Posted on 10/18/2005 4:39:22 PM PDT by Chieftain
Friends and Family:
Jon graduated on Friday October 14th from Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina!
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Columbia, SC and my sister Linda, my daughter Rachel, and I, watched Jon take the field with 590 other graduates to honor his country and himself by completing his goal of graduating from Basic!
Even though he maxed out his Physical Training tests (max is 300 points) by doing 79 push ups and 78 sit ups in 2 minutes and running 2 miles in 12:30 minutes, he was not rewarded with either "High Physical Training of the Cycle" or "Soldier of the Cycle"-those distinctions went to two other female Privates. Out of the 591 graduates there were several "over 30 years old" and 1 other male at age 39. The Army was also very proud to graduate 1 female, 40 year old whose son has served in Iraq, who they flew in to watch his Mother graduate from Basic!
We were able to see Jon from Thursday morning at around and spend all day with him on base. We toured his barracks and met his friends and took a tour of the base to see other "newbies" begin their BCT. We even ate Army food that night. The next morning after graduation we were able to take Jon and his friend, Kyle from Michigan, back to the hotel with us to spend the day, eat at a nice restaurant and just relax. It was a really wonderful experience that is hard to put into words.
We returned Jon to the base friday evening and Saturday morning he left on a bus bound for Fort Bragg, NC where he will complete 14 weeks of training with Special Forces for his Civilian Affairs MOS (job in Army). He is going to Bragg with some really great guys from Basic so he won't be going alone! There is even talk he may train for the elite Airborne Unit! I'll keep you posted!
Thanks for all the prayers, well-wishes and support!
Laura
Fellow FReepers, please post your congratulations to Jon here, and his wife will print the threads and send them to him.
Congratualions from an old crusty Marine, Jon! I am PROUD to know you!
A hearty congratulations!
Hoo-ahh!
Hey, congratulations Jon. Way to go...
Congratulations!
Impressive.
My 49-year-old hat is totally off to this guy! That is so fantastic and brave...especially when I try to imagine how hard it would be at that age to get used to living in a barracks and living that life period!
Couldn't imagine even living in a college dorm again! Old guys like me get so spoiled through the years, eh?
Fantastic. Would love to have enough guts to do something like that! God bless this brave honorable soldier.
Hey, top congrats to you Jon.
WTG Jon! Congrats for getting thru basic at such an advanced age! 8>) Thank you and for your service in keeping the USA strong and safer!
Very impressive accomplishment, Jon. We're all proud of you. Good luck and Godspeed.
Congratulations Jon, I appreciate your service to our country and its citizens.
Hooah
Congrats Jon......my son did basic at Fort Jackson in 2001..HOOAH
FReeper ping
May God bless you, Jon.
You are a true inspiration to all.
Good luck in your new career.
ping
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