-Hunter's POV-
Here I was three weeks later since the day I talked to my father about taking the GED and joining the army at sixteen instead of nineteen. I was grateful that mom worked late that night because if she heard the deal my dad and I made, she would lose her mind and flip out. Dad was more understanding because he knew what it was like to admire the work of the military, to be a part of something that defended the home where we reside. Being a soldier was hard work and dangerous, but it was an honor to serve our home and kept the people safe. Gods, I couldn't wait to take this test tomorrow. It would be done in the Berkton Community Center at 10 am. Dad already planned to take me since I would be home as 'sick.' Mom was buying it thus far, I had gone running and used the workout equipment in the basement to raise my temperature before she got home.
Another thing I used to make her think I was too sick for school was coughing hard, shivering, and made a forced sound that I was gagging or heaving in a sense that I would throw up. It sucked to do, but it worked. Mom said I could stay home and if I weren't better by Monday then I would be going to the doctors, it wouldn't get that bad. Dad and I were playing it off as a twenty-four-hour bug so I would be okay by the time she got home tomorrow night. This weekend was going to suck because even being I take the GED exam tomorrow, I don't get the results until Monday. Dad and I were going to go to the community center after school since Caitlyn was staying after for the football game and Aunt Mikayla was going to bring her home.
The last three weeks had been busy for me. After talking to Dad, I spent two weeks preparing for the practice test. I looked up all the material for Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years of High School then made sure I knew key points and ways to solve things. Reading and Language Arts wouldn't be hard, I used most of my free time to read or write. When I felt ready, I took the practice test online last Saturday while Mom and Dad were at some dinner party and Caitlyn was sleeping over Audrey's house with Heather and Renee. I had all night to do it, and by the grace of Odin, I finished around 11 pm and passed with nothing lower than an eighty! I used my phone to take a picture of the test score screen showing them all and sent it to Dad. His response was; Well done, son. I'm proud of you. We'll talk Monday night about the next step -Dad.
Sure enough, Monday afternoon came while Mom was working until 4:30 pm and Caitlyn was doing her homework, Dad and I returned to the basement to talk. Doing some research, we saw that the next GED test was being held Friday, which was now, tomorrow for me. The exam would be all day and under a time limit for each segment of the test as there were five altogether; Science, World History, Mathematics, Reading, and Language Arts. I was taking tonight to study a little of each subject again though I was distracted at the same time. I knew by now my friends and girlfriend noticed my severe mood change and quietness. None of them knew my plans to try and join the army early, but they didn't know from previous conversations that I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps of becoming a soldier.
My Mom severely disliked the idea and had been begging me since eighth grade to find another career; a safer one were the words used. I told Mom I wasn't changing my mind, the 'talks' had turned into arguments when I started High School because she knew in four years at the time, I would join. Now it was three years, and she still tried to offer me other options. Boy, is she going to be mad when I join at sixteen, I believe in myself, so I know I will pass my GED. Still, I couldn't help but wonder what Audrey, Caitlyn, Shane, and my friends would think when they discovered what I have decided to do. I have pondered telling them, but I didn't want the fight when the inevitably disagreed with the choice. Things were better this way, not to tell them.
I would after I got through boot camp, after that, there wouldn't be anything they could do but support me as my Dad did or walk away. It would suck if they did but I've learned over the years that your real friends will stand by you no matter what and those who don't, well, they didn't belong in my life after all. I glanced at the clock now; it was 10:15 pm, I should get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow. This was it, the next step in joining the army and working towards my future.
(Next Morning; 9:45 am-Berkton Community Center)
It was going to be a long day of testing and a more extended time waiting on the results, but I was determined to see it through. I refused to be held back by anyone or anything anymore. This was my chance, and I was taking it.
"Are ya ready son?" my father asked me after we reached the table outside the room for testing.
