Hi everyone,
I planned on writing a blog last weekend, but it was difficult to write about pre-recognition events when I know that a lot of the freshmen (including my own) read what I post.
Anyhow, last weekend was reversed. Typically, Saturday is a training day and Sunday is a day of rest (academic day). Because of the impending recognition ceremony for the freshmen, Friday & Saturday were study days.
While the freshmen conducted study hall on Friday afternoon, 3rd Battalion staff had an OPORD brief to explain what the plan of the weekend would be. We also got to ask a lot of questions about upcoming training for the freshmen & how the rest of the year should turn out.
Saturday was the last football marchdown of the year for the conference championship that Norwich won. Congratulations to the football team!
Sunday started early. At 0615, there was a Regimental room inspection for all of the freshmen & cadre staff. At 1100, we stepped off for a 9.9K ruck march up Dole Hill, and administered a Rook Knowledge Test thereafter. At this point, the freshmen were really pumped up and because of the "rumor mill," they thought Sunday night was recognition night. Well, it wasn't - but we pretended!
Most cadre staffs had a "fake recognition" wherein we got each platoon on the wall in Super B uniform and gave speeches on how far they've come. From there, we told them to go to bed. Sure, it may sound cruel - but it was necessary to deter the rumors about when recognition ceremony would take place.
Recognition was, in fact, on Monday night. When I returned from clinical, I went through my nightly routine of asking my freshmen how their days were and so on. At 2155, while our Platoon Sergeant was conducting nightly passdown (letting the freshmen know what's going on the next day), Artillery fired the cannons and we quickly got the freshmen into Super B's for the ceremony.
Not to give too many details away, but we marched all the rooks down to Plumley Armory & the ceremony commenced from there. Afterwards, we marched back to the barracks and gave them a speech about how far they've come & what needs to be accomplished now. Now that the freshmen have learned how to follow, they can begin learning how to lead.
Because recognition was so early in the year, few privileges were awarded with their rank of Private. They still have white nametags, so they're not upperclassmen yet! In the words of our Battalion Commander: "It only gets harder from here." The real test has yet to come.
So for that, congratulations on your acceptance into the Corps of Cadets - Class of 2013.
As for me? Being in the cadre role of the recognition ceremony was nothing like what I expected it to be. I actually got kind of nervous. I felt really proud to be changing the rank on my squad's uniforms. That's a once in a lifetime experience I am glad I got to take part in.
That's it for now! It's Thursday & as I said before, I do not have any classes on Friday. That means Thanksgiving break starts today for me! I'm headed home.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Until next time,
Holly
Comments