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"Hooah" from Fort Benning: Blue Phase, Basic Training Completed!
By Brandy Lewis
Finally, the last phase of basic training has come, the Blue
Phase. It starts out in turmoil as Cade has failed his next
physical training test. He missed it by five push ups, still
feeling the effects of having a broken hand. The consequence for
failing PT is losing family weekend. Cade has one more chance to
pass the PT test.
Later that day, he states, "we learned to shoot rocket launchers!
Then, we went and shot grenade launchers! It was super
cool! Finally, I got to shoot the coolest of them all, the .50
caliber!"
He drew a picture of .50 caliber ammo and states, "this is how big it is and shoots about five per second!"
He gets back that night and realizes he left his cap on his bed.
The Drill Sergent took full advantage of this and filled it with
shaving cream. Lesson learned by Cade to put his stuff
away.
The following day, Cade spends six and a half hours with Smith at sick
call. He misses grenade training but will be able to make it
up. When they get back, Cade is Smith's Battle Buddy as he is on
bed rest for the rest of the day. Cade cleans and takes a nap
until platoon one gets back.
Cade ensures us he is working hard on his push ups!
Cade is sorry I received a scripted phone call about him failing PT and
possible losing family weekend but is positive there is another test
date where he can win family weekend back. He is glad I said I
love you as we hung up the phone but since it was a scripted phone call
he was not able to say it back.
He states again he is working on his push ups every night!
The next day they are busy cleaning and Cade slips into the bathroom
again for a nap. I hope the D.S. doesn't catch him and make an
example out of him.
Another day starts at 5 am with PT and then a march to the chow hall.
He has 12 minutes to eat before the bus leaves for the shooting
range. All of his meals are eaten quickly.
Today they are learning Buddy Team Live Fire. He drew a picture
of him and a buddy behind cover, crawling to the next cover with
targets or 'bad guys' to shoot. "If my buddy would have messed up
I could have been shot and possibly killed." Not as much
excitement in that statement as Army reality takes it toll.
He goes on to tell us what he shouts between concealments. It was treated like a mini combat camp.
With his next letter we learn he has been baptized at the base
church. "It feels good to be cleansed of all my sins." We
find a great picture of him online getting dunked and are very proud of
him.
He reassures us to not worry about him not passing his PT test. He is going to get it!
Cade learns about first aide and what do do if he would have been
shot. He also wants to know if I've heard of any up coming wars
because of rumors on base.
He writes another letter to his sisters and asks how school and the
animals are. He says, "I've got big muscles now so now I can do
all the push ups." He hopes they are behaving and listening to
mom and dad and signs it "Love you dorks." Brotherly love.
There are four days left until the PT test and with each of his
push ups he is going to say, "I want to see my mom, I want to see
Lauren, I want to see my family."
He gets his M-320 single shot grenade launcher that goes on the bottom
of his barrel of his M-4. He thought that was pretty cool but it
was hard because there was a recoil and you have to squeeze with 10lbs
of pressure and brace for the kickback. I don't think he was
expecting that!
At his next training they did Team Training Live Fire. Instead of
two people it's four people. Cade says,"the cool thing is you
work as a team. This forms stronger relationships with the guys
here earning each others trust."
I enjoy sending Cade lyrics to songs. He got a kick out of me
sending him the army song. He laughs because he knows the army
song, infantry song, soldiers creed and Star Spangle Banner.
Finally, he asks us to wish him luck on his PT test.
I sent out a prayer chain on Friday night because he was suppose to
take his PT test early on Saturday. As soon as I finished texting
prayer request, I get a phone call. It's Cade and he took his
test a day early and passed. I was thrilled and overly
excited. We hung up and I immediately get another call from
Georgia. I answer and they say, "Mrs. Lewis." I thought it was a
D.S. and he had lost family day already. The caller went on to
introduce himself and it was another soldier asking me to get a hold of
his mom on Facebook and tell her he gets family day and passed his PT
also. I tell him I will and am thrilled it wasn't a Drill
Sergent. His mother thanked me and we hoped to see each other in
Georgia.
I didn't get many letters that week and I didn't write many
letters. I was going to see my son in a week and I could tell him
information before a letter would reach him. He also felt I was
satisfied with what I had heard and didn't need to worry about
him. A big sense of relief had been lifted off both of us.
The next few days I spent working and telling everyone Cade had passed
his PT and that I woud be going to Georgia to watch the Turning green
Ceremony and having family weekend.
Turning Green Cermony is where the soldiers get their Army patch on
their left arm and are finally called a United States Army
Soldier. Before this point they were called a soldier in
training. I am now an official Army Mom. #ARMYSTRONG
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