Journal Entry: "Help Wanted"

Our platoon needs a leader and fast. I haven’t quite figured out why they’re waiting on that, but it’s completely chaotic. There are troublemakers and then there are those trying too hard to set them straight. I don’t even know which is more disruptive. I remain the calm eye of the shit storm. The loud-mouths are bunked right next to me, and, although I sometimes have the thought that I must be the dumbest person in the world to leave my quiet life and beautiful loving wife to come sleep next to these jokers, most of the time I have the right perspective on it. It’s part of the challenge, part of the experience. The Army s going to do wonders for these guys is they are smart enough to accept the help.DS Allen. Gave our platoon a harsh round of PT for our continuing inability to form a simple formation without talking. Most of these young guys have never been made to exercise any sort of self-discipline in their lives. It’s astounding to watch how much difficulty they have with being still. That lack of discipline is causing us a lot of extra PT and loss of sleep. It’s annoying for me, but I’m so far ahead mentally and physically than most of these guys that it’s mostly just a minor nuisance. And I rather enjoy DS Allen’s lecture on dignity, honor, and respect, as I know they are not directed at me, and I like to think that some of these kids are taking heed and somewhere within the group, a light is coming on and a life is being saved.