LTE: Field training
Finally asleep. Nerves at rest for the time being, my mind wanders into normal dreams of life in Logan, time with friends, Aggie Ice Cream and any other normal part of what life was when I woke up yesterday. This would be the last time for a while that dreams would be “normal.” Whistles blow, boots pound on the door, yelling ensues. It’s 4:00 a.m. on day one of 27.
Yesterday, May 20, I flew from Salt Lake City International into Atlanta, Georgia and was then bussed to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama to attend field training for the Air Force ROTC program, representing the USU ROTC detachment. Upon arrival I am greeted by men and women in Air Force camouflage, but I use the term “greeted” quite loosely in this case. I am told to grab my 50-pound bag in one hand and my backpack in the other, as putting them comfortably on my back simply would not do on training day zero. I am ordered to go stand in line at attention with my mouth shut and eyes focused on an imaginary dot 1000 yards in front of me. Luckily I am one of the last groups to arrive, so I am sent to bed shortly afterward, spared the majority of day zero shock. When the whistles start blowing, my bags are not unpacked, and organization in the room is nonexistent, but the whistle blowers and boot pounders cannot understand how it could possibly take me and my dazed roommates longer than 90 seconds to be dressed and standing in the hallway. Eventually I am rushed into the hallway with so much adrenaline pumping that my arms and legs are shaking. Upon entering I see all the members of my flight of 23 Air Force cadets from universities spread throughout every part of the country for the first time. The thought that these boys and girls would soon become my lifeline, my support group, and my close friends did not cross my mind at 4:03 in the morning. But then again, how could it?
Whistles and yelling tend to block most thoughts from crossing my mind. On day one we all go through the general schedule that we would follow for the next month. Every day is filled with workouts, marching, three meals, marching, academic classes, marching, cleaning, marching, raising the flag and bringing it down, marching, a glorious 30 minutes before bed to prepare for the next day and letter writing if time permits, and then finally bedtime at 9:30.
During the 27 days of field training we would be trained, tested, and evaluated. We would learn how to better lead our peers and perform in high stress environments so that we would be ready to work and lead upon commissioning as officers in the United States Air Force. Every branch of the military has its form of basic training, or boot camp. Field training is for ROTC cadets, and it is done typically between sophomore and junior year. It is the crucible one must go through to become an upperclassman and eventually an officer. The first half will be spent on the Air Force base in Alabama and is focused on testing and refining skills such as marching, dormitory maintenance, and testing our skills as leaders and followers. Halfway through we will be put back on a bus and shipped to Camp Shelby Army Base near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. For this half we will be in a mock deployment environment, learning the general ins and outs of deployed life in the Air Force and will continue to be tested on our character and skills. Our instructors/evaluators throughout field training are Air Force officers and upper class cadets from universities all over the country.
The following 27 days would be grueling, hot, incredibly humid for an Aggie, exhausting, and difficult, but it also would be rewarding, educational, and completely worth it. I didn’t consider that on some days I might completely sweat through four different sets of clothes in one day. I didn’t know that later we would be given lessons in combatives, where we learn techniques to defend ourselves and incapacitate our attackers. I didn’t know I would learn how to clear buildings of threats and other tactical techniques. I didn’t know I would be given on average eight minutes to eat and would eat every meal at attention, sitting on the front six inches of my chair with a straight back and keeping my chin up with no exceptions. I didn’t expect to learn to depend on my flight mates and that we would quickly grow together as a team. I didn’t think that I would learn so much about complete strangers and could actually have fun and make some lasting memories amidst the daily challenges of training. I had no idea I would grow as a person and learn life lessons that would make me a better leader, follower, student, and teacher. I didn’t know this would be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding months of my life. Then again, how could I think about all of that…? After all, whistles were blowing, boots were pounding, people were yelling, and it was just 4:03 a.m. on day one of 27.
—Pete Coats