Allthesilver

Dana’s room at Pensacola

I guess the Marine Corps hasn’t learned that particular parenting skill. 

I was browsing my computer for pictures of something else and I came across these pictures Dana had sent me not too long after he arrived at Pensacola.  At the time, he had the room to himself and was struggling to keep it sufficiently clean to pass all the inspections.  He sent the pictures to show me the room that had officially been declared “disgusting”.  “Heck!”, I told him, “They should have seen your room at home!”

 

Apparently, if they put their junk into a locker or some such thing that is locked, the inspecting person is not allowed to look in there.  Just as well, because all the stuff that Dana has assembled in that locker would fall out and hurt somebody!  In addition to all his military clothing and gear he has his laptop, about 50 movies and games, his electric guitar (there are a bunch of guys who play together), his pool cue (they have pool tables there too!), a small pile of civilian clothes, and his school books and papers.  I don’t know how he manages to cram all that into a locker and get a lock onto it, but he does.

It amazes me that all that stuff is in there and the room still manages to look unlived-in, which seems to be the look the Marines are going for.

 

Dana is in another room now (it looks the same), which has three guys in it most of the time, and there is a bathroom between his room and the next, which they all share.  Picture that!

 

There is also a mini refrigerator and a microwave in the room.  I believe hot pockets are a staple.  Dana tries to eat in the chow hall when he can since they take about $250.00 a month out of his pay for the privilege whether he actually eats there or not!  I don’t recall the recruiter mentioning that although the pay is not bad, the military automatically deducts for room & board and lots of other sundries you wouldn’t think of.

 Dana has been going to school at night for a while now.  They have finally gotten to the flight simulator and have to schedule time on it so everyone gets plenty of practice.  He is really enjoying this part of the training.  I asked him if he had gotten to crash a plane, just for the experience.  He said they really frown on that and he had so far not had any crashes.  He also told me there are only about 700 air traffic controllers in “The Fleet”.  ONLY????  He says that’s not very many at all, considering how many towers there are all over the place and each one has to have shifts manned around the clock.  You’d think being part of such a specialized and vital group, they could at least get free toothpaste, or something…