"I am," I replied. I got registered, handed a calculator, pencil, and few pieces of scrap paper then entered the room with a deep breath. Dad was probably going to wander around town or do some shopping to pass the time. Each test was an hour long; sixty questions for Mathematics, Science, and World History. Language Arts and Reading had fewer questions but had a writing portion to make up for it. We would get a fifteen-minute break to get some water, a snack, or use the restrooms in between exams. When the clock struck 10 am, the room door closed and the first test was handed out.
(4:45 pm)
I wanted to eat, take a shower, and go to sleep. That's how tired I was from basically sitting all day except for the four fifteen minute breaks to stretch my legs. All the breaks added up to an extra two hours that we had to be there for testing. Thankfully, Mom had to work until 6:30 tonight and Caitlyn was still at the game until 5:30. Dad and I got in the car and headed home to relax. Of course, he had to make dinner, and I would likely help him out. The GED exam was over, and now, I had to wait until Monday night to know if I passed or not. The examiner said she would call between 9 am and 3 pm to let us know. There were only eleven people testing today, so now it was just a waiting game to see if I would take the next step towards joining the army.
(Monday Afternoon; 2:50 pm)
It had been such a stressful day to wait for this call. Ten minutes left in the time frame and I was beginning to think I didn't pass, and that's why the examiner woman hadn't called me. Dad and I were in the living room, my phone sitting on the table and there was silence. Dad knew I was nervous about failing this; it meant that I would shut my mouth and deal with the next three years of high school. I checked the clock once more; 2:57. Time to accept there would be no phone call, if I had passed, I would have known by now. I sighed heavily, disappointed in myself.
"I guess I better go do my home-" I stopped quickly when I heard the phone vibrating on the wooden table. I reached forward and grabbed it quickly while pressing answer and putting it on speakerphone. "Hello?" I asked.
"Hello, good afternoon. I'm looking for a Hunter Haddock, is he present?" came a kind female voice.
"This is him, may I ask who is calling?" I inquired.
"Of course. This is Leanna Mardens from the GED program at Berkton Community Center. I'm so sorry for not contacting you sooner with your results. There seemed to be an issue with the phone system and the person delivering the scores was stuck in traffic behind an accident," Leanna informed. I felt some relief wash over me but still had to know if I passed or not.
"Oh, no worries. Things happen outside our control from time to time," I replied, "So, how did I do?" I asked nervously.
"Well, Mr. Haddock, would you like the pass/fail answer or each segment score?" Leanna questioned.
I glanced at Dad, and he gave me a return look that said it was up to me. "Subject scores is fine," I answer.
"Reading; 93. World History; 91. Science; 90. Language Arts; 96. Mathematics; 98. Overall, young man, as of today, you have your GED which states you completed the Kindergarten through Senior Year education requirements," Leanna murmured. I couldn't believe it. I passed the exam with all A's!
"Thank you, Ms. Mardens," I said.
"You are welcome, Hunter. All I did was give the exam; everything else was you. Feel free to come down anytime to get your GED. Also, a parent or guardian can drop you out from high school as the GED is the equivalent of a high school diploma. Have a wonderful night, and I wish you luck on all of your future endeavors," Leanna stated. There was a click, and I saw the call end, I put the phone down and honestly wanted to cry. I had done it! Gods, I was so happy because it meant that I could join the Archian Armed Forces' Army branch.
"I am proud of you, Hunter. You studied hard and achieved your goal. And you kept up your end of the deal we made, so I shall keep mine. Tomorrow, we'll start the joining process with going to the recruiter office," Sal told me as I hugged him. This was happening; I would be a member of the army soon. I was more than ready to move towards the future by becoming a soldier of Archi.
(June 3rd, 2016; 3:00 pm at the Military Entrance Processing Station)
My father was with me every step of the way through the joining process and hell, a few of the people knew him since he was in for thirty years before retiring. My Dad and I agreed not to do the dropping out of high school yet because it would draw too much attention to me joining the army so we settled on leaving it be until right before I would ship off to boot camp. The first thing we had to do was go to Berkton's military recruitment office and sign up, and we did this the Tuesday following me passing the GED. Right after the school day ended, Dad and I picked up my GED to bring with us to the office. We also made sure to get my medical history folder because Dad said it would help and all that information was current since it had to be updated when I started Freshman year.
