#155 - I am home!

After being on active duty for training for 7 months and 7 days (according to my DD-214), I am happy to be home. I've dreamt of returning ever since I left in January. It is a wonderful feeling. There are many people, places and things that I've missed, and I have a lot to catch up on. More on that later.

But in the meantime, since several of you having been asking for it, I am beginning to post journal entries from my time at basic combat training. These entries will be posted in chronological order beginning on the date I left for BCT on January 17th, 2006. Use the "Archives" navigation section to look through these earlier entries. I will begin by posting excerpts from my first 10 days in BCT, and will continue updating this with several each day until all are posted.

#154 - AIT Graduation

This is the day I've been waiting for... graduation from AIT!

Our uniform for the graduation ceremony was Class 'B's (the green dress uniform without the jacket), and was held in the battalion headquarters. The ceremony included the showing of a video about AIT at Fort Gordon, and speeches from several speakers including the brigade LTC. We were handed "fake" diplomas - I'm guessing that the real thing will come in the mail later. The only honor graduates came from my class, and I was awarded the title of distinguished honor graduate for having the highest average over a 95 in my class. Unfortunately this might mean that my unit might expect me to know what to do...lol. Anyway, the ceremony was relatively short, and I departed immediately after.

I will miss many of my classmates. Honestly I didn't care for a lot of the people I was with AIT with, but the folks in my class were an exception. We had some really good people in the 25B class. Hopefully we will all try to remain in touch with one another.

My husband drove to Fort Gordon to pick me up. We drove home (taking a nap or two along the way). Crossing over the state line and knowing I wasn't far from home was a nice feeling. We stopped for breakfast at a Perkin's restaurant shortly thereafter. When we were paying for our breakfast at the register, the manager came over. She said, "There was a gentlemen who just walked out the door a few minutes ago. He left money and instructions to pay for the breakfast of the woman in uniform."

Wow. A total stranger picked up the tab for our meal. That was really kind. I suppose that there are a lot of folks who are appreciative of those in the military who are serving their country. :)

#153 - 21 August - supposed to be the last day... ;p

It is 10:32am, and today is my last official day on active duty, at least according to the orders I have in my wallet. Unfortunately I'm stuck here until Wednesday, as they are keeping us for the graduation ceremony. I wish it was optional.

At least I was able to spend the weekend with my husband. On Friday night I received an overnight pass and didn't have to be back at the company until Sunday afternoon. I was the only person in my company of 330 people to apparently receive the privilege. My husband said that this might be my payback for being a squared-away soldier for so many months...

My husband is "working from home" in the hotel for the next few days while he waits for me to be released from Fort Gordon. Luckily he has a job in IT which can afford him such privileges. We stopped at the post PX this weekend and picked him up an Xbox 360, so I know he'll also be suitably entertained. I also bought a nice speaker set for my Ipod. Have to take advantage of the tax-free shopping at the PX before I leave here...

The graduation ceremony is Wednesday at 4:00pm, so with any luck, we'll probably be on the road by 4:30pm. I'm planning to help my husband drive, so hopefully we'll make it home by early Thursday morning if we drive straight through.

It still doesn't feel "real" that I'm leaving here yet... in the same way that it took awhile for it to feel "real" when I originally enlisted in the Army.

I've been spending most of my time lately in these final days just thinking about home, and planning for the future. It's hard to believe that I've been doing this for 8 months. Sometimes I have my doubts, and wondered what I would have missed out on if I had chosen another path, and decided not to enlist in the military. There are times when I felt that I've been missing out on civilian life. Sometimes I've been angry at myself to having chosen this particular path, but I guess I didn't come into this blind. For whatever the reaosn, this is something that I felt the need to do. Luckily the difficult part of it is almost over.

#152.5 - A few photos

<-- Cleaning weapons in the dayroom

<--- You can never have enough Q-tips!

<--- Tired, and ready to go home

#152 - Capstone - day 4

Last night I was attacked again by fire ants while I slept. I have 17 ant bites on my face, and dozens on my hands and feet. I am one big, freaky-looking itch! There are so many unpleasant insects in the South. I won't miss any of them when I leave Fort Gordon.

