I just received this report from Cdwdirect. This guy has really brought his PT level up! You DEP's should take note of the determination this dude has. I think he might just go all the way.
Cdwdirect, I'm very impressed with your run times....very impressed! I can guarantee you that the Black Hats have their eyes on you. Keep leading the way...you have what it takes...just don't lose that drive of yours. Your determination and guts are what are going to bring that Tan Beret to you on a silver platter.
Thanks for another fantastic SITREP. I look forward to more of them.
Break a leg, Airborne!
RLTW
EP
Ranger EarthPig,
Ground week was not hard, just physically punishing, to the point that most of us struggled to walk around that weekend. We were smoked before and after every event, even doing 60-80 cadence flutterkicks before the runs! It was a lot of fun, I definetly feel like I am earning my wings more than some of my OSUT friends who were assigned to A Co. I asked them how many flutterkicks they had to do... "Oh, five." "Five hundred," I asked? "No... five."
The first time I suited up into the harness and bounded up the stairs of the 34' tower, my heart was beating a little fast. I don't like heights, but I am not afraid of them. I'd never used the equipment before and being properly harnessed in and hooked up was my biggest worry. By the end of ground week I didn't even see the towers as being high, and I'd just grin and jump out the door... 1 thousand 2 thousand 3 thousand 4 thousand, "AIRBORNE!" Too easy. Nobody said anything to us, but you learn quickly to pull your junk up and out of the way as you tighten up the leg straps. Yow. It dawned on me at the start of week 2 that I was being paid to ride ziplines, jump off platforms and roll on the ground, and run around shouting and singing - stuff I did as a kid for NO MONEY. The perks of adulthood.
We ran the last two four mile runs back to back. During the final 4 miler, I ran the fastest I have ever run in the Army. We finished our first mile in 5:12, and I crossed the two mile mark at 10:50... and immediately fell out with a Sergeant Airborne and an Opt.40 buddy of mine. The Sergeant Airborne snaked us up and we ran right behind the fast group... we completed the four miles with just over 23 minutes on the clock and then instead of covering down on our canteens, all the fast runners got smoked until the slow group finished. We pyramided down from 10 to 1 pull-ups and then guess what... "On your back! Flutterkicks, GO!" I was high from that run for the rest of the day and felt great. It was a ridiculously hard run for me. My final 2-mile at OSUT was 13:08, I am shocked at the improvement.
Tower week went by fast with no surprises. My stick had a female Sergeant Airborne so the hardest part of the SLT was leaving the platform without jerking her, because she'd just drop you on your ass and yell at you - I earned a few bruises that way. I "jumped" from the 250' towers, which was fun, and the landing felt like leaping onto a soft bed. I was more concerned about nailing the tower than anything else. For the last run there was no fast group, just one gigantic formation, running five miles around and down to the landing strip, and back... and it was so ridiculously easy that after we returned to the company area I honestly felt like I hadn't run at all - barely sweating. The 15 minute smoke sessions before and after the run were probably why I was sweating at all. Heh.
So here comes Jump Week. I'm excited, ready to move on to bigger and better things... ready to throw myself at RIP. I've talked to guys in RIP right now, and even fallen in with Rangers from 3/75 last weekend for a couple beers at the Benning Brew Pub. From what I hear, Water Confidence AND Land Nav are no longer considered essential tasks - they are for familiarization. Everyone says that RIP cadre will throw away a lot of your pushups during the PT test - which concerns me because as a thin wide-out guy, they are my weakest event. I normally do about 60-68 in two minutes depending on the previous day's activity. When I joined the Army I was very out of shape, and have worked hard to get to where I am. Now I just wish I had more time because I PT myself every day, I WILL get to 70, and then 80 pushups, and more. I wish I could have DEP'ed longer so I could be the stud... but I don't have that option. TAKE HEED, DEPPERS!!!
The other night I took the opportunity to see the Ranger Liason's presentation down at "Patches," and I left believing more than ever that the Rangers are the people I want to belong to, the identity I need. The only way home is forward! Wish me luck, I will do my part.
Cdwdirect is kicking ass!
Cdwdirect is kicking ass!
Always remember: BROS BEFORE HOES.
Cdwdirect
Excellent sitrep Cdwdirect. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your write. Drive the fuck on soon to be Paratrooper.
Thanks for the post EP.
Thanks for the post EP.
RLTW
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
Steadfast
4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
,
Great sitrep Cdwdirect! Never quit and stay the course. Drive on!
RS Class 5-82
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
---------
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
---------
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton
Quick Update
Ranger EarthPig, I successfully executed 3 jumps today. Combat load and night jump tomorrow, then I'm done.
2/75, COCKS
"I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." -Steve McQueen
"I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." -Steve McQueen
Re: Quick Update
Super effort. Please keep us informed.cdwdirect wrote:Ranger EarthPig, I successfully executed 3 jumps today. Combat load and night jump tomorrow, then I'm done.