A Note from Fort Benning

Well, here I am home for Christmas leave from Basic Training at Ft. Benning, and at this point I can say I have come to feel a certain few things,

(1) that maybe I should've joined the Infantry,
(2) that it might have been cool to join the Marines, and
(3) I'm glad it's too cold for the fire ants.

The truth is that I am enjoying myself alot, even though the training we're getting is much easier and less complete than what they give to the Infantry just over the hill. That is one thing that has really surpised and disappointed me-- I was very happy to learn that I'd be doing Basic at Ft. Benning because the training there was supposed to be the toughest. We have some really good Drills though, mostly Infantry guys with a good bit of combat experience. I will say without hesitation that I am the fiercest motherlover in my platoon and probably the whole flipping company... but as we are non-Infantry I'm not sure how much that means. There are a few guys in our platoon who almost make up for the lack of females.

I do mostly make the most of it, though. When they smoke us I stay with the count and I always sound off loud. I've gotten to be pretty darned fit, mentally tough, motivated, already looking forward to Jump School, and language training, and going to Iraq or wherever it is and getting mine. It's sort of awkward having an 18-day break right at this point in our training, but it's fine, we'll enjoy the holidays, come back, knock out the final bivouac and final road march and graduate.

Anyway, a few folks here had expressed interest in hearing a little update when I got the chance, so there you go. You'll probably see me on here at least a little bit over the next couple of weeks, but I might as well say it now, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

DA

Bueno no tengo mucho que decir sobre los militares, pero muy feliz navidad Arroyo!!:san_grin:

Gracias, Del Arroyo for the update. We're very glad you're OK.

My son will join you at Fort Benning next month, on 'the other side of the hill' (11B & airborne, then Ranger RIC). I suspect he'll meet your now-dormant fire ants by the time he reports for ranger training. :)

It sounds like you have learned the Army training 'game': displayed enthusiasm (even if faked), meshed with task-competence, will get you through. Even Marines survive this way. Oddly enough (you may have already discovered), the most boring, mundane, monotone instructor often has the most valuable jewel of information... that nugget that will save your life one day.

So: keep paying attention, my friend.

And: Thank you for your service!

Good luck to you man. Don't worry too much about the training, the infantry get the same training as anyone else but they push it on you harder because it's more crucial to them.

I also went to Benning in the winter, the two week break is actually really nice and better than a 48 hour pass in Columbus. Just be sure to put in some PT during your break so you can burn off all those cookies and egg nog.

I'm curious though, you said you're getting language training? Well, I'm glad that the army is adapting it's training for whats required. Learning the language in country is helpful but it's nice to have a base to work off of.

Merry Christmas!:san_smiley: :san_smiley:

Still alive and kicking I see! Merry christmas :san_cheesy:

Good to see you're enjoying the Training, and indeed, Merry Christmas!