As you all should know by now, Andy left home on the night of the 21st of September to enter Basic Training for the Army. That night I was incredibly sad (I think watching him walk away was the absolute WORST!) but I soon gathered myself and have been ok ever since. It helps a lot that he has been in contact every day since he left! (YAY for technology!!!) That first night he was gone, he stayed over at the Radisson Inn near the airport (which, oddly enough, is the very same hotel we stayed in on our wedding night!) the next morning all the new recruits were picked up and taken over to the MEPS station to be debriefed and who knows what all else! Next, he was taken to the airport where he and three others were on the same flight to Oklahoma City, OK. On arrival in the airport there they waited in the Military Welcome Center (run by volunteers from the local YMCA - thank you for supporting our troops!!!) until another group joined them so they could all be taken by bus to Ft. Sill - an hour and a half away. By the next day it was Wednesday already, and they began the long arduous task of being in-processed. Obviously I don't know everything that he has done while there, but I can give you the basics! They were vaccinated against 8 different diseases (I know, right? crazy!), issued ACU's (Army Combat Uniforms), boots, PT clothes (clothes to wear during fitness training) and shoes, they filled out a million different forms, including life and dental insurance forms, wills (yes really) and things of that nature. They also have been learning the various cadences they march to (some of them are downright hilarious!) and the protocols surrounding behavior and respect and such. During all this time (from last Tuesday evening to early this morning) they were at what is known as "reception". Even though they spent an entire week there, it is known as "week zero". I am proud to report that Andy made it through all this with flying colors and early this morning he embarked on "week one". He is officially in Basic Combat Training at this moment so my nightly phone updates will obviously end. I did get to speak with him last night and he said he would write to me instead, so at least I'll have that to look forward to! After the first two weeks his unit will have the opportunity to earn phone privileges so if his does he will most likely be able to phone us on Sundays, as that is their "free day". (sort-of!) So now you are all up to date! Know that he is well and really enjoying himself. He misses home but he is doing a great job of making the best of his situation! He has already made some friends so I think that helps as well!!!! I will update again as soon as I get new info!!!!
God Bless our Troops!!! It really hit me the other day, while I was watching a video designed for the families of new soldiers, how relatively young the men and women that are fighting for our freedom are. I mean, I just never thought about it before! I was watching this video and it hit me, most of the faces on there are only ten years older than my Shelbie!!! BABIES! and they are sacrificing their youth, and time with their families, and all of the other crazy fun stuff most of us did at their age to go and fight in two different conflicts, each a half a world away!!!! I would like to ask you all to take some time out of your busy day today, and say a small prayer for the men and women that are the true American Heroes!!!! May they always be in our hearts!!!!!
ok, I'll get off my soap box now!!! =)
1 comment:
Thank heavens for men like him! I am forever grateful. I can feel your pain with him gone. When Jace was in Pharmacy school he lived in Las Vegas for 9 months while I was here in Utah with 3 kids and pregnant with Ki'sen. But like you, you just sort of adapt and it makes it weird when they do come around because you get so used to being responsible for EVERYTHING that you sort of don't know what to do when they come around. You'll see! LMK If I can ever do ANYTHING to help you.
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