The Fort Jackson website maintains a photo gallery of basic training soldiers, for their families to see. For PFC Pico’s unit, the photo galleries are here.
The galleries are divided into separate weeks of BCT. There are no pictures of PFC Pico in Week 1: Red Phase, but the first picture under Week 2: Red Phase, has PFC Pico, front and center, after having exited the gas chamber.
Her description of the gas chamber experience was not a pleasant one.
Today (5 February 2009) we did the gas chamber. That was bad. Or good, I’m kind of caught in between the two. It was certainly interesting! Twenty-five people at a time would go into the gas chamber. We had to unseal our masks, recite name, rank and SSN, and then we had to take the mask off completely and recite the Soldiers’ Creed. The gas used was like a more potent form of pepper spray. It stung my eyes and skin a lot and made breathing really impossible. It’s apparently used to control riots. It really sucked being in there. When I got out, I didn’t even care that it was cold.
In case no one has noticed yet, I’m just eaten up with Proud Daddy Syndrome!
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Update: Well, Week 2 was available this afternoon, using Internet Explorer 6.0, but I’m not seeing it this evening, using Mozilla Firefox 3.0, even though Week 1 shows up. I wonder if they had to take it down for some reason.
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Update: Nope, not down; I can see it using Internet Explorer 7.0.
Awww, look at her with her big grin on her face.
My daughter and I agree. The gas chamber sucked. But it is definitely an experience engraved in your memory. It is very much worthwhile in preparation for possible future events.
And, yes, you should be one proud papa.
Can you ask the PFC if we can borrow some of this chemical to use in the California legislature? Their phoney tears are killin’ me.
Well, Rov, I’m not sure that even that would help. Your state assemblymen are fighting over a $14 billion proposed tax increase, when y’all are facing a $41 billion deficit. But have they done anything really radical like cut spending?
If you have a serious head cold, the gas chamber is the best remedy. Walk in for a few seconds, and you’re congestion free for days.
Fox News said there’s enough oil and natural gas available and enough companies wanting to get it to provide enough money to the government to remedy the default situation, but CA refuses to allow anyone to go get it. They would rather dramatically raise taxes and run businesses out of the state than tap their huge natural resources. Hoo boy, this has gone way far afield of PFC Pico’s honorable experiences.
John Hitchcock> W signed an executive order making those areas off of California accessible for exploitation. They had their chance. Why were there no takers?
I’m glad to see that your daughter is proud to serve in Barack Obama’s Army. Salute!
Mike: She signed up last fall, knowing that it was a possibility that Barack Hussein Obama would become Commander-in-Chief, though I doubt anyone would seriously call it “Barack Obama’s Army.” And when she took her oath, George W Bush was the Commander-in-Chief.
The Armed Forces serve the United States, and obey the lawful civilian authorities.
Like it or not, your daughter serves at the behest of the Commander-in-Chief so yes, it is “Barack Hussein Obama’s Army because when he says dance they dance. Soldiers are there to do what they’re told…not make decisions based upon who is giving the order.
Somehow, the title “Barack Obama’s Army” reminds me of the oath of personal loyalty, to Der Führer rather than to Germany that Adolf Hitler required of the Wehrmacht. The oath soldiers take is:
I doubt that even President Obama would refer to it as “Barack Obama’s Army.” As Commander-in-Chief, the members of the Artmed Forces are obligated to follow the lawful orders of the President and of superior officers; that’s a whole lot different from an oath of personal loyalty.
That’s just not how we do things here.
When I went through basic, Senior Drill Instructor Staff Seargent Jashonka (and to truncate any of that meant time at the “beach”) tried to get us to say we had to obey all orders of our superiors. None of us would go along with that. We obeyed all lawful orders of our superiors, not all orders. That is a huge difference.
The Commander in Chief does not own the military. The Commander in Chief can only legitimately expect the military to follow lawful orders and protect the Constitution. That is far from ownership.
Somehow, the title “Barack Obama’s Army” reminds me of the oath of personal loyalty, to Der Führer rather than to Germany that Adolf Hitler required of the Wehrmacht.
US soldiers in Iraq asked to pray for Bush
Pho: Other than your blatant BDS, what are you trying to say? Because those prayer requests are for POTUS to seek out and submit to a greater power for wisdom and a guiding light to what is right. Those prayer requests have nothing to do with any sort of exaltation of GWB.
You really need to seek psy help for your BDS; it’s killing your brain cells.
Ah, I remember well the gas chamber in Navy boot camp about 45 years ago. Our experience was similar but there was a “special case” – namely, me. While everyone else wore a gas mask in and had to take it off for only a few seconds before they exited, I was the first one in, the last one out, stood directly in front of the gas dispenser, and… did not have a gas mask at all. Gee, all I had done was a little bit of dancing in formation while we were lining up to go from the classroom to the gas chamber. Couldn’t help myself – the drum and bugle corps was practicing close by. And, yes, I did have to dance the entire time I was in the gas chamber. I learned a bit of a lesson about discipline and following orders.
Mr Frost, that is hilarious. Yup, they have ways to make people disciplined.
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…
How about the right to kill unborn babies?
Well, Mr Ganzeveld, that part isn’t in the Constitution. It is a horrible invention of idiotic judges, and we’ll eventually get to the point where abortion is illegal again.
Excuse me for referring to a bumper sticker, but in this discussion, I think it is . The bumper sticker reads: “Who would Jesus bomb?”
Also, considering that the troops are the ones needing prayers, asking the troops to pray for GWB, especially after sending them to die (if necessary) or lies is beyond the pale.
No offense to your daughters. I’m sure they believe they are being altruistic. I’m sure they are, in fact. Too bad the war profiteers are the real ones they unknowingly serve, like oil companies, etc. Nevertheless, I take my hat off to them. Courageous girls, Dana’s and John’s!
Ah, yes, the “let me nuke you then thank you” approach. I’ll take your words, blu, for what they’re worth and flush them when I’m done.