My daughter just left for basic training.

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raymond
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My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by raymond » May 28th, 2019, 7:55 am

My daughter, Beverly, just graduated from high school last weekend.
She took her oath back in January.
The Army just picked her up at the house for her trip to the airport.
She is headed to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, then Fort Sam Houston for her AIT.
Both incredibly proud and incredibly sad at the same time.
She wasn't even out of sight and the house became profoundly empty :!: :(

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"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by Bryan45 » May 28th, 2019, 8:36 am

Well done parenting, Raymond. I'm sure it's a bittersweet moment, but we're all proud of her.

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rickf
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by rickf » May 28th, 2019, 8:53 am

Congratulations, what is her preferred MOS?
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
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m3a1
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by m3a1 » May 28th, 2019, 11:09 am

i went through that with my daughter. Graduation is coming soon for your young lady. BE THERE!

And make sure you are the first one to say to her, "Thank You For Your Service!"

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Mr. Recovery
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » May 28th, 2019, 12:00 pm

Congratulation, seems like only a year or two I was out there, how time fly's !!!

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by SEABEE62 » May 28th, 2019, 4:13 pm

Congratulation Raymond...I know you are proud of her. OUTSTANDING ! Seabee
1971 M151A2 MUTT , M416 trailer
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raymond
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by raymond » May 28th, 2019, 9:48 pm

Her MOS will be operating room specialist. She already has her CNA from school. She is in the reserves, having signed a 6 year contract. They tried to get her to go ROTC, but she resisted as she isn't sure she wants to be active for several years after college. She would consider a commission in the reserves after schooling. She was accepted the other day for the January 2020 semester to Saint Louis University, a private university in St. Louis affiliated with the Catholic Church, of which we are active members. She had an ACT over 30, has a 4.0 GPA, and a 93 out of 99 on the military ASVAB. She wants to be an RN surgical nurse, which is a highly sought after (and well compensated) position. Doing it through the regular channels will entail at least a 10 year seniority wait, but if she gets her RN while part of the reserves, the Army will make her a surgical nurse upon completion of her RN certification. Good plan if she sticks with it. I've been wanting to post about her enlistment, but have been hesitant to do so until she actually left.

Here she is with me last Sunday at graduation, and another of her riding a wake board behind our boat last August on the Mississippi.

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Raymond


"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by Mutt Hunter » May 31st, 2019, 4:39 pm

Raymond,

First, congrats to you and the family. As a retired soldier, it does my heart good to see folks step up to serve.

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the NCOs in this crowd, i need to play retired officer/recruiter a second: its actually very difficult these days to get a Regular Army commission from ROTC--VERY competitive, and most end up in the Reserve by default. Unless something's changed since i retired, you can still request a reserve commission and do your six your committment in the Reserve. For perspective, my graduating class had 50 cadets in it, and only about 10 of us got active duty commissions--and only five of us received RA commissions right out of school. So 40 folks went immediately to the reserves or national guard.

When i counseled my soldiers on this over the years, what i found with the college-bound demographic was that some wanted the "Green to Gold" path which enrolled you in ROTC (with a scholarship) after you left service, and then brought you back as a lieutenant after school; or they had studied in service and had a degree already so they wanted me to get them into OCS; or they wanted to use their GI bill for a year until they got their grades up and then applied for a 3-year ROTC scholorship.

I went to school on a 3 year scholarship with all books and tuition paid for, had to maintain a 2.5 GPA, and got an extra $100 a month...but i understand that monthly stipend has gone up sharply and is now at $300 a month as a freshman, and grows to $500 a month by the time you're a senior. You can buy a lot of beer and pizza for $500 a month. Just sayin. With scores like hers (amazing, by the way), you should at least explore the possibilities of an Army scholarship. With her nursing certification already in hand and her nursing background she's about to get in the reserves, the Army will all but certainly let her branch Nurse Corps or Medical Service Corps and she'll keep doing what she's doing, but with better pay.

One last thing--because i wouldn't be doing my job as life-long recruiter/mentor to soldiers if i remain silent: those are West Point-caliber numbers she's got. If that were my trooper, i'd be doing a drive-by with her in upstate New York and telling her how cool she'd look in that grey uniform.

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by SEABEE62 » May 31st, 2019, 5:10 pm

OR NAVY !!!! GO NAVY ! Seabee
1971 M151A2 MUTT , M416 trailer
NMCB 62, Delta Co.,BU2, Gulfport, MS Home Port
VFW 3838, American Legion 63
Seabee Association of America LM , NMCB 62 Assoc.
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SEMO University Vet Corp Alumni
MVPA#32091

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by rickf » May 31st, 2019, 5:47 pm

ARMY all the way!!!!
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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raymond
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by raymond » May 31st, 2019, 9:51 pm

Mutt Hunter, et al.

From what people have told me, the Army Reserve likes to commission officers who have already completed their college education. They get an officer without the ROTC educational expenses that they can activate. I'll pass on your advice. She has a photographic memory. Doesn't have to study very much. Read something once and listen to the lecture and she's good.

What scares me more than anything, and this is something Seabee can probably attest to, as he has family in the St. Louis area, is Saint Louis University. It is on South Grand. Anyone who knows anything about the St. Louis area knows that nothing good happens on South Grand. Yes, it is heavily patrolled because of the university, but still, it is a free fire zone. It is like an island of stability in a sea of chaos. Not unlike the green zone in Bagdhad. St. Louis is one of, if not the most violent cities in the U.S. in terms of crime per capita. She is probably in more danger there than if she were deployed to a hospital in a war zone. She has been to the state track meet for the past several years for 300 meter hurdles, as well as the 4x400 and 4x200 meter relays. She also does boxing and mixed martial arts. She can outrun or perhaps outfight most, especially those who see her as a easy mark. Still, she is my daughter and that area of St. Louis is frightening, especially at night.
Raymond


"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by m3a1 » June 1st, 2019, 12:09 am

Time for her to practice her tactics, learn how not to look like an easy mark and for her learn how to have her head on a swivel. All good skills to have, anytime, anyplace. While it is true that sometimes even that is not enough, if she employs some care and consideration I'm reasonably sure she'll be fine.

Cheers,
TJ

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raymond
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by raymond » June 4th, 2019, 8:31 pm

Just heard from her finally :D
Raymond


"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus

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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by rickf » June 4th, 2019, 9:22 pm

Raymond, It has only been what? a week and a half?! When I did basic I was not even allowed to call home until the last week! She will be fine. Your little girl is all grown up Dad. :mrgreen:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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raymond
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Re: My daughter just left for basic training.

Unread post by raymond » June 5th, 2019, 7:46 am

Quick phone call. Long enough to say Hi, I love you, and I'm doing fine. Followed by a text photo of her mailing address written out in proper form.
Raymond


"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus

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