June 6, 1997 - Firewatch

Note: occasionally during boot camp, I was unable to write a journal entry every day. When that happens, I will write the next entry and repeat it until we get to the actual, original date it was written. For example, today's post was actually written on June 8.

970608 - On 970605 we were put into our real squad bay w/ our real DIs. They yelled a lot but also taught us a lot. On 970606 we woke up at 0500 and began training. We learned drill + how to clean the squad bay. On 970607 we did more of the same. On 970608, today (Sunday), we went to Chapel after waking up at 0600. The Chapel was so amazing that I was moved to tears several times. The weather (thank God) has been in the high 60s to low 70s and not really humid. I'm enjoying it now as I'm sure it won't last.

Every night throughout boot camp, there were always two recruits assigned something called "firewatch." This was an hour-long job which was typically assigned through rotation. However, it was also occasionally given as a punishment. Essentially, it was the job of firewatch to walk through the squad bay and head (bathroom), making sure everyone is asleep or "doing their business" in the head quickly and that nothing goes wrong and no one goes missing. Along with that basic responsibility, different shifts had additional responsibilities. For example, the first shift had to sweep up all of the dust that the platoon brushed to the center of the squad bay prior to going to bed (more on this when I go over a typical day in a later post). The last hour of firewatch (0400-0500) had to wake the Drill Instructor. This was accomplished by standing at the hatch (door) to the DI hut (their room), slapping three times on the wall, and announcing the time. It went something like this:

Recruit stands at hatch. 
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
Recruit: SIR! The time on deck is 0410, SIR!

This was done every ten minutes from 0400 until 0500. Sometimes, therefore, despite the fact that the lights were out from 2100 until 0500, we would not typically get a full 8 hours of sleep.

One of the ways that my recruiter had me prepare for boot camp was to have me memorize the General Orders for Sentries. These were the orders that governed the firewatch (and any other guard, for that matter). Here are the ones I remember.

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place in sight or hearing.
3. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, and Officers and Non-Commissioned officers of the guard only.
4. To repeat all orders and information to posts more distant to the guardhouse than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.
6. I forget.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8. I forget.
9. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
10. To salute all officers, officers of the day, and all colors and standards not cased.
11. Not sure if there were 11.

Now that that's done, here are the actual general orders, found online: 

1.  To take charge of this post and all government property in view. 2.  To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on then alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing. 3.  To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce. 4.  To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own. 5.  To quit my post only when properly relieved. 6.  To receive, obey, and pass on the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only. 7.  To talk to no one except in line of duty. 8.  To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder. 9.  To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions. 10.  To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased. 11.  To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority. I was pretty close.