pretty bedraggled and wore out so how could I refuse?

When I got back with the stuff, he said he could not get caught, so I was to open the coke and have a sip and then when no one was looking offer him a sip. He drained that bottle in one chug.  Then the same thing with the candy bar.  He thanked me with a big smile.

I could never understand the Jones for sugar stuff, or what the Navy/Marines called Pogey Bait.

However, I recently discovered Key Lime pie for the first time, which really isn't really all that sweet.  But it sure is yummy. 

[f6gal]

I've told the story of my boy scout troop staying at a NAS (naval air station) barracks while basic training was going on, and getting some close order drill taught us by real DIs (with nicer language).

We also ate in the chow hall with them, but were not required to eat in 3 minutes.

While on our own time, a Navy boot asked if I would buy him a coke and candy bar and shoved some money at me.  I knew this was verboten so I readily agreed to the conspiracy.      Plus, he looked pretty bedraggled and wore out so how could I refuse?

When I got back with the stuff, he said he could not get caught, so I was to open the coke and have a sip and then when no one was looking offer him a sip. He drained that bottle in one chug.  Then the same thing with the candy bar.  He thanked me with a big smile.

I could never understand the Jones for sugar stuff, or what the Navy/Marines called Pogey Bait.

However, I recently discovered Key Lime pie for the first time, which really isn't really all that sweet.  But it sure is yummy. 

OMG!  Pogey Bait!  I haven't heard that term in years!  (Dad was a Marine.)

[Jess from VA]

(Dad was a Marine.)

Mine too.  1950-4 or something like that. 

I was manufactured at Camp Lejeune NC.

Semper Fi. 

[f6gal]

(Dad was a Marine.)

Mine too.  1950-4 or something like that.  

I was manufactured at Camp Lejeune NC.

Semper Fi.  

I'm not sure what years he was in.  52-56'ish.  He was in Korea.

[old2soon]

        Maybe 3-4 weeks after reaching U S S Yorktown we were no longer going to the ships store we were gittin gedunks and pogey baits! Took a bit of time to recall routes to chow hall Our Squadron offices squadron shops ships store and berthing. And relearn the routes during G Q Drills-general quarters. Those candy bars warm sodas and other "civvy crap" gave almost a sense of normalcy to around the clock combat footing. But ALWAYS Never enough taken aboard for however long we were on Yankee Station. BUT we Always had plenty of coffee plenty of recombined eggs and recombined milk and plenty of baking supplies for bread donuts sweet rolls and generally had enough tobasco sauce salt and pepper and mustard and ketchup for the 24 hr burger line. Fresh fruit and fresh veggies did not last long on a cruise and even harder to come by on Yankee Station. Even 2 month old boxes from home with by now stale cookies made in The World were welcome!   Even as my 1st cruise progressed I was now breaking in greenies!   Remember splainin to my Children gedunks and pogey baits. First Wife was a Wave Navy Corpsman. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

(Dad was a Marine.)

Mine too.  1950-4 or something like that.  

I was manufactured at Camp Lejeune NC.

Semper Fi.  

I'm not sure what years he was in.  52-56'ish.  He was in Korea.

My dad enlisted rather than get drafted into likely (immediately from boot camp) Korean service.  He wanted to be with the best unit he could find if he was going into combat.  He was struggling finding work sufficient to fund college (including steel mill track labor) (halfway through straight A civil engineering) and a wife, and enlistment gave him the GI bill.

They immediately began using his engineering (and not rifle skills, though he was expert in Carbine and Garand).  He ran a small unit of men in this work, with a putative jr officer who didn't come around much, and a top sergeant, but he did all the math and design and drawing and survey and materials, and supervision of work.  He designed and built the front gate at Lejeune at that time (it's long gone).  He later got sent to Vieques Island (south of Puerto Rico) to design and build runways for Marine combat ground support aviation training (back when they discovered the Air Force did not care for flying low and slow and getting shot at). They lived in tents, and traded K and C rations for local food, and a cook.  The Navy had used Vieques for many years for surface Naval live fire training, and now they would bomb it.  My mom was (very) pregnant with me at their meager (and no car, walk for food) enlisted quarters there, and his assignment was to be for many months so she lost her right to stay in housing so had to return to home to deliver me.  This pissed her off because she liked the Lejeune Navy hospital care very much, and my delivery there was to be $7.  But back home in the private hospital it cost her around $50.    (mom and dad had waited to get married until they had saved up $300)

Dad received orders to Korea three times, and each time his top sergeant said no you can take any other man from my unit but this one, and the orders were killed three times.  He made SSgt in one enlistment in the early 50s.  They tried very hard to send him to OCS but he did not want a military career, and wanted to go right back to college to finish his degree (which he did, with honors).  

