Young Writers Society

Nonstop ROTC

ROTC Camp was a painful, sometimes frightening, but nonetheless exhilarating experience.

I was the least knowledgeable cadet on the bus. I knew close to nothing about ROTC procedures, commands, formations, ranks, and marching. I didn’t know if I was excited or anxious as the school bus continued to carry us north, above Birmingham, to Fort McClellan on that hot third of June.

This will be a long week, I had told myself over and over again, looking out the window. What have I gotten myself into?

Finally, after four hours in a bus with fourteen of my fellow students, we arrived at the place that would soon be home to the best camp I’ve ever attended.

From the barracks to the procedures, I was constantly surprised. Who knew that there was so much to be done in a certain amount of time at a military base!

The barracks – or bunkhouses – were the worst. Apartment-size buildings with eight enormous bays, or rooms. Twenty people could fit in these rooms, but eighty people shared one bathroom. It was always a mess, and it was hectic when all of the girls wanted to shower. The showers were a single room with ten heads and no curtains! The bay I was in was smart; we bathed in our swimsuits with the lights off.

Next were procedures. Every other bed had to be turned around. In other words, whoever slept there had to sleep with their feet to the headboard. Every morning we woke at four or four-thirty and cleaned the barracks before going to the field to do our Physical Training. Breakfast was last, usually at seven-thirty or eight.

And so my adventure began. We had our first taste of military protocol the evening we arrived. To introduce us and tell us what was expected, we stood in a battalion formation for what seemed like an hour.

In this battalion, there were four companies. In each company, there were four platoons. Every platoon is made up of at least four squads, which are four to six people. I was the only Greenville High student in Charlie Company, fourth platoon, third squad. Everyone else I knew was nowhere nearby.

I don’t remember much about the first formation. I made the mistake of locking my knees, which ultimately led to me being seated on the ground, my head spinning as I sipped water from my canteen.

Our training began the very next day. The courses would last all day, meaning we would be eating MRE’s for lunch.

Now, MRE’s can be good, but most of the time they’re disgusting. I suppose it depends on what you get.

The obstacle courses were tough, but it was enjoyable. The physical and mental efforts required, the courage you built, the friends you made, the leadership qualities you developed, and the sense of teamwork you discovered; they were all results of a single week of military training.