Day 8

Day 2 of BCT

     Our first day of PT ended up being a day of instructions on how to do the exercises in the Preparation Drill. I had already learned this in RSP and since we didn't actually do the exercises, it was an easy day. Since it is actually a holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, they are a little bit calmer. Today is scheduled to be in the the classroom again, learning combat life saving techniques.
     Since I had been running a low-grade fever off and on over the last couple of days, I decided I should go ahead to sick call, as I thought I might have an urinary tract infection. I took my book to study, but I didn't figure I would miss too much. I had expected it would only take a few hours to get checked out, but ended up being gone all day. Turns out I didn't have an UTI, but rather was very dehydrated. The doctor had me get 2 liters of IV fluids. Getting back to my company was a little bit nerve-racking as the DS that picked me up yelled at me a lot. Of course, I lost a glove in the process of hurrying out of the van. So next trip to the PX, I'll be buying new gloves!
      I got back just in time for dinner. Lunch had been an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) at the sick call clinic. The rest of the day went like yesterday-Platoon Time, Hydration Formation, and lights out.
      So far there have not been as many "smokings" as I had anticipated, but what I did not foresee was how much time would be spent on my  knees. We take a knee to drink, as well as during instructions for PT. My knees are quite bruised and sore at this point, but hopefully they'll toughen up.