The recruiter's office was a fun two hours of answering questions, filling out forms, doing some pushups, situps, and small half a mile run. It was just to show that I could do them properly which, thanks to Dad, I definitely could. The recruiter told us that he would send my application to join in and we would hear from the MEPS or Military Entrance Processing Station in a week at the latest. The man also mentioned that me having all my documentation with me helped out, and things in order like that make the joining process faster since no one wants to sit around and file through things. Understandable.
By Friday, the 27th of May, I got a phone call during lunch at school from a number I didn't recognize and not wanting to miss it, I stepped outside of the main doors to answer. It had been the MEPS telling me to report to the office in Archi to advance to the next stage of joining the army on Friday, June 3rd, 2016 at 9 am sharp. I told them I would be there and the call ended so I immediately texted my father to let him know. Of course, when I returned to lunch I got asked who called, and I just said it was Dad wanting to know if all my laundry was gathered up so he could do a load with his. Another lie but necessary to avoid arguments I didn't want to have with them.
The biggest problem was getting me out of school since MEPS, according to my Dad was going to be an all-day event. The only thing that worked was me going to school for 7 am, then during the second period which was 8 am, go to the nurse's office and play sick so Dad had picked me up and we drove the half hour to the city. MEPS was mainly standing around and waiting to be called, but it wasn't horrible wait times. From what I saw, they were grabbing people who had all of their paperwork together, and I did. Two of the biggest things I had to do was the ASVAB, which was something to measure the range of jobs I could do in the army. After that, it was the full physical and mental evaluations. When all that was done, I returned to an office for the results of my ASVAB test.
It turns out I did well on that too and qualified for a lot of things, but I chose the job I wanted. Infantryman, the soldier who fights on the front lines. That's what my Dad was, and I wanted to be like him, my father is my hero, and I look up to him a lot. Dad is someone I can go to for anything, and I know he'll find a way to help me, we had a very healthy relationship. After picking my job, the final step was signing my contract and swearing in, then getting my boot camp start date. This was probably the longest wait of them all because it was done with a group of others who were going active duty full time. The time now was 3:00 pm. Mom was working until 7 pm, and Caitlyn was at the playoff game until 9:30 pm, so I wasn't worried about them questioning why I'm not home, sick in bed.
"This is your last chance to change your mind, Hunter. Once you sign that contract and take the oath, you're in for as long as that contract says you agreed to," my father asked after some silence.
"If I were going to change my mind, I wouldn't have come this far. I want to do this," I replied to him.
"I'm proud of you son. You've wanted this since you were seven and it brings me such joy to watch you see it through, the things you've done and strides you took to get where you are right now," Sal mentioned calmly with a smile, and I returned it. It felt good to hear him tell me he was proud of my choices.
"Thanks, Dad. I would never have gotten this far without you, though," I informed. "It was you who let me take the GED test, you who helped with getting my documents together and going to the recruiter, and now here. You're the one who inspired me to join, I've always wanted to grow up to be like you, and now I get that chance because of you," I swear I thought my Dad was going to cry after I said that to him. My father leaned in and hugged me tightly, and I gave it right back as the door to the room opened, and we broke the hug.
"Active Duty Enlistees-Group A, make your way inside and line up at the table with your age marked on it," said the woman.
"Guess that's me," I said getting up from my position on the wall with a group of others who did the same. We had gotten separated into groups after picking our military job, mine was A, and I was enlisting as an active duty soldier. I take it these others people had done the same.
"I'll be allowed you've all signed your contracts and prepare to swear in," my father smiles. I nodded and moved with the group into the room, then lined up at the table listed for sixteen-year-olds. I didn't see many in this line, perhaps thirty or so. The others line were for ages past sixteen and up to twenty-five. I was tenth in line, so hopefully, this wouldn't take super long to do.
