GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM! Just kidding :P By the way, 'trackin' is one of those awesome Army words that you can't help but say all the time. It means, 'you following what I'm saying?'
So, here I am. I made it to the other side of the Army Officer Candidate School (OCS)...by the grace of God. A lot of you haven't heard from me in about 6 months, so I'll do my best to summarize what I went through without boring everyone else.
I left Jan. 30th for Basic Combat Training (BCT), at Ft. Jackson, SC, where I spent 10 weeks learning how to march, shoot an M16, eat in 4 minutes and, most importantly, learn how to NOT strangle the other females in my company. Seriously, that was the worst part of BCT. The other girls. I got along with most everyone, but there were a few that made me want to sneak back a live round from the shooting range. There were some challenging moments, but all in all, basic training was pretty easy. Physically speaking, it was a cake walk. Well, compared to OCS anyway! I did pretty well on my PT tests, and the only real difficulty I had was making sure I didn't get Texas-sized blisters on my heels from our ruck marches. I lucked out and got the better group of drill sergeants...I think all 3 were comedians in their past lives, judging by all the hysterical laughter they got out of us! They're usually not too crazy about officer candidates (drill sergeants are all on the enlisted side), but I think I got them to warm up to my winning personality :P
Then, after 10 weeks, it was time to get bussed down to Ft. Benning, GA. All my pre-conceived notions about those next 12 weeks of training were completely wrong. I've never hated a training course as much as I hated OCS. In fact, during the 3 days there before getting into class, I had decided to just drop from the course and go enlisted. I just didn't like the idea of what I'd be doing...I hated the atmosphere there...and I honestly didn't think it was meant for me. BUT...I guess there was a larger force at work. Somehow, not only did I get into the class, but I graduated. I had some help from some pretty awesome people along the way. My roommate, or battle buddy as we say :), was beyond amazing at 'picking me up' when I didn't think I could do anymore. She went to BCT with me, but was in a different platoon (4 platoons in a company) so I didn't talk to her too much there. We ended up realizing we had a ton in common, and by the end of the 12 wks I felt like I had added another sister to my already huge family :) I had a couple other key people encourage and support me during all those really difficult times, and their experience in the Army was invaluable to me. They 'talked me down from the ledge' on more than one occasion...at least twice I had decided to drop from the course and go AIT (enlisted). And both times, they reassured me that all that crap was worth it. It's good to have people like that around :)
The miles upon miles of running required in OCS, the miles of road marches with 40+ lbs on my back, the obstacle course with it's numerous height obstacles (I'm terrified of heights...terrified!), land navigation, living out in the field for days at a time, being chosen to take on the coveted position of XO (worst. job. ever.), test after test (very close to hating history altogether because of this moron we had as our teacher), pitching and executing operations orders (yuck), not being able to do ANYTHING (it was like basic training, but in a different state!)....PLUS, the constant threat of being 'recycled' or dropped from the course. The last one is what got me most of the time. I kept waiting for someone to pull me aside and tell me that I'm done. And one lieutenant did...well, he threatened to recycle me if I didn't turn things around. So, there really wasn't one minute of one day that I thought I'd finish this course. Even 2 days before graduation, I was still waiting for someone to come tell me that I wasn't going to graduate. I don't think I've ever felt that way about anything I've taken on in my life. And most of you know how much I've gone through and all the obstacles I've overcome in the past. This shouldn't have been any different...but it was. So, I got what I wanted, I guess. I was searching for a physical and psychological challenge in my life...I definitely got that with OCS!!
Graduation was on July 7th, and then I hopped into the car and my dad and I drove up to PA, where I've been hanging out for a couple of weeks while I 'work' with the local recruiters. I didn't do much, but that was the intention :) I leave on Monday to fly down to TX to visit family and friends for a week, before flying back to PA to pick up my car and drive down to Ft. Lee, VA. I'll be there for 4 months of branch training (I'll be a Quartermaster officer...basically, logistics and supply management)...after that? Well, I have orders for one place but I'm trying to get them changed ;) We'll see what happens with that, but I'll keep you posted.
I'd love to hear from you guys! Tell me what's new in life!
And for all my friends and families in Suisse...I miss you all so much and as soon as I can, I'm buying a ticket to visit!!
Me and my 'battle', Kym Leyva
Some of my favorite people:) Swanson, Patton, Leyva and me
All of us went to BCT together...this was our first official off-post pass.
Me, Leyva and Swanson....enjoying our time away from OCS!
1) Swanson, Leyva and me before the Atlanta Braves game on Memorial Day
2) Right before our first 'Formal' event
