First impressions of ODS

Sunday 15 August 2010 1830

So I get to wake up to a beautiful view of the bay every morning.  Apparently this is a big deal, I’m currently more concerned with how I’m going to square this room for inspection. 

New words I’ve learned today include:

• Bulkhead – any wall
• P-way – the hall my room is on
• Killzone – the hall contacting the room P-ways, honestly I think it carries that name because it’s where you get killed.

My first uniform is a great little overall set – couldn’t get a picture of it, unfortunately. I will wear it until Monday when I receive my PT gear. Good times, good times. Gomer Piles navy never looked so good. My class has already started to be introduced to a number of fun details such as entering and exiting the building. Even now, as unsure as we are, it is the prior class that is instructing us in all manners and protocols that will begin to shape us into the officers we need to be. The general atmosphere is one of excitement tinged with a bit fear of the unknown, there are very few priors with our class, and all of us admit to getting most of our military knowledge from the movies. Our time here officially begins tonight (Sunday night) at 2200, followed by a day of paperwork.

We’ve been told Tuesday is go day, be ready at 0400. The sentiment of the previous class are mixed, but all agree, our world is about to change, very drastically and very fast. The task is at hand, and I long for the challenge. May the Lord grant all of us who have left family and home to come here the wisdom humility and fortitude to rise to the occasion.

I am a United States sailor.

In His Grips,

Chaplain Carson