“Alright,” Howard yelled, “let’s help!” He got down on all fours right next to the log. With his feet dug in, he pushed the log ahead of himself as he stretched his body out. Once all four of them were helping like that, it was almost easy to roll the log up the beach. Of course, that just meant that they got to roll it up and down more often.
As before, their technique spread up and down the beach. It happened quicker this time, as the other flights were looking to see what they came up with.
“Time’s up!” Cadet Lt. Colonel Jefferson yelled. “Time to march. Form up on your leaders!”
“Clever,” Cadet Colonel Cordova said to Cadet Baker.
“Was it? They just had to make more trips.”
“True, but you’ll notice that Cadet Lieutenant Hoffman’s flight is the only flight to finish without any injuries. And your squadron is also the only one to finish without needing the stretcher. Good job,” Cadet Colonel Cordova said.
“Thank you, Ma’am, but I didn’t do anything.”
“Exactly.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Gawd, every muscle in my body aches,” Joanie complained once she and Catie made it back to their room for the night.
“I told you he looked too happy,” Catie said. She sat on the floor with her back against her bunk as she massaged her calves. “I hate marching. Do I look like a freaking Marine?”
“Have you already decided which branch you’re joining?” Joanie asked as she sat down beside Catie and started to massage her calves as well.
“Oh, yeah, I’m going for the Space Corps,” Catie said.
“Alex MacGregor, Starship Captain,” Joanie said. “I think you’ll probably make it.”
“I plan to,” Catie said. She couldn’t mention that she’d already been a starship captain. “Which branch are you thinking about?”
“It isn’t the Marines,” Joanie said. “I’m not sure, either Space Corps or the surface Navy. I like the idea of being stationed planetside.”
“You don’t like space?”
“Don’t know, I’ve never been,” Joanie said. “I’ll have to wait and see.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Wake up,” Catie nudged Joanie.
“What for, what time is it?”
“0400,” Catie said.
“Why do I need to get up now?”
“They’ll be by in twenty to thirty minutes to roust us out,” Catie said. “You need to stretch, or you’ll die during PT.”
“It might be worth it for that thirty minutes of sleep.”
“You’ll thank me later,” Catie said. “I’m going to roust the rest of the squadron.”
Catie made her way down the hall, pounding on the doors. She got some colorful greetings as she woke up her squadron mates, but they all eventually recognized the wisdom of her advice.
When the Cadet officer of Squadron Foxtrot pounded on the doors of the Plebes at 0440, they were shocked to have them immediately come out and form up.
“What are you doing awake?!” demanded Cadet Lieutenant Hoffman.
“I woke up early, it must have been all that exercise yesterday,” Julie said. “Couldn’t go back to sleep, so I did some stretches and got ready.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Couldn’t they lighten up after the beach?!” Joanie whined.
“That was three days ago,” Catie said. “They probably don’t even remember it.”
“Did you notice the smile on Baker’s face again?”
“I did. I don’t know what’s coming, but I’m sure we’re not going to like it.”
“Did you hear that Jackson quit?” Joanie asked.
“He did?!”
“Yep, he said he didn’t join the Academy to be a punching bag.”
“Wuss! How many does that make?” Catie asked.
“Twelve,” Joanie said. “Six the first week, and four last week. Now Jackson and some girl in Delta Squadron.”
“That actually doesn’t sound too bad out of three hundred newbies,” Catie thought.
◆ ◆ ◆
After PT, they were ordered to breakfast while still wearing their shipsuits.
“I told you,” Joanie whispered to Catie over breakfast. “They probably thought this up because you got everyone to stretch the other morning.”
“I doubt that. I’m sure they’ve been looking for something unique every chance they get.”
“Any guesses?”
“Nope. We’ll know soon enough.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“You will all be pleased to hear that some moron has put a horse ranch in the middle of Delphi City. Now, I don’t know why anyone would do such a thing, but we’re going to take advantage of it,” Cadet Colonel Cordova announced.
Catie winced since she was the moron. She’d added the horse park for Kal and his new girlfriend. And Kal had been right; it was a draw. The hotels both had guests lining up for reservations to ride a horse. And they were quality horses, pureblood Arabians, with a few quarterhorses mixed in for the beginners.
“Now, we’ve been given exclusive use of the park for the day. In exchange, we’ve agreed to clean their stables. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of slackers who will volunteer for that task,” Cadet Colonel Cordova said. “Squadron leaders, form up your squadrons.”
Before they were marched to the horse park, the Plebes were all outfitted with gear. First, they put on an ammo belt with a canteen for water and ammo pouches full of lead weights. They were given a backpack, also full of weights. Each of them was also given an M-4 rifle to carry which added another 3.5 kilos. By the end, when you added it all up, the Plebes were carrying thirty kilos each.
“Those rifles are not loaded, but they are in perfect working order. Do not drop them, do not get them dirty, do not get them wet, do not abuse your rifle; your rifle is your best friend!” shouted Cadet Lt. Colonel Jefferson.
The Plebes marched to the horse park. Apparently, the Cadet officer corps had been very disappointed to find that they did not have access to an obstacle course in Delphi City. Those were in Guatemala, and when they got to Guatemala, the trainers there would be taking over most of the control. The discovery of the horse park presented a perfect opportunity to make up for that lost opportunity.
The cross-country jump course had been designed to utilize the park’s eight hundred meters on a side layout to maximum benefit. The course mostly traveled around the outside