Many years later, when I was in HS, my dad's old (long retired) top sergeant came to visit us with his wife in an RV (before they were so popular) from somewhere like AZ.  He was this old grizzled tough bullet of a man and I got to sit and listen to them talk about the old days of their military service.  Dad passed in 12'.

Sorry for the book.  It is a story I am proud of.    

[carolinarider09]

(Dad was a Marine.)

Mine too, was station in Hawaii.  He was a pilot.  Did not talk about it much but I do have some videos he did after the war while he was still in Hawaii waiting to come home.   I might post one just for fun.  I still have his movie camera, 16mm Bolex.

[mbramley]

 Thanks for keeping us all updated thru Kali's journey. As for this old Marine it brings back many memories and realizations of how things change. Please let her know that I like many others here think she is doing an awesome thing. I was trying to make it for graduation but my treatments have used up all my pto time. I saw some statistics how the percentage of the population that are veterans is declining. She will be forever in a elite group and will have done things that most can only dream about.

[..]

Thanks for the updates.

[Serk]

Looking like we won't be getting a call from Kali today, others from her platoon have reported calls already. Hoping she didn't do anything too stupid to get smoked.

Regardless, tomorrow (Monday) morning at either 1AM or 4AM (Have heard both times) she heads into The Forge.... So if you like to send warm thoughts, positive energy, prayers, etc, this would be a good time to send some her way... This is the big final exam basically, sorta like The Crucible for the Marines, but even longer.

They leave as trainees, come back as soldiers.

And she's not letting the DS know this, but we think the day of the formal initiation ceremony (Where they don their berets and the DS first refer to them as Soldiers, instead of pond scum) will be on her 19th birthday.

We're not sure yet if she'll get the 96 hour version or the 72 hour version, but a few highlights from either:

[3fan4life]

My guess would be that her group will do the 72 hr.

It would seem to me that the 96 hrs would be for recruits headed to combat MOS'.

[Serk]

My guess would be that her group will do the 72 hr.

It would seem to me that the 96 hrs would be for recruits headed to combat MOS'.

That was my assumption as well, but all the MOS (Other than a few like MP) train together at this point. Was told the decision is up to the DS, how they're feeling, the weather, other schedule conflicts with the training areas, etc...

[Serk]

Just when we'd given up on hearing from her, the phone rings with her special ring tone.

The pneumonia is mostly gone, just occasionally still coughing up things that look like they wanna scurry away.

She's gotten a rash of poison ivy on her hands, but that kinda thing comes with the territory.

She was told they start The Forge at 1AM tomorrow morning, but they might do an even more abbreviated version than normal, evidently severe weather is possible the coming week, and if that happens they pull 'em out and just say they're done. She's actually hoping that does NOT happen, she wants the full thing.

Due to the candy thing (She was told that it was some trainees sneaking into the supply room, stealing MRE's and just taking the candy out of them.) they're going to lose 2 hours from Family Day.

Looking at these pics, she's changed. Physically, as well as just how she carries herself.

[Serk]

Other than possible storms today and tomorrow, and a little on the nippy side overnight, couldn't have ordered better weather for The Forge this week!

[f6gal]

Other than possible storms today and tomorrow, and a little on the nippy side overnight, couldn't have ordered better weather for The Forge this week!

Did she start at 0100 today?

[Serk]

Did she start at 0100 today?

All indications are yes.

[Serk]

Latest info from the command staff on family day and graduation:

[carolinarider09]

I would like to attend but, alas we will have just returned from a pre-planned week long trip to see my daughters new home near Richmond, VA.   

I did notice something in the announcement that begs a question, though.  0830 is 08:30AM, no doubt.  But why is 8:15 PM 20:15.  I thought it was 2015 or am I wrong?

You know inquiring minds.

[f6gal]

I would like to attend but, alas we will have just returned from a pre-planned week long trip to see my daughters new home near Richmond, VA.   

I did notice something in the announcement that begs a question, though.  0830 is 08:30AM, no doubt.  But why is 8:15 PM 20:15.  I thought it was 2015 or am I wrong?

You know inquiring minds.

It also says 20:00 for 8:00 PM

[Jess from VA]

It's possible they are inserting the colon so they don't have to write 2000 hrs.

