Here I am, back at Fort Sam Houston to attend a medical course. Not really medical, but a course on how to operate as a SSG and SFC as a medic in the Army. Seeing as I'm already a SSG and I have more years as a SGT than some of my peers have time in the Army total I'm a little upset to be here. My real learning experience on how to be a SSG happened a few years ago when I was still a SGT and was thrown to the wolves when I was tagged to be a platoon sergeant for 8 months. Platoon daddy's are usually SFC or a SSG if you're short a SFC but to be an E-5/SGT platoon daddy is just an act of desperation to have someone in charge. To add insult to injury I'm also going to be stuck on Fort Sam, unable to leave, because of restriction of movement order that limits me going home on the weekends. In fact, they are so COVID sensitive here on Fort Sam I can't even walk outside unless I have a mask on.
While I'm here though I'm attempting to make the best of my situation as usual. I managed to purchase a water rower right before coming here and lugged it up to the fifth floor of my hotel room. Thankfully I don't share a room with anyone! I'm also having a lot of trips down memory lane being here. I'll expand on that shortly. The first two weeks of class is going to be from 0730 to 1600 on microsoft teams. It sucks having to sit and listen to stuff I know already but I'm having fun with it by switching my backgrounds to star wars images of Hoth or inside the death star. I have even edited a background that has me in it, looking like I'm paying attention. I use this and block my camera with a sticky note so that they see only my background with what seems to be SSG Moore looking intently at the screen. I have done this to take several breaks already. I dare not use it for too long though, and remain vigilant for any auditory hint that I'm not actually giving my attention to the class. Thankfully my hotel has a decent view of San Antonio out of my window and the sun comes to greet me daily through it. The water rower has kept me sane these first two days. I enjoy it's sounds of rushing water and the feel of wood when I put it away.
The food situation is less than ideal however. I like to workout between 0630 and 0730. Then I like to shower, eat and prepare for the day which usually begins at 0900. Here my day starts at 0800 which greatly disrupts my routine and frustrates me to no end. The chow hall here is 3/4 mile away. Which is no problem to drive there but the chow halls are hit or miss as this post has all the medical trainees on it and they number in the thousands. So when a company of 100 soldiers marches to the chow hall doors, you may as well go find another one or buy a sandwich. Instead, I eat breakfast at the hotel, which is free and the quality reflects the price. Okay... it's not that bad but I usually eat more than a biscuit, bananas and a small serving of oatmeal for breakfast. It's free and only a short trip down the elevator away; great for those times when you've only got 5 minutes until class starts.
For dinner I attempted to drive to the chow hall but as I pulled up there was a company of trainees standing outside. They looked about 50 deep so I decided to drive around post for a little bit and wait it out. I just drove aimlessly for about 30 seconds until I realized I knew where I was. Sidewalks, buildings and streets looked familiar. I knew that I was nearing the training area from years ago when I was being taught the medic ways. Slowly but surely I drove right up to my old barracks. "Alpha Company, 232nd Medical Training Company" was printed on an all too familiar brown sign right outside the tan building that I spent a little more than 4 months in. I've spent longer time in other places but those 4 months dragged on there. I took a quick picture and sent it to my buddies from AIT to get some reactions out of them. The reactions were mixed. Some were disgusted, and rightfully so, while another buddy of mine did some positive reminiscing with me for awhile in our back and forth.
I'm not sure what else I'll do to pass the time here but I'll try and replicate some healthier habits I formed at the recruiting school like daily workouts, walks, prayer time and of course talking with my family. I don't like being away from home, but I can't do anything about it. So for now, I just have to appreciate the small things like getting a piece of banana bread from the chow hall. Nice.