(Fort Draco)

Hunter woke up at 5 am as always when the barrack lights flipped on, it took him a few minutes to get down from the top bunk and get his things to start the morning such as towel and clothes to dress in. The soldiers would be helping preparing everything for the ceremony, each company in a different area to handle something else. Plasma Fire group was on making sure the stands and field were ready for guests by marking the spots where each company would be. By the time all that got done after breakfast, it was time for the soldiers to get dressing in their ACU's and meet up in the forest to be told one more time how things were going to go at 10 am. Hunter didn't care so much about that, he wanted to see everyone's reaction when they saw him standing with the others. It would not be hard to distinguish that he wasn't in AJROTC dress but rather a full soldier uniform.

The time ticked away to 9:35 am as the soldiers began lining up as they were meant to do. Companies staying together but in four sections which represented the four platoons.

"Private Haddock," Major Andersen called as Hunter saw him coming over so he stood straight and offered a salute to his company leader. "At ease. When you march out, you will carry the flag for Plasma Fire with Richard and Victor on either side of you,"

"Yes sir," Hunter replied firmly as Harry handed him the flag and Hunter kept it at his side while changing his place in the line to in between Richard and Victor in front of Alpha Hooligan. It was 9:40 am now, only twenty minutes left and with him in his new spot, his family would get a good view of him for sure. So now it was was the company marching out but separated into the four platoons that made it up and I was standing center of all four that created Plasma Fire.

(With Hunter's Family+Friends)

"That traffic was horrid," Caitlyn mumbled while they all filed together after their cars were taken to be parked. "Where do we go now? It starts in fifteen minutes,"

"Hunter said to follow the others walking in," Viola reminded. Without much more discussion, they followed the other late arrivals into the base and saw the stands which thankfully still had openings right up front in the section Hunter said he would be standing across from. Getting closer, Sal was able to see that Hunter marked it off for them. As they sat down and got comfortable the looked ahead to the forest entrance. Salvatore found it rather amusing that no one else put it together yet.

(10 am)

Salvatore had the video camera ready to go when the clock struck ten in the morning, he couldn't wait for this. Then across the field smoke bombs went off in different colors and Sal started the camera to record. Next, it was music playing on the speakers and people cheering when they saw four large groups split into four sections each of soldiers marching out in sync with just the music, no lyrics. "We Are Soldiers." Sal remembered it, it was one of Hunter's favorites.

"How are we supposed to find Hunter in all that? There's gotta be at least four hundred people wearing the same thing," Viola asked trying to locate her son. As the groups neared the stands, Shane spotted him and pointed quickly.

"Got him! Hunter is carrying the company flag between those two guys!" Shane announced as they got up quickly to get a better look.

"Hunter looks so different! Did he cut his hair?" Audrey mentioned while using her phone to zoom in and get a closer look. After ten minutes, possibly more, the marching stopped, and all the soldiers stood in position. The music cut as a man amounted to the podium.

"On behalf of the Archian Armed Forces, we would like to welcome you to Fort Draco Military Base for Family Day. Now before I release you all to greet them after a long ten weeks of being separated, I want you to take a good long look at them. Remember how they were when they started here as citizens and see them standing in front of you as soldiers of the Archi Island Army," the man stated, and this is when Hunter's group realized that this wasn't the reserve officer training corps that Hunter told them he was doing all summer. This was THE army, the one Hunter kept going on about wanting to join, and here he was.

"These brave men and women have trained hard for nine consecutive weeks through rain or shine, and we hope that you are as proud of them as we are," The crowd began cheering for them, and the soldier remained still with no expression on their faces, "Now. Today is a family day, so you are permitted to make your way down from the stands to greet your soldier. They will take you to their barrack, show you around, talk about how things have been. There will be lunch and dinner served in the chow hall. However, you must give the soldiers back at 8 pm as they have a busy day tomorrow when they graduate from Basic Combat Training and all of you are welcome back to witness that moment as well," the man smiled happily. "You may now calmly and slowly leave the stands," he added.

At that moment, Hunter's group hurried as quickly as they could without causing trouble or getting yelled at for running when they were told to move slow. Getting down onto the field, Hunter's company leader was walking towards him, so they stayed quiet knowing that he did have a code of conduct to adhere to right now.

"Well done, Private Haddock. I'll take the flag now so you can have time with your family, looks like quite the group," Harry chuckled some as Hunter handed him the flag then stood straight and offered a firm salute to him, Harry returned it then walked off smiling. Hunter faced his family, friends, extras, and girlfriend silently, he wasn't sure what to say.

"So, this is not...reserve camp or whatever you called it two months ago," Drew mentioned first.

