Personal Narrative: My Trip To The United States Drill Sergeant School

Between 150 people, we had two horse trailers to fit on. We carried two large duffle bags, one on our back and another on our front. Our face crammed in our bags, getting screamed at by who we would shortly find out is the company’s Senior Drill Sergeant, and all you could smell is sweat, fear, and tears. When we arrived to Echo Company we were placed into platoons and shoved and pushed off of the trailer. Everyone got in a single file line and dropped their bags dress right dress. A lot of people struggled with this for some reason, between drill sergeants a little too close to you and getting screamed at for looking around some cracked under the pressure. The first three weeks of Basic Training is “Red Phase.” During Red Phase you receive death by power point everyday on anything that has ever happened in the Army, and the fundamentals of what you are expected to do over the next 9 weeks. During red phase your Drill sergeants work 20 hours of the day. They hate Red Phase just as much as you do. They tell you when to wake up, utilize the latrine, eat, and put you to bed every day. This is the phase that you lean everything you need to know when it comes to talking to a noncommissioned officer and anyone else of a high ranking in the military. “White Phase” is four weeks long. This is where you are given your first shot at freedom, or what your Drill Sergeants consider freedom. You are not around a drill sergeant

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.

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

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.

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’m a military child. Change was instilled in me since my birth in Spain. My childhood was spent briefly in Europe, the east coast of the U.S, and eventually the Midwest. This change of scenery, schools, friends, and just about everything else in my life led me to be the person I am today. Travelling was amusing and I enjoyed change of pace every couple of years, but it wasn’t easy. I learned early on that getting attached to people wasn’t a good idea and should be avoided in preparation for the next move. This led me to being an incredibly shy child who couldn’t open up to people. The world I come from is an adventurous but problematic one. When I concluded making friends would assist with each transition I found myself too terrified to attempt

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.

It was the 7th of April 2005. I was a part of 1st Platoon, G Troop 82nd Cavalry, Task Force 1-163 IN, and FOB Gaines Mills is where we called home. I was a Specialist in a Light Cavalry unit assigned to Alpha Section of 1st Platoon. My duty position strongly depended on the mission and how our Platoon Leadership wanted to task organize. Since we had quite a bit of diverse talents from the E-4 and below, and we were all capable of Driving, Gunning, or being a Dismount, I had to always be ready to move into one of those positions at any time.

Leadership is a personal skill that has to be developed and improved upon daily, just like an athlete works on his craft. We all come from different walks of life and that is often a factor in the way our leadership styles are shaped. Our differences of race, gender, religion, home environment, and lifestyle all have an effect on the way we are led growing up. It is a skill that is mastered over time, while never being perfected. Like anything else in life, leadership skills are often developed from who we are, where we come from and the people in our life who have taught us their knowledge.

During my academic life there have been several bumps in the road; they haven’t necessarily been anything I could control, such as academic failure. These bumps have been moves from in and out of the country. Ever since I was two years old, I’ve been moving in and out of the country due to my parents being government employees. Typically the moves would occur every one and a half years so the moves would obviously have an effect on my education; this was mostly due to the fact that almost no schools have the same requirements, other than department of defense education schools. I’ve been everywhere, from Washington to Florida, from Germany to Japan. These moves have forced me to interact with many different kinds of people and school systems;

We all have moments in our lives where we need to step up to lead. In my life thats almost everyday. My high school Marmion Military Academy is unique in its beliefs and morals. Originally being a Benedictine private school it already had a rich background that could be traced back into time giving a long line of academic excellence. Once WWII broke out the United States government took control of the school making it a military school on top of the preexisting Benedictine platform. This created a one of a kind high school experience nothing could rival. Exclusive only admitting in less then 165 male applicants the school creates a very competitive atmosphere. This is where my leadership skills come into play. As a military high school we do

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.

Immediately after turning 21 years of age in March of 1992 I submitted my application to be a Cobb County Police Officer. Additional background, medical and physical assessments, and interviews were part of the process. Keep in mind, I am not a physically fit person; never have been. At the time, as a smoker, I knew the physical fitness assessment test would be my nemesis. The dreaded day arrived to complete the physical agility assessment test. Whether it was the standard for sit-ups, bench press, or the timed mile and a half run, several applicants seemed to struggle with one aspect or another during the testing. Accordingly, for me, it was definitely the timed mile and a half run. In order to successfully pass the run I had to complete

Over the term of the semester, I was able to fully achieve my fitness goals (and then some), due to a well-structured workout plan, persistence and continued exercise throughout the semester, and reasonable goals. Due to this I was able to significantly improve my cardio and core strength.

It was no longer just a report card that I was getting; in addition to each grade I receive will be a remembrance of my grandmother whom I so deeply loved. I am determined to not only graduate college, but to graduate with superior grades enough to please her. To this day, it is a constant struggle, like any older adults continuing there are