Security Police Academy Memories - Part III (Final)
Wherein Teófilo brings this chapter of his life to an end.
At this point we'd learned all the basic security skills we needed to perform our jobs. We'd reached the point where we could protect USAF assets. We now could practice our obedience to our General Orders in a greater venue.
General Orders
I will take charge of my post and protect personnel and property for which I am responsible, until properly relieved.
I will report all violations of orders that I am entrusted to enforce and call my superior in any case not covered by instructions.
I will sound the alarm in any case of disorder or emergency.
During the last week of training we marched early in the mornings to the training ramp. There we practice protecting combat aircraft on alert. We put in practice everything we have learned, our professional nomenclature and jargon.
We also protected a mock Weapons Storage Area (WSA), which I found to be the least complicated of our force protection duties.
The training area also included a mock topside of a missile site, but we didn't practice there at all. The instructors told those of us who were missile field-bound that "we'll find out soon enough."
It was during these early mornings when I heard for the first time the Muslim call to prayer. The recorded voice of the muezzin or cantor resonated via the PA system throughout the base. I found it unusual but grew to accept it as part of the village life.
On the way to the ramp we marched by the Defense Language Institute's school. There many military students were increasing their English skills. In fact, I saw US Navy sailor also forming early in the mornings, dressed in their dungarees. Many times I got to hear their class leaders shouting drill orders:
About, face! ¡Coño, carajo, puñeta dije: "About, face" coño!
Definitely he was a fellow Puerto Rican.
It was also during these last days when I had a close encounter with a Texan bat. The common shower room for my wing was right across from my room. I was only wearing a towel and about to open the door when I saw something approaching fast from my right with my peripheral vision. Instinctively I dove to the floor as the bat flit right over my back. It flew to the end of the hallway and turned by the dayroom’s door, making another pass. By then I was low crawling into the shower room.
These things only happen to me.
Graduation and Going Home
And just like that, our training came to an end. We had class photos taken in our blue uniforms in the few days running toward graduation. I'm sad to say I can't find my group photo.
The night before graduation and departure I packed my duffel bag and other luggage. I also went to the exchange and got myself a walkman and the latest Air Supply tape. That's the album that contained the song The Power of Love. Celine Dion would cover that song later to much more acclaim.
The day came and the ceremony was short and meaningful. We wore our blue berets. Our diploma was the Security Police shield we got to wear in our uniform. Then they dismissed us to our respective travel arrangements and that, was that.
I'd heard stories about receiving last minute orders to Camp Bullis for Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD) training. Some stories told about last-minute orders given to people at the airport's departure gates. That would've meant I had to undergo six more weeks of training. How much I prayed to the Lord to free me from such fate! The wedding date was set for three days after my arrival. I didn't want to miss my own wedding, you understand.
Thank God that didn't happen.
I arrived at San Juan late on Thursday, August 29th. My Mercie was there to receive me. Her brother had driven her to the airport from Ponce to pick me up and they did. I was exhausted. She was ecstatic. After I'd rested, the next morning, I was ecstatic as well.