Shoup Airlines

Rewind

As I adjust to working the back side of the clock this week, I’ve put in some more entries from the last week and a half of Basic. Enjoy.

Hoot! Hoot!

As is nearly always the case, I got what I wanted but in typical Shafty fashion.

While in-processing here at Ft. Eustis we were all praying that we would get ‘classed’ as soon as possible to avoid cleaning details and other crappy assignments while waiting for a class. There are some people that have been here over a month waiting for a class and you have no control over it whatsoever! Sometimes there aren’t enough people to start a class, you need five, at other times it just depends on where you sit on the totem pole. National Guard (damn right!) and Reserves go first and then Regular Army for priority. States don’t want to have to pay anymore than they have to for their soldiers. Suits me just fine.

So as I mentioned I got classed last night. Yeah! Good for me. Now comes the catch. When a Drill Sergeant says you are going to be part of an experiment, you know the next thing coming out of his/her mouth will NEVER EVER be good.

“We’ve never done this before [He has no idea what's going on], so be patient with us [or I'll smoke the living piss out of you] as we use you guys as an experiment for a new class on the Blackhawk.

Your schedule will be as follows:

2130 Wake Up (Yes, that’s 9:30 PM!)

2300 Formation

2330 Breakfast (It’s all relative)

0030 Class

0400 Lunch

0500 Class

0830 Formation

0900 PT (My favorite part!!)

1000 Dinner

1430 Lights out

You will officially be known as Night Owls [because the huge bags under our eyes and Bela Lugosi colored faces won't be enough to identify us, we need a name!]. We want you to set an example for this group since you will be the first [none of us will be around at those ungodly hours to babysit you], so don’t screw around. Again, be patient with all of this as you are the first group, we still don’t have everything down pat yet.

By the way, you will be playing catch up since technically class should have started last night. Good luck. Oh yeah, Specialist Shoup, you are being put in charge of the group [Damnit! That rank is a giant bullseye. Stupid overachiever!] Fall out!”

We’ll never mind the fact that we had to get up at 0400 this morning for a briefing from the Batallion commander or the fact that we’re all living on the second floor where everyone is a DayHawk. Earplugs and eye covers here I come!

Now there is an explanation for when this blog sinks further into delirium and everyone is wondering what the heck happenened. Not that most of you don’t think that already. I know I do, as does the second voice, but the Spanish speaking third voice is still defiant at this point.

For those of you who enjoyed torturing me with snail mail in Basic, this is my new address:

SPC Shoup, Michael
C. Co. 1/222 AVN REGT. 15T
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604

Be forewarned though, I’ve been told mail call sucks around here. That may go double for the Night Owls as they told us mail call would be at 2300. Yeah!

Ft. Eustis (Useless)

Ft. Jackson was put in the rear view mirror and middle finger was proudly extended. The bus ride to Ft. Eustis was actually quite relaxing. No Drill Sergeants, a seat that reclines, and an MP3 player. Nine weeks of no music can really make a difference. Try it sometime!

Now that we’re here at Useless, we’re debating whether we should turn back around. All the privileges we had during the last two days at Jackson have been revoked for at least 5 weeks! They break things down into Status levels, us FNGs being in Red Status this weekend, we can’t leave the barracks. In one week, after passing yet another PT test, we go to Amber Status, then we can roam the post. Yeah! At the 5 week mark, we go to Green Status if we can pass, guess what, another PT test. Then we can skedaddle on down to Norfolk, but still have to be back on base that night. I’ve heard it isn’t until week 10 that we can leave for the whole weekend. Sucks! Sucks! Sucks!

I’m attached to Charlie Company again, so that should make things easy. Most rooms are 3 and 4 man rooms, so the reinstated level of privacy is quite nice. The college freshman dorm life I never had permeates all though, so I’m sure Animal House-esque stories will ensue.

Did I mention we’re not allowed to have laptops either? Too much of a liability for thievery. There are two laptops in the barracks, but you can’t check email. I was actually surprised I was able to get on my own site! This is going to be a long 16 weeks. My cell phone will still be the best way to get a hold of me. It might be a few more weeks before I can get to the library and use the net.

Anyway, bare with me here while I rant and not rave about this place. I’m sure there will be some more laughs ahead. Excuse me while I go fall in and get issued yet another M-16. Because you need those while wrenching on a Blackhawk.