Rook Week: Mission complete
Every since I heard of Norwich, I listened to students talk about their rook week experiences. Some talked highly, some talked poorly, and others said that it was a blur. For me, rook week days went by very slow. They were long and the nights felt too short, but looking back on the last 7 days--they flew by.
Saying goodbye to my family and friends was very difficult. What do you say to those you love at such a changing time? I couldn't help but wonder if I was doing the right thing and needless to say, I shed a few tears. My mom, dad, and I stood amongst all the other incoming rooks and for 10 minutes--we said our goodbyes. I insisted to everyone back home that there would be no goodbye because it would make me sad. When I hung out with my friends in the last few days before Norwich, we enchanged casual, "See you later." Saying goodbye seems to final.
Soon after our parents left, we were introduced to our cadre. Sometimes we like our cadre, sometimes not, but at the end of the day it is their job to train us to be better. We have to push ourselves and work together, but with their guidance.
As a rook, everything is planned out for you and listening is the only key. I've determined in the last 7 days that if you listen, it's not so bad. The cadre won't yell as much and you'll feel less stressed. This is something I want to continue.
This week started with PT every morning, followed by orientation classes, military skills, SOPing (standard operating procedure), and drill and ceremony. We have learned a lot and accomplished a lot, but the journey is only beginning. My company, Foxtrot, didn't lose anyone. We began rook week with 29 and came out with 29. Our cadre informed us that several of the other companies lost 4 or 5 people. Rumor has it that someone quit on the first day.
Military Skills Day was pretty awesome. We got to motivate each other through the obstacle course--this was my favorite part of the day. Your rook buddies become family. We were told this from the start and after a few short hours without our cadre around--we're all already becoming very close. We're all in this together.
Today was another big day. We had the Dog River Run, the Cadet Oath Ceremony, and our diagnostic PT test. Running the river with my rook buddies was absolutely amazing. It was cold, but felt good because Vermont has had unreasonably humid climate the last few days. We ran down to the river, crawled through the muddy worm pits, then continued through the water. We stopped periodically to do pushups and flutter kicks in the water. We yelled and chanted, "Fired up, Foxtrot!" We also picked out a good size rock to carry back to the barracks with us. My rock is pretty big. I wrote the date on it and will keep it forever.
After the Oath ceremony/parade, we had the PT test--another event where motivation was key. The Corps uses the Army PFT. which is a 2-mile run, 2 minutes of pushups, and 2 minutes of situps. I got through it pretty well. I want to improve my running skill, which I'm sure I will. Some people had trouble on the run, but their rook buddies helped them out and they finished it up.
We've learned over the last week that there are 2 important people in a race--the first person because they win and the last person because they finished, even if they knew that they lost. This is an example of the school motto, "I will try." You may not always be the best, but if you tried you're best--that's the important part.
This recruit is tired and is now going to bed. Classes start tomorrow. I'm nervous but excited at the same time. We'll see how it goes..
Holly
