Editor's note: This was tossed over the transom by an unexpected source: former C/Lt Col Jared Kufta. Mr. Kufta, while he is not currently a CAP member, was gracious, helpful and knowledgeable and we were happy to include his excellent and well-written article. Enjoy!

It finally came. It is the night before you leave to attend your first Summer School at Hawk Mountain Ranger Training Facility.

You are packed and are making some last minute preparations for the next nine days, all of which you will be spending in the woods. You are definitely nervous - every one is on their first journey to Hawk - and maybe a little scared. You've heard the war stories about those infamous "Pennsylvania Rangers", and you don't know what to expect. You've heard about the first day, and how it can be the toughest and most intimidating day of your life. There is no question about it, the first day is tough, and will probably the one of the most demanding things you will accomplish in your Civil Air Patrol career. But that doesn't mean you can't get through it with flying colors. I should know, I participated in more than six first days at Hawk while I was a Cadet. This article will try to help you understand what to expect and how to mentally, and physically prepare for the dreaded first day of Hawk.

Start preparing weeks in advance. Visit the Hawk web site to learn what you will need for the duration of the school. (And read the articles on CadetStuff.org! - Ed.) After you have read the handbook, marked all of your gear, packed in the most efficient manner and laid out all of your stuff for a quick exit of your home or rally point early in the morning, start preparing for that first day. Eat a hot meal. I suggest steak and potatoes. You will want the carbohydrates for energy on Day One. Shower; get as clean as possible. It will be the last time for nine days that you will really feel clean. Go to bed early, try and get eight hours of rest; you will need it.

Wake up early and get on the road. Sign in starts at 0800 on the dot. Be at the Hawk at 0745. You will learn throughout the next week that if you aren't early, you are late. And, you will want to beat the rush of students as they start to arrive. Unload your gear from your vehicle and follow the instruction of the staff cadets on where to stow it while you are processed. Try and keep everything together... I suggest either using an army duffel bag or durable footlocker for everything you will need that doesn't belong in your rucksack or day gear. Once things are stowed, send your ride home. That person, be it your parents or squadron commander, is no longer useful. They may stay and watch the rest of the day's proceedings if they wish, but they will run the risk of being in the way.

Next, you will be processed. That means you will sign in and have to present all of the proper forms and papers that Hawk requires. Refer to the web site and make sure all of these items are on your person in a WATERPROOF bag. It may rain. After you sign in, you will get checked by the medics. Inform these good folks if you are taking any medication (have it with you) or if you have any medical issues. After this, you will be assigned to a squadron where you will be for the next nine days. If you are traveling with a home squadron mate, say goodbye to them now because it's unlikely that you'll see them until it's over..

You will be directed to get your gear from the parade ground and take it up the mountain several hundred yards to your squadron base camp. This is where you will be happy that you have all of your stuff packed efficiently so you only have to make one trip. Staff cadets will be on hand to help you out should you need it.

Signing into your squadron can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. Practice your salute and your sign-in recitation at home. This is: "Sir, Cadet Airman John E. Doe reporting to sign-in, sir." If you are in CAP, you have done this before. But practice it and know it cold. Work on your military bearing. Most of the time you will sign in to a Senior staff member of your new home squadron. You will fill out the standard form, be asked when you last ate and showered, what medical conditions you have, and many other items. Do not be intimidated! This is how your staff will get a basic rundown of whom they will be leading for the next nine days. They may yell, they may make you go to the back of the line and do it over, they may laugh. Not to worry, this is all normal.

When signing into your squadron, you will be given a count-off number. Remember it! I cannot stress this enough. This is your identifier for the next nine days. A staff member will say "Bravo Squadron, COUNT OFF," and at that point the squadron will answer, "One sir! Two sir!" and so on. If you don't sound off when it is your number, well, be prepared to get a reminder of the importance of sounding off. After you learn your count-off number you will be assigned a team commander. This is normally someone wearing a yellow scarf. Listen to where this person has to say. You will be assigned a place to set up your shelter, or a spot with someone who needs a tent mate. You will stow your gear in the squadron Supply Tent, and maybe even help construct this tent.

The sign-in process takes all morning. During this time you will be responsible for the set-up of your squadron area. I will not go into much detail, as this will all be explained to you by your squadron staff. What I can say is listen to what they have to say, they have done this before and they know what they are talking about.

