Boot Camp Pt III
I was anonymous. I was under the radar of both CC's, and was doing fine. What screwed me, was my damn test scores. Every week we were tested at the schoolhouse for that weeks lessons on various Naval subjects. I scored high every week, and that is what put me back on the screen.
One day we were marching back from chow, and I happened to over hear the CC's discussing something. I wasn't really paying attention, until I heard, 'What about Molly, you think he's be good at it?' Uh-oh, what's going on, this isn't in my plans, I'm supposed to be a faceless number. They know my name, what did I do? Good at what? Crap!
We halted in front of the patio, and I heard my name called. I fell out of ranks and came to attention in front of the two of them.
CC: "Molly, we're going to fire the Yeoman, how would you like to take his place?"
Me: "Sir, would I have to march in front of the Company?"
Let me stop and explain something here. The way we marched around, the Yeoman and the Guide-on bearer (Company Flag Holder) marched in front of the ranks, ahead of the Squad Leaders. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to walk in a straight line, and would drift off to one side or the other, and screw it all up.
CC: "Yes, Molly you would HAVE to march out front."
Me: "Sir, I don't want to"
CC: "WTF do you mean you don't want to, DROP!?" (Drop, is the push-up position.)
CC2: "Leave him alone, we'll get someone else. Get back in ranks Molly."
CC: "Smith, front and center!"
Whew, that was close.
Twenty minutes later, I was called in to the office. I slapped the door frame, announced my presence, and asked permission to enter. Once inside, they excused the rest of the staff, and gave me a little ass-chewing, and then proceeded to announce that I was now given three staff jobs, and this time I had no choice. They also informed me that I was chosen for these tasks because my test scores were one of the best, and they needed someone smart. My tasks? Oh, they were doozies.
Hard Card Petty Officer, I was tasked with entering information on everyone's Boot Camp record, paydays, disciplines, Inspection Records, everything. This record was known as a Hard Card.
Assistant Yeoman, I was able to sign special chits for personnel to be away from the Company. But, I didn't have to march out front! :)
Eight O' Clock Reports Petty Officer (ERPO), This was my favorite job. This job allowed me to leave the Company everyday around dinnertime. I was able to shower by myself, eat by myself, and had time to shine my shoes by myself. The ERPOs from each company in the Division were required to report to the Division Office everyday, and get any special orders from the Company Commander on duty that night. Since I was in the Lead-Off Company I had seniority over the other ERPOs in the Division and was basically their Squad Leader. That meant that I got the brunt of whatever hell, the guy on Duty decided he needed to unleash. But, there was one guy that would ask us trivia questions on world events. If answered correctly, he would buy us a Coke. A Coke, or any Geedunk was a special treat. If the question was answered incorrectly we were dropped for fifty push-ups.
After visiting with Division, we had to run all the way back over by R & O to where the Command Duty Officer would give ERPOs from all of the Divisions the Plan of the Day for the next day. Sometimes while we were in ranks waiting for the CDO to come outside to give us this information, a company of new recruits would come by. You could always tell the new guys were coming, because they would all snap their fingers on the left foot, so they could keep in step.
Being the devious little shits that we were, we would all start randomly snapping our fingers to screw them up. To us, it was funny as hell, because You could hear them get yelled at for being out of step.
It was fun, I loved my new jobs, and it wasn't so bad being on the scope after all, or so I thought.........
Molly's Naval Glossary:
Geedunk- is the what the Navy and Marines call candy or snacks. This word is pronounced with a short G sound, like the word Gull is.
One day we were marching back from chow, and I happened to over hear the CC's discussing something. I wasn't really paying attention, until I heard, 'What about Molly, you think he's be good at it?' Uh-oh, what's going on, this isn't in my plans, I'm supposed to be a faceless number. They know my name, what did I do? Good at what? Crap!
We halted in front of the patio, and I heard my name called. I fell out of ranks and came to attention in front of the two of them.
CC: "Molly, we're going to fire the Yeoman, how would you like to take his place?"
Me: "Sir, would I have to march in front of the Company?"
Let me stop and explain something here. The way we marched around, the Yeoman and the Guide-on bearer (Company Flag Holder) marched in front of the ranks, ahead of the Squad Leaders. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to walk in a straight line, and would drift off to one side or the other, and screw it all up.
CC: "Yes, Molly you would HAVE to march out front."
Me: "Sir, I don't want to"
CC: "WTF do you mean you don't want to, DROP!?" (Drop, is the push-up position.)
CC2: "Leave him alone, we'll get someone else. Get back in ranks Molly."
CC: "Smith, front and center!"
Whew, that was close.
Twenty minutes later, I was called in to the office. I slapped the door frame, announced my presence, and asked permission to enter. Once inside, they excused the rest of the staff, and gave me a little ass-chewing, and then proceeded to announce that I was now given three staff jobs, and this time I had no choice. They also informed me that I was chosen for these tasks because my test scores were one of the best, and they needed someone smart. My tasks? Oh, they were doozies.
Hard Card Petty Officer, I was tasked with entering information on everyone's Boot Camp record, paydays, disciplines, Inspection Records, everything. This record was known as a Hard Card.
Assistant Yeoman, I was able to sign special chits for personnel to be away from the Company. But, I didn't have to march out front! :)
Eight O' Clock Reports Petty Officer (ERPO), This was my favorite job. This job allowed me to leave the Company everyday around dinnertime. I was able to shower by myself, eat by myself, and had time to shine my shoes by myself. The ERPOs from each company in the Division were required to report to the Division Office everyday, and get any special orders from the Company Commander on duty that night. Since I was in the Lead-Off Company I had seniority over the other ERPOs in the Division and was basically their Squad Leader. That meant that I got the brunt of whatever hell, the guy on Duty decided he needed to unleash. But, there was one guy that would ask us trivia questions on world events. If answered correctly, he would buy us a Coke. A Coke, or any Geedunk was a special treat. If the question was answered incorrectly we were dropped for fifty push-ups.
After visiting with Division, we had to run all the way back over by R & O to where the Command Duty Officer would give ERPOs from all of the Divisions the Plan of the Day for the next day. Sometimes while we were in ranks waiting for the CDO to come outside to give us this information, a company of new recruits would come by. You could always tell the new guys were coming, because they would all snap their fingers on the left foot, so they could keep in step.
Being the devious little shits that we were, we would all start randomly snapping our fingers to screw them up. To us, it was funny as hell, because You could hear them get yelled at for being out of step.
It was fun, I loved my new jobs, and it wasn't so bad being on the scope after all, or so I thought.........
Molly's Naval Glossary:
Geedunk- is the what the Navy and Marines call candy or snacks. This word is pronounced with a short G sound, like the word Gull is.
posted by Tall Molly Man at 3:29 AM
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