Well, it is Thursday, and I'm back at the barracks. I have left Capstone a little bit early, and am missing out on today and tomorrow. Honestly, I don't think I'm going to be missing out on much. We've already finished with the ranges, and completed our MOS validation. It sounds like much of tomorrow is going to consist of a Capstone graduation ceremony, and cleaning up the FOB where we were staying. My battle buddy Jeanene is being sent home from AIT several days early because of her upcoming deployment to Iraq. She needed a battle buddy, so I've been accompanying her all over base for outprocessing, which involves visits to every conceivable place on post to make sure you've fulfilled your various obligations (going to the dentist to get your records, library to show you have no overdue books, etc.). The fringe benefit of this is that I've been also taking care of my outprocessing along with hers, since we have to go to all the same places. The rest of my classmates will have to wait until Monday to do their outprocessing. Unfortunately it doesn't mean that I will necessarily get out of here any earlier, but at least I will have fewer things to worry about for the remainder of my time here.



<--Jeanene packing up




I am really happy to be out of the field. We had a long day yesterday, and it was tiring and boring. I worked on an ammo detail stuffing magazines with blanks and live rounds, listening to the guys tell a lot of off-color sex jokes. The only highlight of my day was helping some Sgts to dissassemble a huge radio tower (the thing was amazing - super light and everything fit into a suitcase-sized pack). Another attempt at "personal hygiene" yesterday was once more interrupted by a simulated attack. This time the role-players had M-16s hidden under their robes. They pretended to pray, then opened fire on our encampment. We were also roused during the evening by a "sniper". I guess this kind of thing would be more fun if you were into war games. Maybe I would be if I wasn't so tired. Guess that's how I slept through the aforementioned fire ant attacks.

#151 - Capstone - day 3

It is 9:31am, and I am out at another rifle range. It's still the morning, but already unbearably hot, especially wearing all of this equipment. I've already finished today's range, which is "reflexive firing". It is essentially an exercise where you must hit targets in certain ways as they are being called, i.e. "Walk five meters. Turn right. Two shots, left 10 meters."

Tomorrow is a convoy live fire range, where we shoot at targets from the back of a moving truck, then disembark to fire at other targets after the truck stops for a simulated IED. Some of the students are wondering why we also have to do a convoy live fire range, since everyone had to do this in BCT not that long ago... I guess they figure that folks will encounter convoys in Iraq, so it's just additional training.

Yesterday we began "MOS validation training". This is a time where everyone sits around the computers, attempting to figure out what to do, and trying not to look stupid in the progress... ;p

After our MOS training yesterday, our camp, er, FOB (forward operating base) was surrounded by a group of simulated protesters. One of them handed us a brochure telling us to go home to "the land of Wal-Marts and Britney Spears" (I thought that was a nice touch). The protesters were peaceable until one of them decided to jump our barracade, at which point they were "shot".

At bed time we were also attacked. This came at an inopportune moment for me while I was in a state of undress in the tent. Shots and simulated artillery rounds were going off everywhere, people were screaming and running around, and I was throwing on clothes so fast I put my boots on backwards. It was entertaining.

This is day three of Capstone, and we are all starting to smell. The cadre are going to allow us our first (and only) shower tonight. One can only imagine how pungent the odor is being around people wearing all kinds of equipment in 100+ degree weather, some of them not changing into fresh clothes, after several days and several nights. This morning I experienced an olfactory memory of some of my days in archaeology brought upon my these smells. The persistent malodor brought me back to the days when I used to work with two archaeologist hippies that rarely showered. This was the same crew led by a whacko that used to brag about sleeping on garbage in the back of his van. It's been a long time since I've thought of those people, but being here lately, it's not that much of a stretch to close my eyes, draw in a deep breath, try not to gag, and remember...

It is 6:56pm and I'm happy to report that I've finally gotten that shower...aaaaah! However, stepping back out into the Georgia heat sort of negates the effect, and the positive feelings are short-lived.

I survived another day here, but I'll certainly be glad when this is over with. My body is riddled with fire ant bites all over... so many, that it looks like I have chicken pox.





<--- An inside look at D-MAIN













<--- Jeanene tries to catch a catnap in our tent, which wasn't easy in the 100+ heat
















<--- Guarding the perimeter during one of our "attacks"







<--- My battles trying to keep themselves entertained while waiting at one of the ranges

#150 - Capstone - day 2

It is the second day of Capstone, and 10:27 in the morning. I am out at the rifle range, and just finished zeroing my M-16. I decided to adjust my firing technique from what I had been doing in basic training, moving the rear sight away from my face. I really didn't want to get another black eye!

