My Life as a Soldier

For nearly all my life, I wanted to join the military. However, I was big fat fatty; which prevented me from joining as a young adult. However in my later 20's, I shed the weight and was then able to join.

How it Started

As I noted, I was too heavy to join the armed services at an young age. However, I began a weight loss journey in my mid to late 20's. My solo journey lacked an important resource, knowledge. I had minimal resources at the time to get the knowledge. Yes, the internet was around, but it wasn't the same as it is today. This was a time before YouTube and any form of social media.

So one day, I stepped into the Army Recruiting Office in Bolivar, just to ask about what the Army did for physical fitness. I wasn't even thinking about joining. However, after a few visits this turned into, 'the reserves may be a good idea,' because my family of four was barely living paycheck to paycheck. And then ...

After conversations with the silver tongued recruiter, the idea of regular Army seemed better and better for my situation. Yes, he got me 'hook, line and sinker'.

So the process began, the recruiter took me to the National Guard Armory in Springfield, where I took the ASVAB. I scored in the 98th percentile, with my GT score of 126 (150 max). By this measure, I was qualified for any job in Army. So then a few weeks later, I was off to MEPS in Kansas City.

My MEPS experience was not quite as kind to me. The physical exam was fine, no problems there. Selecting my Military Occupational Specialty is were the challenge arose. I was gunning for 18X (Special Forces Candidate) , which I qualified for, but... the term 'needs of the Army' was thrown in my face.

Despite having score high on the ASVAB, the Army did not take kindly to the fact that I was a high school dropout with a GED and no college. Therefore, they only offered me 3 positions:

'Motor Transport Operator' (88M)
'Petroleum Supply Specialist' (92F)
'Culinary Specialist' (92G)

With some negotiating I was able to get them to offer me 'Water Treatment Specialist' (92W). Alas, the offer was only good if I joined the Reserves instead.

I did not want to be a cook. Recruiter told me that 92Fs tended to have a lot of TDYs, which was not the best for a family man. So 'Motor Transport Operator' it was.

Marching Orders

I woke up on July 20th 2004, ready to start my Army career.

Completed Basic Training at Ft Knox KY. I would like it was otherwise a normal day. But honestly, it wasn't. Not only was I was about to start a new part of my life, I had already left a part of my old life behind. I had already quit my job as a wastewater operator, and had already packed up a lot of my family's stuff to prepare for a major move. It's needless to say, I was anxious.

But there was stuff to do before getting on the bus back to MEPS. My wife (at the time) had to make a trip to Walmart. First, we had to pick up family pictures for me to take with me, to remind me of my family (Yes, I'm so old I remember film cameras).

Second and tragically funny, my wife wanted me to get a replacement wedding ring, as mine had been lost. In a basic since, it made sense, but it was much more to her. For some reason she thought she thought she needed to mark her territory while I was away from her. The fact that my orders were to attend basic training at Ft. Knox. Ft. Knox was a male only training camp. In hindsight, she was projecting her paranoia. (Yes, this going were you probably think.)

This took longer than expected, so then we made a mad rush to the recruiter to meet the bus to MEPS. After loading my stuff and last good byes, I was in the van on my way to Kansas City.

Entry Day

I don't remember much about my night before my swearing in. However, I only remember meeting my roommate in the hotel room briefly before he went partying. I did not seem again in the room, only seeing him briefly at breakfast before getting on the bus to the MEPS site. I was thinking, "is this his going to be brother in arms?", scary.

After checking out of the hotel and breakfast, we all were placed on the bus to the actual MEPS station.

There I had to a drug test and final weigh in. Of course, I had to 'Taped' as well. Then it was time for oath of enlistment.

Lastly, I had to wait for my actual orders, and plan tickets before being placed on a bus to Kansas City International Airport (KCI). There I was placed on a plane to Detroit, then another to Louisville.

