[Premsore]

Spec4, I liked that Airborne Infantry AIT title! I think only a few of us know what that was. At Camp Crockett we weren't ever considered to be in Leg Infantry AIT, but instead training to eventually go to jump school and an airborne unit. We all trained using the Airborne PT test as our PT model. I was at Crockett beginning early January 69. Quonset huts, kerosene heaters that smoked so bad, when you wake up in the morning, your skin is covered in soot, blow your nose, and black soot. No running water, lister bags in the company street, and porta johns on each end of a Quonset. Went many a day in training that we didn't get back to the company area in time to catch the deuce and a half that went to the shower building a few miles down the road. Heck, that experience prepped us for phase I I'm a firm believer.
Like you, right after I hit group as a Spec4, the future cycles automatically made E5 coming to group, which froze E5 slots to the new guys. I never held it against them, it was the system. I finally got promoted after harassing my poor SGM and having to go before a promotion board after being in group for a year.