It’s wild to think I’ve been at Fort Benning for over a year, just to get back into the Army. But that’s the case.
Memories:
30th AG Reception Battalion: Looking like a football hooligan because all I had to wear for four days was a pair of black swishy pants and a black windbreaker, both with white piping. A Drill Sergeant with tattoos that ran up his neck called me some pretty nasty names for it.
OCS: Ascots. The OCS alma mater. Singing. Lots of classes. An ever-present fear that you’d get in trouble for something and dropped from the course and kicked out of the Army, no commission for you, and a one-way ticket to needs of the Army. Getting sucked into the stupid hierarchy of “you’re better than me because you have a blue ascot and she’s better than you because she has a white ascot.” Branching day. Coffee privileges.
IBOLC: Heavy rucks. Experience tailored by the cadre, not the course. A terrible feeling that you were being graded on something you haven’t been taught. An aviator who taught his class wearing flight gear, helmet and all.
Basic Combatives Course: Sore elbows and knees and waiting to get punched in the face. Getting tazed.
Stryker Leader Course: Morose. PMCS. Lay out all of the B.I.I.
Ranger School: A tragedy in three acts, but you’re the character that gets killed in the first.
Time spent at HHC: Trying to steal diamonds from an angry, sleeping dragon.
I really enjoyed my time at Fort Benning. I met great people and have a ton of new friends. The post is beautiful and Columbus isn’t that bad either. Atlanta and Savannah aren’t that far away and they provide nice outings if you just have to get away.
The entire experience has been a positive one, warts and all. I’m looking forward to the next step, to see how things have changed (or haven’t) in the ‘real’ Army.
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Carrying the Gun 