Monday, October 17, 2011

Busy busy busy!

Hi all!  So i've been here in Sacramento for about a week and a half now, and I figured it is about time I make a post!  I figured I would start out by explaining what AmeriCorps NCCC is for all those who may not necessarily know... AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is a residential service program for young adults (ages 18-24) where members work on set teams of 10-12 people and serve others in the fields of rural and urban development, energy conservation, infrastructure improvement, disasters, as well as environmental stewardship and conservation.  Each team will be sent on approximately 4-5 spikes over the course of their 10 months of service (a spike is the term used to describe the service trips each group takes away from campus).

I have been assigned to Pacific Region campus that is located on McClellan Airforce Base in Sacramento, California.  I flew from Austin, Tx on October 6th, and have been residing on campus since.  When I first arrived, I had to go through in-processing and various trainings with my POD.  Our POD is the temporary group that we are assigned to for the first week of training while they determine what permanent teams we will be on.  Last Thursday (the 13th) I found out my permanent team after completing a scavenger hunt all over campus.  I am officially a member of Blue Six, led by blue-tiful Ben!  This team is a Fire Management Team (FMT), which I will explain in a minute.

Fire Management Teams are trained to assist with wildfire prevention and management, and they can be doing anything ranging from cutting brush to assisting in wildfire suppression.  Prior to coming to campus, I didn't really have much interest in applying for one of these teams; however, after some deliberation I figured that it wouldn't hurt to try out for one and see if I could make it.  In order to try out for one of these teams, members had to fill out an application and then perform a "pack test," where one must walk 3 miles with a 45 pound backpack in under 45 minutes.  Believe me, it was MUCH harder than I expected!!  Despite this, I was able to make it in 42 minutes and 24 seconds!! 

So now I am on an FMT team, where I will become "Red Card" certified as a Wildland Firefighter, Type 2 (as well as First Aid and Chainsaw certified).  We will be going through trainings for the next week so or so until we leave for Camp Mendocino in the Redwoods of California... I'm very excited!  I miss my POD a great deal (shout out to my old roommate Amanda and team leader Jess!!), but I know that I will love my new Team as well. 

I guess that is all it for now, I have more meetings and paperwork to get to before the day ends!  Hope everyone is doing well, I miss you all!