"No, it is not," Hunter replied. Salvatore was first to pull Hunter in for a tight hug, and Hunter relaxed and gave it back to him before they pulled away, and Sal smiled.

"Look at you, son! It's hard to think ten weeks turned you into, my little soldier man," Sal beamed. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks, Dad. Wasn't easy but made it through, just like you said," Hunter gave a slight smile now.

"I don't...understand this. How are you in the army, Hunter? You're only sixteen, still in high-" Viola began, but Hunter sighed and put his hand up to stop her.

"I'm not still in high school, Mom. I got my GED at the end of May and joined the army at the beginning of June. Those were the two days I was out of school when you thought I was sick. Dad's been helping me get where I am now," Hunter said calmly. Everyone looked at Salvatore now, a little surprised.

"You knew about this? You helped him?" Viola said in a shocked tone.

"Don't blame him, he was against it at first too, but I convinced him. If you would like to know, I will tell you in the barrack. Follow me," Hunter sighed as he turned to lead them towards the Plasma Fire company barracks silently, the others still in disbelief of all they have heard so far.

(A Barrack)

Reaching the barrack, Hunter was greeted by a few of the guys and the four girls from Striker One squad. "Hi, Hunter!" Elizabeth smiled.

"Hey, Liz. Where's your family today?" Hunter asked.

"Busy, they'll be here tomorrow for graduation though. It seems like you have a big family," Elizabeth chuckled.

"Yeah, Major Andersen said the same thing. Mom, Dad, sister, girlfriend, friends and two add-ons due to an association," Hunter listed off.

"Fair enough. Well, have fun. We're gonna hit the chow tent for snacks before lunch," Danielle grinned.

"Oh no, you don't. I'm not bailing you four out of trouble again if you get caught sneaking in there. Your area of expertise is not stealth. Stay in your barrack girls," Hunter stated firmly.

"Who made you boss?" Amber huffed a bit.

"You forget that Haddock is squad leader?" came another voice from behind Hunter, he looked to see it was Treyden. "Andersen named him Striker One squad leader after the field training exercise last week, so he's in charge when the drill sergeants, Holgerson, and Andersen aren't present," Treyden reminded.

"Fine," the girls moaned together and returned to their barrack.

"Thanks for that, Trey," Hunter smiled as he connected hands with his friend.

"I ain't your battle buddy for nothing, Hunt. I got your back; you know that. Are you coming inside? Theo and Andrew are in here too. Our families aren't coming until tomorrow too, so you're stuck dealing with us," Treyden chuckled a little.

"Not like you three are difficult to entertain," Hunter rolled his eyes as Treyden opened the door and held it for Hunter as he walked in and then his group followed him.

"Hey, hey! There he is," Andrew smiled.

"I'm sure you three have much better things to do with your time than be waiting around for me," Hunter replied.

"Probably, but they are boring without you, Haddock," Theo shrugged as Hunter only shook his head with a smile.

"Yeah, well, I got a few personal matters to deal with first so keep yourselves busy?" Hunter asked, and they nodded, then he faced his family. "All right, look, I'm only explaining it one time. Freshman year, sucked for me. I sat in class all day listening to things get taught that I already knew. I noticed that there was more than one way to join the army so I talked to Dad about getting my GED and he agreed. Took the practice tests, took the real exam and passed. Dad helped me get signed up. Reception Week was first at Fort Riddari for four days to get tags, suits, gear, all that and then I was sent here for Basic which tomorrow, I graduate as a private. That's it, that's the whole story,"

"Salvatore Haddock, how dare you not bring this to my attention immediately! He's only sixteen, why would you let him join the army?!" Viola said quickly.

"Because he wanted to, Vi. Hunter has the same drive I did at his age, how could I of said no?" Sal sighed.

"By saying no, Dad. Didn't you guys refuse to let him skip grades so he could enjoy his childhood?" Caitlyn inquired.

"Well, that was because we thought he might miss something important, but he isn't. Hunter came to me at the beginning of May and asked if we could talk, though at first, I thought it was something completely different invol-" Sal started.

"Dad, I don't believe we need to revisit your horrible assumptions of what you thought was wrong," Hunter stated quickly.

"Right, sorry son. He had asked if I wouldn't tell you or Caitlyn about it then he reminded me about wanting to join. I said he could in three years and Hunter mentioned he didn't want to wait that long. Hunter stated that if he took the GED and passed, then he completes his education and can drop out of high school and join with parental consent. I told him I wasn't keen on the idea, but Hunter explained that he knows what he would have been taught over the next three years. He reminded me how I felt about joining when I was eighteen, and I understood where he was coming from so we made a deal," Sal continued.

