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"Hooah" from Fort Benning: White Phase Initiated
By: Brandy Lewis
Red phase, white phase and blue phase what does all of this Army jargon
mean? Well they are the phases for basic combat training which is nine
weeks. Red (Patriot) phase is three weeks and the soldiers in
training do not get to call home and mail is limited. They
learn Army Core Values, basic tactical training, gas chamber and
physical training (PT) in this phase. Cade made it through this
phase in our last column except he still needs to pass his PT test.
White (Gunfighter) phase is three weeks and they learn basic rifle
markmanship, hand to hand combat, night training and map and compass
reading. This is the phase Cade is going through now.
Blue (Warrior) phase is three weeks and they do 10K and 15K tactical
foot marches, advanced rifle markmanship, have several test and then it
is Turning Green Ceremony where they are now called a Soldier.
This is also family weekend when they get to see thier famiy.
So, back to where Cade is now, white phase. The day they
qualified their weapons it decided to rain. A losing number of
five were shot with a minumum of 23 to pass. The rain lightened
up and in his next round he shot a 28 so he qualified. It was a
close call and nerves were high as he went in for that second
quaification. Pure determination and high expectations within
himself aquired the number needed.
Chad, Cade's dad had written Cade a letter and Cade starts off today
asking a question, "Dad said if the Drill Sargent (D.S.) doesn't know
my last name that is good. Well he knows my first name, is that
good?" We all laughed at that. At least he still has his
sense of humor.
There is also bragging about zero PT at mail call. We were even
dared to send glitter. His recruiter told us stickers and glitter
were guarenteed PT. Well since he's asked for it, his sisters are
going to rig up a box that shoots glitter out of it when opened.
Maybe he will get PT over that one. We will soon find out!
One morning he had a doe and fawn come out beside him and stay for
awhile. He writes "there were clouds in the sky and the sun
light was reflecting off of them making a beautiful scene to
see." He continues to take in the serenity of the outdoors.
Reading an 18 year old's writing has become an art. I am
slowly becoming a master. He couldn't have given me a more true quote,
"I'm really sorry if my spelling is off. I joined to shoot and
kill not how to write and spell." I have a poet!
Along with the action comes periods of being homesick. He talks
about how he wished he could have been in 4-H with his sisters this
year. Often, he asks his sisters, "how is fair going and how many
ribbons have you won? Did the horse behave in the show ring and
did you enjoy yourself?" We sent him close to one hundred
pictures of fair so once he gets that package it should bring a smile
to his face.
He also misses mom and is glad I send him lyrics and inspirational
speeches. Cade laughs at me because I went to mail a letter and
couldn't find an envelope only to realize I had on two separate
occasions mailed him boxes of envelopes leaving me none at home.
Good news came at a good time. His duty station will be Italy,
the nicest duty station. He writes, "I'm bummed out because that
means it will be hard to see you guys but excited because I was only
one of eight choosen." It is the 173rd Battalion known as'
Sky Soldiers.' I am overly excited for him. If you are
going to be young and choose a career in the military you might as well
see the world. I will miss him but he has already shown he will
write me and will always be present in my heart.
The third platoon came to visit with rolling chairs one day. Cade
said "Myself and a dude from 3rd platoon put on body armor and
got crutches and I jousted with them. I took a really hard hit
and flew off the chair." Either he's lucky he has a nice D.S. or
where is the D.S. at? Although having fun, he mentions missing
doing stupid things with his sisters. Home is never far from his
mind.
More qualifications with his weapon. He must pass or go home so
the tension in the air is thick. Well, he is still in Georgia so
we guess he passed. He also talks about starting to use a red dot
scope which he says is a lot easier.
We learn he has two friends from his platoon going to Italy with
him. He describes his thoughts as "super excited, bummed out and
nervous about Italy. Super excited to be in a brand new place,
new country to explore but still sad I'll be far away."
Thinking about home again he writes a very touching two page letter to
his dad but ends it jokingly. He says he's one uped him today by
waking up an hour earlier than him, three in the morning. Once
again, he turns a homesick moment into something light and funny.
Missing his sisters, we hear of them more and more. He asks them,
"how the fair food was and how was the first day of middle
school?" Laughs at them for waking up an hour earlier for middle
school. Well the joke is on him because since we moved, at
Tri-Village, all the grades go to school at the same time so they don't
have to be at school until eight in the morning.
He is starting to talk about family weekend and is excited to go to a
huge mall in Columbus, Georgia. Cade is anxious to show us Fort
Benning, the largest base in the U.S. The day before family day
they run their 15K so he expects to be tired the first day of family
day. I can't wait to see my son and get the biggest hug
ever. #ARMYSTRONG
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