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Well it happened. After 14 long weeks, my son graduated from Infantry basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, this past Friday. The 2-day event was incredibly rewarding for all who attended. Having been privileged to watch my stepson graduate from Marine basic training at Parris Island in 2002, I was proud to see another branch of the Armed Forces in action. Fort Benning is huge and considers itself the greatest Army training base in the world.
In addition, they opened their new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center this past spring. If you are interested in anything military, the museum itself is worth the trip. Including an IMAX theater, this magnificent building would take a full day to see as there is so much detail in its array of displays often including sound, archival film footage, and 3-dimensional recreations of famous battles through which you walk.
There were 2 companies graduating on the 9th, each comprised of more than 200 men and in this particular case, I mean ‘men.' There are no women in Infantry. Should you question how popular the military is today, there were other companies that had graduated the day before. While the Army teaches discipline, military bearing, courtesy, and respect, I was most impressed to hear all of these young men addressing others, military and civilian alike, with such respect. When asked a question, each and every one responded with a Yes, Ma'am or Yes, Sir, Thank you Ma'am or Thank you, Sir.
Many of those who graduated on Friday will go to new posts in Italy, Germany or at other bases located throughout the world or in the States, some in the reserves and others prepared to be deployed.
My son, however, remains at Fort Benning where he will start Airborne training this week. Recognized as 18 x ray, he, as well as 14 other young men, have been selected to train for pre-qualification to Special Forces also known as the Green Berets. Whether he is accepted into this elite group of men is questionable. Few, who have not had prior military experience, are selected. But he is up to the challenge. Even if he is accepted into this group, he will have 18 more months of training and will still have to meet their criteria through this year-and-a-half process in order to become a Green Beret.
Of the many parents I met during our 2-day stretch, there is no doubt that all of those in attendance were proud of their sons' achievements. There is also no doubt that we were of like thinking in the security and the freedom of our country. The role of the Infantry is to serve the people of the United States. These are men of whom you can be proud. Their job is to place your freedom first and foremost even if it costs them their lives.
A good friend of mine from Canada saw my son's information on Facebook this weekend and immediately wrote and asked me if he had been drafted. I assured her that no one in the United States is being drafted and that the majority of those who enlist do so out of love of country and service to this great nation. Of that, America, you should be proud!
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