Army Basic Training and the terrifying reality of being an adult

 REEVES Point of View, “Still Growing up” series, Part 46:  Army Basic Training and the terrifying reality of being an adult

I’m not sure if this is still the same policy today but back when I was in High School, you can join the military at age 17 (with your parent’s permission) and participate in what is called ‘Split Option’ training.  As an enlisted service member, your training is comprised of two parts:  Basic Training (which EVERYONE goes through) and Advanced Individual Training (which is the school for your Military Occupational Skill or MOS).

If you participated in the ‘Split Option’ training, you can split your training between 2 time periods (this was, as it was explained to me, available to High School kids who were still in school).  

In 1986, I decided to join the Army Reserves.   I was in my Junior Year of High School when I decided so I was permitted to go through Basic Training in the Summer of 1986 and my Advanced Individual Training in the Summer of 1987.

Now, let me tell you.  As a kid, I was clueless.   Of my mom’s 5 brothers, 4 of them had served.  My grandfather served in WWII.  My dad’s brother served in Vietnam.   One of my mom’s closest friends was a Marine and we had countless vets in my church.  However, and for whatever reason, my 16 year old mind never thought to ask them about what to expect.   And my mom (god bless her) was so supportive because she knew this is what I wanted to do.   So, we went to the Army recruiter and signed me up.   Fortunately for me, I turned 17 a few days before Basic Training. 

Going to Basic Training was a serious culture shock for me.  Here I am. 17 years old and the recruiter tells me to be in Little Rock, Arkansas for the earliest flight to St. Louis, MO (I was going to be stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO).    My glasses had broke the day before I got there so I was going in blind until I get my birth control glasses (and YES, they were right to call them Birth Control glasses).

After arriving at Fort Leonard Wood, spending 3 days through in processing, being shuttled around on a cattle truck (No, that’s not a phrase or slang, these were actually refurbished CATTLE TRUCKS!), and getting my affairs in order, I was assigned to my unit (I still remember, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade [Bravo 2-2]).  

The last connection to the outside world was a 1 minute phone call they allowed me to make to my mom letting her know I was alive and not to expect to hear from me for a while (AND THEY MEANT THAT).

And what happened next during the next 6 and 1/2 weeks was something that always happens:  I GREW UP.

A large majority of us were teenagers with a sprinkling of a few 20 somethings.   I didn’t have time to freak out over being away from home.  I had to learn to make my bed (which I CLEARLY never learned how to do the right way).  I had to learn to clean a bathroom (you can find dirt anywhere).  I had to learn to use a buffer (what the hell IS that thing anyway).

In the midst of this, I had set up a joint bank account (i never had one before) with my mom so that all of my military pay would go into the same account. 

And then there was the marching, the exercising, and the training.  There was the marathon eating sessions (It really should be illegal to have to eat so fast you can’t taste the food).   I was learning skills I never knew.   Learning how to fire an M16.  Learning basic First Aid.  Going through a Gas Chamber (and that was WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Lol).  Field training exercises, obstacle course, and more and more marching.

By the time I graduated, I was a completely different person.  My mom could see it when she came to graduation.   And when I returned home, I felt 10 feet tall.  At the time, we were required to travel home wearing our Class A uniform so I truly felt I had accomplished something.

Looking back, I am really grateful my mom gave me the opportunity to take this first step into adulthood.   I had never had a job.  I was in JROTC in high school but I had never experienced anything like this.   I know I would make many mistakes along the way in my growth and maturity but as a proud Veteran, I’m glad this was part of my growth experience.

#veteran #army #enlisted