I'm the ridiculously handsome E-1 on the right.
I took my time writing this (I came back mid-August) because I really wanted to adjust back into my normal life. Now that it's been over a month, I figure I should start up a few discussions in the comments. Before that, I'll talk (brag) about my time in BCT and right after.
But first, POST SOUNDTRACK
((Note: It appears that the youtube embedded thing is broken, it's supposed to be Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones.))
The United States Army's basic combat training is divided into three phases: red, white and blue. Red sucks, it involves 24/7 hounding from the Drill Sergeants, and the most smokings (fun word for "drop and give me 20" style things). White phase gives the privates a basic system of management, the platoon guides, and is when we get to learn how to shoot straight. Blue phase is smooth sailing, the first half is squad tactics style courses, and the last half is prepping to leave. I'll be honest, the first week I was wondering why the hell I signed up for this, but as the weeks went by I became resilient, tough, and capable.
My company didn't get a lot of contact with our families, I failed most of my PT tests, so I wasn't able to hear my parents' voices until the last few weeks of basic. I hated my cadre for that, it was the one thing that angered me more than anything else has in my life.
They made me realize what was important to me. And I both love them and hate them for it. My DS taught me "why we fight," I didn't join just for money or for prestige, I wanted to defend my country and the people in it.
And when I got on that bus in mid-august in my new, fitted (because I lost 35 lbs), and patchless uniform, and turned on my iPhone for the first time in months and listened to some Stones, it was the sweetest goddamn feeling I ever had.
Now let's change the subject to something less self indulgent.
Ted Cruz seems to have some kind of creepy superiority complex, what's this dude's problem? I remember reading that he'd keep people out of his club in college if they came from one of the "lower ivies." I also read that his dad raised him telling little Ted that "You know Ted, you have been gifted above any man that I know and God has destined you for greatness."^ Seriously, dafuq is this guy doing in the Senate?
Also, I love how I've come back to find that some scumbags in our legislature are threatening AGAIN to shut down the government, whatever the hell they mean by that.
I'm gonna get back to finishing my coke and stressing over how to attend and pay for Boston University, cheers!
^Source: http://blogs.cbn.com/...