I bring you letter number four from Amanda.
But first, thank you all for your wonderful comments on her letters. I can’t wait for her to read them when she is granted computer privileges.
Letter Four Dated July 24, 2012 ~ Summarized
Notes in parentheses are mine.
Hey Fajah! Hey Madre! (Fajah is Dutch for father, and NO, we are not Dutch. I also think there is an Austin Powers connection.)
My last letter probably made you a little concerned because I complained so much about the people here. I think I complained because:
- Yes, many of the females here are awful. 60 girls in one room is about 57 too many. But I do have some close friends now and that helps make everything else tolerable. Plus, we are spending more time with males and they are cool.
- I was exhausted.
- The last two weeks have been mostly classroom work and getting yelled at. Not at me directly, but at my platoon.
Our tough-as-nails daughter cleans up nicely, don’t you think?
We are learning the basics like DO NOT MOVE in the position of attention. We used to do that in karate and the instructors would try to make us laugh. Here, if you move you are called a “dumbass” and have to do a million push-ups.
(Amanda has her black belt in karate. Again, not bragging, just stating the facts.)
They are teaching us to work as a team, not as an individual. A lot of people have trouble with that and only look out for themselves. Me on the other hand, the thing I’ve gotten in trouble for, is thinking critically. I anticipate what will be needed next and while most of the time I’m right, I shouldn’t be doing anything until I’m told.
Things are getting better because we are starting the real Army stuff, (Remember, Amanda did 4 years of ROTC.) and there’s less stuff for them to screamed about. (Yes, Mom, the screaming is just like the movies. They call us names I’ve never heard of. It’s kinda cool. My Drill Instructor is super funny and most of the time he’s actually making fun of you.)
(Not my idea of “kinda cool.”)
I told you about the obstacle course competition against the other platoons. I was selected to be on the team that represented my platoon. We didn’t win though. One of the girls got “tired” and slowed way down. Doing the course the second time was 4-times as hard. First, you’re smoked from doing it the first time . . . and it is a f**king competition so it is all out.
(Amanda gets her competitive spirit from her dad, NOT me.)
Sundays are our days off, kind of. The morning is for church if you go. Since I don’t, I get personal time. I got paper out to write to my sisters but wrote two sentences before passing out. After lunch is “Area Beautification” so we clean and scrub. Definitely not like the movies. We sweep and mop of course, but not on our hands and knees.
Yesterday was, in my opinion, the best day here.
(Wait til you read her definition of the “best day!”)
We had a 0445 wake-up call and did intervals on the track. Then we put on our rucksacks and marched three-miles to the “gas chamber.”
(The gas chamber is where soldiers are taught to correctly wear and use preventive biological equipment. Then they are exposed to a controlled concentration of gas – thereby building confidence in dealing with and identifying a biological agent. Doesn’t THAT sound like fun?)
I’ve done it before so it is no big deal. It just burns like a son of a bitch. Then we marched to “day land navigation,” ate dinner, and then did “night land navigation.” (They use a map and compass to navigate to get to “points” in the field.) My team came in first! We marched back to Bay and got to bed at 0145. We slept in this morning though! The wake—up call was at 0645!
(Not my idea of sleeping in.)
We go on our first Field Training Exercise soon! I don’t really know what to expect. It is only one night in the field. Everyone is calling it camping. It’s not camping, well it is, but is the Army. The Drill Instructors hate hearing it called camping. Lots of walking I expect.
We eat three meals a day. No more, no less. I find myself starving at each meal and I eat a ton, but am starving again when we hit the rack.
Glad to hear things are good at home. Also, sorry about the swear words. We can’t curse in front of the Drill Instructors and I’ve been frustrated.
(Swear away Amanda! I don’t blame you.)
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Hmmm. Dare I say that I have a few friends who would like to see 60 women in one room?……….lol
Given their physical and mental exhaustion, 60 tired women in one room could be scary!
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This would be where I fail! I would have to know the reason behind every little thing before doing so! I’m impressed with how well she copes with “following orders” even though she’s smart enough to have already figured it out! That girls going places! And yes, she is beautiful! She got that from her mom! (no offense, dad).
Didn’t you ask the park ranger, in a skeptical voice, how they knew that tree in a recent post was as old as it is? I can see you questioning the Sergeant about the need to do two million push-ups!
