Chapter 2

Well, I am sitting here in a hotel room with some girl who is enlisting tomorrow. I know how she's feeling. I told her to make sure she gets a job she likes and not let anyone convince her to do anything else. I'm just texting some of my friends and listening to some music I want stuck in my head for the next few months. I love music. However, I am only skilled musically when it comes to guitar hero.

Tomorrow and I have to wake up at 0430 to start my new journey. Best get some sleep.

::Ring Ring::

I picked up the phone "Good morning Miss Carlin this is your 4:30am wake-up call you requested"

"Ugh…Thanks"

I hang up and for some reason I feel the need to puke…What did I get my self into. I could really use Glen right now!

I took a quick shower to hopefully gather my nerves, which did help some. Walking out to the lobby with my small book bag they line us up in people who are shipping and people who are enlisting. I see 8 other girls shipping. Everyone looks a bit uneasy minus the one chick who completely flipped and is balling her eyes out. After a quick breakfast we are off to the short bus ride to Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).

~~~~~~~~3 hours later

After filing out more paper work, pregnancy test, all kinds of Doctor check ups we are just waiting for our bus or plane tickets. I'm going to Fort Jackson, SC. Glen called it relaxing Jackson. Its basic training, how relaxing can it be.

When we get our tickets I'm put with a small group of people who are going to SC too. My group is Sams, Wentworth, Franklin, and Smith. Couldn't tell ya their first names, I'm not sure we have them anymore.

On the plan I sat next to Sams. She seems pretty cool, I feel like I've known her longer than most of my friends back home. Once we land we are told to go to the USO in the airport. It's really a great place for people in the military. They have them at every single airport. Some are much more impressive than the other. There are tv's, computers, and even a sleeping area. I should have tried to sleep. This day is almost over for most people but I know it's not even close to over for me.

After sitting with Sams and Franklin at the USO we were load on to a bus. This is It, we rode from the airport to Ft. Jackson. Basically you hear a few people carry on small conversations, but most remain quiet. Then as we see signs and pull up to the base entrance people start to freak out a bit.

"Does anyone feel like they might pee themselves?" Some random kid asked

"I change my mind, I really don't want to do this anymore" I hear from 3 rows behind me

Then we stop at a building. We sit for about 5 minutes and that's when everyone sees it. The thing that will make our lives a living hell for the next 10 weeks. A Drill Sergeant hat. He gets on and starts instructing us on what we should be doing. This moment seems so surreal. I know whatever he's saying is important but it's like the when the adults talk on Charley Brown, all I hear is womp womp womp. Before I know it all I hear is…

"You have 3 minutes to get everyone lined up outside with all your crap. Now…GET OFF MY BUS"

I know what you're thinking…what did you not expect them to yell at basic training. No, I know I will be bitched at to the moon and back. This is reception.

Glen told me "At reception you will be bored out of your mind. Just use it as time to relax."

Well today is June 16th 2008. This is when we ship from reception to basic training. The last 5 days have been filled with boredom. At reception all you do is eat, sleep and read that damn smart book. This book is filled with all kinds of army knowledge.

Reception is where you get the uniforms, shots, id card, and fill out any remaining paperwork. I'm so glad I never had that phobia of needles. Have you ever gotten a penicillin shot in the ass! Trust me, it is not a good time.

Most people are friendly enough. My bunkmate for these last few days has been Sams. I don't think it will be too bad having her around for the next 9 weeks. We have a lot in common. She's been making me laugh since our first conversation we had when we were flying to South Carolina.

"So, Carlin where are you from?"

"You won't know it. It's called Leesburg, Ohio"

"Oh I so know where that's at"

"Really?"

"Fuck no" She lets out an evil laugh "but that look was priceless"

"What about you?"

"I'm from a small town in Indiana"

"Cows, corn and everyone know your business type town?"

"Sound like home?" we shared a small comforting laugh

"Yeah…so what's your MOS?"

"88Mike"

"What's that?"

"Don't laugh…Truck driver" I hold my laugh in so she can finish "it has one of the shortest AIT's and it got me away from my family so it will be ok…What about you?"

"68w…Basically a medic"

"Sweet job…Why'd you join" She asked

"Didn't want to stick to my mother's life plan for me"

"Well I can relate"