I actually ended up firing a lot better this way. On my last clip, I even got all of my shots in the same hole. Maybe I'll do better when I qualify next time.

We began the Capstone field exercise yesterday. We initially met in a gym and had to be separated into two groups of about 35 people each. You were either assigned to a site called D-MAIN or D-TAC (the former was co-ed, and the latter males only). We rode a bus out to our site (I am at D-MAIN) and set up cots in several large Army tents. Unlike basic training, we have the luxury of having a fan in our tent. Granted, it's still summer in Georgia, and will always be hot, but even having the hot air blow around does make a difference.

Even though we were split up, I'm still with a lot of folks from my class, which is a good thing. A lot of the other folks are younger kids with a short MOS school (5 weeks compared to our 20+ weeks). I don't think they've quite gotten out of the basic training-mindset, because they are treating me with respect, addressing me by my rank, and even occasionally going to the rank of parade rest with their hands interlocked behind their backs. I suspect that some of these folks with shorter AITs haven't had a lot of E-4s around... it's a little weird. Someone remarked that maybe the people coming into the Army with college and higher ranks are choosing longer, more technical AITs. Maybe there is some validity to that notion, I don't know.

#149 - Capstone - day 1

Right now I am inprocessing for Capstone, our final FTX. We are in a gym where a Drill Sergeant is barking out orders, and all I can hear is a series of unintelligible echoes in a basketball court. It's about 100 degrees outside, and not much cooler in here. I'm wearing a full set of ACUs, an IBA (flak jacket), LBV (vest with pockets for ammo clips), pistol belt w/canteen, and a 100-ounce Camelbak, which will soon be depleted. I have been drinking a lot of water already. It certainly feels like August here at Fort Gordon.

Capstone is the last requirement I must meet to graduate AIT. Basically, it is five days in the field. In the morning, we go to the rifle range. In the afternoon, we practice MOS skills that we should have learned in our military training at AIT up until now. I don't know a lot of details about what the Capstone experience will entail, but that is my general understanding of what I have to look forward to.

I really am anxious to get this over and to return home. I have lived away from home in a military environment since January, and it seems like it's been forever. My husband and I have a lot of plans for the house when I get back. I have been gone a long time, and there is a lot to get caught up on.

#148 - Class photo

This photograph was taken by one of my classmates at AIT. This was taken during one of our last few classes. Note the beret flying through the air!


I'm pleased to report that we finished our
last class today, and everyone made it.
We leave for Capstone, the final field exercise,
on Sunday.

#147 - Last day of class

Today is my last day of class. We have a test this morning that I'm a little nervous about. Apparently it's so hard that the highest anyone has gotten in the last few classes is a 80%... or at least that's what some of the instructors have been saying. The high average I've been trying so hard to maintain will probably take a pretty bad hit.

The class I've had all week has been very difficult, and stressful. I don't feel like I am adequately prepared for what we've been going over in this class. It's an uncomfortable feeling, to say the least.

I'm not very happy because they are keeping us here until August 23rd instead of August 21st for a mandatory graduation ceremony. To be honest, I'm not really that interested in attending an actual graduation. Most of my classmates only want to have their certificate in training, and be let loose...

On Sunday, we will be leaving for Capstone, the final field exercise at AIT. We will return on Thursday. Then we are being kept here until the following Wednesday, even though everything left here (mostly outprocessing) will only take a day. My husband is driving down here next weekend, and then staying until I am released, for a total of five nights in the hotel. Between the hotel, food, fuel, paying for a dogsitter at home, and miscellaneous costs, it will turn into an expensive trip for him. Oh well... at least it is really almost over.

#146 - Almost...over!

Ah... I'm almost outta here. It's so close, I can almost taste it. Just a few more weeks. After today, I have only nine days of training, and a few days after of "recovery" and outprocessing.

#145 - Suggested items for AIT

Folks who are planning to attend AIT after basic training usually wonder what they are allowed to bring with them, and what items might make life a little easier to take. Such a list can vary, as policies differ by post and individual company, as well as by a person's interests. I have compiled a list of some items which I have found useful to have in my possession at AIT, and a few suggestions of things that other folks here with me have in the barracks.

