The Eyes Of John Miller

Chapter One

"Stand up straight, son. This isn't the Air Force. Welcome to the Army!" The sergeant is practically screaming at the guy beside me, but I dare not flinch.
"Weckmen, wipe that pretty fucking smile of your face!" he jumped to another private and shouted. The tension in the room is ridiculous.
"Listen here you bunch of dog face son of bitches, next time someone decides they want to move in my formation, I'll make them move their asses another fucking four mile for a bit of special pt!"
Everyone is silent, and I'm not sure he likes that too much cause he stomps back over to Private Weckmen and gets nose to nose with him.
"Still think I'm funny son?"
"No Sergeant!"
"are you gonna smile in my formation again?"
"No, Sergeant!"
Sergeant O'neil nodded and looked up and down each of us. He stepping in front of me and looked down and my boots, then casually made his way up to my face. "How's your day, Private Miller?"
"Wonderful, Sergeant!" I let the words come out loud, but inside I want to cower back and whisper.
"So, tell me, Miller, why are you here?"
"For America, Sergeant!"
"What about America?"
I open my mouth to answer but the door flings open and in steps another Drill Sergeant. O'neil steps away from me and I relax a bit, that guy has some
serious dental issues.
"No. But these guys are graduating BCT in five weeks  Most of them have no idea about any deployment plans."
That's right, five more weeks and I'm out of here. I finally get away from this place.
"You need a private to demonstrate adequacy on the range?"
He looks at the formation, which he left at attention and squinted, looking us over.
"Parker, get your damn shoulders back. Quit your fucking slouching!" He looks us over again and then assumes the position of attention.
"Stand at Ease." he tells us and like magic, everyone spreads their feet 10 inches apart, everyone's hands are stacked on the small of their backs and everyone's head and eyes are looking at Sergeant O'neil.

"Alright you bunch if pussies, let's get one thing straight. You have five weeks to graduate and you're either commissioned or you're discharged."
That's Sergeant O'neil, for the friendly reminder.
"I want you all in tip top shape. Never have I ever had to write a discharge paper out of my 7 Years as a drill instructor. And we won't start now."
"HOO-AH!" our voices echo together and O'neil straightens up, taking up the position of attention, "Group, attention!" we all snapped to attention like it was nothing, like we were never at any other stationary position. "On the command of Fall out, you better make your way to the chow hall and eat. Private Miller, you stay back. Fall Out!"
he shouts and everyone runs past me in a mad dash. "Last one to the mess hall better drop and not recover until my command." This pushed the majority of them to go faster.
"Miller!" Sergeant O'neil clapped his hand on my arm and I flinched, which made him laugh, "Easy does it killer, I'm not gonna kill yah yet."
Both the instructors laughed so I laughed along nervously.
"In all seriousness, I need you to go with Staff Sergeant Fagin here and hit the range."
"Yes Sergeant." I nod and O'neil walks off and a few seconds pass before you hear O'neil laugh and tell some poor kid to get up.
"Hey there, I'm Staff Sergeant Michael Fagin." The sergeant held his hand out to me and I grabbed it firmly,
"Private John Miller, pleasure to meet you, Sergeant."
"Hah, sure. I've got to take a sharpshooter with me in 14 weeks to a marksmanship competition and I've heard you've got quite the shot."
I shrug and clear my throat, "I do my best, Sergeant."
"Follow me, son." he says and I follow him, letting him lead me to our firing range.
The base seemed to go on forever as my anxiety levels began to rise. This was certainly new for me; I've sort of been the guy to stand in the back, to just keep quiet. Now here I am getting tested for the Army's marksmanship team.

✴✴

"Alright. First thing I need you to do, private, is take this AR and clear all 20 targets in 2 minutes. I'll start the clock when you begin firing."
I take a deep breath and hold it, steadying myself. I slowly release it and draw in another, holding it.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

The rounds pop off as I fire at the targets that keep popping up, not holding back. This is my chance to do something and not be a lousy private.
"45 seconds to go. Doing good Miller." Fagin's voice sounded like it was off into the distance as I fired the last few rounds and cleared all the targets.
"Time." I called out, hearing the beep of his watch.
"1:34.47! Impressive for a guy almost fresh out it Basic Combat Training!" He smiled and wrote the time on a clipboard. I flipped the safety on and laid the weapon down on the table. I looked back to Sergeant Fagin as he was pulling out his phone and he put it up to his ear.
"Staff Sergeant Fagin speaking... Yes... Yes Sir... Of course sir..." his face went pale and he paced a few steps.
"Yes sir. Five more weeks of training... Yes sir... I understand sir... I'll get it done... No, thank you sir... Alright, have a good one." He put his phone away and offered me a bit of a sorrowful smile. 

"Push yourself Private. Stand out. Shits about to get rough because you've got 3 and a half weeks to graduate. All of you. Now get on to the mess hall, there's about to be a briefing."