After the graduation ended-it was filled with congratulations from families to their soldiers, some saying goodbye since they would be separated based on their next location for AIT training. In the Archipelago-there were tons of islands and each one had a military base for that division of the the military. As a whole it was the Barbaric Archipelago Military, then each division was represented by the soldiers from that island but each division also held specific equipment necessary for certain MOS jobs, Berk's location or Fort Striker was set up for Infantryman and medics. Every soldier learned standard first aid in Basic, but the medic training taught how to care for bigger injuries that they might see. It didn't matter so much to Hector-he was staying right at Fort Striker for his training and then possibly moved elsewhere to carry out those skills. Infantryman was a job set up for if the soldier was deployed to one of the war zones or handling certain situations like riots, or other things that the police needed help with. Even with AIT ending four weeks from this point, they would still be training, training, and more training for a time when they would enter the battlefield.
Hector chose this job to do because of all it could offer him. Infantryman was a combat related job-meaning it was a job done for combat related issues. So while not deployed, he would just be training and maintaining his weaponry. Also in the down time if it could be called that-he would have the chances to go to other schools like airborne, possibly even medic. The learning and training never stopped and that's why he chose infantryman for his MOS. He didn't want a desk job-he wanted action. He had expressed a strong desire to be deployed, not because he was a bloodthirsty killer but because he wanted to help. Many of the hot spots for deployment had soldiers from that side of things who wanted to stop the fighting so they helped out soldiers from other countries instead of helping their own. They were soldiers who didn't want to fight-they wanted the war to stop and often they were considered 'friendlies' and like with the Archipelago soldiers or even the American soldiers-they all helped the friendlies in battle or if they got hurt.
Life of infantry on the battlefield was dangerous but Hector didn't mind-if he'd been worried about dying he wouldn't have joined. He did this to expand his horizons-to be all he could be and the army would help him do just that. After AIT-he wanted to learn how to fly small choppers and support vehicles, he wanted to learn how to jump out of airplanes, he wanted to learn so much more. Hector was truthfully really happy that he made this decision to join, and heck-he even got promoted already! To Corporal for apparently being a good leader, teammate, and displaying the army values perfectly. A lot of the soldiers now were just sitting in the field or the barrack with their families-Hector was sitting with Drill Sergeant Sean and Cody just talking about how Basic went and some of the more memorable moments. Thaxter, Tallon, Ryan, Evan, and Viktor weren't sitting very far from them either-but they were with their families. Something interesting that Hector learned on this day was that Evan had a son named Aiden Larsden-and his girlfriend's went by the name of Mia Lexington.
Evan was only eighteen years old-he'd gotten Mia pregnant during the end of Junior year of high school, more specifically the night of their Junior prom according to him and Mia when Evan explained the fact he was holding a young baby who was six months old. Evan went on to tell his group of friends that during the time Mia was pregnant he tried to keep a normal job but it just didn't make enough since Mia's pregnancy was a high risk one for personal reasons that they didn't go into detail about. Nevertheless they tried to make it work up until Aiden turned four months old but they money was too tight and Evan wanted to make sure that his son had everything he'd need-and that's why he joined the military, to give his son everything he could. Hector admired that actually, it was a sacrifice to see less of his son in order to give him more for his life. Evan apologized for not telling them about having a son but he wasn't sure how they'd all take it since his own family wasn't thrilled and actually didn't talk to him until after Aiden was born, they even kicked him out and he'd been living with Mia and her family.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Ev." Hector smiled, "We all kept things from one another. I didn't tell you guys about my life until the end of Brown Phase-almost five weeks into Basic."
"True but still, we're all friends so I'm sorry I didn't tell ya right away," Evan shrugged, Hector patted his back some with a laugh.
"Chill man, it's cool." Tallon remarked.
"I still can't believe you made Corporal!" Thaxter stated referring to Hector's promotion now.
"I knew about it," Cody snickered a bit.
"Wait-how did you know?" Hector asked now curiously.
"That day on the phone when I said there was a meeting that you couldn't hear-it was discussed then that the soldier in training who showed the most of what they'd been taught would be promoted. That soldier is you, Hector. You're the youngest soldier in the Nightwave Company and a lot of us when we saw you were coming with your weight and height making the bare minimum for joining, we didn't have high hopes that you'd survive Basic but you by far exceeded our expectations in Physical Training, confidence courses, team builder exercises, and even a soldier we'd put in charge of the three day mission-handed his command over to you because he knew you could figure it out. In this military-we don't promote by time served, we promote according to skill level and attributes that directly reflect the position we promote to. Corporal is a team leader position and your nine weeks here-you were team leader for most if not all of the exercises and training." Sean said to him.
"Wow, so I was promoted for being...team leader of...who though? The platoon?" Hector asked.
"That's right," Cody nodded.
"But a team or unit is made up of four to eight soldiers. The platoon as a whole was made up of forty-eight, isn't that like...led by a Sergeant or Lieutenant?" Tallon asked.
