Ladies and gentlemen, we've done it. "What have we done?" you might be asking yourself whilst stuffing your face with ice cream sitting in the toilet. Well, if you must know, this is part 5. Part 5 means we're fucking done with this series! WOOOOOOOOOO! The subject for this weeks PME is life in the fleet. So, sit back, grab your ice cream and prepare to cry tears of joy.
There isn't really a way to split up life in the fleet into weeks so I'm gonna do what i do best, I'm gonna wing it. When you first arrive in the fleet, you're gonna go through a week of pure bullshit. You sleep in a squad bay, have classes on why you suck, filing your taxes, just plain ole dumb shit. Usually that only lasts a week before your unit comes and picks you up. Your unit may differ from mine but since it's my article we're going off my unit... get wrecked scrub.
When I got to my unit, the first thing I did was check in. I got into my Service Alphas, went around to everyone from medical, to Chaps (chaplain) and our company First Sergeant. I had to fill out a check in sheet with all those useless signatures that only wastes time but, hey, Marine Corps. Once checking in was done, I finally made it to my shop! Only, I wasn't originally supposed to be in that shop.
I'm a comm guy so naturally I'd go to a comm platoon and I did. The problem happened when i got there. Everyone was in such a rush that I just automatically assumed I was with Bravo Detachment instead of Alpha. When our SNCOIC (Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge), saw me, he said "Who's he with?" "He just assumed he was with bravo master guns." "Ehh, sure why not." And there I was.
Fleet life is as easy as you make it. Volunteer for everything, even if it's some dumb ass working party. It'll make you look good not only to your shop, but to your company as well. I volunteer for everything and company loves me, I'm good friends with the chaps and the Battalion Commander likes me as well. Try to get your range out of the way as quickly as possible as well, that way you don't have to worry about it for another year. To close, volunteer, don't get on anyone's bad sad, and as always, Semper Fi and skate on.
