For those of you just joining this series about our daughter Amanda joining the Army, click here. Your comments and support of her efforts, and my worry, are heartwarming and we thank you.
Amanda shipped off to Army Basic Training on July 2nd. We spoke to her several times before her phone was taken away. We received a form-letter from her on July 12th. The first real letter from her arrived on July 14th. I kid you not; we checked the mailbox hourly in anticipation of word from her.
I forgot to tell you something in the first of this series; Amanda finished reading my manuscript on the trip to Fort Jackson. She called me when she arrived at the base and said, “Mom . . . your book made me cry three times.” This is heady praise coming from a girl who didn’t cry at the end of Old Yeller.
Letter One Dated July 9, 2012 Summarized
The notes in parentheses are mine.
“Day Three is officially over. It is pretty easy in terms of getting yelled at or smoked. We are split up almost 100% of the time by gender. I sleep in a bay (barracks) with 60 girls, who are called females in the Army. I don’t think I have ever spent this much time with females in my life.
(Robin’s first note here . . . let’s not forget she is ONE of our THREE daughters.)
Amanda leading a night land navigation exercise in the rain when she was in ROTC.
The military stuff is easy.
(Amanda did four years of ROTC in college and knows a bit about the drill)
I don’t get yelled at ever. I just keep my head down.
Oh man, right now as I write this letter, two platoons in my bay are arguing about being quiet while trying to go to sleep. People are “shushing” each other thinking it keeps things quiet when it actually makes it louder. Every once and a while a f**k comes out and it gets rowdy. Hilarious.
Food here is awesome. Every night there are several sides, vegetables, and meats, with a full salad bar. We eat really fast but it doesn’t bother me. I eat healthy and just shovel it in. No table manners though!
(Good girl for noticing. We taught her well!)
Holy smokes it is hot here! But tonight we had an awesome thunderstorm. The air is thick in my lungs when I run, but I was the top female in my platoon in the diagnostic Physical Training test.
All in all, it hasn’t been bad. I’m just ready for training to start so they can see my potential and know I can do more than marching and push-ups.
XXX ~ A
P. S. Madre, they took away your book. 😦 I won’t get to read it again until I am on the plane to come home.”
(My last note here . . . those Drill Sergeants are cruel! Don’t they know fine literature when they see it?)
Robin Coyle 
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What an informative letter she wrote. She sounds very positive and happy and ready to kick some butt! I love her confidence. Too bad about your book, but I think it’d be funny to find out the higher-ups actually did read it and tell your daughter what a great writer her mom is. 😉
Or make her, “Drop and give me 20, soldier. Your mom is a lousy writer! For that, give me 20 more!”
Poor girl.
Maybe they took away your book so that they can all give it a read! 😉
I’m glad she’s okay, she’s obviously a tough cookie and I’m sure she’ll do very, very well. Keep your chin up, you’re doing well too! 🙂
Can’t you see the military brass sitting about the Officer’s Club reading passages of my book to each other while knocking back martinis?
She is a tough cookie and is doing what she loves! Thanks for your support Katy. It means a TON to our family.
I totally can see it – I just want you to get your royalties! 🙂
How very dare they take away your book! *indignant*
Yes. The nerve of them. Don’t they know my manuscript would help her fall to sleep at night?
Too bad Amanda didn’t join the Marines or the Navy so she could be stationed right here in San Diego!
Well, the plan after Basic is the language institute at Monterey Bay. Not a bad place to be stationed!
In May 1992, I went to see a friend/former roommate/former employee graduate from the Army’s Defense Language Institute in Monterey. I made a two-week driving trip out of it, spending most of my time driving the Pacific Coast Highway between San Diego and Monterey. As I was standing on the sandstone bluffs at Torrey Pines Gliderport and looking at Blacks Beach 300 feet below, I told myself, “I am going to retire to San Diego.” Eleven months later I was here.
An excellent place to set up housekeeping. I love San Diego, and I love California!
Eric specialized in Russian. Not until just a couple of years ago did I find out that Eric came out of the closet. He was summarily and “less than honorably” discharged in 1996 because one of his “buddies” outed him, and that at a time when the military needed Russian specialists.
Tragic. What is he doing now?
I think he works for his dad at Northrop Grumman in Dallas.
Army missed out.
You went to Peterson High in Sunnyvale?
Yes I did! You see that on Facebook? Do you know Peterson High?
My last college roommate’s first job was with Advanced Micro Devices in Sunnyvale. I went out to visit him in 1978, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1999. He and his family moved to the AMD office in Austin, Texas, in 2003. His oldest daughter graduated from Peterson High. I believe she still lives there in the Sunnyvale area.
