A narrative essay about my first day of Army basic training.

We were told to get in rows and stand at the positon of attention, this was frightening. We were told to run to the bus from here, this is where I was split up with everyone I came with. The base was three hours away from the airport. On the bus ride over there I called and texted everyone I knew for three hours. I called Jed first, he could not talk long because he had a meeting, although I knew if I called my mom or Ayden they would both cry and that would make things harder on me. After I talked to Jed and he convinced me everything was ok after 20 minutes of me crying to him as if he could come pick me up and take me home. After this I texted Boone to be sure he made it on a shuttle, he did. Boone was on the Shuttle behind me. That was the last time I talked to him until the day after graduation. We made it to the reception building at nearly 11 o’clock and briefed until about one. We finally got to bed at 2, and we were woken up at 4:30 the following morning. During reception they checked our dental, blood type, eye sight, etc. this is where we received our uniforms, and most importantly where we met our first Drill Sergeants. In receptions Drill Sergeants are almost done with their contracts, they cannot make you preform corrective action, or give you RBIs, all they can do is get really close to you and scream as loud as they could. I was here for seven days, and then after those seven days were

I went pre-med before getting deployed and as an intern I've seen a lot of horrible things. But when it's your friend... Someone you serve with... It stays with you forever.

men Marines!” As soon as that was said four ferocious looking men wearing the most sharp pressed, clean; crisp looking BDU’s (Battle Dress Uniform) I have ever

March 2006, I made the best decision in my life, and that was to join the U.S. Navy. I left for the boot camp two months later. I have no idea what is going to be in stores for me when I hit boot camp. What I can tell was that my hands felt clammy and I was very nervous and anxious at the same time. I knew the moment that I arrive to Great Lakes, Illinois, and my life would change forever. I knew physically that I would change but how about mentally?

Did I make it? That was the question I was asking myself the night before what was going to be one of the most special days of my life. After being called to leave for Air Force Basic Training on a short 8-day notice, I was now finally at the end of my journey and tomorrow I would graduate and become an Airmen. The nerves and excitement were running through my body as I was unable to sleep in anticipation of the big day. Now the day is here and I get to celebrate all my hard work by seeing my family and earning the title of an Air Force Airmen.

I left for basic training on July 30, 2008, and arrived in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri on July 31, 2008. Before we entered into our extreme training, we processed into the Army for a whole week at reception. On the day of actual basic training, we realized our great lives changed to instructions all day, miserable feelings, separation from family, and extreme exhaustion. Although, this was our life much more horrifying things were about to happen. We finally realized all the negative feelings we were having seemed to get worse, such as receiving a shark attack from our drill sergeants, we were told

After much thought and discussion with a mentor in my community, I walked up to my parents when they were relaxing in the living rooms and blurted “I am enlisting in the Marine Corps”. It came out rushed and my dad’s first response was “no you are not”, and of course I replied, “Yes I am”. A big argument broke out after that and it took a few weeks for the waters to settle. My parents really wanted me to go to college, and I really wanted to join the military. Oak Park tends to produce a lot of college-bound graduates, and for those who do not go to college, they become Marines. A deal was settled, my dad knew of NROTC, and he convinced me that it was in my best interest to become an officer. After a lot of stubbornness on my end, I agreed

My father swayed me to rethink my MOS choice and instead pick an MOS that is transferable to the civilian world, in case I decided to get out. I reported into Parris Island for boot camp on September 9th, 2014. I was in Delta Company starting out and graduated as a Marine on the 11th of December. That was the most important day in my life up to that point. I later went to Marine Combat Training on Camp Geiger. Which is also where I found out what my MOS was going to be. The administrative marines told me I was going to be a Maintenance Management Specialist. My buddies and I at the time thought that meant I was going to be a janitor. That was not a happy moment. Until later on when I made my way over to Camp Johnson for my school house as a 0411. I graduate from the School house as a PFC on May 8th, 2015 and arrived in my current duty station and command. Being Camp Lejeune, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Electronics Maintenance Company