(Half Hour Later)
I reached the table when the man said 'Next' and glanced at the clock. It was 3:45 pm already but at least I was about to sign my contract. "Name and branch you're enlisting in?" he asked.
"Hunter Haddock, Army, sir," I stated respectfully. Filing through some folders, he pulled one out with my name on it and opened it up as I saw all the things I had filled out and signed since the day at the recruiter's office two weeks ago. The man in a formal uniform pulled a piece of paper from a pile on his left and slid it towards me. I scanned over it quickly; it basically said that I agree to serve the standard time for a first time enlisting soldier on active duty unless I got discharged beforehand. Also that if conflicts are needing me past my contract time, the army had the right to hold me longer and I was totally fine with that.
The man handed me a black pen, and I signed the bottom with my name then dated it June 3rd, 2016. The paper was taken off the table and placed at the top of my folder then put it in a bin at his feet. "Move to the next room through that door on your right for swearing in," I nodded to him and did as I was told. Going through the door, I saw my Dad standing with other parents as I gave him a thumbs up and stood with the other sixteen-year-olds who had been in front of me. Twenty more minutes had passed before an officer stepped in front of us.
"Army enlistees, step forward and raise your right hand to take the oath of the Archi Armed Forces," the male ordered as anyone who enlisted for the army branch made their way forward, myself included. We all raised our right hands up, "Repeat after me," he said then gave us the oath to take.
"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend Archi Island against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." all of us repeated.
"Welcome to the Archi Island Army of the Archian Armed Forces boys and girls. Make your way out to the main room you were in before contract signing, and you will receive your shipping orders for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. Some of you may end up being in the same place for both, depends on your job. I know you'll do our home proud, best of luck to you all! Dismissed!" the officer told us as we filed out of the room to find yet another table to wait at but at least there were ten people to hand out envelopes to us newly sworn in enlisted soldiers.
It was nearing 4:30 pm by the time I got to the table. "Name, age, and job selected?" I was asked by the woman I stood before.
"Hunter Haddock, sixteen, and Infantryman," I replied to her as she looked through a box labeled H then a tabbed section reading 16. After another moment or two, she pulled out an envelope to check the name before handing it to me and calling 'next' so I took that as my signal to get out of the way. I reached my father who was waiting for me while holding the envelope.
"So, when does my boy ship out for boot camp?" Sal asked.
I chuckled a bit feeling him put his arm around me, yes, he was very proud and excited over this. "Let's get to the car first; I've so had enough of this place for the rest of my life,"
"I do believe I said the same thing," Sal laughed some as we moved to the car and climbed in. I sat front seat with my belt on holding the envelope in my hands. Finally, I turned it over and lifted the back flap that was taped down and pulled out the tri-folded piece of paper then began to skim it over for the information I wanted.
"Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 for Reception Battalion. I need to be at the Berkton bus station by 6 am, we're going to Fort Riddari for four to five days, then on to Fort Draco for BCT that lasts nine weeks, and remaining there through AIT which is another four weeks. Says at the bottom that after graduation from boot camp, we'll get our next orders," I informed my Dad. "Looks like I'll be gone for a total of at least fifteen weeks. There's a week pause between BCT and AIT,"
"Isn't...the 14th yours and Audrey's one year of dating?" he asked as I nodded to him. "What are you going to tell everyone when they ask what you're doing all summer?"
"I...haven't figured that out yet, I'll think of something. Don't tell Mom or Caitlyn yet either. Let's get home, it's nearly 5 pm, and I desperately need a nap and make it look like I'm sick," I mentioned.
"Aye son," Sal replied and started the car as we began the half hour drive back home. I sat back in my seat with the paper in my lap, eyes closed. So, in twelve days not including this one since it was almost over, I would be leaving to start boot camp. Today was successful; it had been long and tiring but worth it because now I was officially in.
