One chapter closes

I have worked with the Army before, alongside them but not for them.  As the training phase of my deployment closes, I thought I would share a few key observations from my time here:

 - The Army is scared of the damn heat.  Like, kind of psychotic scared.  This is really odd considering their prime deployment locations.  Maybe it's because they spend so much time in the Middle East; they may have had too much experience with the effects of heat stress and overexhaustion.  It's either that or they are just afraid us Sailors are going to fall over dead on them.  All military have some way of determining the heat category on any given day.  That heat category determines the amount of physical activity allowed outside in a given time period.  In the Navy, that usually comes from one central location on base and is communicated throughout.  Here, the Army carries a damn bubblicious monitor everywhere.  Okay, so it's really not called bubblicious..it's a bubble drop meter or something but bubblicious sounds so much better.  Anyways, there's this bubblicious monitor that calculates the temperature, humidity and probably Earth's rotation and spits out a Heat Category.  This is all fine and dandy, but this damn thing comes out even when we are in the classroom all day!  What is that?  Who cares how hot it is outside when my ass is sitting in AC all day getting my learn on?  Furthermore, why can't they just go by the same Heat Category as the main post?  Is the difference that palpable 8 miles down the road? Really?

- The Army seems to be almost obstinate in achieving its goals.  In the Navy, we believe in "work smarter, not harder."   I can't really tell if it's bred from an average Sailor's laziness, efficiency or intelligence, but it is a cultural trait.   The Army seems to believe in "just work" and it's a strange thought process to me.  I believe that if you had a team of Soldiers and a team of Sailors both faced with the task of getting into a house with a locked front door, the Soldiers would blow the door open while the Sailors would find the unlocked back door.  They both achieve the same goal but the Army way is definitely  more straighforward.  Set goal; achieve goal.  If they get to blow something up, even better.  That simple.

- The Army doesn't seem too worried about spelling and grammar.  I can't tell you how many spelling errors, misuse of the words insure/ensure, their/there and missing or extra commas I saw on a daily basis.  It became a game of mine during training; spot the errors in TRAINING BRIEFS!  wtf? In the Navy, every presentation I have ever put together has been checked, edited, chopped and then rechecked by multiple people.  I'm guessing the Army doesn't see the value in it.  They are too busy blowing shit up apparently. 

  - Standard Operating Procedures; please note the word "Standard" in the phrase.  Apparently, every unit has their own set of SOPs which can differ depending on the unit.  This applies even for the exact same evolutions.  We had two companies in our training group.  Both companies had to qualify on the M9 pistol on the same qualification course.  However, there were some pretty severe disparities in the way each company conducted its qualification course.  Alpha Company had to drop to one knee every time they changed a magazine in their weapon.  They were told this would make them a smaller target in battle when they needed to reload.  Charlie Company did no such thing.  Alpha had to wear the neck guard on their IBA, Charlie was told to pack the neck guard away.  I would think these are pretty standard procedures but again there seemed to be no consistent standard.  In the Navy, if there's a standard way to conduct a specific operation; it's done that standard way throughout the Navy.  Otherwise, it wouldn't be standard, right? I just don't get it.

I had a few more points to share but these really were the big three, so to speak.  Training is over and it's time for my next big step - getting overseas.  Before I close this chapter though, I wanted to share some of the sayings and slogans I have picked up over the last few weeks from both Sailors and Soldiers.  Enjoy!

 "You are here to learn.  You are here to learn how to kill" (Army)
  "If you want to cry, go see the Chaplain.  That's what he's here for" (Army)
  "What does OIF/OEF stand for?" (sadly, Navy...and an Officer at that)
   "..makes me want to suck start a 9" (Navy)
   "It ain't rocket surgery" (Army)
   "Indiscriminate defecation is a common practice in the Kabul area." (Army training PPT)
   "Just stick your finger in it.  It's just like wiping your ass, keep going at it until nothing comes out" (Army...teaching us how to clean the star cluster on the M4)
    "Do ya'll know how to wear clothes?  Then you know how to wear this" (Army...teaching us how to don a JLIST suit)
     "You got to reach in and get between them butt cheeks" (Army...teaching us pat down procedures)
     "a millimeter of an inch" (Army measurement)
     "there's no extra credit for Jesus carrying sheep back to the pasture" (Army)
     "Let's face it, sometimes being a small Asian man puts you at an advantage" (not really sure but it's still good)
    

..more to come on this one.  Sadly, I packed my notebook and have some more to get from on of my classmates.

Have a good night all.