51-year-old mom holds her own during Basic Combat Training

Fort Leonard Wood Guidon ^ | 2/16/2012 | Melissa Buckley

[darrellmaurina]

At 9 o’clock this morning, Sgt. Sandra Coast will graduate from Basic Combat Training on Fort Leonard Wood, officially beginning her Army career — at 51 years old.

According to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, the average age for an Army Reserve recruit is about 23, making Coast one of the oldest people to go through Basic Combat Training.

“Everybody in the world thinks I am a total nutcase,” Coast said. “I just want to support our troops. I love all of them.”

From 1982 to 1993, Coast devoted her life to the U.S. Navy. She gave up her lifestyle as a Sailor to raise her son, Jeff, who ironically led her back to the military she left behind years ago.

“When Jeff graduated high school, he joined the Marine Corps. When I was at the recruiter’s office with my son, I walked into the Army recruiting office and said ‘I want to join,’” Coast said.

For as long as she can remember she has had a special place in her heart for troops and a hunger to serve.

“I have a friend in the Navy that was emailing me from Afghanistan. It’s his third combat tour in seven years. I don’t know, I can’t explain it, I just had this overwhelming desire to give back to the military somehow. I was doing the same job day after day after day; I can’t live my life that way,” Coast said. “There is more to life than this, so I ended up in basic training.”

She was stunned to learn that as a paralegal specialist she would have to go back to basic training — this time, Army-style.

“I wasn’t quite expecting to be running around with a M16 and all of this gear,” Coast said. “This is nothing even remotely similar to being a Sailor. I was blown away by the total difference of it. We carried M16s during Navy Boot Camp, but we never shot them. Here we are shooting several times a week. Shooting this weapon with all of the gear on takes a toll on me.”

Coast started preparing for Basic Combat Training months prior to stepping foot on Fort Leonard Wood.

“Before the recruiters would even talk to me I had to lose 30 pounds. I went from sitting at home every night eating ice cream to exercising and watching what I ate. I also started getting up at 4 o’clock in the morning to exercise and tried to go to bed early at night. I knew I needed every advantage I could have to get through this,” Coast said.

Her 10-week journey from civilian to Soldier was spent in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Chemical Brigade. Her first sergeant said when he first heard he had a 51-year-old headed his way he was perplexed, “Wow, that’s strange,” he said. Now, 1st Sgt. John Byars has a new perception of his elders.

“I was impressed because she can do everything the younger Soldiers do,” Byars said. “She never expected us to feel sorry for her. She even got one of the highest Army Physical Fitness Test scores in the company. She is a prime example that age is just a number. She ran faster than Soldiers young enough to be her kids.”

Coast even amazed herself when she came in second place during the PT test.

“I am still kind of blown away by that. I even ran faster than all but one female,” Coast said.

The APFT may have been a breeze for Coast, but she said one of the hardest things for her to adjust to was the divide in life stages between her and her fellow roommates.

“Everything about basic training is pretty tough, but living with more than 30 teenage females is one of the hardest things,” Coast said.

Despite the age gap, 1st Sgt. Byars said Coast was treated just like every other Soldier-in-training.

“We don’t treat her any different, and we don’t see the privates treat her any different,” Byars said.

Coast agreed. “They treat me as an equal. The males especially have the utmost respect. They will do little things that they probably aren’t suppose to do, like give me their seat on the bus and hold the doors for me. It’s the little things that mean so much,” she said.

Although, Coast recalls an instance during hand-to-hand combat training that was particularly tough for one of her battle buddies.

“We had to slap each other in the face. The poor guy that was up against me said ‘I cannot do this, I cannot slap her.’ I told him I would pay for his counseling when we were done. I was slapping him — he finally slapped me,” Coast said.

The thing Coast is looking forward to the most today is wrapping her arms around her son.

“I am thrilled to wear the title of sergeant in the U.S. Army, but the title that is also very near and dear to my heart is Marine mom. You can’t beat that. I feel totally blessed,” Coast said.

Pfc. Jeff Coast didn’t think his mother was serious when she expressed interest in joining the Army, but recently he started seeing a side of her that was new to him.

“She is doing what most people her age would consider crazy,” Jeff said. “I think she is hardcore. I hope when I get older I am still active and do all kinds of cool stuff.”

Sgt. Sandra Coast feels like she made it through boot camp because of the support family, friends and even outsiders expressed to her.

“It blows my mind that I am able to accomplish this. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my Marine mom friends. I get more mail from them than anybody. That support keeps me going. They are constantly cheering me on. Even random people around here will tell me they are cheering for me. At the dining facility the workers walk up and tell me they are cheering for me,” Coast said. “I cry pretty much every day. Not a lot because it’s not an Army thing to do I know, but it’s mind boggling to me how supportive strangers can be.”

