“Death Dealers” was the name of our Company in the 2/81 Armor Battalion. Within that I was assigned to 4th platoon, where our mascot became the fierce wolverine (the animal, not the x-man, for you comic book aficionados). They gave all the companies and platoons these extraordinary names and mascots to teach us unit pride and to let us feel as though we are a part of something bigger. For me, they just helped me figure out where I had to go, God knows I wouldn’t have remembered all of the numbers and alphanumeric names of which unit I belonged to on the first day. It was much like kindergarten, if I was lost, I could just point to which animal I belonged to and sent on my way, doing several pushups along the way for being lost in the first place.
Day one was a skirmish of everyone trying to do exactly what Drill Sergeant was telling us to do, and blaming everyone else when it didn’t work out, causing us to do pushups. Pushups became a way of life for us. Drill Sergeant became so good at having us do pushups, that occasionally, for no reason at all, we would just start doing pushups, in the absence of Drill Sergeant! I don’t think that feeling returned to my arms until about 6 weeks after basic training had ended.
We started out in a large field surrounded by several barracks belonging to our unit and several other units training there as well. We formed in large circles and stood behind our duffle bags. Drill Sergeant came around for one last inspection to ensure that no contraband make it into our barracks. Then we did some pushups and proceeded into our barracks, which would be home for the next 16 weeks.
The next task was to learn how to make a bed and put our clothes away. I know what you’re thinking; “I already know how to make a bed and put my clothes away”. Well, do pushups just for assuming you know something, we did. First of all, your bed has to be made, and under no circumstance deviate from being without a single wrinkle. The corner angle must extend from the foot of the bed to 6 inches exactly, to the micron! Second, your wall closet must be displayed as though it were in a museum, in accordance with the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure). I remember that once during an inspection, a fellow soldier in my squad’s bay had a sock which had not been rolled to exactly 4 inches in width. My first thought was that Drill Sergeant would have an aneurism. He completed his inspection by pulling EVERY nicely displayed drawer out of EVERY nicely displayed wall locker and threw them in EVERY direction, all the while firmly asserting that we are worthless dogs and will never amount to anything. Once we finished our pushups, we returned everything to where it needed to be and pleasantly thanked the young man who could not figure out how to accurately complete the task of folding one’s socks.
After we had our beds made and clothes put away, we all gathered with Drill Sergeant in one of the squad bays and had some quality time introducing ourselves to Drill Sergeant. It was here that I first learned that Drill Sergeant was not in fact the name his parents gave him. His real name was Lamont Williams, the finest man alive and my biggest inspiration. He instructed us, however, that if we ever call him anything other than Drill Sergeant, we would be doing pushups. Then, for good measure, he let us do some anyways.
The first week of Basic Training went off without a hitch. We were learning soldiering skills left and right; things ranging from first aid on the battlefield to self-defense tactics. Oh, and PT (physical training) LOTS of PT! Every time the clock hit 5:30 (AM and PM), we would be out running around and doing other physical activities. Later when the weather turned too cold outside to do PT, which was seldom and must have been in the negatives, we would simulate running in the barracks in what was called “indoor PT”. We would run and do jumping jacks indoors until the humidity (yes, from sweat) rose to 400% and the smell became so intense that Drill Sergeant couldn’t take it anymore. It was a glorious time for all!
Among the many other things we learned during the first week, there were several things that stood out the most. We learned that boot leather can be polished to look like a mirror. It took just a little shoe polish and a lot of spit. Drill Sergeant wanted to at all times be able to see his reflection in the reflection of your left boot from the reflection on your right boot. We also learned that water was the answer to everything. “Drill Sergeant, my arms hurt”, one soldier would say. “DRINK WATER”, Drill Sergeant would affirm. “Drill Sergeant, I have shin splints”; “DRINK WATER”; “Drill Sergeant, my dog died at home and my girlfriend broke up with me”; yes, indeed “DRINK WATER”.
Just about everything we learned in the first week of Basic Training was enacted through its entirety. I’m sure the drill sergeants had a marvelous time breaking us down. Lord knows we did enough pushups for them to be tired and sore.
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