Robert Update

Happy Friday, October 26, 2007

Robert graduated from Basic Training last Friday. We had a good trip and it was wonderful to see him!
Started off with a Briefing Thursday morning at 11. Roberts group the Alpha Company had 250 men and women and they came marching into the auditorium singing and dressed in their Class A’s. We were introduced to Commanders and Drill Sergeants and they shared with us some of the experiences of the last 10 weeks. The group sang out their motto and oath, and as a group answered questions posed to them from the Drill Sergeants. It was both enlightening and entertaining. They were dismissed and then got to be with their families.
I was amazed to see how much he had changed in just 10 weeks. He lost about 40 pound and has his hair cut VERY short. He has matured tremendously and has a different outlook on life and what he wants to do with it. I am now sure that joining the Army was the best thing for him, and he agrees!
For our first stop we took him out for lunch and had a nice time. He then wanted to go back to our hotel and just sit around, relax and visit with us. Most of the Company had the same idea because there were Class A’s all over the hotel. He gave us a couple of CD’s with pictures (498) and we went through them he explained what was going on in them and showed us the ones he was in. It was great to see the people he had been living with and what he had been doing through Basic.
Wanting to make sure he got back to the barracks early we went to dinner at 6 at a restaurant close to the base. Some of the Company were just coming in for dinner at 7:30 (when we were leaving). They had to be back to the barracks and in formation by 9. Some in the group came back with only 2 minutes to spare and they got ripped! There were 2 that were about 2 minutes late and they got SMOKED in front of the whole Company and the families. This gave us somewhat of a look at what Basic Training had been like, Robert said, “That was nothing compared to what getting SMOKED was like normally.” Even though the Drill Sergeants were really tough they also showed compassion and caring. There were quite a few men and women that had young children and babies that they were leaving behind; it broke my heart to see them saying good bye to each other. I am so glad that Robert has chosen this life because he WANTED it, not because he had to or it was his last resort, like some of the other people. He said he enjoyed Basic Training because it showed him that he could go above and beyond what he thought himself capable of.
Graduation was at 8 am the following morning (Friday). Because Alpha Company was joined with Fox Company they did not go through and name each person individually. Both Companies marched and sang in formation together from the barracks to the fairgrounds while the Army band played. Once in front of the stands they again sang out their motto and oath. The General spoke and congratulated all of them and thanked the families for our giving of our loved ones. It was great! We all then followed them as they marched and sang (some of which were funny), back to the barracks. We then got to watch them get their bags together and get put into groups for their trips to AIT (Advanced Individual Training).
All the families were then told to go to the transport area (couple of miles away from the barracks) to wait for them to be brought over. They came over on trucks with all their stuff. I got pictures of Robert throwing bags out to those on the ground. It reminded me of when Robert and Steven would come home from a boy scout camp out. They were then given instructions and told to separate into groups depending on where they were going. Because Robert’s group was not leaving for an hour and a half they let them spread out on the grass area to visit one last time with family. We spoke with his Drill Sergeant and got a picture of her together with Robert. During this time he filled us in on what would be next for him (that he knew about). He was taking a charter bus with other 68 Whiskey’s for an 18 hour bus ride to San Antonio. They were given a travel lunch and were allowed to have electronics for the ride. I am so grateful that the weather had been beautiful during both days and only stormed the one night late. Saying good bye to him was hard, it helped knowing that he will be close to us for his time in school.
Robert called early Saturday morning to let us know that they made it to San Antonio and everything was fine. He called Sunday evening and informed us that he ended up getting the flu right after they got in. Turned out that he had been given a flu vaccine a couple of days before. In order for them to take a sick day they have to fill out a paper the night before, because he started getting sick first thing in the morning he had to go through with the whole day of activities, he said it was UGLY, but he made it!
He called last night and we got to talk with him for a long time. He is in a barracks with 90 other guys, all 68 Whiskey’s. They have a lot more freedom here, but a very tough Drill Sergeant that it very much into PT (physical fitness training). They actually call the guys that get through, “Bodies By Shannon”. Robert said that they have done 1000 diamond push up’s a day, the last couple of days, and have gotten SMOKED like never before! He says that this will continue until school starts Nov. 4th. The barracks has 3 showers but they get 2 hours so that makes sharing it with 90 guys a lot easier. The food is great, they get a choice of different things, as much as they want, get 1 hour to eat and are allowed to talk with each other. Right now they start their days at 4:30 with PT (physical training). The day is spent doing ‘details’ (cleaning, yard work, organizing, ect.). Three of the guys snuck out a couple of nights ago, went to a club and got drunk. Drill Sergeant did a head count, noticed them missing and took all their bed linens so they would have to come to him when they came back. OOPS! It was 2 am when they made it back not feeling too good. Of course they knew they had been caught. Robert said they got SMOKED till 5 am really bad and then had to make it through the whole day. One of the guys was a buddy of his, and said it nearly killed him and he was NEVER sneaking out again.
They had one soldier from their Company from Missouri go AWOL a couple of days ago, then was afraid to come back and therefore committed suicide. Yesterday was his funeral and Robert was assigned as ‘Road Guard’ for it.
He is enjoying his Army life so far and is looking forward to starting school. He does not get leave until Thanksgiving weekend, so for now we enjoy talking more on the phone in the evenings and it is nice knowing he is living close to us (2 ½ hrs.). We are looking forward to being allowed to visit him and take him his Jeep after he gets sent to his post Nov. 3rd. He will not have an address until then, we will let you all know what it is as soon as he gets it.
Happy Sunday October 28th. Spoke to Robert last night and he has had a good week. He was chosen to participate in monitoring stations at the ‘Non-Commissioned Officers Competition’. He leaves this morning and will be camping out for 4 days. This event is held once a year and brings Non-Commissioned officers from all over the country to compete against each other in various strategic combat techniques. He is really looking forward to doing this before school starts next week. He will be assigned and moved to his Post when he returns from this ‘detail’.

Please continue to keep him and all our soldiers in your prayers. For photos please follow this link http://www.bis.cc/photos/main.php.

Love and prayers,
Loretta