Let’s hope Amanda goes someplace, like being stationed in Germany or Hawaii . . . and not the other places where she and her fellow soldiers would be in harm’s way.
Dad is handsome, but yes, I think she got her looks from me.
We’ve been told we are two peas in a pod. Actually, my three girls and I have been told we look like four peas in a pod. Makes this little old lady’s heart sing!
She seems like a perfect fit for the Army. I enjoy hearing about her experience. It reminds me there are really GOOD people out there standing a post to protect the rest of us.
She could never have a desk job. She would tear out her hair and go mad.
Stay tuned . . . I have more letters to share. I get a kick from the wonderful comments about what she is doing. When she has computer access, she will get a kick too!
Certainly not my idea of a “best day” either! She’s going to end up as the President or something one day isn’t she.
You are funny. She does have a “presidential” quality.
You’ve got to love that she knows she is right, even when they give her guff for it.
I’m really enjoying catching up with what your daughter is doing. She’s amazing and funny and I love her enthusiasm. I’d have slapped someone for yelling at me by now.
She really is amazing.
Thanks Kate. I would have slapped someone by now too. Or, I would go AWOL! I follow the rules without being yelled at so the yelling would upset me and I’d either cry, or get angry.
I’ve been enjoying your posts — it’s really interesting to see Basic from the recruit’s perspective. A couple of parts really made me laugh — her mention that the Drill Sergeants call the “joes” (my husband’s word) names that she doesn’t recognize. If her DIs are anything like my husband and his fellow DIs, that is done deliberately, to confuse the kids. When I dropped by the company the other day, I overheard one Drill Sergeant using terms from Nintendo (the original game system from the 80s) on purpose, to talk to a recruit, who looked completely lost! Hehe…
The other part that made me laugh is the swearing. To me, that makes her sound like a soldier already, though I know the Army tries to tell them not to do that, for the sake of sounding “professional.” Believe me, there are Drill Sergeants who swear a lot more than she just did in her letter — they just don’t do it in front of the recruits.
It sounds like she’s doing really well! Not everyone adjusts to Army life, as she seems to have done.
Hi! I wondered if you were following along with these posts!
Her letters are giving me a good feel for what she is going through and how she is holding up. It sound like awfully hard work! But she sounds happy and that helps me cope. All the yelling and mind games to get the kids to work as a team, not an individual, as she mentioned. I’m glad she thinks it is funny, rather than crying under her bunk!
My family has never been shy about swearing, and we do it at the appropriate moments with the appropriate swear word! I’m sure she wants to let it fly!
Robin, your daughter is gorgeous!
She sounds like she getting through it and enjoying the challenges and seems to be completely in her element based on what she has written in the letters you’ve shared with us!
She is definitely a tough cookie!
Thank you honey. I think she is pretty darn cute. And you are right . . . a tough cookie!
Your Daughter is gorgeous Robin!
Thanks Kreta! I know I am biased, but I think so too!
Go Amanda! She won’t mind you sharing her letters here? Her fortitude and intelligence are admirable. She is just the kind the army needs. When I’m frustrated, I hate to admit, cussing is my thing.
How could she mind after reading all the wonderful comments in support of what she is doing? I think she will be tickled. I know I am!
I’ve been know to cuss from time to time too. Hmmm . . . maybe that is where she got it?
I don’t know if I’m surprised that it’s just like the movies, or not surprised. I can’t stand being screamed at. I had a teacher in middle school who was a yeller and it didn’t motivate me to do anything. It froze me solid! I’m glad she thinks her drill instructor is super-funny. That probably makes it easier to endure!
How are you taking all of this in as a mom? I’d want to bake her cookies and put on a Disney movie for her.
As if middle school isn’t bad enough without having a screaming teacher! Screaming doesn’t work on me either. Since I’m not a screamer, I don’t understand the desire/need to scream.
You are sweet to ask. I’m doing ok. Knowing she is holding up ok helps. I love the image of popping in a Disney movie and gathering all the soldiers around for movie night. Let’s not invite the screaming Sergeants tho.
I’m guessing if she gets her competitive spirit from her Fajah, then she must get her sense of humor and good looks from her Madre….
Yes! That MUST be it~!
I enjoy the letters and Army-insights of your daughter as I wanted to enroll the Army myself back in the days. Glad I did not pursue that, it would not have been my thing
I will stay tuned for more news and stories, though, Read them with great pleasure and admiration. What a fine (and I mean tought) girl you have!
