Introduction (DAY 1 BCT you would have to Scroll all the way down)

Hi my name's Albert Harris, I currently live in Jacksonville and currently in the Army National Guard. I'm 18 years old now and when I joined I was 17 back then and yeah you can join the Army Reserves and Army National Guard at that age. Well I lived a very good life and I want to tell you the truth I felt I was spoiled alot when I was a kid. The thing about this generation is we take everything for granted and don't realize about the outside world. Anyways I wanted to join the US Army since I was a kid and it's been a long time dream. I remember playing Army Men and playing Battlefield 1942 on the computer. I always been fascinated by War Movies such as Black Hawk Down. But remember War is not fun and it's not a computer game or a movie. It's the real thing. People die or get shot and blown up. As one person said "War is only fun to the ones who don't expierence it" That is true. Who wants to see your battle buddy get shot by a sniper right in the head. No one wants to. That would mean you'll never see your buddy again ever. So think about the military and if you're willing to join it because of games and movies then don't because it's not a game. But if you're willing to sacrifice your time and your service to your country and then do so as I did. I joined because I didn't think of myself instead I thought of the other people in this country and I want them to live a good life. Sure I'll be working long hours and I look forward to the Active Duty Army as a Military Police Officer but it will be worth it. Well to this Date the Army needs people and the Guard and Reserve even more. The Army has a great community. So think about it. Oh about Recruiters they do a great job but they need to keep up with a quota and I know they work hard and long hours to meet it. They are looking for good people so contact one if you're interested. I had a good recruiter and they are alot of good ones out there, sure there are some bad ones but most of them are honest and give good information. Just make sure you research things online after getting info on informing your decision. Anyways let's get this baby rollin...


This is how it all started. I took the ASVAB at school which measures your job abilities in the military. I ended up with a 70 and since I was 16 no recruiters called me then. Then when it reached February 7th which is my birthday I got many calls from the Air Force, Marines and the Navy...nothing from the Army yet? Sure Air Force was going to be my second choice since I love their uniforms but something crossed my mind aren't they known as softees? I think I don't want to labeled that...anyways about the Army I was thinking do they need people? Then soon a National Guard recruiter called me and told me about joining the Guard. I did and set up an appointment. I told my parents and were ok with it. We had the appointment and had that contract in front of me. It was the decision either do it or not. I signed it. I never regret doing it. I'm doing it for my country and I'm thinking who else would do it? I would. Then 3 days later MEPS.

