Day 11

At 0350 the first chalk fell in for the PT test.  The second followed at 0520 and the third at 0650.  Virginia is a warm place in July.  It is about 90 degrees by 0900 with humidity in the 80-90% range.  Needless the say, the earlier the chalk, the cooler the weather.  However, the human body isn’t really used to full exertion in the middle of the night either.

There is a large range of physical fitness within our class.  Two class members (that I know of) ran sub 11:10 for the two mile portion.  That’s 5:35 a mile.  Ladies and gentleman that is flat moving.  A number of class members maxed out the push-up and sit-up events.

I won’t tell you his name, but I had to opportunity to conduct my PT test with a particularly bad-butt class member.  I mean this guy is kick-butt.  He stands about 4’11” on his toes and is like a little piece of steel.  A prior service Company Commander, the only thing stopping this guy from being promoted to General as soon as possible is that he isn’t a graduate of a Big Ten school (he knows who he is, and he also asked me to make him famous in my blog – and the height bit was his own humor).  All kidding aside about him, there are a number of really fit class members.  But regardless of a class member’s level of physical fitness today, no one quit during the PT test.  Everyone gave 100% of what he/she had to give.

For those that weren’t successful in obtaining passing scores, the Cadre has 10 weeks to get the class to 100% passage.  I trust that they will.  We all have what it takes - some just need a little training and assistance.

After the PT test was completed and chow had been consumed, the class fell in again for ID card issue, and the Reserve Component class members got a DD 214 briefing.

Tomorrow is our last full day at Ft. Lee.  The day starts with PT in the morning and is followed by a full day of briefings.  Friday starts with a safety brief and what will amount to a convoy to Phase II in Charlottesville.  The day in Charlottesville will be consumed with in-processing and lodging check-in.

As I mentioned in my last post, Saturday is either zero day or the first day off in twelve (12) days.  To those competing in zero day, they are in for a workout.  There are four (4) ways it can end; an injury; the class members falls out; the Cadre taps them on the shoulder and tells them they are done; or they make it all the way through.

A word about Airborne and Air Assault – the competition is for a chance at a slot and funding.  Sometimes the funding isn’t there.  Sometimes the slots are not available.  And sometimes the competitor is a Reserve Component class member who must get funding from their home unit.  Regardless of the component, the funding and the slots, the main idea is that competition and physical fitness is good for the class member and the Corps.  There will be a lot of high-speed competitors.  They have their own PT groups at Phase II.  Participation isn’t mandatory, but the pride of success is worth the price to all the competitors.