2.22.10

Hey Everyone,

Here is the latest on our favorite Cadet! This is the first day of week 8, the first day of Hell Week, the first week of how many weeks of Hell??!!

Last week was a somewhat calm week as the Seniors graduated last Friday. Starting on Monday the Seniors ran their PT session. Usually this consists of hazing and a brutal work out, however not much hazing was involved and the work out was doable. They ran a relay race Juniors vs Seniors...of course the Juniors won! Their anchor ran a 4:48 mile...fast but not as fast as the head PT instructor, he runs a 4:08 mile! Crazy!

Tuesday Ryan passed his baton certification - holler! The test was based on striking, draws, blocks, speed, strength, know-how and confidence.This week they will begin hand cuffing They also began learning how to write tickets - a lot more to it than just ruining people's days. They must stand while writing, constantly looking around them to see what is going on, listening to the radio as well as blocking out the excess noise to concentrate on the task at hand.

Three more cadets were lost this week to skid-pan and 2 from an integrity issue. Let me illustrate what happens when a cadet is let go. First, you learn that you have failed, then you realize that you are finished and are going home. You then must report to the staff office - which as we know is already the fastest way to make your day go from bad to worse. You leave the staff office with a big, yellow flat bed cart, like from Costco, and go to your dorm room to load all of your things up. Back to the staff office to drop off all state property then, to your car, then back to return the cart. Not that your failure would be a secret, but I think that such a public exit adds to the pain and humiliation.

Wednesday, the Seniors did the Capitol Run, which I believe honors fallen officers. They ran from the Academy to the State Capitol Building - approximately 6 miles, while being escorted by a motorcade. The junior cadets lined up along side the exit road in push-up position with their flashlights on pointed inward which lit the road in a very cool way. As the Seniors ran by the juniors HURAH-ED!! for them and when they made it out of the gates friends and family cheered as they passed. BTW at 5 am.

Being that the Seniors were gone, the 3 junior companies got to compete for the honor of doing drill for the Fountain ceremony. Of course company A, Ryan's co. won and performed that special drill. The juniors were given Prime Rib for dinner that night...what a treat, especially for those who are on the diet table.

The rest of the week was graduation prep and then the actual graduation. The junior cadets didn't participate nor did they see much of the graduation activities, as they were guarding doors and directing traffic.

Even though Ryan is technically a Senior cadet now, they must earn their Senior privileges. Ryan doesn't know what these privileges are just yet as they have not earned any.

Today's PT was hard - 400-500 squats, 1/4 mile of lunges without stopping and 2-3 mile run. Ryan is pretty sore now, but is dreading the remaining 4 days of PT. For the first day of Hell week it wasn't as bad as he thought, however all of the staff will be there tomorrow to inflict pain.

They took their Vehicle Code final today and next they will begin studying accident investigation.

Ryan is down another pound this week and is anticipating more as they switch to daily PT.

If only the Staff Officers could see our cadet muffin-top in those slippers...what would they say!! (Making French Toast - yummy!)

Love,

Amy