- a Camelbak (or other make of) hydration pack

I opted for a model which holds a good amount of water (~100 ounces) and has enough space to carry my gear (book or tablets for school, poncho, water bottle for class, and ink pens). Camelbaks on this post are only allowed in military colors like the ACU pattern, DCU pattern, foliage green, or black... no purple/pink combos or other odd color schemes.

- a cell phone loaded with features

It is true that there are payphones on base, but almost everyone at AIT has a cell phone. Most have features such as a built-in camera, ability to send text messages/e-mail, or play MP3 files. I have a Blackberry-like Samsung phone which allows internet access. This is a luxury as getting on the internet can be very challenging here since owning laptops is forbidden by many companies.

- MP3 player or CD player and music

Almost everyone has one of these. I have a 30GB video Ipod which I update with new music and podcasts every few weeks. I've also tried listening to the local National Public Radio stations on a small radio, but reception in our cinderblock barracks building is fleeting, and I mostly rely upon the Ipod for entertainment.

- portable DVD player and movies

I don't have one of these, but many people do. The rule of thumb for owning personal electronics in our barracks is that it must fit into the cargo pocket of a pair of ACU pants... anything larger is generally verboten.

- civilian clothes

Storage at AIT is limited, but after a soldier "phases up" and receives off-post passes, most rush out to purchase some civilian clothes for the weekends. The selection of clothing at the PX on base is quite limited, though more options exist with a visit to the local mall. Many people have family or friends at home mail them their favorite clothes. At any given time, I only have room for about 2 or 3 outfits in my locker.

- storage chest

My company allows soldiers to possess a black plastic storage chest or footlocker. These are indispensible for all of the items which you cannot easily fit (or display) in your locker, or for a temporary holding area for clean laundry you haven't gotten a chance to properly put away. Storage chests must be locked and are available here for about $24.00 at the PX.

#144 - Slang!

I have learned a lot of new slang since I've enlisted in the Army. Some of these phrases are military terms, and some are just the language of the youth. Not knowing all of these made me feel really old compared to some of my fellow students. We had a lot of laughs about my lack of relative hipness compared to the youngsters... ;> Kevin and Jeanene, pictured here, laughed at me quite often!

broke off - to cause pain, injury and/or failure: "The 1SG really broke off a lot of people in this morning's run."

my bad - I have made a mistake and admit guilt for it: "I should have warned you that the Drill Sergeant saw you sleeping; my bad!"

tore up - a mess, an injury, or other negative physical manifestation, used as an adv.: "It looks like the Drill Sergeants were in your room, cause your battle buddy's bunk is all tore up." or "She never cleans her uniforms - she's always tore up like that."

the one you want - a desired choice or outcome; also used as an affirmation or confirmation to an action: "A 300 score on the PT test - that's the one you want!"

baby daddy - literally, the father of a woman's child(ren), or potential/desired father, or most often simply a boyfriend or love interest: "That Drill Sergeant so hot, I wish he were my baby daddy!"

Drill Private - a soldier of a lower rank (E-1 through E-4) who tries to assume control of a situation whether or not it is assigned and order everyone around; this term was sometimes applied to a student holding the position of squad leader or platoon guide: "That Drill Private is letting that little bit of power go to their head!"

soup sandwich - as a visual would suggest, a messy and unpleasant item, most often applied on an individual level: "He's a regular soup sandwich."

bam! - an affirmation (con gusto) or acknowledgement that an individual is in agreement with what they have just heard or witnessed; also an expression of enthusiasm, often heard during formation or PT sessions: "That's my Drill Sergeant! Bam!"

you pump me up - an acknowledgement of inspiration; this phrase is sometimes offered in jest or sarcastically: "Student 1SG, you pump me up!"

a hot mess - a negative term applied to a situation of physical location; roughly equivalent in meaning to a hot, steaming pile of feces: "Soldier, you look like a hot mess."

blue falcon - also known as bravo foxtrot, a euphemism for buddy f***er; a battle buddy who has proven to be anything but: "That blue falcon got the entire platoon in trouble!"

ate up - similar in meaning to tore up; a negative term usually applied to someone's personal appearance, or attempt to carry out a desired action: "Private, you're so ate up that your kevlar is on backwards."

GI party - two words which have caused thousands of soldiers to collectively groan; a prolonged period of mandatory, enforced cleaning and maintenance of the barracks or other area: "Privates, we're having a GI party tonight, and y'all are invited!"

shammer - an individual who lies or exaggerates a condition, usually medical in nature, in order to avoid an activity: "That shammer couldn't do PT because of his sore leg, yet I saw him running through the barracks this morning."

that's the wrong answer - a response to information given that is not adequate or acceptable to an individual's expectation: "So that's why you're late to formation again? Soldier, that's the wrong answer!"

e-nothing - a disparaging term for a Private having the pay grade and rank of E-1; these soldiers do not have rank insignia to speak of to wear on their ACU caps or blouses, and are sometimes teased by those of having a higher rank: "That e-nothing is hard at work being a Drill Private!"

you don't know me like that - a phrase which means you are not an individual's friend nor family member, and are therefore denied the right to speak to them as such, or harbor an expectation of a behavior that said relationship cound entail: "Soldier, you don't know me like that. Stand at parade rest when you're speaking to a Drill Sergeant! Who do you think you're talking to, your big, fat gym teacher? Get down and push! Grab yourself some real estate!"

#143 - Heat Cat V

It's another day in AIT at Fort Gordon and the temperatures again hover around the triple-digit mark. I've been going to the gym every day to work out on an exercise bicycle, but it's getter rougher as the temps climb. I've been on medical profile for a few weeks now, and will be long after I leave here. Sometime in basic training I developed severe shin splints in both of my legs, stress fractures in my feet, and tendonitis to boot. Unfortunately my profile has barred me from any kind of running, jumping or marching. When I am finally able to run again, it's going to be difficult having to start over from scratch.

The other folks in my class had their EOC (end-of-cycle) PT test this morning (I did not have to take it because of the aforementioned profile). This signifies that the end of my time in AIT is indeed near. As of today I have exactly 2 weeks of training left. I have been away from home since January 17th, and it seems like this has gone on for an eternity. More than 7 months of being a trainee, and seven months of being screamed at by Drill Sergeants. I wonder if it will be an easy transition back to the civilian world? What will I do when nobody is there to punish me if I forget to make my bed in the morning? Or when there is dust on my shoes, or dust bunnies on the floor? How will I be able to deal with slowly enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning while lazily waking up to NPR and the internet? What about those weekends of sleeping in with the dogs and my hubby? Somehow I think I'll make the adjustment just fine. ;> I only need to get out of here! Almost done... almost done!

#142 - The oddities of life at AIT

Each of the AIT companies has the distinction of its own company motto. This is a saying (or in my company's case, a longer construct) that the soldiers have to sound off with upon command. Some companies have very short mottos, whereas my company's motto is the exact opposite. Close you eyes for a moment and imagine having to sound off with this piece... My battle buddy Jeanene has the distinction of leading this as the company student First Sergeant.


This is the sound of revenge
Steady, breath, aim, squeeze, boom let the rounds go
This is the sound of revenge
Steady, breath, aim, squeeze, boom let the rounds go

Stop, collaborate and listen
Bravo's back on a brand new mission
Don't complain when your company's missing
Can't take the heat get out of the kitchen

(1SG) Alright PGs that just wasn't crunk enough.
Front leaning rest position move.
In cadence, exercise (platoon guides begin to do pushups)

Ahh push it, Push it real good,
Ahh push it, Pu Pu Push it real good.
Don't you wish that you were in Bravo 369
Don't hate cause your motto ain't as dope as mine.

(1SG) Alright that was a little better.
PG's recover.
Lets get serious!

This is serious
We can make you delerious.
You should have a healthy fear of us
Cause too much of us is dangerous,
So dangerous, your whole entire company is scared of us

(1SG) Alright Bravo, what do you think Charlie and Delta thought about our motto?

Oh I think they like me,
Oh I think they, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I think they like me.
(Females) Oh I think they like me cause they heard us on the other one so it's only right that we...
(Everyone again) Hit 'em with another one.
(DANCE DANCE DANCE) Lean with it, Rock with it, Lean with it, Rock with it.
Bravo!!!!!!