The whole 'another plane to Louisville' did not go smoothly. By time we got to our terminal, there wasn't enough time to use our food vouchers for diner. However, there was a mechanical issues with the plan, and boarding was delayed. Still not enough time to get to a food vendor and get back. So, we waited. Then another 15 minute delay. We finally boarded the plan, to then find out the mechanical issue had not been resolved, se had to deboard. About 15 minutes later we were told to that we could board another plan that was going to Memphis, but would land in Louisville to drop us off. The catch was, we had to board the plane in 10 minutes, at a terminal on the other side of the airport. So it was a mad dash by everyone that was supposed to be on that flight to the other side of the airport. But on the Brightside, we made it and was soon in the air.

We finally landed in Louisville a little after midnight. Of course, all the food venders where closed. So other than a pack of peanuts on the plan, no meals since breakfast the day earlier at about four AM.

I have no recollection of how I knew where I was supposed to go, but somehow we made it the the USO lounge. There I waited with all the other recruits for over an hour watching boxing matches on the TV and eating pizza that Pizza Hut donated to the USO. Finally, we were placed on another bus to take us to Ft. Knox.

Reception

When the buss arrived, I was expecting the infamous 'Shark Attack.' That is not what happened. The civilian bus driver was more aggressive than the Drill Sergeants. Of course, it was about 2 o'clock in the morning. They were probably tired and didn't give a flying fuck.

Completed AIT at Ft Leonard Wood, in Missouri.

The first task we completed was receiving and donning our first uniform, grey PT shorts and black PT shorts. We still looked like shit sandwiches. No one had the same pair of shoes or socks, and the plethora of non-regulation haircuts.

Then we were then filed in a room to complete paperwork. This included setting up direct deposit for our pay. I had done this with my recruiter previously, but I accidently lost my debit card while in Kansas City. We then h ad to poke our fingers and smear the blood on index cards, so the the Army could put our DNA on file. Of course, we received some briefing about nothing I can remember.

We then were marched to a nearby barracks, were they examined our feet, so we knew what kind of arch support we needed for our running shoes.

They took our civilian stuff and gave us a web belt, poncho, canteen, and bedding. The took us to the billets and told us to find a bunk, make it, and get some sleep. No sooner than I had made my bunk, reveille sounded and it was time for first formation, PT, and then breakfast. No sleep!

For the next week, we were marched around the post going from one building to another. This ranged from the Med station for immunizations, CIIP for more uniforms, the barber shop for the classic recruit hair cut, to more offices for more paperwork.

Basic Training (BCT)

After a week after reception, some individuals were selected to start training. This wasn't everyone. Some had issues with paperwork to resolve, and the class size was limited. The others would have to wait their turn.

We returned the supplies and equipment that they gave us during first night, and our 'Civilian Bags'. Then we placed our duffle bags and Civilian bags in rows in the formation area. After breakfast, we had to sit on our bags and wait. Then we waited some more. After that, we had lunch, and then (you guessed it) we waited some more.

And then.... The 'Shark Attack' began. Drill Sergeants from our new training company arrived. The Sergeants came at us screaming at us to pick up our shit and start running to our new barracks. So we did what were ordered to do. We picked up our 50 or so pound duffels and our civilian bags, and then began running with them yelling at us all the way.

For the first few days (maybe a week), we did PT in the mornings, received our TA50, and took classes to learn the 'Army Value', the 'Warrior's Ethos', and 'Soldier's Creed'. Then it was marching to classrooms to learn First Aid, how to use a radio, and so on. Of course, there was PT every day, including the obstacle course and rappelling tower. We even spent time learning 'Military Operations in Urban Terrain' (MOUT). You know, that room cleaning shit like SWAT does.

The second phase of training primarily focused on Basic Rifle Marksmanship. While I was a good shot in the civilian world, I only scored 'Marksman', the lowest level while still passing. I was close to 'sharpshooter', but didn't quite make the mark. Reason being, I had trouble seeing the olive drab targets at 250 and 300 meters with the shadow of a forest line as a back drop, using peep sites. I was so disappointed with myself, and my pride took a beating.

Of course we did the same shit we did in phase one. But this wear we really started to learn real Army Shit. We got to use machine guns like the M249 SAW and the big ole 'Maw Deuce'. We also practiced using the AT4, grenades, and the Claymore mine.

We finally had our big Field Exercise.

Advanced Individual Training

Section Not Complete

Completed AIT at Ft Leonard Wood, in Missouri

10th Mountain Division