LTC memory: Lights Out

Lights out was at 10pm. Probably should say 2200, but my drill sergeants actually preferred the 12 hr format. It was quicker to figure out what time it was, so I didn't complain. We would have "toes on the line" at the "kill zone" and do a final head count. We'd sound off or sometimes the drill sergeant would count everyone down in case he didn't trust our counting abilities.

Of course, just because it was "lights out" didn't mean it was time for bed. Many of us still had to shower, brush our teeths, etc. Lights out simply meant the lights had to be off. Stupid, I know, but some might think it means we all had to sleep. We would use our red lens flashlight to brighten our field of vision. I'd hang mine on the top shelf of my locker so that I could open my drawers.

While I was getting ready for bed, some cadets read and wrote letters, studied the little cadet handbook, read some inspiring words of wisdom, and others were passed out. I've heard some stories about some cadets that did other unmentionables at this time. I won't say who these stories were directed at, but let's say it's always the creepy ones.

Laundry was also done during the late hours. This was the riskiest thing I've done at LTC. You would have to fight others to use the machines since there were only 2 laundry machines and three sucky dryers. Getting a laundry machine didn't mean you'd get the dryer. Some people would pull your clothes out and set it aside still wet. Other times you would lose your clothes. I lost a pair of boxers and a lot of socks. One time I left my laundry detergent in the latrine, and in the morning it was all empty. Simply amazing.

Lights Out also meant we had fire guard duties. Two cadets had to stay awake for an hour to make sure everyone is accountable and nothing funny happens. Each hour also gets some sort of cleaning duty, but whether they actually do them is debatable.

My battle buddy and I usually had the same hours, because it eventually became a pattern. We had the crappy hours of cleaning the latrine or moping the floor. It was an hour of getting shit done.