At about 1300 things get interesting. At this time Opening Formation takes place, the official start of the Hawk Mountain Summer School. You may have heard horror stories about blazing heat, push-ups, screaming cadet commanders, more push-ups, name-calling...the whole nine yards. Yes, this was true at one time when it was called "Drop Dead Formation." Those days are no more. However, it is still an uncomfortable experience for even the most seasoned Cadet.

You will be marched down to the parade field and lined up by squadron, with Alpha at the head, Bravo next, and so on. You will be in columns of four. You will be carrying your day gear. My first piece of advice is to make sure nothing falls off your day gear. Practice wearing it at home; jump up and down as roughly as you can. If anything falls off, secure it so it doesn't fall off again. Make sure your bootlaces are tied. You don't want to trip and fall. Squadron Commanders and guidon bearers will be called to the field. After this will be a long, shrill whistle blast.

Your squadron will then do an about face and double time onto the parade field while chanting something: more than likely your squadron name. Your staff will let you know what this is. Stay in formation and line up in front of your squadron commander. Dress and cover and stand at attention. It will be hot, you will be sweating, and the bugs will be gnawing at you. DON'T MOVE. Suck it up and stay at attention. It will be hard and take everything you can muster, but - trust me - stay still. At this point, one of the cadet command staff will start yelling, saying how badly you came onto the parade field, etc. You will be told to get off and do it again. In formation, run off the parade field at double time. STAY TOGETHER. Stay as a team. This may happen two or three times. (Time was it would happen six or seven times with loads of push-ups in between!) Help out teammates that are having a tough time by either hanging onto them or helping them secure their day gear.

The staff will find gear that has fallen off of someone. They will hold it aloft and announce the owner. This is embarrassing, that is why you must make certain everything is secured.

When standing at attention DO NOT LOCK YOUR KNEES. You will pass out. If you are feeling ill, there are medics at the back of the parade field. Inform your team commander you feel sick and he will decide what to do with you. Try and suck it up though. You will feel so much better about yourself if you stick it out.

When the cadet commander is satisfied, he will call for the raising of the colors. A patriotic theme will be played while this happens and you will render appropriate honors. Next, you will be dismissed by squadron and will continue with your day.

After opening formation you will have orientation classes. You will be given a brief tour of the Base Camp facilities. You will be introduced to Senior staff and they will speak briefly about Hawk Mountain, the Ranger Program and what is expected of you during the next nine days. Safety is stressed. A tour is given of the obstacle course and you are instructed on how to make your way through it. During the late afternoon you will return to your base camp and will eat dinner and continue setting-up your new home.

Closing ceremony will take place around 1900. Here you will encounter a similar run on-run off as you did for opening ceremony. Colors are lowered and you will either return to your area for more set up or attend a class. As night falls you will do many other tasks, such as collecting firewood, digging a latrine, setting up shelters/supply tents, hang fencing, rock trails, and so on. Lights out is between 2230 and 2300. You may be assigned guard watch for no more than an hour sometime during the night. It will be with another person. During this time, follow guard instructions as laid out by your staff. Keep the fire going. If you are hungry, eat. This is also a great time to get prepared for tomorrow morning. Lay out clean socks and clothes for easy access. Talk with your guard mate and get to know him. Brush your teeth. Fix your feet if you have blisters. Be prepared for staff to test you. They may try to sneak into your area; challenge whoever comes near your area; don't be intimidated!

The first day is the hardest, and when you make it through you have overcome one of the greatest obstacles of the week. Be proud of yourself and keep your head up. Remember, mistakes will be made, but learn from them. And always, always be the best teammate you can possibly be.

Some other tidbits of advice:

• Drink lots of water throughout the day. It will keep you alert and hydrated.
• Eat at least one hot meal.
• Ask questions. If you don't know, don't assume.
• Learn as much about your teammates as possible. You will be with these people for nine days and you will find out that it is all about teamwork. The sooner you bond, the better off you will be.
• Get as much rest as possible on the first night. PT starts at 0530 the next day, and it comes early.
• Follow your staff's instructions. This is especially important for higher-ranking cadet officers attending Hawk. You may be a Cadet major and may be in charge of your home state's encampment. No one at Hawk cares. Your team commander may be no higher than a Cadet sergeant. He has been to Hawk before and is a Ranger, you are not. Follow his lead and you too will be a Ranger.