Peach goes to basic training

Okay, now where was I? Oh yea…..basic training. I will never forget the morning that I left. I was all packed and ready to head down to the main station where I was to catch a bus. I said all my good byes to my family. The most difficult was leaving behind my little brother, the youngest. His name is Michael and he must have been about 4-5 yrs old. We were very, very close. He used to call me ‘mommy’, we spent that much time together. He was sitting back, in my fathers recliner, which was huge for him, watching tv. When I went in to say bye and give him a kiss, he acted like he didn’t hear me. He was SO mad at me for leaving him. He just kept his eyes straight ahead on the television and didn’t even acknowledge me. I remember crying. That was the hardest part about leaving home.

I took a bus to Ft. Jackson, SC. A bus full of new recruits headed to the great unknown. Upon arriving and checking in I realized I definitely over packed. See, one of the advantages of the military is there is no need to make any decisions as to what you’re going to wear for the day. Dress for the day is a drab brown t-shirt, camouflage shirt and pants and black boots. Each and every day. She didn’t have a t-shirt on in the poster. What’s the deal? And where’s my gun? I’m ready to do some shootin’! This isn’t going quite as I imagined.

We all line up for our first formation and receive some interesting information. We are to be used for a test case. Our unit is to be the first co-ed company to go through basic training together. Whoo hoo! Now your talking! Guys and gals training side by side. There is to be 2 platoons of females and 2 platoons of males. I was already scanning the line-up for my new bunk mate when they crushed my plans. We were to have separate sleeping quarters and shower facilities. Bummer! I knew it was too good to be true. Oh well, I will still be in the company of many cute guys for most of the day. Then they tell us there is to be absolutely NO fraternizing. Fraternizing? What’s that? Never mind, as long as I can flirt. Little did I know how much my flirting would be a large part of my training.

With much encouragement (yelling, screaming in my face, etc…) from my coach, otherwise known as ‘drill instructor’ I finally learned how to do a push up. Each one was a struggle but I managed to pump out 5 by the end of the day. Whew! This is going to be murder! We also took a nice stroll through the base. Problem is, their stroll was at a much faster pace than my feet wanted to take me. It’s called running or ‘double-time’. I don’t do ‘double-time’. A double shot maybe (tequila, schnapps, whatever), but this running is for the birds!

I made it through my first day and I remember collapsing on my cot. Again the thought goes through my head “Why did I join the Army?”

Seems like I just fell off to sleep when lights come on and some ones banging and yelling something about getting up and at ‘em! Up and at ‘em?!?! Huh? Where’s the coffee? It’s still dark out! This is not for me. Nope, no way! Where is the office so I can turn in my notice? Hah! Do you think that is an option? You have to have no pulse before they let you out of this gig.

I did mention this was a co-ed training program right? Well needless to say I wasted no time introducing myself to a few of the guys the first day, one of them by the name of Terry. That’s his real name too, no protecting the innocent here. So if this story sounds familiar and you are Terry or know Terry, I apologize now for exposing our little affair.


Well, people, again this is longer than I planned so y’all are going to have to wait for Part III – Peach gets Physical ;)