Graduation Photos (AIT - Fort Gordon)

I’m currently on leave enjoying time with friends and family. I thought I would post some pics from graduation day. I plan on resuming the blog once I am finished with leave and head to Korea.

I was the first one up so they could announce the distinguished honor graduate
and tell all about what it is and how I earned it.

I then had to stay at the center of the stage after receiving my certificate
while more was read about me and the distinguished honor graduate.

Formed up outside getting ready to shake hands with all the brass

Our company commander (the lady) shaking hands with us.

Sergeant Kent (a.k.a. daddy...a.k.a. The Rock) with all of his boys
that lived at RBK at some point.

Me and my lovely wife

Me, the young Hawaiian, and PFC Metal

Last picture with some of the guys from Charlie before I sprinted up and
and changed clothes to get the heck outta here!!!

Graduation (AIT - Fort Gordon) Day 146

Right after graduation we formed up outside. I'm on the
left with two of the honor graduates to the right.

Today is graduation day…wow it's kind of hard to believe after all this time here, that I will be finished soon. The morning started off with the PT formation as usual. This time however, we were asked if we wanted to donate blood instead of doing PT. It's for a good cause and I wasn't feeling very motivated after the waste of time last night so I thought I would volunteer for it. I found out that because of my smallpox shot and because I've received a tattoo in Georgia within the last year, that I was ineligible to donate. So instead of donating blood I ate breakfast. Because I finished before the PT formation came back I was able to take a nice long hot shower as well…this day is going to be a good day!

I had a final out-processing brief at 9:00 in the morning. It lasted a couple hours, we had to show that we had all the required forms filled out and we also received our travel itinerary. It's starting to finally feel real that I'll be leaving here soon! Those who didn't have all their forms, or need stuff fixed were given until 15:00 to get it all done and then get it back. Mine was good to go, so I was able to get signed out.

We then had graduation practice at noon, so we marched over to our battalion HQ. Practice started off pretty rough. It seemed nobody including myself could get the timing down and the movements right. I ended up being the "distinguished honor graduate" because I was the top of both our classes that were graduating. This had me being first in line and leading everything. We ran through the process over and over again until about 14:30 when we had a break until 14:45. The ceremony began at 15:00 and went pretty well. There were only a few mistakes such as the sergeant mispronouncing a couple of the honor graduates names. He messed up one so bad it took everything I had not to bust out laughing. The ceremony started off with a couple of speeches and then had me going up to the front of the stage after a short video showing what signal soldiers are. Once there, the sergeant read off what the distinguished honor graduate is and then named me off. I then shook hands with the top brass of our company. I received a battalion coin as well. The honor graduates (three in total) were then announced and after that each person came up in alphabetical order and in turn announced their rank, name, and where they were going. We then marched outside and a number of NCOs and other officers came through and shook our hands and congratulated us. After this we were done…finished…graduated!!!!

We were told that S1 closed at 17:00, this is the last stop of our out-processing, so PFC Metal and I hurried up to our barracks and packed everything up. Once it was all packed we were signed out of the barracks after a quick inspection of our lockers so make sure we wiped them down. We then headed to Ops to get signed out there. We had to get a few documents signed and read a safety message out loud to the NCO before he would sign our paperwork. Lastly we headed to S1 where our leave paper was signed. Free…Free…We're finally free (at least temporarily)

We went to our hotel room, I took a shower and then changed into civilian clothes. Once changed we met up with PFC Metal and his wife at PF Changs to celebrate. The food tasted better than ever. Good company, good food, good beer…a great way to end the day.

Some of the guys playing around during a break in graduation practice

Graduation Day (Basic Training) Day 72

A picture my wife took of our platoon during the graduation ceremony

I finally have access to my computer for a few days, so I thought I would give my wife a break and add some updates myself. Until she gets back home and receives some of my previous posts there may be a few days missing

My last day in basic training....seems like I’ve been here for so long. We woke up and assembled downstairs. The senior DS was calling guys names from the entire company to come up and get in a line next to him. I’m not sure what was up with everyone, but nobody was sounding off letting the DS know they were coming. Everyone was warned a few times. When the next person didn’t sound off, the entire company ended up having to do push-ups. Our last little smoke before leaving.

The guys called up were all promoted either from E-1 to E-2 or E-2 to E-3 because of their hard work during this cycle. There were about 10 of them total. 

After this we all boarded a bus and headed out to the field where we were graduating. We were given MREs for breakfast (oh yum), so I just ate a muffin and some raisins out of it. Everyone just picked one of two things just to tide them over until after graduation. We then rehearsed the ceremony again and then waited an hour out of sight in some bleachers until it was time to start.

The graduation ceremony was pretty cool. It was hot and I had sweat dripping down my face and chest, but the excitement overwhelmed me. The whole thing was over before I knew it. My wife came out onto the field and I picked her up and gave her a big hug. I said goodbye to a few guys and then we were out of there. We had exactly one hour to check out back at the bay, or else we would have to wait until 22:00 until we could leave. 

We got a little lost on the way back. I was starting to get a little nervous, but we made it back with about 15 minutes to spare. After we left I felt a big relief. This chapter is now done.

We celebrated and went out to eat. I had some great blueberry french toast for brunch, then came back to the hotel room to relax and make a number of calls to family. My awesome mother in law had my wife pack some of her lemon cake on the plane with her and brought it all the way here. So I ate that and relaxed some more.

Dinner was all you can eat pizza and dessert was a brownie sunday. I think I may explode! I’m going to have to do some push-ups in the morning. LOL

Random DS Quote “Good job this cycle privates” (Our senior DS right before we headed out to perform the graduation ceremony...one of the few positive remarks ever given to us)

A picture my wife took of the entire company (along with the band) in formation

for the graduation ceremony.

A picture my wife took of our platoon as we were marching past the bleachers

during the graduation ceremony