Even though the drill sergeant told us to keep our heads down, I couldn’t help but peek my head up just to see what is out the window. All I saw was the beautiful blue sky with no clouds in site, and the sun just smiling down on us. The bus stopped at the destination, and I felt my heart stopped as if it was the last time I ever get to see the world. Out of nowhere the same drill sergeant with the mega phone was outside of my bus and started yelling at us with all his might. We could sense fear and terror in the atmosphere as the drill sergeant started pull us out of the bus one by one. The closer I got to the drill sergeant the clearer I got to see every vein and artery throbbing out of his neck and for every word he said you can see them pumping a heartbeat. Once I was able to get my focus from all the scatterings another drill sergeant was yelling at me to run up this hill that look as if it was Mount Rushmore but covered in grass and surrounded by privates but in a far distance look like ants. So I ran to the top acting like it was the end of my life and that I running away from the bulls like how the Spaniards do when they have their annual running with the bulls. Running to the top of the hill was harder than excepted. After finally reaching the top I stopped to catch my breath for my lungs felt as if they’re balloons and someone squeezed all the air out of

A million thoughts were running through my head as we drove from Savannah, Georgia International Airport in the dead of night. I along with 50 other new recruits were herded on to a bus and told to put our heads down as they drove around for what seemed like hours. The recruiters used this as a disorienting and scare tactic, so we would have no idea where we were. As we arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, I thought to myself, “holy shit, am I really doing this?” As the bus pulled to a stop a drill instructor stepped on to the bus. He began shouting unintelligible words at us in a raspy, gruff voice. The only words I was able to understand were “off” and “bus”. I didn’t give it a second thought, I was off the bus as fast

On the early morning of April 19th, my husband left to gather with the militia. I being worried could not go back to sleep and awaited by the window from time to time. The children were still asleep and out of the corner of my eyes, I see at least a couple hundred of lobsterbacks. I was frightened and crouched making sure I wasn’t seen. Oh how my heart beated, and I am ashamed to remind myself that the militia fired. Perhaps out of fear, but they fired. Immediately there was movement until my eyes could see, running, shooting, bloodshed. As soon as I saw the Regulars marching, and the house being so near to all the commotion I ran to the children and hoped they wouldn’t burn the house down. I was prepared, nervous for the life of my husband

This was my first deployment to Iraq and second overall deployment with Bravo Company, 1-501 Parachute Infantry Regiment. I was only in one direct fire engagement during my first deployment. So when we were notified of your company being selected to change areas of operation to one of the hottest spots in all of Iraq I was not sure what to expect. I had only been a Squad Leader for 6 months and I was not exactly sure how my young squad would handle the realities of war. We were stationed in Alaska and the army chose us to attend a Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation in Fort Polk, Louisiana that prepared us for the adverse conditions of Iraq. During JRTC we conducted multiple raids while being paired with a team from 20th Special

I joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge. I wanted to open doors for a new career and longed to have a positive impact on the world around me. Looking back five years later, I realize I found all that I originally sought, but I’ve also found something profoundly satisfying and meaningful that I never knew I was missing.

It was a warm summer evening as I packed for Navy Boot Camp. I carefully went down the list of things I could take and ensured I didn’t have anything else. A little nervous I went to talk to my parents about my move to becoming my own man. I looked at their faces and could tell that although they were proud they were a little nervous about their only son leaving home for the first time. My mom tried to smile but she was proud yet nervous because I had always been her little guy so she was having a hard time letting go. After a short conversation with my parents I decided to try and rest for the long journey ahead.

With the ever rising prison population in this country, something has to be done rehabilitate criminals rather than just lock them up. Many feel that the “new” prisons, boot camps are the answer (Champion 1990). I will give a brief overview of boot camp institutions, specifically, about the operation and structure of these, the cost involved with both juvenile and adult facilities, and how effective they really are with regard to recidivism.