By: Christian Dye The United States of America is known for having the strongest military force of 2019 and it’s thanks to the brave men and women who enlist.What many people don’t understand is just how much work goes into becoming an American soldier. The effort required varies for the different branches. For ten weeks during school summer break, I attended Army Basic Combat Training, and experienced what it was like to become an American Soldier. I went through many ups, downs, and everything in between. It was not easy, but completing each event, and obstacle certainly felt rewarding. I did things I would never have done otherwise. Each and every aspect of my everyday was out of my control The Drill Sergeants are the ones who trained us, and we practically lived with the drill sergeants, so everything I did had to be proficient. Some of the things I did was run through obstacle courses, repelled down a forty foot wall, marched, threw grenades, and learned the basics of Rifle Marksmanship. Every morning was a PT (Physical Training) morning. After that, we had breakfast at 7:00am. The closest thing we got to a "Day Off" was on Sundays, and that's because we had the privilege of going to religious services/church on those mornings. Once everybody has returned from church, there was a possibility that they would shave our heads again.The weather in Fort Jackson, South Carolina was very different than what we have here.Though I did go over the summer I never actually felt hot unless we were in full combat gear, or doing a lot of exercise. Part of learning how to be a soldier, meant getting used to wearing the proper attire. We had a vest with pockets to put rifle magazines, grenades, and a canteen. Underneath that was our IOTV, which is supposed to be a bulletproof vest weighing at around 30-35 pounds on your back and we wore our ACH, which is the combat helmet. Lastly we put on knee pads, and elbow pads. The final task we had to complete inorder to graduate was a 40+ mile ruck (hike). We rucked all throughout the night, and recovered during the day. In the span of four days, we rucked 40 miles, with our flic on, and carried our rifles in our hands the entire time. Many Americans agree that one of the most honorable things a person can do is enlist in the U.S. military, and put yourself out there to voluntarily experience the hardships of a soldier. Though this may not be everybody's ideal vacation, it is important to look into the many great benefits that can come with being a part of the U.S. military. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. If interested in more enlistment information, contact your local recruiter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Staff Box
Editor-in-Chief: Alexandra Martinez Archives
May 2020
Categories |