Becoming a Soldier: September 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

I love getting mail!

Got a call from Steven this morning! Whoo Hoo, Happy Day! Steven sounds great! He says to send more letters and pics. He loves to hear from everyone and he is looking forward to seeing everyone on graduation day!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Norman Schwarzkopf:
The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.

You are alomst there Steven!

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure. ~Colin Powell

BRAVO COMPANY BULLDOGS

Steven is on his way to graduating Basic Combat Training.

Bravo Company holds a Family Day the day before graduation beginning at 9:00 am on September 30th at BLDG 3245 Bravo / 2-47 Company Training Area. Following a short Family Day ceremony, Steven will get a day pass to spend some well deserved time with us. Graduation will be October 1st at 9:00 am at The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center located at 3800 South Lumpkin Road. We will have several hours to spend with Steven after BCT graduation.

IMPORTANT: In order to gain access to Fort Benning and Sand Hill, drivers must have current state registration and insurance along with a valid driver's license. All occupants over the age of 10 must have a valid photo ID card.

On Friday, October 2nd, Steven will be transported to Fort Gordon, Georgia - the largest communications-electronics facility in the free world - to complete Advanced Individual Training (AIT). The training Steven receives during AIT is designed to teach him his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) that he will use once he reaches his first assignment.

Stevens Journey

Steven was a typical freshman student: friends, sports, clubs, a solid future and a family who has always encouraged him to follow his heart and stand by his values. Like many other children, growing up Steven often thought about and talked about joining the military. It was during a college preparedness meeting when Steven announced that the military was a definite career choice for him, he wanted to serve his country and do something that mattered. It wasn’t a complete shock to us but this was the first time he openly discussed his choice with anyone other than his friends and family. Steven explained how he felt the military would give him leadership opportunities, college education, job training and a career he was exceedingly passionate about.

Over the next several years, we continued to discuss Steven’s interest in a military career and offer alternatives at every possible opportunity. As emotional as we were to accept Steven’s decision, he was certain he was ready. Steven had decided the military would be his career, his life. It was very important to us to be supportive. During the research and enlistment process we have been right by Steven’s side.

In June, Steven packed his bag for Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Benning, Georgia. He left Indianapolis June 15th and will spend nine weeks in Georgia preparing physically and mentally to become a soldier. After BCT, Steven will shift to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for eighteen weeks where he will learn how to perform a job in Communications. The eighteen weeks of AIT training will be directly applied toward a college degree. Following training, Steven will be involved in the installation and operation of multi-channel line-of-site and tropospheric scatter communications systems, network switching systems, satellite communication systems and signal support systems. After graduating AIT training Steven will attend five additional training courses, including Airborne, to qualify for Special Forces.

BCT and AIT will be tough, as it would be for any recruit, however this will be Steven’s first time on his own. We have devised a system to ensure Steven will receive a letter, a package or some form of encouragement every day. We will track Steve’s journey and post it on BlogSpot.com.

Steven is an amazing person and we are proud to watch him realize one of his goals and whole heartedly work to achieve it.

Monday, September 7, 2009

I love getting mail!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

You are alomst there Steven!

BRAVO COMPANY BULLDOGS

Becoming a Soldier

Stevens Journey

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