February 9th
MEPS
I got home from school on a Wednesday...Damn Today is the day I go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) Hm...I'm told to bring a day's clothing so I packed my sleeping pants...sweat pants, underwear and 2 shirts.....oh well packed that into my bag and there we go...I waited near the front door for my recruiter to get to my house...in fact he came right on time...4:00 PM...My Mom ever since she signed that contract to let me join she's like against me but she wanted me to go to expierence how the world was out there and shit...but oh well. I hugged my mom and soon we were on our way. The car my Recruiter had was a nice Buick, of course it's Government Registered....so that's where our tax dollars go eh? in cars. Along the way to the hotel we talked about the Sgt's life and his family, how MEPS will be and stuff, how long I'm going to be there, and shit, Some random stuff. I was getting all pumped up all about this because you know what? I'll be in the United States Military and part of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. A chance to serve my country and the nation. Also a chance to gain respect. The only AFJROTC cadet in the corp of FL 939 in the service. Now about my self, I live in a family of 4 I have my father who is in his 50s and teaches at Arlington Day School and he's a technical guy and is very good at computers since he used to work at AT&T, My mom is a Jewelry Associate at Sears and looking forward to a Manager Position and well my sister she's a smart one compared to me...she's looking forward to Paxon which is a highly credited college prep school. Now about me..I'm making a 3.0 GPA average unweighted. I participate in clubs and socialize alot. I'm in Air Force JROTC. I passed the AP American History Test last year and everyone taking it this year asking me for help on their homework and tests. Everyone knows I was smart and such until the day they found out I joined the Army National Guard. They were shocked. I bet they're thinking why a smart guy like Albert going to the military? Is he crazy? You know what? I don't care jack shit what they think about the military which is bad...I'm glad to be here than sitting on some desk but anyways that was going thru my mind. I love it. Meanwhile we went along 9A and went down San Pablo and soon we pulled in to the MEPS Motel. Hey it ain't a hotel guys so don't expect to be like you're the king and queen, you're not on a fucking vacation. We checked in, and the guy who we checked in to was an old guy,he was a prior Service Army and he backtalked Navy which was cool. "Dinner is a buffet and served in our nice award winning restaurant and is served 6PM-9 PM" I didn't know motels had a nice restaurant which is of course free thanks to the US military. He gave us some jokes and then I went on my way while my recruiter told me he'll pick me up after MEPS the next day..anyways... My Hotel room key number was 205 so I went outside and searched for my room. It's a decent room as any motel and it has a nice clean bathroom in there...cool. But in every motel room you're supposed to have a roommate....I didn't see anyone yet coming in...Meanwhile I sat down on the bed...thinking about what might Tomorrow might bring. Either it would be an interesting day or I'll be in hell I hopefully don't think it would be hell...Time went by and damn I'm getting hungry...damn dinner is starting... I decided and thought "Hey maybe I'll wait til my roommate gets here" I have the tendency to meet people and I'm a Social Guy. An hour passed and geez I'm thinking that where the fuck is my roommate?...A few moments I said Fuck it and then I went down to dinner. Damn there was alot of people in the restaurant I mean a lot. I didn't expect that many people to enlist into the military. I sat down next to guy named "Wade" and introduced myself. He was a white teenager who was 19 years old, from Daytona Beach, came from a good family and guess what he's trying for SEALS. I talked to him about the Army National Guard and my job and stuff. Wade was a cool guy to tell ya the truth. Dunno if he would make thru BUDS though. But hey never judge a person by his looks. but anyways, got these cocky Air Force "potentional" recruits next to the table and were talking about the Air Force and the benefits and why they join the service. Note: The Air Force and Navy are overmanned and so if you want to join you have to be highly qualified. I afraid they got too cocky. I hope they won't act that way when they get to Lackland Air Force Base for their BMT. By the way Dinner was great, stood in the line for 5 minutes tops, not bad. They had Sweet Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Spanish Rice and Sausage, not bad of course the US Military's Compliments. I can imagine what I will eat while I'm in Basic Training. I met more guys who wanted to join Navy, some Marines, Air Force and of course my branch Active Army and Guard and the Reserve. To me I'd tell you alot of these guys were fresh out of high school while me I'm still in High School waiting to for it to be over......There were some guys who went to college then joined the Armed Forces. I talked to this Asian guy I swear he looked 16 but he's 27 for God's sake, He's very smart though, going to be an Aircraft Controller which was a very hard job to qualify and get nowadays. I wish I'd take that job because I qualify but I don't want to because I'd rather be in the field doing patrols and guarding the gates. I know I will have very long hours and such but hey it's worth defending the base and serving my country. Anyways about the age thing...I think it's an Asian Thing. Our skin doesn't even wrinkle unless we reach 60 years old...But anyways we're getting off topic here. I finished my dinner and some guys were going to the Bar adjacent to the restaurant. I decided I should go back to my room, while the others went to the bar. Hopefully they're not drunk when the MEPS doctors evaluate them. I'm walking down to my room hoping my roommate would be there and damn it he wasn't there...damn I really wanted to meet him...oh well I'm thinking maybe I don't have one...I plunked my self on the bed, turning on the TV, I forgot what I was watching but while that happened things went thru my head AGAIN about MEPS and the military. I remember my parents giving me grief about joining the military and the ways...trust me it's a normal thing now adays people..every recruit goes thru this. Every Recruit's fear is always acceptance from their parents. It's a common thing, now unless they're prior service that's different but if not then you have some flak. Trust me I have gone thru alot of flak to get where I'm now in this room watching the TV wasting time so I can get to MEPS. but in the End people, after you get back from basic Training or BMT or boot camp or Navy boot camp, they will be proud that you are serving the nation, that they will be able to say during a conversation my son is a proud American Soldier/Sailor/Airman/Marine defending his country. My mom is the one giving me the least grief but she's still giving me it, but you know person who gave me the most grief? My dad, to tell you about my dad he is an educated Scholar. Graduated from University of VA with a Mathematical Masters and Physics Bachelors. Top of his class and he graduated from Virginia Tech again top of his class. He is still proud hanging his diploma in his room so everyone can see..anyways He worked at NASA as an engineer, then worked for AT&T as a Software Manager making a six figure salary. He was born in Vietnam and remembers alot about the Vietnam War, the horrible memories he went thru and his father which was a Vietcong Officer, then leaving his mother for another woman. I bet that guy is alive out there. But anyways yeah he thinks I would be throwing away my life to the government and shit...but he still signed the contract because I'm a year from being an actual adult and respected my decision. Anyways it's 8:00 PM now and finally I see someone in front of the hotel room door and a guy opened it. So that must be my roommate! He seemed to be white, a little bearded looked 20ish or so. Looks Navy type material...but anyways I introduced myself asked him about what service and guess what I was right he was going to Navy as a Computer Technician...Hey I don't jack shit about Navy jobs so don't ask me ask a Navy recruiter. He had alot of candy with him and said you wanted some candy? Damn he had swedish fish and Twizzlers in his bag...and damn I was craving for some candy...Meanwhile, He took a shower and plunked himself on the other bed and pulled out a DVD player and watching Bad Boys II. I was watching Law and Order as it turned 10 PM on the clock. I remembered the memo I had recieved when I checked in, "everyone should be in their hotel room and should get a good night's sleep" The memo also said about the time we had to wake up was 4:15 in the morning...oh geez I better get to sleep as I said...I went to sleep as my roommate was watching his movie...Lights were out...

Next day was the physical and such...then I went to Liason and we scheduled my next shipment date which was June 1st to FLW. I finished my junior year and soon it was the day to go...and my parents well, my dad I can see tears from his eyes but he tried to hide it and my mom hugged me and I left with the Recruiter and we were on our way to the MEPS hotel where soon the next day I'll be shipping out...

Well This is my BCT story...The entries are long and very descriptive I hope you will enjoy it. (Note you have to go to the bottom of the page to go to Day 1 of BCT. I know it's weird but that's how it goes...