If someone had told me at the beginning of my high school career that I would be joining the Army at the young age of 17 and graduate as a soldier, I would probably laugh in their face and tell them they got the wrong girl. Nonetheless, on August 14, 2024, I graduated Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) from the Alpha Company 3-10 Infantry Battalion in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Before leaving for BCT, I was completely terrified; I would think to myself “what did I get myself into,” “what if I’m not strong enough,” “what if I can’t do it,” constantly before my departure. What I came to learn though, was that at the end of the day, my mindset was what would either carry me to success or drag me down.
Red Phase
After getting through what some people may call the worst part of BCT, reception (standing in lines for hours and sitting down and trying to to fall asleep while running for a maximum of four hours), I arrived at Alpha Company.
The first few weeks I would describe as the most difficult; not necessarily physically as some would think, but mentally. I was away from my family for the first time with only a 30 minute phone call on Sunday’s keeping me connected to them.
Though the sentiment of not being able to talk to them was the most difficult part of my experience, it also made me rely on others more, and though some would think that this would be a lonely time, the people who I completed BCT with eventually became my family. Throughout BCT, you are never alone; one is going through everything for the first time with everyone, therefore the friendships I made throughout the way are like nothing like, as we called it, in the “civilian world.”
We also motivated each other beyond belief, as we were all made aware that if we did not complete our training, we would be “recycled” and would have to complete our training with the next company, which could take months.
During red phase, we completed the 40-foot repel tower, the gas chamber, the team-building obstacle course, and the first of our field training exercises. Some of the days we completed these challenges, we had to go into what is known as Heat Category Five in which we unbuttoned and lifted our sleeves and pant legs in order to let airflow enter more easily on 100-degree days.
Throughout these first challenges, we were able to gain confidence in ourselves; during these first activities, I began to understand that I was stronger, both physically and mentally, than I had ever thought. This drive was instilled in me throughout the first phase and followed me throughout the rest of BCT.
The last event of Red Phase is what is known as The Hammer; the first of three field training exercises (FTX’s). During these field training sessions, we spent most of our days learning about the different battle tactics and battle drills encountered in real life.
During The Hammer, the company was bussed to a wooded area in which we were divided into four-person groups that we had to spend the days with. On the first day of the Hammer, we set up camp, dug foxholes in which we slept and completed our first ruck.
Rucking for me was the most difficult part of BCT; we filled our rucksacks, large backpacks, with almost 60 pounds by the end of BCT and proceeded to walk for miles in the night. Our first ruck was only five miles, but that felt eternal in the eyes of someone who had never had that experience.
By the end, though, my rucksack weighed almost double what it did in my first ruck, we walked 10 miles in the night and the motivation of graduation drove me throughout the ruck. My longest ruck was ironically my best ruck; I remember the laughing, cheering and overall content of everyone when we completed our 10 miles. We knew what we had accomplished, and that is a feeling I will never forget.
White Phase
The second phase of BCT is White Phase, in which the company spends every day on multiple ranges in order to qualify for weapons training. The majority of this is with the M4 carbine assault rifle with both iron sights and optics. Moreover, there is also training on the handling of grenades.
I, like the majority of my company, had never handled a weapon of any kind in my life, and the idea of it terrified me. Our drill sergeants, though, mentored myself and others in a way that eased my nerves and gave me confidence in my abilities as a soldier.
In order to qualify for weapons training, one had to “zero” their weapon (creating your own point of aim on the weapon), shoot at least 23 of 40 targets on varying distances with the highest being 300 ft and reach the same amount of targets with an optic.
Our final event on a range was what we called ‘buddy live fire,’ in which one and a ‘battle buddy’ (a fellow trainee) would alternate on shooting live ammo to targets to imitate a real situation in which one would have to cover their fellow soldier.
We ended white phase with our second FTX, ‘the anvil.’ We again were sent to a wooded area, set up camp for our group and on the night of our second day we completed our seven-and-a-half mile ruck back to the company building.
White phase was most definitely my favorite part of BCT, as I not only got to complete training for things I would never have imagined, but for the first time, I understood the seriousness of handling a weapon in order to not only defend oneself, but others. It made me feel proud that I was and am part of the less than one percent of the United States serving in the military.
Blue Phase
There were only two major events in blue phase; the obstacle course, and the Forge, our last FTX.
Throughout our time at BCT, we went through several obstacles, both metaphorical and physical, to test our confidence and daringness. We completed confidence climbs, held onto ropes 40 feet in the air and more. After each was completed I found myself being proud, as I did things in BCT I never knew I would be capable of.
The last event we completed, and what was the main focus of this phase was ‘the forge,’ in which the company spent three days conducting battle drills ranging from entering and clearing buildings and surprise attacks.
This FTX for me was the most fun, as at this time we had been with our drill sergeants for two months, therefore we got to know them both on a more personal level and as true mentors. Not only do I feel that my drill sergeants wanted the company’s complete success, but their lessons will be with me until my final day in the Army and beyond.
Moreover, because we knew this was our last training, and we knew that we only had one final week together, the company as a whole bonded like never before. We had fun in and out of training and made the best out of the time we had together.
Never before have I grown as close to people in such a fast period of time as the people that I grew to know and love during my time at BCT. I will never forget the friendships I made, and will always cherish the memories created during this time of my life.
Our final event was the 10-mile rucksack march to our patching ceremony, where we became soldiers.
Family Day and Graduation
On our second to last day at Fort Leonard Wood, we had a family day, in which the soldiers were able to see their families in person for the first time in two-and-a-half months.
Though I was already excited beyond words, I received news that I would be promoted onstage on family day and my excitement grew tremendously, as I would see my family after my first big accomplishment in the Army.
Both my friend and I had our favorite drill sergeant, Drill Sergeant Stoner, who had also given me my Army patch, promote us onstage. It was his first cycle of being a drill sergeant, therefore he and our group went through everything for the first time together in a way.
When my friend and I asked him to promote us, it seemed to have almost caught him by surprise, but in my mind, he had made one of the strongest impacts in my life. I continue to carry the knowledge he gave us not only for the Army but for everyday life.
When I saw my family for the first time, I immediately erupted in tears- I knew that I would, but seeing their proud faces made it a surreal feeling. They had been my biggest motivators since the beginning of my enlistment and finally seeing them after I accomplished this feat will forever be a cherished memory.
Though I did not want to leave their side, I also did not want to leave the countless friendships I made throughout my time at Fort Leonard Wood, and the final night at the company was emotional, to say the least.
Despite the sadness, I was beyond proud of my friends who made it through and helped me make it through BCT. During our last night in the barracks, between the cleaning, tears and overall emotional goodbyes came a sense of bonding that has yet to be replicated, and I wonder if it ever will.
On graduation day, we marched on stage in front of friends and family and proudly proclaimed our hometown, as well as the rank with which we graduated. Though BCT was not as challenging as I thought it would be, I was more proud of myself than I ever had been at that moment.
Throughout my time at Fort Leonardwood, I learned many valuable lessons from not only my Drill Sergeants, but from the people that I would begin to call family; try to find the fun in everything, you are capable of more than you think and you can do hard things if you set your mind to it. I know I changed throughout the two and a half months of my Summer, and whether others see it as a positive or negative change, I know that I am a stronger person in many ways- and I would not change my time there for anything.
