I love Cadetstuff. I wish there were something around like this when I was a Cadet. A web site like this helps unlock the truth to the secrets and mysteries of activities like PJOC and Hawk. When I was a Cadet, all we had to go on was hearsay and conjecture, which is sort of the truth, but not quite. The guys at this fine site asked if I could do another article on Summer Hawk and I am happy to oblige.

If you read my article on surviving the first day at Hawk, you know how to get through one of the toughest days of your life. But there are still eight days to go. So now what? Don't worry, Summer Hawk can be easy if you try, and by following my sure-fire, get-the-most-out-of-your-Ranger-school-experience tips, you'll be a happy cadet. Here we go:

1. Primo Guard Shift Hours. Everyone pulls guard. Yes, you'll be paired up with someone else for an hour each night, tending to the fire and keeping the guard log. Nothing is worse than pulling the 0200 shift. Try your best to score the most prime guard time: the hour before reveille. The bugle blast sure comes early and the moments that follow can be very chaotic. If you have that extra hour, you can enjoy some coffee, get mentally prepared for PT and even tend to your sore feet. When I was on squadron staff, getting this guard shift was considered a reward.

2. The Confidence Course: How to stay dry. Nothing sucks more than going back to your squadron area soaked to the bone after a nice morning of PT. On the Confidence Course, there are a few of what they will call "water rides." In my day it was the Attila, the Monkey Bars, and the "First Jump." You shouldn't be at Hawk if you can't make the First Jump and not many people splash on the Monkey Bars. The Attila is what gets Cadets wet. The Attila is a rope swing over a small pond of water. The rope hangs from a post suspended between two trees about six meters off the ground. You will run up to the starting area for the ride and the staff member manning the obstacle will call out "Ready?" You respond, "Yes sir!" and start off at a run towards the rope, which has been swung by the staff member. Get as much speed as you can and jump as far and as high as possible, grabbing the rope with both hands. As soon as your momentum carries you to the other side, let go. It's that simple. People get psyched out because of the water factor. Don't even think about it. Just run and jump and grab onto the rope and let go when you get to the other side. Simple as that.

3. Bowel Movements. Don't snicker, a good dump is your friend. You should be sure to take one every day. You will eat at least three meals a day, and all of that food needs to go somewhere once its digested. Hawk is no fun if you're constipated. And we all know what happens once that constipation cork pops. If you move those bad boys once a day, you'll feel light on your feet all week. "But Jared, I don't like to go anywhere but my own bathroom at home." Suck it up! Rangers love to excrete in the woods. Want to be one? Then walk the walk.

4. Survival Hike H2O. Aside from the water in Brooklyn, which is the best in the world (it's why our pizza and bagels are the best, too), there is no better water than that at Gold Springs. As your squadron hikes up the Pinnacle Side Trail to the Pinnacle, it is a sure bet that you will make a pit stop at Gold Springs. Do yourself a favor and empty all of your canteens of that nasty Water Buffalo sludge and fill up here. If you feel that your squadron commander is going to by-pass this nectar of the gods, ask him or her to stop. Be sure to sign the trail log book and tell 'em Jared sent you.

5. Survival Hike Shelter. One (1) cheap white hammock purchased at your local sporting good store. One (1) waterproof, yet lightweight plastic tarp. Twenty-five (25) feet paracord. If you can't put two and two together and figure out how to sleep in the high-life with these items, ask a staff Cadet. You'll stay drier than the rest of those suckers making poncho shelters, and boy is it comfy. (Been there, done that: it rocks! - Ed.)

6. Rappelling. Everyone gets the opportunity to rappel at the Pulpit. For the first-timer, it's scary. You're giving your life over to some rope and metal thingies that you've probably never seen before. Not to worry. Take a look at all of the safety lines they strap to you. Listen to all of the redundant precautions they take. You are safer rappelling at Hawk than you are walking down my block. Hook in, pay attention and enjoy the ride.

7. Back To Base, Time To Test. You learn quite a bit while on the survival hike. It is where you master your woodsmanship skills. When you get back from the survival hike: test, test, test. Ask your staff if you can take a fire building or knots test. If they turn you down, ask another one. Get turned down again? Keep pestering. You not only go to Hawk to complete the school, but to earn some Ranger grade, and your staff members need to oblige your requests. Go home to your unit at least a Ranger Second Class. And the only way to do that is test, test, test. (A short expansion on Mr. Kufta's advice: you'll receive a sheet of paper with the various requirements for Ranger qualifications. These must be initialed by a qualified Ranger and the entire sheet signed off if you're going to get the rating. Do what he says: pester every Ranger you can find to evaluate you on the requirements on your sheet and sign you off. - Ed.)

8. The Written Test. This test is administered on either Friday or Saturday night towards the end of the week and is a hundred questions long. Everyone takes it and you need to score at a certain level for Ranger grade advancement. Ask your staff members for advice on the test. And remember, a human doesn't sink in quicksand if he goes horizontal and swims out. (You'll get it when you take the test).

9. Skit Night. Saturday night is skit night. All squadrons descend on the parade field and perfom some sort of "skit" for the school. Everyone is there and this is your chance to be funny, bag on some staff members and have an all-around good time. Work on that skit, you don't want to look like the loser squadron.

10. Last Day: Parade & Review. Stand tall, don't lock your knees and stay still. If you receive an award during P&R, look smart and snap that salute. You've worked all week to get to this point. Enjoy it and feel proud of your accomplishment.

And that is that. Of course there is so much more to tell, but I don't want to give all of my secrets away. Hopefully you came out of Hawk a better cadet than when you went in. And when you return to your home unit, there is no need for bragging, no need to act like a jerk; be a "quiet professional". Just wear your NCSA patch on your sleeve and let others make their own assumptions.

Until next time, keep your socks dry!