She is delighted to be at the end of her boot camp adventure, and thankful for all of the new experiences she had.

“This has been very challenging. It makes me realize that I can do all of this. I got to do some really fun things. After the repelling tower, I decided to start rock climbing when I get out of basic training,” Coast said.

Coast is also looking forward to her life in the Army Reserve. She said she enlisted hoping to work directly with active duty troops, but instead was attached to a reserve unit. On the plus side she will be able to work near her son’s reserve unit.

“I wanted to go active duty, but they are not taking people as old as me for active duty. So, I got attached to a virtual unit. Everything I do will be by the internet and phone,” Coast said.

Being in Army Basic Combat Training left Coast with a new respect for combat Soldiers — and a new respect for herself.

“Their gear is heavy and they are doing this constantly. We have some really awesome troops out there,” Coast said. “I am 51-years-old, and I can do this.”

[ladyrustic]

“But I’d bet I could kick her ass in a fight...”

I don’t think anyone is saying that this 50 year-old woman is as strong as a 20 year-old man. She passed her PFT with flying colors for her age and sex. And just because you could “kick her ass” should not prevent her from serving her country if she chooses. Similarly, although my 20 year-old nephew likely could kick your ass in a fight, that shouldn’t preclude you from serving your country if you choose, if you are fit for it.

Maybe you were unaware, but woman are prevented, thankfully, from direct combat in the military, so there is no need for them to be capable of hand-to-hand combat with anyone, much less a 53 year-old badass like yourself.

I say kudos to her, and to anyone who volunteers to serve their country in whatever capacity they are fit to do so.

[skaterboy]

military milf time....mmmmmmm

[Mr Rogers]

“Maybe you were unaware, but woman are prevented, thankfully, from direct combat in the military, so there is no need for them to be capable of hand-to-hand combat with anyone, much less a 53 year-old badass like yourself.”

I don’t object to her serving. I do object to the idea that women can serve on the front lines - THAT being the dispute currently in the news. I turned 49 in Afghanistan, and there was a reason that no one wanted me on patrol. No matter what I WANTED, my body couldn’t handle it as well as a 25 year old.

She’ll do fine in the legal office.

[G Larry]

As much credit as she deserves, this is actually a sad commentary on the dumbing down of the physical requirements for recruits.

I went through USAF basic in 1971 and it was not the most intense of the armed services.
Yet I doubt she could endure the standards required then.

[vladimir998]

At least you didn’t threaten to “kick him in the jimmy”. :)

[smokingfrog]

She’s going to be a virtual soldier in a virtual unit?

That’s something I’ve certainly never heard of before.

Good for her for following her dream.

[WILLIALAL]

“I was wondering the same thing. Her prior service probably has something to do with it. “

Yes prior service is part of the answer. It is all based upon the age of 60. Can you get in 20 years of service before age 60. That is where the age 39 comes from as a cut off for enlistment. Prior service is counted as time served, so it looks like she will serve for 9 more years, before reaching her 60th birthday and mandatory separation.

[Dick Vomer]

this is a joke. The Army is becoming the TSA. yawn.

Had the "slapping" incident with female that yapped about her "open hand combat skills". I gladly grabbed her arm, took her to the ground and grappled till I almost choked her out. Got up, went into a "better stance" and then just started laughing. I let her grab my sleeve then just spun into her and back on the ground and back on her arm and neck.

I didn't even want to kill her...... which is what really would have happened if I'd had a knife or weapon.

I'm not saying that she wouldn't have shot me before I got a hold of her, but I'd put myself up to a nice 20 mile hump with full pack into the boonies and then just go at it after no sleep for a couple of days.

She's in legal, she'll be the one in charge of prosecuting the warriors. Her Power Point presentations have probably killed on 4 continents and I'm sure that her warrior ethos has a lot to do with having a vagina and the new PC armed forces.

Yeah, I'd be real f'ing proud to be in a unit where a 51 year old woman was ranked higher in PT than most of the men. oooorraaahhhh. bwahahahahaha.

I'll tell you one thing. If I was pulling patrol, I'd make sure she was point, since she's the most physically fit in the unit. I'd also make sure she was #1 when we'd breach and go clear a building.

I'll bet she'd just love that.

[smokingfrog]

She’s going to be a virtual soldier in a virtual unit?

That’s something I’ve certainly never heard of before.

Good for her for following her dream.

[darrellmaurina]

12 posted on Saturday, February 18, 2012 10:51:54 AM by Future Snake Eater: “You obviously are unaware of the actual issues involved as well as how the Army scores its PT tests. Try to make your point elsewhere—you won't succeed here.”

You must have misunderstand my point. If you thought I was saying women can do everything men can do, I don't believe that — not at all.

I'm quite aware of the difference in PT test scoring for men and women, as well as for different ages with both genders.