I told her about Glen being in the army and how he has been deployed for 5 months now. She told me about her older sister who just graduated from college but had to move back in with the family because she was 8 months pregnant. She talked about how her dad is always pushing her into doing things and once she realized the army would get her away she went to a recruiter's office and joined. We really learned a lot about each other during this week.

Now we're lined up waiting to get dropped off at the company to start 9 weeks of training. It seems so long now. Glen told me it will fly by and when it's done I wouldn't want to leave. Some how I doubt it.

As we carry a duffel bag on our front we are loaded on a bus. We are handed cards with numbers on them. Great I have to stand…and if it couldn't get better the one Drill Sergeants on the bus is right next to me.

"Privates. Welcome to Basic Combat Training. I am Drill Sergeant Barrett. Do not piss me off. Do what you are told. Trust me…it will be fun" This man has a look. I'll call it crazy. There is something about the way a Drill Sergeant speaks. It's a loud sturdy voice and you think they could kill you at any minute. It's so overwhelming people don't have the nerve to talk back. The bus then comes to a stop.

"Everyone look at you card and find your number. This is your platoon. When you exit the bus in a timely fashion, find the sign for your platoon. Line up next to it. Too easy privates! Now…GET THE FUCK OFF MY BUS"

The doors open and all I know is I had a two. I see a swarm of Drill Sergeants and head to my line. I don't hear what anyone is yelling, I focus on standing at attention and wait till I hear what comes next. I'm really starting to re think this whole thing.

We are led to bays for our platoons. 2nd Platoon. I have no idea who else is with me. I haven't looked in any direction but in front of me. As soon as every Private is in the bay here comes two Drill Sergeants.

"I'm Drill Sergeant Kent and this is Drill Sergeant Barrett." Great Mr. Crazy is our DS

"When you address us it will always be with Drill Sergeant…is that clear?"

Only half of the platoon responds with "Yes Drill Sergeant"

"Ooooo Really Privates! I forgot to tell you my favorite phrase!" DS Barrett is now pacing around the room getting in people's faces as he is yelling "Here it comes! Front Leaning Rest Position….MOVE!"

"Privates another rule. Respond and then you execute!" DS Kent doesn't seem as bad

"Don't worry we have all night to get this right"

"Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down…." I'm not sure how many we've done but people are struggling and whimpering

"Suffer in silence. Pain is just weakness leaving the body. Get used to it."

"Platoon… Attention"

At this everyone pops up to attention and the room says silent until DS Kent walked up to someone

"Private Wentworth…Is there anything that doesn't seem right?"

"No Drill Sergeant" He answers as if he is asking a question

"How about you private Davies?"

"Yes Drill Sergeant. No one responded before executing Drill Sergeant."

"Nicely done Private. Now lets try this again. Front leaning rest position…MOVE!"

"YES DRILL SERGEANT"

"Exercise…1 2 3 4"

"One"

"1 2 3 4" He sounds like he enjoys doing this

"Two" We continued on for what feels like a half hour but was more like 3 minutes

"Position of attention…Move"

"Yes Drill Sergeant" We sound like a room full of whiney 2nd graders

The remainder of our day was filling out paperwork, inventory of our bags, more physical training better known as PT. We had lunch but it was very quick. We had 2 minutes to eat. I swear that was it. I still have no idea who is in my platoon. I wonder where Sams is.

It's getting darker out and we are about to head for dinner chow.

After 20 minutes the entire company is outside the chow hall standing at attention. Seriously less than 20 minutes to feed 250 people! How is this possible? Glen told me before I came the two things I needed to know about eating. Number 1…Make everything into a sandwich. Number 2…everything else eat with a spoon.

We're marching back to the company now and I'm praying this day is almost over. I don't know if I can last 3 weeks like this. Why 3 weeks? That is how long Red phase lasts. Basic is split into Red phase, White phase, and Blue phase. Thanks to my ever so useful big brother, he said that the Drill Sergeants give more space the further into the process. Back in the bay DS Kent is addressing us

"Females over here and males over here" at this point I have counted 11 other girls in the bay.

"I am assigning the females battle buddies and then they will go to the female bay with Drill Sergeant Hunter. You are to never be without a battle buddy. You take them everywhere with you. Do not go up to a Drill Sergeant without yours. If your battle fucks up…so do you. If they are punished, you will too! Get it?"

"Yes Drill Sergeant"

"Ok battle buddies are Oaks and Nelson, James and Kirkland, Harris and Irwin, Walker and Woods, Ace and Benson, Carlin and Davies."

Knowing who our battle buddies were, all twelve of us headed down to the female bay. All I can hope is this Davies chick won't be a Blue Falcon.