Wow. Small world, eh? Go Peterson Pirates! However, the high school is now a junior high due to declining enrollment. My junior high is now a chiropractic school.
My grade school was turned into city offices in 1973, and my junior high was put out of commission and destroyed in 1978, replaced by a bigger junior high. High school still is, since it was built new in 1973.
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The letter sound like she’s coping and enjoying the experience!
She also sounds positive and upbeat which is great!
I love the drive she portrays..you must be so proud you’ve raised a wonderful young lady!
Best wishes again to her and to your family!
Since she is doing what she loves, you can hear it in her voice, right?
Thanks for you well-wishes!
You can hear it! It’s amazing!
What might I add to the wonderful kudos already shared regarding your solid, no nonesense daughter. You must be too proud for words.
How funny, all the scenarios about who might be poring over your manuscript.
Thank you Tess. My buttons are busting!
Aren’t the scenarios funny? I suspect the most likely scenario is the manuscript is in a storage bin with her name on it.
you know you are not seeing that manuscript again someone is gonna hog it for when you are famous 😀
That is funny. Let’s hope Amanda isn’t kicked out of the Army because her mother is a lousy writer! I like how you think tho . . .
Your daughter’s positivity and determination are inspiring. What a great gal. She must have had a great mother. 🙂
Hey! Welcome back! Can’t wait to hear about your trip.
Thanks Carrie. She is one determined tough hombre! Much tougher than her mother!
Man, your daughter is one awesome, tough cookie. I’m proud of her and I don’t even know her. Me, a couple of push-ups and I’m crying. 😛 Guess women are forced to have to get along in the army. Heh. No cattiness allowed I’m guessing.
I don’t think I can even ONE push-up. We’d be crying in the corner together, Lori. Amanda is tough and loves any kind of challenge. Her kind of thing. Where did that come from? Oh yeah, her dad.
Cattiness? You will learn more about that in the upcoming updates. I’m afraid it exists, even in the Army.
Oh, ack. I just don’t get women. Heh, well, some women. My poor hubby, he is a manager over mostly men, but the few women he manages don’t get along. I look forward to your updates.
Women (not us, of course) can be passive-aggressive and competitive, while pretending they aren’t!
A big thumbs up to this comment.
That’s wonderful. You must be so proud.
I can only assume the Army took away your manuscript in order to let the Joint Chiefs have a look. They need good reading, too, I suppose.
We are indeed proud of Amanda.
I hope the Joint Chiefs let me know what they think of my book!
You must be so proud, she sounds like a happy, smart and independent girl. And she liked your manuscript! Yay! It’s always good to get our children’s approval and them ours…
As crazy as it sounds, the Army is her “thing.” She likes the routine, discipline, and physical and mental challenge.
As for my book, I respect her opinion so I am tickled she likes it!
I get it, my mother comes from a family of Army folks. All my cousins and now their children have joined… Then there’s me the ex-patriot…
Huh . . . I replied to this but I think it went to your email. Weird.
Wow! She thinks the food is great and she can’t wait to start training. What a gal! I can only imagine how you must feel, Robin–I’d probably be sleeping by the mailbox. Please know that I will keep Amanda and her company (and you!) in my prayers. All the best to you and your family.
Thank you Robin. Let’s hope our soldiers stay out of harm’s way. Your prayers will help with that.
Yeah, the food being good surprised me too. I guess the Army needs to keep the soldiers fueled up so they can put them through the paces.
Sounds like all is well, except of course for the book. Some DI is probably sitting in his bunk crying his eyes out over it right now. High praise indeed. 🙂
Doesn’t that paint a funny picture . . . a tough guy in Army fatigues whimpering over the sad parts of my book.
She sounds like one cool chick! And it sounds like she’s adapting well. Funny that she’s not used to being around females so much. ; )
I hope the officers enjoy your novel. They’re getting a sneak peek!
She is a cool chick. She hates, as she puts it, “girl drama.” Always has. All of our girls are that way. No nonsense or histrionics.
Once my book is published, the officers better give it good reviews!
Ugh. I agree about the girl drama stuff. Get over it and move on, I say.
I would be very scared to give your book a negative review. ; )
Am I scary? Let’s hope not! But, you’d better give my book a good review, or else! 🙂
It sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders and will get through training with flying colors. We’ll see if any officers start making any references to your story as they encounter your daughter!
I had a new vision just now . . . all the Drill Sergeants gathering around for a book group discussion of my book.
Amanda is very level-headed and loves the routine, discipline, and mental and physical challenge of the Army. Me? I’d be crying in a corner.
As others have commented, my first thought was that they had taken the manuscript away to read it themselves, but what is nicer than that is that she is sad that she won’t be able to read it again for a while!