Also, any written communication that included a bunch of numbers (weights, distances, quantities) could get confusing with hundred hour times added in (without hrs added after the time), so the colon may now be added to avoid possible confusion (and delete hrs).

I'm just guessing. 

I remember when 2nd and 3rd became 2d and 3d.  Though 1st and 4th remained unchanged.  I was a chairborne ranger and did a lot of staff work.      

[..]

http://militarytimechart.com/

[old2soon]

       Using the 24 hr clock eliminates mistakes. And when I served it was pronounced-zero8hundred hours. seventeen hundred hours. nineteen hundred hours and thirty one minutes. In any log it was printed as 1900 HRS 0800 HRS. And when I started drivin big truck I had bosses that liked to use the 24hr clock. My cell phone shows the 24 hr clock. Once you git used to it easy peasy. Oh Fire House and Ambulance logs were 24 hr clock. RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

I live by the 24 hour clock (whenever possible). There are some clocks / devices that it is not possible.

[Serk]

It's kinda funny, Kali preferred military time way before she ever talked about thinking about considering joining the military...

Got some pics of their progress in The Forge today....

This this MIGHT be her on the left, but not sure:



Don't see her specifically in any of these, but she's in there somewhere (And a general flavor of what they're up to)

[old2soon]

        I've got some minor rollin hills here within a 2 block area. When I walk around those 2 blocks my lungs and legs tell me When we iz goin uphill!  And they are all wearing their packs. And They ARE mucho younger and in Way betta shape!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Wow, that almost looks like fun.... for an 18-20yr old.  

Dear mom and dad, I miss you and wish you were here.  The camping is awesome.


Hey, what did that dude say about snakes again?  Don't shoot them with the blank adapter, it makes them cranky.


This actually kills all the mosquitoes.


Now I understand the reference to Leg Infantry.

Hey, who's the asshole way out front there?  Whycha just run up there and find out?  

Apologies.

When you get a chance, ask her if they still march to Jody calls (for cadence) anymore.  Most were crude and not meant for mixed company.  But they serve a good purpose for marching and morale.  I wonder if they do it at all, or have some polite ones they use.  

I don't know, but I've been told......

[scooperhsd]

Jess - ya got a million of them

[Jess from VA]

It's a disease I tell you.   

[Serk]

Hey, what did that dude say about snakes again?  Don't shoot them with the blank adapter, it makes them cranky.

...

When you get a chance, ask her if they still march to Jody calls (for cadence) anymore.  Most were crude and not meant for mixed company.  But they serve a good purpose for marching and morale.  I wonder if they do it at all, or have some polite ones they use.  

I don't know, but I've been told......

An actual concern, several parents/spouses in the groups I'm in have reported their trainees/soldiers being bit by snakes while on The Forge or other field training exercises... (And several have reported snakes between sleeping bags and other such things.

And yeah, they do cadence. Some of the REALLY crude ones are no longer in vogue, but she's been sending us pages of the ones she remembers and likes. Evidently being allowed to call cadence is a privilege they use, and take away when they're not performing up to expectations.

Few examples she's sent us in letters:







The exact text that accompanied the above photos (The photos, not the scans of the cadence from her letters) btw: "The FORGE field training exercise began with a 10 mile road march and currently our trainees are conducting patrolling lanes that focus on basic Soldier skills such as shoot, move, communicate, and survive. Great job Blackfoot!"

[Serk]

It's official. As of around 1AM this morning Kali's officially a United States Army Soldier.

On her 19th birthday.

Bet she'll never forget THIS birthday!

I don't see her specifically in the pics, but she's in there somewhere, some pics of the final manuevers of The Forge, the night infiltration live fire course, and the Army patching ceremony:

















...now if ya'll will excuse me for a minute, there are some onion cutting ninjas in my room right now...

[da prez]

  It brings back memories from 1966.   I did basic in the 101 Airborne . I was not a jumper. I remember the live fire training. Tracer rounds were used so you could see , and feel live fire.  It was set up five feet over head, Close enough to make some create lemonade in their skivvies. 

                                          da prez

[old2soon]

       Well Serk least ways there ARE pics and maybe vids fer the proud Papa moment and Extremely fantastic it was recorded for posterity and worrisome Parents! And whether Kali decides on 4 years 6 years or 30 years the DD214 at the other end IS just as Important as the Momenet she became a United States Army Soldier!  Well done and oohrah!    And a 1% to be Extra Proud of. RIDE SAFE.

[f6gal]

Congratulations and Happy Birthday Kali!! 

[bassman]

 ABSOLUTELY!   Congratulations and a very Bappy Hirthday Kali !!