Yes, that's right my friends, Day 0. Only in the Army could you be present somewhere, doing copious amounts of work, and it is not ever recognized as an actual day! Oh well...it is what it is.
Day 0, as it were, was filled with lines...loooooong lines, many if which were outside in the Texas sun. We waited in line to get our room assignment (which is actually currently in the Hilton Hotel because there are over 1,100 officers enrolled in various courses here at Ft. Sam...not complaining!); we waited in line to get our personnel paperwork; we waited in line to get height/weight measurements, we waited in line to get sized for our helmets; and we waited in line to confirm that everything was Kosher. Ironically, there was no line at the dining facility...
Day 1 was a real "HOOAH" kind of day. A few more lines were encountered, but nothing quite so drastic as before. We worked on our DnC (Drill and Ceremony...marching), made sure our finance and HR paperwork was good to go, and met our leadership team. While that was all well and good, there was a singular event that, for me, encapsulated why we are all here doing this:
As we were in formation ourside on the track/parade ground, we were standing at parade rest facing the outdoor running track. As we stood there, along came a wounded warrior (as injured combat veterans are heretofore referred), running on one good leg and one "running prosthesis." It was a moving moment, and an epic reminder of the privilege and responsibility that come along with this profession.
I hope all is well with everyone reading this, and please keep my beloved ladies in your prayers...don't forget to check up on them, too!
I'll write again soon.
Peace.
Enjoy every moment as I did. My first memory of arriving at Ft. Sam in June, 1978 is pulling up in the Army "school" bus and seeing out the window 2LT Suddendorf walking to the parking lot to greet us. I remember thinking who is that tall, trim, blonde strack looking guy (in Class B khaki's)?
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