Phone Call 02.01.09!

Dan called this morning! We talked for a good 20 minutes again like last Sunday. We ended the call because there was 1 minute left on the phone card. I got him a new one last night though (for some reason I couldn't recharge his, he may have given me the wrong info from it).

I took a few notes this time, so hopefully I can do a better job remembering what all was discussed.

There are now 87 people in the class and 91 people began. 1 went home due to family emergency but will be attending the next class. 2 were sent home because of weight issues. The 1st person gone was the female from Cape Cod that got picked up. No one could really believe she was accepted in the first place though so it didn't come as a huge shock.

Dan is 1 of 3 photographers for the class. He was issued a camera and has to have it with him all the time to take pictures of what is going on. Once he gets email he will be able to send pictures. I will be certain to post any that he sends my way! There is also a videographer for the class, I talk with his wife quite a bit.

He gave me a breakdown of their typical schedule.
5am-wake up
Workout
6am-back to shower, get dressed
6:40-formation and breakfast
7-back from breakfast (so only 20 min to get everyone in formation, food, and once everyone is seated they can eat)
7:15-inspection
7:30-11:30-class
lunch
12:30-4:30-class
dinner
30 minutes to cleanup
study phase 1-silent desk work or computer lab
Drill for 1 hour. If it is sunny they will go outside for it.
9-9:30-Study Phase 2-Where they can iron, shine boots, write letters, make phone calls, etc
9:30-10-Taps 2-Continute tasks from Study Phase 2 but may also shower
10-Taps

He said he has right at 100 demerits which is about the average. They hand them out in chunks like 15 or 25 at a time, so he hasn't gotten in trouble 100 times. Yesterday he received 15 because some of the members of his group were late for something so even though he was on time it's a teamwork thing.

There are 3 platoons in the company and he is the 3rd guy in his company. He holds the flag and is also incharge of sorting mail. His is in the lead academically and they've also won 2/3 drill competitions. On Monday they had their first test and he got a 90 and said he thinks that is right about par with everyone else but can't say for sure.

This past week they did a type of corporate teamwork training. He said they all had to use each other's first names which threw everyone off but it was a nice change up in what they had been doing.

Next week his memo requesting flight school is due and he is planning on working on it today. A pilot from ASCC had given Dan a copy of his memo that he wrote before Dan left to give him a guideline of what to do and what worked for him.

Billet night will be the night they return from the Eagle cruise. It is in mid-March but Dan couldn't remember off the top of his head the exact date.

Soon they will be buying their swords and dress whites. Today he's going to the BX to buy some new pants, his current ones have gotten too big. He knows the 1st week he lost 3 pounds but isn't sure since then but it's obviously been a bit if he's needing smaller pants already.

Landon didn't want to talk to Daddy but Logan was very eager too. He heard Dan's voice on the phone and started saying "Dada Dada Dada" and reaching for the phone. He misses everyone but is happy it's already February. Can hardly count May as him being gone since I'll be up there and seeing him a few days before grad anyways.

I think that's about all! He won't be able to call again until he gets the new phone card so if he gets a chance it won't be until the end of the week or weekend.



Adding a few hours later...Oh yeah, almost forgot, he said they earned caffeine on Friday! So in the mornings he has been having a cup of coffee with breakfast. Neither one of us have ever been coffee drinkers. We have a coffee pot only for when we have company lol. I told him not to go changing too much on me :)