Day 64 - BCT Graduation

I lost the last couple days' entries when I lost my notebook at the beginning of BOLC II. I remember being depressed and angry about this because it had all my OCS notes in it.

I don't remember what I did the last couple days of basic training, but I do remember Graduation Day because I felt pretty cool. The ceremony was pretty exhilarating -- especially the part where we did eyes right as we marched past the grandstand.

We all checked out -- most for their transportation to their AIT schools, but us OCS guys for a trip across the post. I shook hands with DS A, and DS B drove me and two others over to main post. That was weird -- we stopped in at a PX and he bought us each a drink.

I checked in and then immediately checked out to enjoy the four day weekend. I shared a room with one of the platoon guys at a La Quinta near the mall, and walked over to the nearby Burger King.

That was probably one of the best moments of my life -- as I sat near the window, I looked up at a blue sky, talked on my cell phone to my parents and while watching the clouds go by without anyone making demands on my time. It was weird to be in civilian clothes again -- I was almost paranoid that some drill sergeant would walk in.

BCT was probably the most difficult experience of my life -- mentally and physically -- and yet I got through it just fine. In fact, I had surprised myself with my own resilience. I held my own on a 9 mile ruck march, I climbed a rope I would have never thought possible, and I was in better shape than some of the guys who were 15 years younger than me.

The idea of OCS still intimidated me, but I had learned something during that time that I still tell myself: that I am not in the least bit inferior to anyone.