Day 32

Day 27 of BCT

     The day started with Ability Group Runs. I was dreading running. I went to "C" group again. They created a "B2" group, so most of the males moved up, so it was a much smaller group. We also had the new DS from 1st PLT, so it was a bit different. I managed the run without falling out. We ran slower than last time. 2 miles in 23 minutes. I'm thinking I need to push myself next time and move up to the "B2" group.
     After a Hot-A chow, we had time to shower and change before we marched to the Confidence Course. We were without a DS today, so our platoon was trying really hard to be on our best behavior. The march was roughly 1.5 miles and almost all uphill. Worn out from the run that morning, the march was tough mentally.
     The Confidence Course is designed to not only help you display personal courage, but also to help you work together as a team.
     Our first event was the 5 walls. In groups of 5, we had to go over 5 different walls, with each wall getting taller. I thing the 1st wall was about 6 feet, and the last wall was probably 10-12 feet. Our squad did well and the males were very encouraging and helpful to me, despite my inability to do well on my own. Next we did the Victory Slide. This was an individual event where you climbed a rope ladder, walked across a log and stepped over a step halfway, then climbed to the platform where they sent you on a zip-line for a short ride. My squad went last after chow, and I was the last to go. I'm normally not too scared of balancing challenges, but for some reason, I could not balance on the log. I wonder if the  Eye Pro we wear affected my depth perception enough to cause my imbalance. Anyway, I had almost made it to the step when I fell. My instinct was to grab the step, so I was hanging off the step. I banged my arm in the process and got a huge swollen knot on my bicep. I dropped off the step to the net below, and they made me go again. This time I made it, but of course I was crying from frustration and embarrassment. The zip-line was fun until it stopped. The jerking was fairly painful.
     Our platoon then did the Inverted Ladder. After climbing a huge ladder to the platform, you grabbed a rope, hooked your feet on the rope and slide down the rope feet first, had over hand. I was nervous I would fall, since I was so sore after falling off the log, but I managed to make it. It was actually harder that it looked. We then headed to the High Ladder, but only a few people went before we ran out of time. We policed the course for trash, then marched out. They marched us straight to the DFAC. Everyone was pumped. Most people prefer the DFAC since you can go to the salad bar and get more food with more variety. We then marched back to the company and formed up for them to instruct us on the plan for the evening. We all were getting new mattresses, so we had to carry our old ones out, put a new one on, and remove the plastic.
     Then, since we're getting a new commander, we had to get all of our TA-50 (issued gear, like ruck sacks, sleeping bags, etc.)  ready to be inventoried. Basically, we had to practice laying it out all correctly. They finally let us change to PT's for HF and go to bed. I was exhausted! But of course, I had Fireguard at 2300-0000.