NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: The Path to Soldierhood
October 7 – "Evan" showed up at the intake base, a little more than six weeks since he "signed up". His transformation from civilian to soldier was a bit of a shock. Once he signed in, he was told to wait until he was called in. Then he was stuck with a series of injections, given a military haircut, and assigned to a group of 9 other recruits. The group was then kitted out with clothes and assigned a tent.
The next day they were put through their paces with the PJFT. Revelry was at 5:00am or 0500 (oh five hundred) as said in the military, followed by roll/inspection, a quick warmup, followed by breakfast at 0630. At 0730 they were on the tarmac. On the ground in front of them were a stretcher loaded with a 10-person canvas tent (200lbs), an empty 55-gallon drum, two 5-gallon containers of drinking water tied to ruck-harnesses, and one 20-ft long wooden telephone pole. Four of their group was assigned to the stretcher, two to the telephone pole, one each to carry the drum and containers of water, and one to rotate.
They then started on a 10km march. Four Sergeants accompanied them, urging them on and taking notes on their performance. After an hour (~4km), they took a short 30-minute break to rest and hydrate. The PJFT then commenced. Lunch followed the PJFT, and then another 30 minute break. Their march then continued. Along the way they were ordered to run up the stairs of the bleachers of a stadium and stand with their respective loads overhead, arms locked straight in place – they had 45 seconds to accomplish this. It seemed an impossible task, and they did not make it in time.
The Sergeant ordered them back down again – they had 30 seconds to complete the task. Again, they failed to make it on time. The Sergeant then ordered them back up the stairs, to be complete in 45 seconds. He added that if they did not think they would make it in time, they should say so, and ask for an extension. They tried again and again, without attaining their goal. After the fourth time, they were exhausted and ready to fall down. When the Sergeant ordered them to go up again, Evan immediately stated he didn't believe they could make it up the stairs in the allotted time, and asked for a 15 second extension.
The request was approved. Evan shouted and prodded the men to push as hard as they could to make it up, one last effort, and they did, with half a second to spare! He and his team-mates jumped up and down wahooing at the top of their lungs! The men were given a five-minute break to rest and drink. Then they were ordered to pick up their gear and head on back down to the base of the stairs. Approximately midway back to the military base the Colour Sergeant stated they were going to circumvent the base at a jog, adding another 5km to the march; anybody who wanted to drop out, should do so then, and would be sent immediately back to base. One of the men decided to take him up on his offer.
There were now no "free" soldiers to rotate. Evan, one of the shortest of the soldiers, was carrying one of the water containers (weighing about 18kg, or 40lbs). As they started to jog, the soldier carrying the drum collapsed. After being checked out, he was relieved of the drum, however the Sergeants ordered the rest of the group not to abandon equipment or soldiers in the field. Evan and the other water carrier took the drum, switching off between them every few minutes. The soldier that collapsed jogged along unfettered.
Carrying the drum was very awkward, and Evan discovered the most comfortable way to carry it was on the nape of his neck, supported by the jerry can of water and stabilized on each end by his arms. With each step Evan felt the drum bumping into the back of his head and bouncing on the jerry can. His shirt and pants were drenched with sweat, and his palms slippery wet. After a while, his fingers on both hands were cramping from trying to hold onto the drum. His shoulders were burning from holding them out continuously.
He couldn't feel his fingertips for gripping the edge of the drum so tightly. He was beyond what he thought he could handle and was seriously considering calling it quits. It reminded him a bit of Luke Skywalker and Yoda, hanging off his back. Intent and focus. Intent and focus. It became his mantra. Intent and focus, intent and focus, intent and focus….. They continued on for another 2km and, lo and behold found themselves at the gates to the base! The Colour Sergeant had tricked them. It was now 1600 (4pm), and they were exhausted, sweaty, smelly and filthy.
They lined up for inspection, with the equipment on the ground. The Colour Sergeant explained that they were to take the next few minutes while they rehydrate and rest, to evaluate each of the other soldiers in their team based on their respective performances: how they treated other soldiers, team work, etc. After the evaluation forms were submitted, they were released back to their tents to cleanup and prepare for dinner.
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