revisit RECALL

for the past 20 years, many memories will always be there in my mind, as if it has just happened. not so many people can share the same memory. not all of those memories last a lifetime. yet, many soldiers share the same memories that last them a lifetime, a memories of a brotherhood. many went to Basic Training together, many become brothers forever. most common questions were being among young soldiers are either "where did you serve?" or "where did you go to for basic?".

Basic Training, mostly known as Boot Camp, is a transition from being a civilian with all the comfort you have and the standard you set for yourself, to become a soldier with nothing at your comfort and every standard set by someone else. there, things happen that pushing everyone to their limits, created a bond, eventually a band of brother, also memories to last a lifetime.

till today, my friends and i still talk about our first week, from arriving at the Reception till we got picked up by our Drill Sergeant. it's a memory of a lifetime. something you can still feel the emotion, the adrenaline rush through you as if you was still there.

it was april 30th when i left home, stepping on the bus, off i went to the army. in that bus were 50 young, eager civilian ready for a new challenge that up until now, they only know through books and movies. after paperwork, paperwork, and some more paperwork, we arrive at the airport awaiting for our plane to St. Louis, MO. till then, i was still calm, yet nervous, because i don't know what will happen next. "what will be there for me ...?"

i arrived at ST. Louis, MO around 7pm local time. tired and exhausted, i thought: "finally, i'm here". sitting on the plane while it was circling the sky of St. Louis, i tried to look for a place, home i might called for the next 4 months. it was not there. he [a retired Army Sergeant Major] let us know that it will be another 3 hours drive till we arrive at our new home. i was disappointed. yet, somehow, i was happy. i thought "... still have another 3 hours before expecting the unexpected".

there's almost a 100 of us. all from different background, different places from east to west, all sitting in the same bus taking us to a new destiny where nothing will count. we will be the same, a private, nothing more, nothing less.

in the Army, or Marines, the word "private" can be defined in many ways. Webster defined it as: ".... the lowest rank in the United States Army". our military definition can be little more simple. it is known as "... the one who always get to do everything [heavy, crap, sh**ty, etc] with the lowest pay". you name it, we've done it.

yet it's not gonna be given to us, we will have to earn it in the next 4 months.

the bus was quite for most of the drive, all tried to get some last sleep. as the time goes by, so does the distance. most of us never step foot on an army base, yet we all have the feeling that we are near. it was passing midnight. like all of a sudden, we felt the rush running through our body. here come the main gate "Welcome to Fort Leonard Wood". we all woke up, surveyed our surrounding, trying to see what is there to calm down our nervous selves. passing the gates is another 15 minutes drive. to me, it was a 30 minutes of roller coaster drive in the safari where you see everything for the first time with the "ohhh" and "awww". my mind at its nervous max, every time the bus turned, i asked myself "is it here"?

all of us at sometimes in our life has watched an army movies. we have a rough idea of what boot camp is like. we also might have a clear picture of the first arrival. a big, mean looking drill sergeant step on the bus to greet the young, nervous civilians with his clear, powerful, and thoroughly sentence: "welcome to blah blah blah ... now get the FUCC off the bus...". we all know what's next ... all hell broke lose.

wells, to my uttermost unexpectedness surprise, it does not happen like that picture, not quietly. when the bus turn into a hidden building through its curve way, we know it is here. everyone tried to tell each other a few last words of encouragement, advise or a wish of good luck for "here it goes boys ... god speed ...". when we saw the drill sergeants inside the buildings putting their famous brown hat or to the marines as the smokin bear hat, we know there's no time left. the bus went silent, till now, no one really knows what to do, what to expect next... just the bus was what left of us between being civilians and becoming the property of the United States Army.

the drill sergeant stepped on the bus. no, he wasn't big. no, he was not mean looking. no, he did not use language like what we saw in the movie. "what is going on?". yet, there's his eyes, there's his soft, respectful, but commanding voice that keep everyone at their feet. he explained what is going to happen for the rest of the night while i was lost in my thought. then "... any question? no? now get off the bus .... QUICKLY ...." .... and i thought to myself, well this might not be bad after all .... (just for a note later ... it was a deadly wrong assumption) ....

first time arriving

bravo company picture