"The deal was I take the practice tests online, and if I passed with nothing lower than a seventy-five, he would let me take the GED exam and if I passed that, then he'd let me join the army with his full support, and he would help too. So for two weeks, I studied like hell and took the practice tests. I took them the night everyone was out of the house. The first day I was sick, I was at the community center taking the exam, It was from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Each test was an hour long with a fifteen-minute break in between to stretch or get a snack. The Monday following that Friday of the exam, I got a phone call saying I passed with ninety or above," Hunter took over to give his father a minute to catch his breath.

"So I took him to the recruiter's office the next day after we picked up his GED certificate and we were told that the entrance station would call him in a few days so he could go in to get that all setup. They called that Friday to tell him to come at 9 am on June 3rd, so he played sick at school, and I picked him up, and we went to the city for the day which ended with him under contract for service and sworn in. He got his Basic ship date which was the 15th of June, Fort Riddari first for Reception and then on to Fort Draco for Basic and AIT, you still have to do that, don't you son?" Sal inquired.

Hunter nodded. "Yeah, starts next week after some of the of the newly graduation soldiers move to other bases for their AIT training based on their jobs in the army. I stay here for another four weeks and not sure after that, we haven't heard yet," he replied calmly.

"Wait, so you have to be here another month?" Audrey frowned some.

"I gotta finish training, babe," Hunter replied.

"Do you get to come home when you're done? And what does AIT stand for?" Caitlyn asked.

"Advanced Individual Training, its specialized for whatever job was chosen at MEPS that we do in the army. Such as the Plasma Fire company will remain here through AIT because we all wanted the job of infantryman or woman if you're a girl in this group. We don't know what happens after the next four weeks, we could get stationed anywhere on Archi Island," Andrew mentioned now. "I assume we'll get some time home, but then it's straight to work," he added.

"I cannot believe you both went behind my back," Viola remarked with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Would you have agreed to let me do it if I came to you and said I wanted to join at sixteen if I got my GED?" Hunter asked her.

"Heavens no!" Viola replied instantly.

"That's why I didn't tell you. It's also why I said the day of the picnic that you couldn't stop me and I should have just left without saying anything. I wasn't going to tell anyone until training was over but I decided to at least mention I would be gone all summer and then last night when I called, I told Dad to invite you all up to learn the truth. I technically didn't lie; I said I would be training for the army. I just didn't mention I was already in the military," Hunter stated.

"What was your Dad saying a second about under contract?" Heather asked lightly.

"It's an enlistment contract for your service to the military. There are a few different kinds based on what you signed up for at MEPS. Active Duty is full-time for anywhere/anytime needed and is subjected to work 24/7 unless on leave or pass. Reserves are part time for island situations and additional support to active duty members if needed but will get to go home after Basic. And Archi Island Guard which is more centered to on individual town situations such as weather or rioting. There are subcontracts too such as Weekend Service, reporting one weekend per month and two weeks of training a year. The last would be Individual Ready Reserves which is in short that you're active duty but reserve. Example, I work for a few months then go reserve mode unless called back in for active depending on situations," Theo explained now.

"Every member of the military is under one of those types of contacts, and each one has a minimum number of years of service to adhere to unless discharged first for whatever reason. Medical, breaking the laws, stuff like that," Treyden added in.

"What contract are you under and how many years, Hunter?" Caitlyn dared to ask.

"What these knuckleheads left out is that your chosen job plays a role in which contract you're allowed to pick. Our job is Infantry, the main land combat force and backbone of the Archi Island Army. We are responsible for defending our home against any threat by land, as well as capturing, destroying and repelling enemy ground forces. The contracts that can be signed for this job is Active Duty, Reserves, or Individual Ready Reserves. All three of which are set for the minimum of eight years military service with the added factor that in times of conflict, the commanding officers can keep us longer past our contract time if there is a situation to handle that runs over the eight years," Hunter explained firmly with closed eyes.

"Hunter. Which contract are you under?" Audrey asked again since Hunter didn't answer the original question.

Hunter sighed heavily before lifting his lids and looked at them sternly. "Active Duty," he replied. "As of tomorrow at 11 am, I graduate as a full-time Archian soldier," Hunter added calmly while leaning against his and Treyden's bunk, arms crossed over his chest while the group standing before him gasped in shock. Viola, Caitlyn, and Audrey looked like they were about to cry. Shane, Renee, Travis, Fisher, and Heather were in shock. Drew and Eddie seemed surprised, but their mouths weren't hanging open from the news. Salvatore just offered a smile, still proud of his son. Hunter was a soldier now, and he didn't care if they didn't like it, this was his choice because he wanted to do it and would see it through all the way.