Lauren,
Well... CBRNE. What more needs to be said???
We had to do about 3 hours of classes just to prepare ourselves for it. Then we had to understand the mopp levels and practice them by putting the gear on. Said gear was (on top of our already warm ABCs,), Chemical warfare pants and jacket (which are several layers thick), overboots, cotton and rubber gloves, and last but not least, out gas masks. Needless to say, by the time we had all the gear on, it was excruciatingly warm.
They then filed us into the chamber, and had about 20 of us in each room, having us all spread out about the room. They then put th C.S. canister on the heater, and smoke started to fill the room. At that point, they have us do a few light exercises to ensure that we trust the gear, then they tell us to remove our hoods. At this point, they should be prepping us on how to remove our actual gas masks, but we all hear somebody start to cough and gag, and we all realize he took off his hood AND mask. Our instructors then make us wait until he puts his mask back on (which took a good minute or two... I felt so bad for the trainee).
When we had removed our hoods, I had first noticed a slight tingling on my scalp. But by the time the individual had put his mask back on, my head was burning uncontrollably. Finally, after that whole mess was said and done, we are finally told to remove our masks two by two, take a deep breath, and give our reporting statement: "Sir Trainee Fowler reports as ordered."
Most people got to "Si-" before they started coughing. Also, I was the DEAD LAST person to go out of everybody. However, I got all of my reporting statement out without coughing or gagging. I was so proud of myself, but then my eyes started to burn and as I slowly walked towards the door my chest started burning as well. Right as I made it outside my eyes were watering something awful and my nose was really runny... yuck. I wanted to rub my eyes so bad, but there was still C.S. on all of my equipment, so I couldn't. But luckily, after making it back to my gear and walked two laps around all the satchel bags, all the burning and discomfort had passed.
Now, for the worst part of it all: When it was all said and done, we had to eat an MRE! Tell your mother for me please, that I miss her cooking quite a lot. I only hope that I don't have to wait too long once I come home to experience it again.
So, onto some good news now! Tomorrow, we get our blues! I can not wait. This is even bigger of a deal than getting our names tags/tapes. I can't wait until the day when you get to see me in my uniform on graduation. I think I will look quite spiffy. Actually, I really can't wait to just see you on graduation day. I only hope that you will recognize me... although at the same time, I hope that I've changed enough while running everyday and training super hard that you almost don't recognize me (but still do!) Please don't be embarrassed if I start to tear up just a little when I finally see you. I've just missed you so much, but I'm sure my letters have conveyed that feeling just a little!
Well, I should go, I have E.C. duty from 0030-0230, and then I have to wake up at 0415 tomorrow. Goodnight Lauren!
-Bailey
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