Hey all..... trying to remain confidant....I was joking before, I think you all already knew that. Bootcamp will be stressful, I know my 11 general orders but I doubt I will know them when being yelled at. My friend went through bootcamp last yr and he said it is no joke. I think he was expecting a tough summer camp and from what he told me it's more like full metal jacket without the actual physical violence. be prepared to sweat too, he said they exert the hell out of us. I think we will be Lima-185.... hey Lauren if your last name Loh?

Laurenloh, We lived in Slidell when we were stationed in New Orleans. That was quite a while ago. We lived in the Hermadel Subdivision off W Hall Blvd. Best place I have ever had crawfish... The Boiling Point! My boyfriend and I drove from Ft Worth, TX to Slidell to have crawfish & dungeness crab and then drove back home. Took us about 22 hours, worth every bite of food! LOL Good luck to you!

I know Hermadel got hit pretty hard during Katrina, I visited the year after and my neighbors were still in a FEMA trailer. I had friends that lived in Eden Isles, their house was just gone after the hurricane. I hope your family survived it all ok!

Yeah, the general orders are tough. I was having trouble with them as well. What helped me was some advice that I think I found in the section "bootcamp questions". Someone suggested associating the orders and their numbers with things. For example I know order number 5 is "To quit my post...." because 5 is quitting time. Its kind of stupid, but it definitely works. I am curious if anyone knows any good ways to remember the phonetic alphabet.

With the phonetic alphabet I say take a couple letters at a time and while driving around read signs, license plates etc. using it. I learned it awhile ago (job related) so I'm good with that.

With 11 general orders I have them saved in my phone and flash cards, when i am bored or waiting somewhere i will read over them repeating them over and over. Once you can do them in order start randomly asking yourself what is GO# 4 so on and so forth eventually it will sink in.

Ranks and Rates I'm doing, ranks I know by collar insignia officers I'm still clueless for shoulder/arm. Rates I can say pretty much what it is just not word for word.

Oh good news on my part I was able to run a mile today with no more discomfort than normal. (ankle still swollen/sprained dunno if I'm leaving with you guys yet hope so)

Thanks for the advice, and great to hear about your ankle, hope your with us.

wow you people really woke up, what have you guys been doing to work out?

Three weeks left!!!

Conroy Im actually from southeast Missouri (small town...very small town) the ME is because I want to be a maritime enforcement specialist (after my non rate days), and Cali in my opinion thats probably not a good attitude, if you bow up to a CC you will be on the receiving end of some STERN discipline! (as the Helmsman clearly states) I'm confident but I definitely won't be challenging the CC! I hope we all make a great team. Sorry I haven't been able to post much on here I've been busy. Did anyone else join at 17? I'm 18 now just wondering if there will be any more youngsters like me!

Sorry Cali I didnt see the post where you said you were joking before I posted that!

Im 19, Though I probably should have joined straight out of high school, I would have been in much better shape without a year of college and junk food. lol but I'll get it back. Is anyone else nervous that there's just two weeks left? I feel like I've started to laze out these last couple of weeks. Also, how about some last names so we can recognize each other when we get to boot?

My last name is Norman, I'm excited to leave, boots intimidating but this is what I've wanted to do my whole life, it means a lot to me to even be able to go if that makes sense, we have to help each other out though! I have a wife and a son who is going to be born on July 14th so I'm going to get meet him hold him and get attached and then just leave five days after he's finally here, but they are definitely a reason to give it my all!

So I ran a mile yesterday with ankle brace did fine, 8:25 (haven't an/exercised in at least 3 months), Today I ran another mile without brace 8:30. It feels fine and I did good time I should be able to go on the 19th or it's gonna be November. Just gotta see how it feel/looks tomorrow (which can't happen b/c I have no job anymore and don't want to wait any longer).

Also Zach and Conroy I'd leave last names out of public forum which CC's supposedly go on and read. We'll all meet in Philly and can find each other there.

Ok it's official I'll be on the bus with ya'll to TRACEN Cape May. Now I'm getting nervous!!!

Congrats, can't wait to see you all at graduation!!! the whole first 8 weeks tho... that I could definitely wait for. my nerves are a wreck.

Happy shippng day! See you all this afternoon!!