What a transition! Those 8 weeks or so perform miracles. You’re broken down and built back up and you know on the inside you are a better person. You’re stronger and feel more accomplished and have done things you never knew you could do.
Yeah … oorah … aye aye … Aim High … a few good men … Army strong … whatever. When you’re going thru it, its a bitch. When its over, it wasn’t a big thing. I guess its kind of like life. Wow, that’s too profound for me.
Have a good weekend.
Indeed. Once you’re through basic, you look back and think or say: “what the heck was that?!” LOL!
My drill sergeant always said to us: “Basic is a game. Just play by the rules, and you’ll come out fine.”
Ours was the only platoon in our company with a 100 percent graduation rate. All other platoons had at least 1 drop out.
Damn, now that reminds me of PLDC….something I take a LOT of pride in, because I ended up putting myself in an interesting position.
We were introducing ourselves in class, and I knew I was going to be interested in PLDC. Somehow, during the course of my introducing myself to my classmates, I said: “I am going to make it my personal mission to ensure that no one in this class drops out.” Our instructor just kinda sat back and looked at me with this skeptical grin. Suddenly, I realized I had put myself in the hot seat. Fail a test, you get one retest. Fail that, and you’re out of PLDC. Fortunately, this course interested me highly, and I aced every single test (the last test I only missed one question….damn! LOL) However, we did have some students who had failed their initial tests. They came to me after the initial test, and said: “Ok, Dunlap, can you help us?” I’d tell them to meet in the lobby of the barracks at 1900, and we would go over the material until they felt they were ready. Not when I felt they were, but when THEY felt they were. The next day, they took their tests, and passed. Max score they could get was 75 percent on a retest, but they maxed out.
This happened about two or three times over the course of PLDC. No one failed out. And, as with my basic training, ours was the ONLY platoon in PLDC that had a 100 percent graduation rate. My instructor came up to me, shook my hand and said: “Dunlap, I have to admit, when you first intro’d yourself at the start of this course, I thought you were a little full of yourself. But you backed up your words, and you have my utmost respect. If there is anything I can do…a recommendation…whatever…just name it.”
I replied: “Sergeant, your respect is more than enough. I just did my job.”
Here’s to everyone who has served before, and since…..and here’s to those who help keep their fellow soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen’s heads above water! 🙂