Not even rain can stop the Cadre here at Pre-Orientation ! We woke up this morning bright and early for PT, and proceeded to get absolutely drenched by the weather. The Battalions split up and completed the PT circuit or went on a cadence run. Despite the conditions, there was a smile on everyone's face! Most people would never want to wake up at the crack of dawn to do pushups in the rain, but the Cadre look forward to this everyday. The energy at Pre-O right now is contagious. Rather than getting exhausted as the week goes on, these cadets improve themselves and more energetic every single day.
In the morning, everyone attended a meeting on MMA's Military Customs and Traditions, and discussed why these are important to us. The Battalions split off to practice their drill, not at all hampered by the rain. After lunch, the Cadre attended more meetings on Postitive Reinforcement, Watchstanding, and a Conduct overview.
Dinner tonight was special, as it was the first time all the cadets were back in their Classroom Blacks uniform. Everyone looked sharp with freshly ironed shirts and polished shoes. In the evening, the Cadre practiced public speaking in front of a large audience, with some incredibly rousing performances from our cadets.
Even though everyone got a little soggy today, spirits are high, and the bonds between cadets have been growing strong. You can tell that everyone who's here truly wants to be here, and it shows. We ended the night with some Company Commander time, where individual companies practiced marching up to patio, mock inspections, and drill.
Tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th, marks the official halfway point for Pre-O! It's amazing how much everyone has learned in these past few days. We're all extremely ready for the Cadet Candidates arrival on Sunday, and can't wait to see what Orientation has in store!
