Drivers Training

I am currently completing drivers training for the M1151 and 52 series Humvees. Training started a few days ago with the rollover simulator and was followed by a classroom and hands-on familiarization yesterday. Apparently not everyone saw my note about not reading their training slides because we were murdered with the most brutal powerpoint training to date yesterday. To add insult to injury, the test we were given had questions that weren't even part of the slides. Thanks to some good guessing, I passed and didn't have to sit through the training again.

Today started pretty early but we finally got to operate the vehicles. First was a quick lap to prove we could drive responsibly. Next was a session in backing, which turned out to be a great laugh at the expense of those who couldn't back the vehicle in a straight line. Following that came the final event, consisting of a lap through the base, where we were sent twisting and turning through streets and parking lots to prove we could obey traffic laws. Because I was able to avoid pedestrians and other vehicles, I passed. Our final task to complete drivers training is a drive through the woods wearing night vision goggles tomorrow night...stay tuned for that update, it could be fun.

As training continues and the schedules become more hectic, you can really see people's true colors. Small groups and individual friendships start to make their way through our large class and with this comes some common enemies. To protect the enemies, I will not refer to names or ranks but I will say a certain rank seems to hold a surprisingly high level of incompetence. Most are still trying to wear their happy faces but my money is on some serious releases of aggression in the near future by a couple of people specifically.

One of the more notorious groups that has formed is the 339 or 39 for short. Complete with individuals in certain key positions of power, this group holds a lot power and ability at their fingertips. Their positional power also includes a fair amount of influence on other individuals and they are becoming feared by the weak of heart and mind. Ok, so we really aren't that big of a deal, but our room is having a bit of fun with idea of being a pseudo mob. If you haven't guessed it, all of this spare time and lack of options has given our poor brains ample ammunition for creating all sorts of fun.

One of the more amusing pass times while waiting for the bus to shuttle us from one location to the next has been the creation of nicknames. From "He who shall not be named" to "Dunkin" and "Cheddar" to "Grandma," we've been having fun with with our idea of what certain people should be called. While this, and the other things that happen here, might seem odd - think back to your college years. Life in the dorms, regardless of your age, is pretty much the same - lots of jokes and not a lot of manners.

Another day down....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz