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| I enlisted in the US Army in August of 1989
just 3 months after graduating from high school. Mostly because that
was what many of my friends were doing and I wasn't sure what I wanted to
study if I chose to go to college. I signed for a 2 year term as a 19D
Calvary Scout. As always, the recruitment videos make the job look so
exciting and fun but in reality things are always a little different.
I saw people having fun driving dune buggies in the sand but I wound up
pulling hours on end of guard duty, mopping floors, cleaning tanks and doing
push-ups. I did negotiate for the GI-Bill which paid for my college so
I can not complain too much. Overall, it was an experience that
changed my life and turned me into the person I am today. My recruiter picked me up on August 14th to take me to the airport for the flight to Ft. Knox, Kentucky to begin basic training. The flight was uneventful until we got onto the bus that would take us to the military base. I am sure you have seen the movies about drill sergeants yelling and getting in your face asking "are you eyeballing me boy", answering "no sir" his response "I'm not a sir, I work for a living, give me 20." Well, the movies are based on facts and it happens just like that. The first 2-3 days were the hardest. I was put into a place where I knew no one and at that point in my life I did not make conversation with strangers, I was alone, dealing with these life changing events alone. On day 2 or 3 we learned how to line up in a formation, stand for long periods of time and how to stand in the attention and parade rest position. The biggest change for the group was getting our hair cut off. You go in as an individual and come out just like everyone else. I could really say at this point I felt more part of the group than at any time to this point. The last thing we did before leaving the staging barracks before going to the training barracks was to receive all our military gear. It is very important to make sure your boots fit, if they are too small or too big your feet nor your self will make it through the training successfully. <-- Basic Training Stories --> Coming Soon! I returned home in December of 1989 as 175 pounds of pure steel and sex appeal and the king of the world. To say that I was confident would have been a real understatement, I was strong an powerful beyond measure. I don't have many memories of what I did during those 2 weeks of leave but I remember them being joyful. I met many of my high school friends and returned to church to see them, both had changed drastically from 3 months prior...at least in my mind. I left again in December 1989, my Mom cried a lot I remember, to begin working at my first permanent station in Germany. I was stationed near Bayreuth with the 1/2 ACR (first of the second armored cavalry regiment). Permanent Duty Stories: |
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