Also, my point was **NOT** that women can do everything in the military. The Army and Marine Corps have especially good reasons for saying women don't qualify for some MOSes. Even with an Air Force combat pilot, there's a huge difference between being a USAF combat pilot and being in ground combat as a soldier or Marine.

I strongly believe 1) that there are some duties virtually no women can do — and I say “virtually no women” rather than “no women” only because there may be a one-in-100,000 exception case of a female bodybuilder who would meet standards, 2) that there are other duties women should not do as a matter of policy, and 3) that very few women want to do or are able to do most military duties in any case.

My point was not that I want to see women in the infantry. That's crazy.

My point was women who want to do so and are able to do so should be able to serve in the military.

[Charles Henrickson]

From 1982 to 1993, Coast devoted her life to the U.S. Navy.

You'd think she would have joined the Coast Guard.

[fr_freak]

Coast said. “I cry pretty much every day. Not a lot because it’s not an Army thing to do I know, but it’s mind boggling to me how supportive strangers can be.”

I think pretty much all of us who have been in the service over the last 20 or 30 years have seen the dumbing down of standards that is going on. The fact that anyone would take a 51-year-old female seriously as a professional soldier is a testament to how much of a politically correct fantasy world we now live in. I realize that she is just going to be a paralegal, but she shouldn't be in uniform if she can't fight, and anyone who has done any real fighting knows she can't fight. And that goes for most of the rest of the younger women, too.

I've seen people on this thread make the all-too-common statement that "if she wants to serve her country, she should be able to" and I consider this kind of thinking to be just another part of the entitlement mentality that has infected this country. The standards of fitness should be made a joke because she wants to serve, rather than maintaining realistic standards because that is what is best for military readiness. Never mind what is best for the country - it's all about me, me, me, me.

[wardaddy]

so you have found one middle aged woman who passed BCT?

and that is grounds for what?

basing all our wartime strength policy?

lol...hilarious

I bet my 11 year old can deliver ammo boxes from the Humvee to the gunner all day and makes less of a target

let’s make an army of grade school runners shall we?

i mean why not..they can do it?

and think of all the homeless and fatherless kids in urban communities...it would give them a home and structure...they would be cute in their little uniforms

my wife can kick me pretty hard with her Tai Kwon Do brown belt and has loads of cardiac stamina...at 47...but I could still kill her quickly in hand to hand or with weaponry

it’s just how it is

but to be honest...looking around today at little skinny video gaming sissified sock capped Echo Boomer educate white boys who all look so queer...I can see why they fear women physically and think girls should fight wars for them

it’s understandable

fembots are a scourge no question...but sissied up peckerwood boys don’t help

[winodog]

much less a 53 year-old badass like yourself.

lol thanks for the laugh

[FreedomPoster]

>>At the age of 40, the recruiter told me I was too old, that the cutoff age was 38 or 39, somewhere in that range.

I expect that the criteria is now changed for someone without the handicap of having one X and one Y chomosome.

[Future Snake Eater]

My point was not that I want to see women in the infantry. That's crazy.

That's what's coming. See Martha "Jimmy-kicker" McSally's very well-thought out remarks on the issue.

My point was women who want to do so and are able to do so should be able to serve in the military.

They already can do that. There are age limits but those are obviously waiverable if you go high enough up the chain.

I've worked with many female Soldiers. Some are dirtbags, some are high-speed--not real different from their male counterparts.

However....

Physically, they are held to lower standards. Pregnant Soldiers are treated like porcelain dolls. They are very distracting to the combat arms units.

With homosexuals added to the mix, it makes the whole thing that much more drama-prone. I should know, I saw it every day in the Brigade TOC in Afghanistan. I longed to go back to an Infantry Company after that experience.

[rabidralph]

Why would you want to kick her ass? She is serving her country and is happy to do so.

[little jeremiah]

From, article:

---

Coast is also looking forward to her life in the Army Reserve. She said she enlisted hoping to work directly with active duty troops, but instead was attached to a reserve unit. On the plus side she will be able to work near her son’s reserve unit.

---

Also check out this info, and, btw, your comment “people who think women can’t meet military standards” is disingenuous. It’s not that simple.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2848172/posts?q=1&;page=209#209

[central_va]

Maybe you were unaware, but woman are prevented, thankfully, from direct combat in the military, so there is no need for them to be capable of hand-to-hand combat with anyone, much less a 53 year-old badass like yourself.

Your post is exactly why women should not be in the military. The billets that women now fill, i.e. non-combat duty used to be used to give a guy a break in between arduous duty. Now women fill those "cushy" jobs ensuring a male is going to have to rough for 20 straight years, if he lives that long.

[Mr Rogers]

The OP posted a link to this thread on one discussing women in the front lines, and using it as an example.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2848172/posts?page=188#188