Personal Narrative: A Career In Training At Camp Cherry Valley

Growing up the daughter of an Army Basic Training failure was an embarrassment for quite some time. My father went to Army Basic Training straight out of high school, and came back shortly after leaving. He was discharged for injuries of his knees; he was weak. One would not assume a child of someone who failed Basic Training would be eager to go, however I knew it was my time as soon as I received a call from a recruiter asking me to come in. It was my chance to show my dad the person I am without him, as well as fight for my country. I conquered Basic Training the summer in between the summer of my junior and senior year at the age of seventeen. There are four easy steps to Basic Training: two flights, reception, training,

Four or Five years ago if you were to tell me that I would be confidently applying to the University of Miami I would have laughed. Through high school I did not give much effort and like most of my peers, thought that furthering my education was my only option. Nearing the end of my senior year I started realizing that no noteworthy university would even consider accepting someone like me. As the days ticked away, I applied to a nearby college with an incredibly high acceptance rate and found myself opening an acceptance letter a few weeks later.

It’s the day I have to move to the army's campsite. I grab my bag and swing them on my shoulder, it weighs a ton it feels like my shoulder’s gonna break. Sophie was peeking through my room door, as I was about to stand up she ran to the living room curled up into a ball making loud thud and sobbing noises. Outside of the house, I hug my mom as tight as I could, I don’t want to move any single inch of my bone. I want to stay like this forever. I felt a drop of water behind my shoulder and I know that it was her tears. I don’t want to leave them but I have to. It was time to let go but she didn’t want to, I grab her arm and slightly push them back.

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.

When I was in middle school at Durham Nativity School in Durham, North Carolina, I applied to high schools that would build the foundation of my future. I went through brutal amounts of hours of writing essay, filling out applications and visiting school. I have to say that attending Fork Union Military Academy was and still is the best decision I could have made.

In the fall of 2014, I applied and was accepted to be a part of the Leader in Training (LIT) program at Camp Don Lee. I knew about the LIT program because and I had always looked up to the older “LITs” as a young camper, and my older sister completed the program several years earlier, The LIT program is very selective and includes an intensive application process. Much like the college admissions process, Camp Don Lee receives many eligible candidates, but can only choose a select few based on recommendations, essays, and grades.

Growing up as a military child and living all over the world, I was afforded many

I was in the Marine Corps serving under Third battalion Eleventh marines Mike Battery in Twenty-Nine Palms California from 2009-2013. What our unit did was put rounds down range, oorah. We were an artillery battery, think modern day cannons. As far as twenty-nine palms all you have to imagine is sand in a five hundred square foot mile area. My job as Ammo chief was to insure the safe handling and transportation of hundred pound high explosive bombs. On one partially long training exercise I was instructed to take my marines and four ‘7-ton’ trucks and go to the rear to load up with more ammo. No problem, I’ve done this before but on this occasion when I was going to return the battery would have moved positions. So they gave me the grid number

The Canadian Armed Forces has been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember. My military connections have deep roots that begin with my great-great uncles William, Timothy, and John and continue today with my father, Darren, who has been a member of the Royal Canadian Navy for 35 years.

A man once said, “Without hard work and discipline it is difficult to be a top professional”, I didn't realize how accurate this saying was. This year, I was appointed to be the JROTC Unarmed Drill Team Commander, which consisted of leading subordinates in a freestyle and a distinct routine using military movements. Our upcoming competition was hosted by an Air Force unit, which meant that we had to adapt to a different sequence of commands, being we're an Army JROTC unit. With hard work of intense hours of practice, we looked sharp, fearless, and unified.

When I was nine, I went away to sleepaway camp in Maine for the first time. Camp Winnebago would be my home for seven and a half weeks, and I was only going to see my parents for one day in the middle for Visiting Day. As excited as I was for camp, I was really, really nervous to leave home for the first time for that long.

Hello everyone. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 1987, my dad was working for IBM and was given an opportunity to move to United States. After a few months of debating and researching, my parents chose Knoxville as our new home. Four years later, I graduated from high school and enlisted in the Marine Corps. During my four years of service, I traveled from one side of the world to the other and saw and did things many people can’t even imagine. Tough as the work was at times, I wouldn’t trade that time for anything as it shaped my view of the world and, along with my family, became part of the foundation on which I built my life.

I was born in Plano, Texas, with a condition called Congenital Talipes Equinovarus, also known as clubfoot. Clubfoot caused my right foot to be rotated internally at the ankle. After surgery corrected my ankle, and although one of my feet was smaller than the other, I was able to have a healthy childhood and to play sports with no issues. As a result, of my condition and the care that I received from my doctors, I began to develop a great passion and appreciation for medicine and science. This lead me to Murfreesboro, TN where I volunteered at a summer camp for children with mental and physical disabilities, called Camp Ability. Many of the children there had little options for treatment, either it was too expensive for them to receive or the

I live in Ancient Greece in the year 612. Most kids at the age of 12 are in military camp but i’m being taught by Plato, he is my tutor. My dad is in the military and i probably won’t see him until he is 60 years old or something like that, I miss him even though he can be strict but mother says the reason that he is so strict is because I am special and plus he is in the military so people are strict over there. I usually spend most of my days reading books or at the academy in athens with my tutor Plato learning something called philosophy which I have never heard of. My mom is always supporting me when it comes to that type of stuff. I kinda wonder what it is like in military camp because I never get to talk to other kids my age, but I

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.