I’m glad you are enjoying her letters. I sure do. The response has been so lovely. She will love reading all the comments.
What stopped you from joining the Army? If you had any doubts about your decision, I bet Amanda’s letters quelled them!
I really enjoy reading Amanda’s letters and love your comments ~ great blog Robin
Thank you so much Polly! Amanda writes a pretty darn good letter, doesn’t she? I can almost see the base and her Drill Instructors.
You are so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. I am glad she has our backs!
Just like your dad had our back!
Awe! thanks brought a tear to my eye!
How sweet you are.
When she can see the humor in the DIs screaming, she’s done it. As a great man once said: “Fifty percent of the game is ninety percent mental”.
I needed to hear that about the DIs screaming . . . it gave me reassurance that she is holding up ok. Her head must be in the game!
Another great letter. She is amazing, and it appears Paige is pretty great, too, to send her a letter with over two million pages.
What a great family. And thank Amanda again for doing the heavy lifting while we are all able to experience the military vicariously through her.
Ha ha! Your comment made me laugh. Like her mother, Paige has a lot to say! I wonder what it cost to mail over two million pages!
I think you thanked Amanda yourself, because at some point, and hopefully soon, she will read your kind words herself.
She’s amazing. Thanks for sharing her letters with us.
I think she is pretty amazing too. I hope the letters don’t get “old” for readers . . . but her experience at camp is something most of us will never know. I love the insider’s view.
My sister is a bad ass. Today I mailed her a 2390843 page letter and printed old pictures of us. Mostly silly ones.
Yes, your sister is a bad ass. So are you! Wow . . . It must have taken you a long time to write a two million+ page letter! She will love it honey . . .
So funny that she apologized for cussing. After all that.
I’m surprised there wasn’t MORE cussing in her letter. If it was me, every other word would be #&*(@_&^!
really – she volunteered for this? btw–she is beautiful–I love it when beautiful girls are tough as nails! this is my nightmare! then again, I am a delicate little flower–my husband says I have delicate sensibilities – this means I am a pain further down than the neck (as in a pain in the ass)
I think she is a pretty girl. Must take after her mother, right?
You a pain? Never! Delicate flower? YES!
Of course she takes after you – where else would she get it –she gets her beauty from you and competiveness from her father
And yes – sometimes I am a pain – but a good one (mostly)
I still don’t believe you are a pain. Sorry. I don’t.
now those are the words of a true bbff (best blog friend forever)- a term I would never use otherwise
Love,
Your BBFF
I’d like more details on what her Drill Instructor is saying about you! His words might make a fighter of you!
She/I worded that poorly. She meant the Drill Instructor is making fun of the soldier he is yelling at, not me. Sorry for the confusion.
But, if he is making fun of me, “them’s fightin’ words!”
I gots it now
I’m glad she can take it. I’d probably be a quivering mass of goo, crying in a corner somewhere!
You would have company in the corner . . . me!
Your daughter’s letters make me feel kind of guilty for whining earlier about the fact that I was tired after carrying a bag of groceries up a flight of stairs.
Well, those stairs were steep and the grocery bags where heavy. Whine away! You can swear too.
your daughter is amazing! I can get a feel for her and don’t even know her. If I were her mom, I would be proud to call her mine. (I’m sure you are). I have to chuckle at your inserts. I feel ya, mom. I really do. Hope everyone else in the family is doing well. This stuff is pretty tough to deal with, especially when you hear your kids are being burned by gas. (of course, the men and dogs in my house can leave some bombs that make you tear). Big hugs, mom. You’re doing great at being brave. I don’t know if that was my baby if I could be so together.
Her personality does come through her letters. And, I think she is doing a great job of describing what it is like.
Thanks for the hugs. I am “brave-ish” only because she is doing what she loves and I think has an inborn talent for. She is a kid who could NEVER have a desk job. She would go insane.
I had to laugh when she apologized for “complaining.” Your daughter is far from a complainer. She has such an amazing attitude! In fact, her positivity–through your posts–is starting to rub off on me. Always a good thing.
She knows I am a worrier so I’m sure she was afraid she made me worry. I didn’t worry because her positive and upbeat outlook on the experience came through much louder than her complaints.
Just think of the complaining that would happen if I was in her shoes. Yikes.
Oh, I suspect tough daughter means tough mother. But I’m glad you don’t have to go through it.
Me too!