"Yes but unfortunately we can't promote him that high because he's not an officer yet-for that he has to be in about a year year first and served at least one tour of active duty overseas. Also he hasn't completed AIT, after all that if he shows the skills for the officers side of ranks than those promotions can be reached." Sean informed.
"I thought you said that you didn't go by time in?" Ryan tilted his head.
"I should have been more specific-for Non-Commissioned officers-there is no time in limit on promotions. The bottom of the rank list for NCO is Private then gradually makes it way to Private 1st Class, Specialist, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant 1st Class, Master Sergeant, and lastly Sergeant Major, like what Jay Wood is. That man has been in the army since he was eighteen himself-that was twenty-five years ago and he's forty-three now. For Commissioned Officers-the lowest rank is 2nd Lieutenant, then to 1st Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, and Lieutenant General being the highest to command a full Division which is ten to fifteen thousand soldiers that are broken up into brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, platoons, squadrons, and the lowest being the unit," Sean stated calmly to them.
"Huh. Neat," Thaxter said, so he can command a unit then if we got deployed?"
"If instructed by the platoon leader-then yes. If not, I believe a Sergeant would take the job. Army ranks overseas are slightly different," Cody mentioned.
"So after a year in and serving one tour overseas, and completing AIT he could move up into the commissioned officer ranks?" Evan said curiously while holding Aiden in his arms.
"Well he'd have to make it to Sergeant First Class first, then if he met the other qualifications then yes he could move to those ranks," Sean said then got up, "Well I better go make sure the station assignments are ready," with that he walked away leaving the group of friends, their families, and Cody-who was there for Hector's sake.
"I'm so proud of ya lad," Cody said softly as the noogied Hector's head playfully.
"Thanks," Hector smiled-he was honestly proud of himself for being promoted to Corporal in so little time, he did wish he could call his family and tell them but right now it would just be an argument since he'd been gone about two months without a word of where he went or what he was doing. He knew for sure they knew he dropped out of school but had his GED, also that he was safe and not to worry about him. They day continued slow and easy, everyone just sat around and talked with one another-Hector even got to hold Aiden for a few minutes while Evan took Mia to the bathroom, that had been really nice. Hector had never held a baby before and Evan trusted him with his son-it was a good feeling too. As ordered-some got their next station assignments and had to prepare to leave throughout the course of the next week and others would be coming in from other places, it was close to a huge rotation of soldiers based on their MOS job.
Cody had left around 7pm to get back to inner Berk-that and Hector was actually just exhausted from the day they'd had. Early wake up, preparing for the graduation, marching, demonstrations, standing for a good hour or so, it took a lot out of you. Hector just wanted to go to sleep and relax for the next week until AIT started. Getting to the barrack, his boots shoes came off and so did the outer shirt of his class B before falling on his bed with a sigh of relief almost. "It's like 7:30pm-don't tell me you're tired already, Haddock?"
"And what if I am, Furysen? You gonna force me to stay up?" Hector challenged turning his head and looking over at Tallon now.
"Nah, just asking. You good? You looked pretty tired all day actually," Tallon pointed out calmly to his friend.
"Headache," Hector sighed closing his eyes again.
"Cool shower might help with that dude," Ryan said exiting the bathroom after his shower.
"Might take ya up on that idea-I'll be back in fifteen or so," Hector said forcing himself up slowly and getting a towel from the closet, then some clothes to change into. Hector moved to the bathroom to shower as the rest of his friends just sat around talking for about thirty minutes. In the quietness of the barrack while others were just relaxing, one of the other privates came out of the bathroom.
"Hey, Furysen! You're Haddock's battle buddy right?"
"Yep, what's up?" Tallon asked looking over to the private now.
"Go get Drill Sergeant Svendson, Haddock is sick. Like high fever and been throwing up for ten minutes type of sick," he said. Tallon jumped down off the bed and looked to Thaxter and Evan.
"I'll sit with Haddock, you two go get the Drill Sergeant!" Tallon stated firmly-it wasn't allowed for them to leave their battle buddy for any reason at all. The shower was obvious but if Hector was sick then Tallon was supposed to stay with him and send for help. Thax and Evan nodded slipping on their boots and rushing out while Tallon entered the bathroom while the private pointed to the stall Hector was in. Tallon could see that Hector was wearing his sweatpants and a pair of socks at least, he went and knocked on the stall door. "Hector?"
"I'm...okay, Tallon-really," Hector tried.
"Ain't buyin it. Pearson told me you been in here throwin up for ten minutes," Tallon remarked.
"I'm fine-just got nauseated after the shower is all." Hector told him.
"Then let me help you back to the bunk so you can rest, Haddock. Come on-don't be stubborn right now. Ev and Thax are getting the Drill Sergeant too," Tallon offered. Hector groaned slightly as he flushed the toilet before unlocking the stall door and standing there against the wall with an arm over his stomach-which was covered by the shirt he was wearing. "You look like shit," Tallon chuckled.
