Chapter Eleven – Welcome to the Jungle

July 1991, Atlanta, Georgia

The cumbersome enlistment process was crucial, to not only weed out those who shouldn't be there but also to national security. The wrong person on the front line would be disastrous to all involved.

"Seeley, I'm a bit nervous. What if the recruiter doesn't like my answers?"

"Tom, you'll do fine. Just be yourself," Seeley replied.

"It's this door over here, 13B," Tom said as gestured to the large double doors to their left.

"And ten minutes to spare." Seeley said as he glanced at his watch and they made their way down the large hallway to the recruiting office.

"Seeley Booth and Thomas Kinsley to see Sergeant Meadows," Tom announced to a young girl at the reception desk.

"Have a seat, she will be with you in a moment."

The lobby, if that is what it could be called, was plain and cool, the air conditioning blasting out Freon- induced chills to relieve the Atlanta summer heat.

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"So Thomas Kinsley, why do you want to join the Army?" Sergeant Meadows asked as Tom tried to calm his nerves by taking slow, deep breaths.

"My country needs me," Tom replied.

"These are a sample of questions that might be on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Test that you will take if this initial screening goes well." Sergeant Meadows was as cool as the air around them.

Tom answered the questions as quickly as they were asked.

"Now you will need to go down the hall. Ask for Nurse Balen. She will instruct you on what to do."

"Thank you," Tom said as he walked down the hall.

"Seeley Booth," the receptionist called out.

He made his way to the chair Tom had just occupied moments before.

"Where you from?" the sergeant started without hesitation.

"Buffalo."

"Education?"

"Degree in Law Enforcement/Public Affairs at UCLA."

The questions continued until Seeley was sure she was going to ask his underwear size. But she didn't. After being instructed to go down the hall, his brain was racing. This was only the beginning, and never had his life been so scrutinized. He felt his personal space being invaded – the space in his mind that had thoughts only he knew about.

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"Well that was interesting," Tom said as they exited the large doors of the building.

"Sure was. Let's go hang by the pool at the hotel," Seeley said as he hopped in the driver's seat.

The next three days were spent waiting to hear if they met the initial requirements for enlistment. After an afternoon of viewing the historic sites of Georgia, the red light on the phone in their room flashed at them as they retreated inside from the scorching sun.

Without hesitation, Tom punched in the code and his head fell forward in utter relief. "We have to report to the Military Entrance Processing Station downtown tomorrow at 5:30am."

"Guess we better get some dinner and then to bed," Seeley replied as he and Tom headed to the hotel restaurant.

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They arrived at 5:15 am just as the doors were being unlocked. There were several young men in line as well as a few women.

First thing they did was The Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery test. Many people study for it, however, Seeley and Tom opted to just take the test and remain optimistic that they would pass. After three and a half hours of clicking a mouse on multiple choice answers and writing a three hundred word essay on their views of the American government's intervention in Iraq, their tests were scored while they waited. An audible sigh of relief came from both their mouths as they were informed they had passed and would continue onto the next step of the process: the medical exam.

Poking and probing at their bodies was unsettling but was a mandatory part of enlisting. Tom had never considered that the first time he bent over and someone stuck their hand up his ass, it would be another man. Humility was an integral part of Army life. Everyone shared in it.

Seeley started to become frustrated with the process.

"Have you ever smoked an illegal substance? If so, what was your mental state at the time?"

Would you like to know if I piss sitting down or standing up? He so wanted to say something facetious. It would have felt so good.

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"I am so grateful I didn't sleep through the second semester of English last year," Seeley announced as Tom drove back to the hotel.

"Some of those questions were intense." Tom was focusing on the road as well as the test that he had just taken. His mind was spinning as fast as the wheels below him.

"The Moms are going to love this part," Tom said as they pulled into the hotel parking lot.

"Yeah, but it will be harder when we get our clearance and come back here. On them I mean," Seeley replied as he grabbed his bag from the back seat.

"We can head out in the morning." Tom was anxious to get started serving his country but due to the onslaught of applicants in the past month, security clearances were taking approximately six-to-eight weeks to process. Deciding it was not practical emotionally or financially to stay in Atlanta they mutually decided to return to Buffalo until they received their clearances.

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Candace and Maria were pleased to have their sons back home temporarily even though they didn't see much of them. Seeley decided to teach swimming classes at the local recreation center. He knew he wouldn't regret those long hours at the pool as a teen while training to be a life guard as he could always count on work in summer months. While on the edge of the pool watching the class of eight year olds swim laps, a sudden realization hit him. He was here because he was waiting to go to war. His plan the last time he sat on this pool edge was to be one of Buffalo's top cops.

"Seeley, look, I can do four strokes without breathing."

The small child was zipping along practicing what Seeley had taught him at the beginning of the class. A well of pride filled his chest. Their innocence -that was why he was really doing this. The small child was zipping along practicing what Seeley had taught him at the beginning of class. A well of pride filled his chest. Their innocence -that was why he was really doing this. His grandfather and father had done their duty, each with the silent thought that their child would live in a war free world. Deep down at the very core of his being Seeley knew there would be another sadistic bastard in the future who would test the patience of the American Government. But for now, with twenty minutes left in the class, he would allow his mind to enjoy the comfort of the optimistic thought that he would the last Booth to enlist in the military.

Tom headed to the local bar where it just so happened the regular bartender was on holiday and the replacement was not working out, so he took the night job where he could leave his thoughts of camouflage and gunfire, if only for a few hours.

September 11, 1991 - Reception Battalion, near Fort Benning, Georgia

The call had come faster than expected, however, the increasing tension in the Middle East gave the government incentive to hire more agents to process security clearances.

"This is our home for the next nine weeks," Seeley said barely above a whisper. The grey building surrounded by sky high fences was not the most welcoming sight. But then did anybody really want be welcomed here – the one way path to hell?