Week 2 - Recruit Yost

More adventures from Academy Land: A recruit’s perspective of weeks 2 and 3.

At the end of week three I look back and am beginning to feel somewhat accomplished.  While there is not yet the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel,” but I am now counting in weeks rather than days. It’s feeling good.

The intensity of the program has gotten increasingly more difficult as the days go on.  We are now in our academy uniforms! Hallelujah, no more having to put together business casual outfits right? Well, kind of… Our Academy uniform consists of a black long sleeve polo shirt, black BDU pants and black boots. We look sharp in formation and I won’t lie, it feels awesome having a badge on my left side even if it’s a recruit badge.

I thought I had waved good-bye to the days of pressing uniforms and spit-shining boots… wrong.  There is a slight feeling of nostalgia to accompany reliving the early days of my Army career, but it is tedious none-the-less. 

Here are some of the uniform standards:

·         Polo’s must be ironed.  Don’t drive to the academy in uniform because you will not pass inspection.  These shirts have a slight inclination to wrinkling if you look at them the wrong way.

·         Boot toes must have a HIGH shine.  If you aren’t putting a few hours in initially, you aren’t going to achieve the level of shine required.

·         Pants should have a nice firm crease. 

o   Caveat to this: you cannot starch these pants. I tried and failed.  They are waterproof so starch makes a lovely white streaky pattern on your crisp black pants. Starching pants = long night re-washing.

Writing that down now, it doesn’t seem too intense.  Don’t be fooled though.  The instructors mean business when it comes to these uniforms.  From my standpoint, I believe they emphasize this for a legitimate reason.  You don’t want to look like you pulled your uniform out of a hamper when you are a sworn officer and this process instills discipline.  You can’t hold yourself to the strict routine that this program requires without discipline.

Classroom time has become much more rigorous as well.

Let’s talk Colorado Criminal Code.  There is so much I could say about the depth, intensity, and importance of this portion of the CO revised statutes.  So much, in fact, that the mere attempt to explain at this point might make my brain explode.  That being said, I appreciate the type of instruction being given on the topic and I am constantly striving to make myself a sponge. 

Studying for the tests in this program is not a suggestion. You will not pass and more importantly, you will not retain the information if you do not study.  It makes for long days, but it is completely worth it.

 

The main thoughts I would like to emphasize at this point in the program are:

1-     Expect to run, do push-ups, or air squats.  This way, you are never surprised or upset when you have to participate in the physical learning opportunities.

2-     If you think you are doing everything right, you aren’t.  Just be flexible and keep an open mind. Perfection is an unattainable goal but everyone can ALWAYS try harder.

3-     Pay attention in class. You can’t afford to miss this material for even a second! Your career and potentially your life can depend on the knowledge you gain here.

4-     A positive attitude, as well as a negative one, is contagious so be cognizant of the attitude you put out.

 

That does it for weeks 2 and 3.  I wait with bated breath for what is yet to come.