The lights went on and I got out of my bed. I was kinda groggy still since I hadn't slept at all that night, but my nerves and overall excitement got me up. I quickly got dressed with all of the other females in the bay and headed downstairs. I noticed it was still dark outside and the stars were out still out. "Typical army day, hooah", I thought sarcastically to myself, "but today is the day".
I walked over to my platoon and stood in the spot I had been assigned to. Everyone seemed to be tired as usual, but the energy levels from everyone were definitely up. "Ohhhh girl, are you excited to see la familia today?" my battle Shae exclaimed with joy not even caring that we were supposed to be at parade rest. I did a nervous chuckle back, "Ohh yes I am!" At this point I really couldn't even picture actually seeing my family. It had been 10 weeks and the only communication I'd had with the outside world was through letters. I was ecstatic.
After a few minutes my company sat down and grabbed some tasteless MRE's (Meal Ready to Eat) and quickly scarfed them down for breakfast. Our drill sergeants reminded us that we had to eat all of our food and drink lots of liquids so we wouldn't pass out in front of our families and look like fools. I knew I was going to miss the drill sergeants-believe it or not.
After we were done eating we would all go up one by one to get our uniforms inspected by a drill sergeant to make sure our pins were in the right place and we looked squared away. This took a little while since there were 250 privates needing to get inspections done and only 12 drill sergeants. After about an hour it was all finished and we were ready to get onto buses to go to Hilton Field where we would be reunited with out parents.
While on the bus I really realized how hot and sticky it was that day, I'd have to see my family all gross like this.. Yuck! I got over caring about how I looked pretty fast. I was so overwhelmed with all of the civilian vehicles everywhere and all of the parents in the stands.
We all began to get off of the busses while we were behind the treeline. My battles and I could see all of the parents, but they could not see us. I frantically tried to look for my family, but there were too many people and I couldn't find them. I was so worried at this point that I began shaking just thinking about everything that could happen within the next hour, the good and the bad. I wanted time to stop for a little bit so I could calm down, but that's not how life works. The clock was ticking down until i'd see my parents again.
The sergeants began helping all of us line up in height order so we could get ready to walk across the field. While they were helping us get ready to walk our families were all listening to patriotic music and chanting for us. I heard an announcement from the drill sergeants, "1 minute til we walk out." "Holy Sh** this is really happening, wow, okay, uhhhh, please don't pass out Summer".
"POP! POP!... POP!" We could no longer see the stadium from the tree line as it had been covered by fog set off by the drill sergeants. The ceremony had begun. "Back in Black" started to play. I had no idea they were going to play that song. I felt like a total badass walking out through the fog disregarding the fact that I had tears rolling down my cheeks already.
The music stopped and so did our marching, we were about 10 ft away from the stadium where all of our families were and the fog was gone so I could really start looking for my family. I scanned a ton of rows, nothing. "Is my mom late like she always is to events and my dad just went with it? Would they really do this to me after I've been gone for 10 weeks?" I thought to myself with a slight look of panic on my face.
"Without jumping over the rails, you may go find your soldier," The Command Sergeant Major announced. We weren't allowed to move from the position of attention until our parents found us. I was just looking around waiting for about five minutes. I was so worried they were late or something had gone wrong when they were traveling to South Carolina. After a bit of anxiety and worry my mom ran up to me crying. At this point I was sobbing. I don't think I have ever hugged my mom for so long and so tight. I was talking to both my grandparents and parents, but I don't even know what I was saying. So many questions and answers were being asked and answered. I was all over the place in this moment, but it was a good feeling. I was so pleased with everything in that moment and carefree because I wouldn't have to see a drill sergeant for about 10 hours which was more time away from them then I'd had since arriving.
The rest of the day I just spent talking with my family about our lives the past ten weeks, I made sure that they knew I couldn't have made it through the hardest thing I have ever completed in my life, Army Basic training, without their help and support. I knew by the end of the day that I would never forget what it felt like to walk out to see my family as an American Soldier.
