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Tbis
Picture was taken the day before Graduation, called "Family Day".
I was able to see my parents for the first time after two months
of intense training, and show them around the barracks that I had been
living in. Every 6 days our heads were shaven to keep us uniform.
Our shoes were in a certain order, a certain distance back, and
with the laces tucked in and tied. |
| This
was my platoon area, where my platoon formed up every morning, whether
it was for PT (physical training) or to go on a ruck march or a
mission. You can see the four red lines, where each of the for
squads that make up a platoon are to line up. |
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I
didn't realize there were nice parts of Ft. Jackson until my parents
and I drove around base, and found this nice lake with picnic areas.
Very scenic. Needles to say, I never want to set foot in
South Carolina again. |
| After
returning home from basic, and five weeks of training and the Army
school of music, newly MOS (mission occupational specialty) qualified
soldiers go for a weekend called "Battle Hand-Off". At the end of
this weekend, there is a ceremony with all of the highest ranking
officers and NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) in the state, who
officially welcome us back home, and we become part of the unit we are
assigned to. We officially get to wear our left-shoulder patches
which show our assigned unit. As shown here, an infantry officer
places the patch on my shoulder, and as a tradition, he punches it
solidly into my arm. |
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This Picture was taken soon after the ceremony, with my sister Amanda (Left) and mother Nancy (Right). |
| This
is me coming back from my first drill with my unit. I'm extremely
happy to be back. I love my unit, and I love what the Army has
turned me into. I'm much stronger, both physically and mentally. |
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