After a long day of training during AIT I went to go grab the daily newspaper of the Army. It was Memorial Day weekend, so the newspaper had a section of recent deaths that have happen. There were two deaths that stood out. There was a young soldier of 18 years old and next to him another a 19 soldier who both died in combat. After reading I decided at that moment once I go back to Dallas I would immediately sign up for community college and enjoy life because these two young men were not able to go get a higher education or really enjoy the fruits of life and academics.
Once I came back home from training I had to decide which community college to attend. It was between two but in the end I decided on Mountain View College because it was
I have always wanted to be a soldier in the United States Army. I liked the idea of serving of my country. I started at a young age trying to help my community. I volunteered to help at soup kitchens, do yard work for elderly or disabled people, and I joined the Boy Scouts and later on became a Junior leader and an Eagle Scout. This desire of helping others led me to enlist in the P.A. ARNG in March 2015. I enlisted with the intent of becoming an officer. I originally planned on going to Valley Forge Military College. I later on received the full ECP scholarship. This decision had changed when I was in B.C.T. at Fort Jackson SC. I had met with a cadet who had just finished his 3rd year at West Point. He loved it and after talking with him
Marines share a special bond with one another and believe it is their duty to help each other in times of strife. They depend on the person left and right of them to potentially save their life. It is ingrained in every Marine to aid others in trouble. Personally, I know from experience because I was a Marine. Let me reminiscence of a time when I was a young Marine. When I went to great lengths to aid my fellow Marine. It is nothing big, but it made an impression on the fellow Marine and made a lasting friendship with his family.
It was the middle of my sophomore year in high school, Rockville High School (CT) was a good school you just needed to be involved and do your own thing, grab a couple friends along the way too. It was a November night and mom came home and brought my sister and I downstairs, she asked us that how would we feel about moving somewhere south. I was all in for the idea new state, new school, new faces, and new friends. It wasn’t going to be official until April. We put the house on the market and we got interests instantly. April came around and Mom was the first to leave the house while Penny and I moved with dad for the remainder of the school year, Penny was the second one to go she left on Memorial Day weekend so that makes me the last one
America’s gift to my generation is that I can have a roof over my head and food on my table because of the men and women that fought for this country. I am glad for what the military has done for this country and i am disappointed in the people that can't stand for the national anthem to honor these people that have served. I believe that if it wasn't for those veterans are country would have no freedom and would be a complete mess . People think that since we are the land of the free people think that we could do anything but compared to other countries we can do anything. Some countries don't even have indoor plumbing and if they do it's not very good.
I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to
Many people have asked me how I ever made it through the Army with me being so introvert. I joined the Army at the age of 18 and by the time I turned 21 I was put in charge of Soldiers. Honestly I do not know how I was able to stand in front of my Soldiers and give them briefings on our mission. At times I had to stand in front of formation and lead our morning physical training in front of the whole company. I look back now and wonder that maybe I did not think about it much because it was an obligation to do it. In the military you are given this role to be a leader and what kind of leader would I be if I showed weakness to something as simple as physical training. Maybe I did not the feel pressure to do it because I was not exchanging words and carrying conversations, I was up front giving commands.
It was a hot, Thursday afternoon. So hot you could burn your hand by touching a window. So hot, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk. Three weeks from now was the best day in 2th grade, field day. Today we were picking relay teams
The evening was hot, typical of summer nights in Michigan; the air was fervid leaving moisture clinging to my skin as I unrolled my sleeping bag inside the stuffy, crowded tent. Blinding flashlights cut through the duskiness of twilight as four girls struggled to gain comfort. Laying my head down on a makeshift pillow of clothing, a wave of exhaustion crashed over me, compliments of a day of kayaking and hiking. I listened to the gentle rustle of leaves and let the singing of crickets lull me to sleep.
When we pulled up to the house we weren’t sure if it was the right house. We got out the car and one little puppy ran to my feet. My dad said, “I think we are at the right house”. There were ten puppies; they were so adorable. We were at that house to pick out a puppy for my mom after the accident. We picked two puppies out and named them Bonnie and Clyde.
The venue was packed, standing room only, but the mood was solemn. Unfamiliar faces fill the cluster of people within the room, some contempt and others eyes filled with tears. Towards the front of the room people crowded over the tables full of goods, which were being raffled to raise money. Other people were making conversation as the music played in the background. Scanning over the room, the beautiful layout and decorations caught my eye. Over fifty tables filled the room, but there were thirteen designated tables within the room where a rose lay on each. Red, white, and blue flowers were thoughtfully used to fill the centerpieces of the tables.
It was either the military or go to a community college and try to redeem myself. I wanted to do neither, but I had to choose. The military was off my list and going to a community college sounded o.k.
Along with my change of interest and working for a company that helps pay for my school I was looking for a better college to attend and that had a program that would fit my needs. I soon became aware of Maryville University and the weekend and evening college program that they offered.
I have chosen to go to the local community college to get used to the college experience. College life can be an exciting time but at the same time it can be a challenge. I feel that starting out at the community college would be a better chose than "jumping" into life at a four-year university.
It was the last Friday of the school year. I had just taken my last exam of my freshman year. The year has gone very well for me. It was a year where I had the chance to meet new people and get involved in different school activities. I was proud of the grades I earned. As a result of that, I finished class with nothing but joy and happiness.