As the father of three girls, all of you who have kids, or have been a kid, or known a kid, know I had one kid who had the bladder capacity of a squirrel. That child was my youngest daughter. When she was potty trained, I was sad--at least at the prospect of driving places more than three miles away. Because she would inevitably need a pit stop. Trips to see grandmothers in Massachusetts and upstate New York meant at least three bathroom stops. Actually, I didn't mind because I like to drink coffee when I drive a long distance, and so I had an excuse to stop.
Now that I am in my mid-50s I have to go to bed late and wake up early to avoid stumbling across 200 yards of gravel in the middle of the night to the latrine. Lately, I have been staying up till almost midnight and getting up at 0445, so even at my age I can sleep through the night. Even so, when I wake up, I do a fast stretch for the bone spur in my heel then limp quickly across the gravel to the latrine.
My roommate, on the other hand, is the opposite of my youngest daughter and I. He can wake up, get dressed, brush his teeth outside our CHU, walk to the bus stop 1/3 of a mile away, ride two miles to the motor pool, step off the bus and then use the latrine at the motor pool. Amazing. By that time, I would be in tears or in a puddle, or both.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Advocating for Ukraine in Washington DC, Part 1
Yesterday and Today I joined hundreds of advocates for Ukraine to advocate for funding to support the fight against the Russian invasion i...
-
Tasks, Conditions and Standards is how we learn to do everything in the Army. If you are assigned to be the machine gunner in a rifle squad... -
On 10 November 2003 the crew of Chinook helicopter Yankee 2-6 made this landing on a cliff in Afghanistan. Artist Larry Selman i... -
C.S. Lewis , best known for The Chronicles of Narnia served in World War I in the British Army. He was a citizen of Northern Ireland an...
What ranks get their own rooms and/or bathrooms? Just curious about which enlisted & officer ranks get this perhaps?
ReplyDeleteOnly Sergeant's Majors and field grade officers (maybe some captains in command jobs) get running water in their CHU. It's much more rare to get indoor plumbing than to get an SUV!!
ReplyDeleteBoy I hear you. will have to ask grandson how far his latrine is. (fyi)dvid site has photos of members of the 28th cab today. take care.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you have to be O-7 or above to have your own bathroom. Is there not a piss tube nearby or is there to many women?
ReplyDeleteDo you have to be in uniform to go use the bathroom??? I know the military has ridiculous rules...wondering if this was one of them, especially in the middle of the night/early morning...what's a soldier to do???
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous--I got the DVID link and a dozen of the photos are mine. Thanks very much.
ReplyDeleteAnon2--we can wear any shirt and pants/shorts with shower shoes/sneakers to go to and from the latrine or shower (different trailers). BUT no civilian clothes outside the room--big NO NO!