Tracking Kali through her Army career (Moderately non-Valk)

[Beardo]

Am enjoying following along on this journey Serk.  Good memory bringer upper for all the military folks in here and an eye opener for us non-military folks.

 Thanks for posting these updates. 

[f6gal]

... That site is https://www.basictrainingphotos.com/ if you're interested...
...

I'm a little slow.  How do we identify Kali's company on this site?

I don't know about that site, but the FB page is https://www.facebook.com/BlackfootBCT.

Yah, feel free to follow that one too (That's where all the pics I've posted thus far came from), but if so PLEASE don't post anything calling her out, trainees have been known to get MASSIVELY smoked for even the most innocuous call out there...  Evidently the DS monitor that page...

Oh crap... BRB, gotta fix something!

Edit: Ok, fixed, hope is was in time!

[Serk]

... That site is https://www.basictrainingphotos.com/ if you're interested...
...

I'm a little slow.  How do we identify Kali's company on this site?

I don't know about that site, but the FB page is https://www.facebook.com/BlackfootBCT.

Yah, feel free to follow that one too (That's where all the pics I've posted thus far came from), but if so PLEASE don't post anything calling her out, trainees have been known to get MASSIVELY smoked for even the most innocuous call out there...  Evidently the DS monitor that page...

Oh crap... BRB, gotta fix something!

Edit: Ok, fixed, hope is was in time!

Heheheh, I was tempted to NOT post that comment, didn't wanna call anyone out..... I DO appreciate anyone's concern and interest following along with my spawn, but..... yeah.....

[Serk]

Looking through the other pics of the "Confidence Course" MOST of them look like they'd be fun (Without a DS screaming at you) other than this one.... This pic (Kali not in it, but she would have had to gone through it too).... THIS one gives me the heebie jeebies.....

[Jess from VA]

Hey at least it's new lumber.

I went through a confidence course in the woods at night in the rain, and the old rotten waterlogged rope bridge gave out with my classmates on it.  The ground stopped their fall.

I know the teamwork building thing.  But I would climb down (or up) that thing without trusting anyone else's grip.   (even at 68)

[Serk]

Tarynn and I just had the most pleasant video chat with Kali. It was brief, but SO good to hear her and see her! She's in good spirits, seems to mostly be enjoying herself, and has learned to "embrace the suck" when it's not enjoyable. Hoping she stays on the DS' good side and we get to hear from her more often, but we'll take what we can get!

-The barracks are NOT coed (Thankfully!)
-First Platoon
-She, thankfully for him, called her parents BEFORE she called her boyfriend.

[f6gal]

Congrats!  She looks great!  Did she lose a few pounds?  For some reason (I think the prom thing), I thought her and the BF broke up.

Oh, and what is she wearing?  Backpack?  Parachute pack?

[Serk]

Congrats!  She looks great!  Did she lose a few pounds?  For some reason (I think the prom thing), I thought her and the BF broke up.

That was like 3 boyfriends ago... (The prom thing was just a friend)....
The current one I actually embarrassed the heck outta her, the romance only came into existence 2 or so weeks before she shipped out, and she was trying SO hard to keep it secret, but a daddy's intuition is hard to beat. I had my suspicions already, but when she had her friend make a 20 second phone call to us last weekend and 1/3 of that call was asking to let this boy have her Sandboxx info..... And then when said boy messaged me last night asking to confirm her address because he was worried she wasn't getting his mail I challenged him and he withered under the brutal cross examination and admitted what I already knew... (It's okay, I like this kid. Ren faire kid).

She did visibly blush on the video call though when I told HER I'd figured it out, and updated her that he wanted to make sure she knew he'd been sending her letters, don't know why she hasn't gotten 'em yet.

Edit to add (Hey, you edited your post while I was replying!)

Oh, and what is she wearing?  Backpack?  Parachute pack?

CamelBak hydration system. Evidently those are standard G.I. issue now in lieu of a canteen...

[f6gal]

Congrats!  She looks great!  Did she lose a few pounds?  For some reason (I think the prom thing), I thought her and the BF broke up.

That was like 3 boyfriends ago... (The prom thing was just a friend)....
The current one I actually embarrassed the heck outta her, the romance only came into existence 2 or so weeks before she shipped out, and she was trying SO hard to keep it secret, but a daddy's intuition is hard to beat. I had my suspicions already, but when she had her friend make a 20 second phone call to us last weekend and 1/3 of that call was asking to let this boy have her Sandboxx info..... And then when said boy messaged me last night asking to confirm her address because he was worried she wasn't getting his mail I challenged him and he withered under the brutal cross examination and admitted what I already knew... (It's okay, I like this kid. Ren faire kid).

She did visibly blush on the video call though when I told HER I'd figured it out, and updated her that he wanted to make sure she knew he'd been sending her letters, don't know why she hasn't gotten 'em yet.

Edit to add (Hey, you edited your post while I was replying!)

Oh, and what is she wearing?  Backpack?  Parachute pack?

CamelBak hydration system. Evidently those are standard G.I. issue now in lieu of a canteen...

Sorry 'bout that, I thought I did it quick enough (not 30 min later )

Yeah I knew the prom date was a friend, that's why I thought she broke up with the BF.  Hmmm, blushing, might be serious.  Hahaha!

[Serk]

Hmmm, blushing, might be serious.  Hahaha!

Heh, you wanna check up on him? He's here now, but he's attending college at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and will head back there shortly... 

[f6gal]

Hmmm, blushing, might be serious.  Hahaha!

