AIT Day # "who cares, I'm done!"
December 26th, 2002
Woo hoo! I am done with training. I've been waiting five months to say that. I'm chillin in my room right now with three of my close friends and my nephew. We're playing video games. It doesn't get much better than that.
The graduation ceremony was held at the rec center. That's a much nicer setting than the gym, if you'll remember. They showed us a movie about what it means to be an ordnance soldier. Then they called all our names individually as we received a diploma on the stage from a number of army big wigs.
I learned a lot from my five month journey. The changes in me are fundamental and for the good. My mom and dad wanted to freak out when I cleaned our bathroom. I made the tub sparkle like diamonds. My bed has not been unmade since I got back. It's been a week since I finished. I use the trick I learned of sleeping on top of the covers and using a blanket to cover myself. I just fold the blanket and put it in the closet every morning.
Enough about my neat freakness. I hope my diary has been helpful in preparing you for initial entry training. Please do not let my experience be a deciding factor in your decision of joining the service. This is my view. Your experience may be totally different. In training, specially basic training, it is all about attitude. When that drill sergeant is smoking the crap out of you just after a ten kilometer road march, you look him in the eye and without speaking you tell him, "Thanks for making me stronger....sucker." When it's 0530 and 30 degrees outside and you have to stand in formation just think, at least you're getting paid for being there. If you think shining boots sucks, have a contest with your roommates to see who can do better.
If you think you want to join, or you've been thinking about it for a while, go for it. I haven't met one person who didn't grow exponentially from basic training. It's very easy to make it through with high spirits if you have the right attitude, previous physical conditioning, and a lot of foot powder.
--Marck