Pack test agogo (is that how you spell agogo? I don't think so.)

Okay. So. The pack test for the Fuel Reduction Team ("FRT") was deeefinitely harder than I expected. Since FRT corpsmembers must be able to haul copious amounts of brush, dirt, and rock, to even get your name into the acceptance process for FRT teams you must complete a 3-mile trek wearing a 45lb weight vest, and you must complete said trek in under 45 minutes. Except, there's this catch: if you run, you're disqualified.

Now, I will valiantly save you from having to do any sort of math in your head, unless you've jumped the gun and already figured out that I would have to walk at a brisk 4mph in order to make the time cut. And they were strict, some people finished at 45:03 and they did not pass the test.

The good news is that I passed the test, speedwalker that I am. The bad news is that my butt still hurts, four days later, from having to vamanos my legs so fast. I think I was moving as fast as I physically can without breaking contact with the ground.

Recently (say like yesterday and monday), all the corpsmembers have been going through the various courses we need before we can become official NCCC personnel. This means approximately 6-9 hours a day in a chair, being talked to. The worst so far was our Red Cross Introduction to Disaster Response course, which unfortunately consisted of common sense and videos of people driving around and delivering food to disaster victims. I'm pretty sure it's a well-known fact that if you try to teach people common sense, they will either have a revelation as their entire common-sense foundation is ripped apart, or they will fall asleep. My POD leader took some funny pictures of me and two podmates snoozing, fun guy that he is.

Fortunately we get CPR training on friday. Hopefully I'll never use it but it will be great to know it. Today was not quite as enlightening, but I learned two very important things:

I am not a volunteer. I am an NCCC member.

I do not get paid. I get a living allowance.

What this makes me tax-wise, I'm not entirely sure.