Page 85 - The Jazzsipper Novel

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THE JAZZ SIPPER

significant part of basic training was psychological. The reasoning was that if
a recruit cannot be relied upon to obey orders and follow instructions in routine
matters, it is unlikely that he or she will be reliable in a combat situation. There
may be a strong urge to disobey orders or run from combat. So, be it folding
one's clothing, standing to attention, paying proper attention to hygiene,
obeying orders and following instructions were expected.

Vance remembered one particular psychological test he had to endure
while in boot camp. He and a couple other recruits from his boot camp
company had been instructed to report to the dental department on base. As
they were marching in formation two company commanders from another
division stopped them. The company commanders asked where were they
marching too, Vance replied to dental Sir, at that moment Vance remembered
that he had broken his own rule, which was to keep the focus off him and stay
low key. Uncle Frank had told him to do so. He said if the focus is on you,
then you would be the one that they would mess with, and play mental games
on. The bigger of the two company commander’s stepped up to Vance about
an inch from his face, it was so close that Vance could feel the company
commander hot breath burning deep into his face. He asked in a real low voice
that had a southern drawl to it. Recruit where is your toothbrush? Vance
replied back, standing at attention with a roaring voice of a lion, in the barracks
Sir. The company commander said, recruit you have thirty seconds to run
back to the barracks and retrieve your toothbrush. Vance took off like he had
been hit by lighting. Once he got there he had to pop tall at attention, ask
permission to entry and recite one of the ten Sentry Commandment’s that they
was required to know for entry back into the barracks. In boot camp, if you did
not know the Sentry Commandant’s when asked there was always some