"Fuck off," Hector tried to laugh but ended up cringing a bit before he walked out slowly but he got lightheaded and wobbled a bit-Tallon grabbed his wrist and kept him steady, "Thanks." Hector said to him.
"No prob, I got your back." Tallon said as he put Hector's arm over his shoulders and then his own arm around his waist as he led him towards the bathroom door-Cliff Pearson opened the door for them as Tallon led a very weak walking Hector towards the bed. Ryan got up now and took Hector's other side to get him to the bed easier. They set him down slowly just as Evan and Thaxter returned with Sean Svendson.
"Ya know, Haddock-this whole hide how you're feeling thing isn't a good look for the Corporal," Drill Sergeant Svendson stated.
"Didn't...hide it, sir. Just kind'a showed up unexpectedly after the shower-I was gonna tell someone right after the nausea settled but Pearson came in and told Tallon who sent Evan and Thax for you," Hector explained quietly as the Drill Sergeant shook his head slightly and walked over as Tallon and Ryan moved aside while Sean checked Hector's forehead.
"Fever," he pointed out. "Care to tell me your symptoms then?" Sean asked.
"Tired, headache, nauseated, lightheaded, weak-like I'm carrying all my gear if it can be said that way," Hector listed off.
"Well no bugs have been reported around base but there were a lot of families here over the last two days so one of them could of brought it in-you were with a pretty big group today. Try to get some rest-you boys keep an eye on him if he gets worse take him right to the medic, understand?" Sean said.
"Understood sir," Tallon nodded and the others did too. Sean watched as Hector got under his blanket and laid his head down-he closed his eyes and seemed to instantly knock out after only five minutes.
"Don't worry, we'll keep the barrack quiet so he can sleep." Ryan added.
"He's got good friends, I'll say that much." Sean then left the barrack as the others just sat around and got comfortable in their beds-talking among themselves but keeping it quiet so they didn't wake up Hector who was evidently sick out of the blue and then around 10:30pm-the rest of the soldiers laid down to go to sleep. Since it was a week off for them, they didn't have to abide by the rule of going to bed at 9:30pm anymore which was pretty awesome for them but it would pick back up again for AIT-the schedules would actually change a little bit because this type of training for for their MOS. More intense training that worked on staying awake longer, spotting things, working with different kinds of weapons, doing drills for patrols, rescues and more. It was going to pretty awesome.
(A Week Later)
Hector stayed sick for about four days-throwing up, feverish, shaking, and headache that evolved into a migraine. The Drill Sergeant was getting ready to send him to the hospital but by the next day, Hector was feeling a lot better but still ordered to one more day of rest to be sure. His fever broke and he could keep his food down again, he wasn't tired all the time and generally just looked all around better than a week before. This worked out well because starting in two days was their AIT training. Hector wanted to be ready for that so in little sections-he started himself back in shape to handle the runs, push ups, and sit ups that they'd have to do first thing in the morning again. Hector hated being sick-it sucked so much because all he could do was lay in bed but thankfully this hadn't affected his training and he wasn't missing any of it. He was ready to be done with all the training-only four weeks left.
(Four Weeks Later)
They were done at last! AIT was over and it had been amazing to partake in. Hector and the others learned so much more than BCT could of ever offered them. The missions were longer, intense, all around dangerous too. They had to run them as if they were deployed-use their radios to communicate, so much more too. Hector had loved it and to think he'd never feel the way he did or know what he knew if he hadn't joined, this was the best choice he'd ever made. They were graduating AIT the next day. Hector loved learning how to fly small planes and helicopters, driving the support vehicles like the Humvee and Jeep had been interesting but he did really well with it. Their medical training even increased to be able to prepare soldiers who had been injured to be picked up by the medevac teams who would further prepare for more treatment. Hector had amazing friends too-yet he still hadn't bothered to call home-he wasn't worried about it in the slightest. If his family wanted to find him-they could have by now.
Or perhaps they couldn't since Hector was considered an adult and the army kept his information sealed unless he gave permission to give it out. He'd be notified if anyone was looking for him and he'd either allow or deny information to be given about him. He only told them not to worry and he was safe-his phone, car, and insurance payments were taken automatically from his bank account and he had also set up that he didn't get paper bank statements anymore-his bank was now through the military and he could check everything right online. He made sure to cover all his bases that his family wouldn't find out what he was up too and maybe that was wrong of him to keep his parents and siblings out of his plans but they never cared before so why would it matter now? He knew they loved him but they didn't have time for him-also his siblings only seemed to care about him outside of school and even then it was a stretch. He would tell them when he had the time to-right now he had just finished AIT and would be graduating tomorrow. Then he would be receiving their final station assignments. Hector couldn't wait-he loved this choice and he loved how his life was turning out thus far.