And since I gave her the copy of my WIP, I’ve been working on it and it is much better. I am anxious for her to read the latest version to hear what she thinks. The story hasn’t changed, but the writing is better.
Amanda is a tough critic (and tough cookie) so her opinion is important to me.
Basic will go by in a flash, then comes AIT (if they still call it that). What is her planned MOS?
So are you Army, T. W.? Sounds like it!
Hmmm . . . not familiar with the acronym “AIT.” “MOS” I’ve heard of but can’t remember what it stands for. Her “job,” right?
The plan, if she passes the top security clearance, is a year-ish at the language school at Monterey Bay. From there, and depending on what language she is assigned, who knows? She may be attached to an embassy, in a basement deciphering code, or serving as a translator.
I did my time long ago. AIT was Advanced Indiviual Training and MOS was Military Occupational Specialty in those days. She’ll be an officer for sure, with her education. My best to her… you too.
Thank you T.W. And thank you for YOUR service.
That is very impressive, you get to know a bit about the experience, you must be proud. Plus she also made it through your manuscript so an extra bonus. Maybe it was confiscated so someone else can read it?
Her Drill Sergeants need to pass the long hours somehow! Why not by reading my manuscript!?
You must be so proud of that baby, Robin! She sounds so upbeat, and strong. Does she know she has a cheering section here? More cheers ~ Lily
I am so proud of my baby . . . now 25 years old! How did that happen?!?
I wrote to her that I am doing this series. They aren’t allowed computer privileges yet (or phone), so she hasn’t had the chance to read the fantastic words from her amazing cheering section! Gosh, I love you guys!
: ) Hugs! ~ Lily
I am so glad the Army has figured out their training program. My dad has been in the Army since 1940 and we are now in 1943 in his letters and he is still in the states doing more field training. I know he goes overseas sometime but it seems he just keeps training and more training.
I am glad she is doing so good it is good to hear. It also seems like she has things figured out and is ahead of the game.
God bless her and please thank her for her service.
I will pass on your thanks for her service, but hopefully, she will be allowed computer-time soon, and will be able to read about your support herself.
BTW, from what I learned from her military experience, the training never ends. Okay by me . . . as long as the training helps her keep out of harm’s way.
Agreed!
LOL I love it! Tenacious is correct! “I’m just ready for training to start so they can see my potential and know I can do more than marching and push-ups.” What a kid! You should be so proud of her! She is tough! I’m sorry about the book, though I wonder which commanders are actually reading it! I bet it’s being passed around. Keep it coming!
I will keep updates from Amanda coming. The response has been wonderful. So nice to feel first-hand the support for our troops.
In terms of your comment about my manuscript, I’ll copy my response to Maddie’s comment (below) because the vision of the Drill Sergeants taking my book from Amanda and reading it makes me laugh.
I said to Maddie, “I love the idea of the Drill Sergeants tucking their soldiers in bed, then putting on bunny slippers and plaid flannel robes, gathering by the campfire, roasting S’mores, and reading passages of my book to each other. Warms my heart!”
What an honor, too! 🙂
Unless they are tossing pages of my manuscript into the fire, or lighting their cigars with chapter two. One never knows!
She’s doing so well! Thank you for sharing her letter. … And you know those Drill Sergeants are reading and loving your book!
Ha! I hadn’t thought of that! I love the idea of the Drill Sergeants tucking their soldiers in bed, then putting on bunny slippers and plaid flannel robes, gathering by the campfire, roasting S’mores, and reading passages of my book to each other. Warms my heart!
What a crack up!
More Robin humour sneaking in here – those drill sergeants must indeed be heartless.
I had to scroll up to see what I wrote. The Drill Sergeants are heartless. Heartless I tell I tell you!
She kicks some major ass. (As opposed to Major ass, which I don’t think the Major would appreciate.) But how could she not cry at Old Yeller?????
She is NOT a cryer. Unlike her mom, who is moved to tears over everything. Don’t get me wrong . . . Amanda is a feeler and compassionate, but doesn’t like to show it on the outside. She wants to be the strong one. Always. So MW, imagine my thrill when my book made her cry!
Thank you for sharing her letter and giving insight to basic training. You have much to be proud of!
BTW– your weak vs. strong words posts have helped me become a better writer. I’m always looking to see how I can use more specific words to say what I want to say.
In reply to both of your comments here . . . we are so proud of her. She is doing something I could never do! It is fun to share what she is experiencing.
In terms of the Strong vs Weak Word series, your comment means a TON to me! I love that we are learning to use strong words together, and I love that you took the time to tell me the series is helping you become a better writer. Thank you so much.