Heh, you wanna check up on him? He's here now, but he's attending college at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and will head back there shortly... 

Hey, I got my Bachelor's at Grand Canyon! 

[Serk]

Hey, I got my Bachelor's at Grand Canyon! 

Well, then you should know your way around campus if he needs any roughing up!

And thanks for putting THIS song in my head... 

[f6gal]

Hey, I got my Bachelor's at Grand Canyon! 

Well, then you should know your way around campus if he needs any roughing up!

And thanks for putting THIS song in my head... 

I do know quite a few Phoenix LEOs ... if that's helpful.  LOL!

[mbramley]

The bad advice is mostly that about blending in.  Boot camp is not unlike life challenges in general.  The participant should make every effort to excel doing the best he or she can do.  The unusual challenge is learning that the boot does not have the option of resisting or arguing orders that don't make sense. 

It is funny how different people can go through the same process and come to polar opposite views on how to handle it. Early on in Kali's process of deciding Army I had two Army veteran friends, both about the same age (~5 years older than me, so younglings by VRCC standards) talk to her. The first advised her to volunteer for anything, take leadership roles, be a standout, do her absolute best at every single task presented to her.

The second advised her to try to blend in, not stand out, do as told but don't be the first or best, but definitely don't be the last or worst either. His point being that after basic odds of ever seeing or working with any of these people ever again were virtually nil so just get through basic, then when you're in the REAL Army shine to your full potential.

(And before anyone bad talks the person giving opinion #2 that was also the same friend that, unbidden, hopped in his truck and drove from south of Dallas, got a trailer and drove to Ohio to get Kali and I home after Kali's unscheduled dismount. His commentary was far from being out of laziness or lack of concern.)

As to which path Kali is taking, only she knows. I suspect she's doing her absolute best, she was raised to always do so and usually does (Unless it involves cleaning her room or her car.)




Also, some people asked me earlier if it would be possible to write her once an address was known. The address is now known, I don't wanna post it publicly but if anyone wishes to write her please feel free to PM me and I'll give you the address. Please though, letters only, care packages, candy, snacks, anything other than letters is majorly verboten, to the level that even her practical joke loving daddy is sticking to the rules and sending words on paper only...

 Letter's only for sure. My Uncle who was a WWII Marine had told my mom to send a single piece of gum in a letter. She did this a couple of times and I would chew it after lights out. The DI felt a letter with one in it and I had to open it in front of him- well while everyone else was writing home and shining boots and... I was doing push ups. Big puddle of sweat under me before he got bored. As soon as possible I wrote home to stop this from happening again. After boot camp all food and such is much appreciated.

[Serk]

Yup, although she has asked for some very specific things to be sent to her, Amazon makes it easy to get stuff there quick, and so far MORE of the things we've sent have met DS muster (Although evidently the sugar free cough drops were too good of flavors and she wouldn't let her have 'em, but didn't smoke her for getting 'em either.)

So today we got to drink from the firehose as far as info and pics! The pay site with photos, which until today had just ONE set of photos, posted SIX batches today, found her in several, but generally either things I've already posted (Gas chamber) or ones where only her sister could spot her (Large group and Kali's head is the 3rd from the end just barely visible, but KK could pick her out INSTANTLY every time, it was almost creepy!)

Also, her company's Facebook page posted some pics of their first aid training from the last few days, got to see her doing an injury evacuation thingy:



AND we got a letter from her! Nothing much new in the letter other than an explanation as to why she lost phone privileges weekend before last, and this one she agreed with - someone handed her her M4 and hadn't checked the safety, and she hadn't done a safety check herself either. She had no problem getting her punishment for that one, although the trainee who handed her the weapon was asked to fess up, and refused to do so, she was a little bitter about that but wasn't asked to name them so she didn't.

[scooperhsd]

A stand up gal - you and your wife raised her right. She should go far.

<Bro Hugs to you>

[f6gal]

Yup, although she has asked for some very specific things to be sent to her, Amazon makes it easy to get stuff there quick, and so far MORE of the things we've sent have met DS muster (Although evidently the sugar free cough drops were too good of flavors and she wouldn't let her have 'em, but didn't smoke her for getting 'em either.)

So today we got to drink from the firehose as far as info and pics! The pay site with photos, which until today had just ONE set of photos, posted SIX batches today, found her in several, but generally either things I've already posted (Gas chamber) or ones where only her sister could spot her (Large group and Kali's head is the 3rd from the end just barely visible, but KK could pick her out INSTANTLY every time, it was almost creepy!)

Also, her company's Facebook page posted some pics of their first aid training from the last few days, got to see her doing an injury evacuation thingy:



AND we got a letter from her! Nothing much new in the letter other than an explanation as to why she lost phone privileges weekend before last, and this one she agreed with - someone handed her her M4 and hadn't checked the safety, and she hadn't done a safety check herself either. She had no problem getting her punishment for that one, although the trainee who handed her the weapon was asked to fess up, and refused to do so, she was a little bitter about that but wasn't asked to name them so she didn't.

Hey let's see the KK only pics. 

[Serk]

Here's one I zoomed WAY in to find her on:



And per request, this was the first one KK showed her talent on. This pic had been up for MAYBE 1/2 second when KK jumps up "FOUND HER!"...

[f6gal]

Here's one I zoomed WAY in to find her on:



And per request, this was the first one KK showed her talent on. This pic had been up for MAYBE 1/2 second when KK jumps up "FOUND HER!"...

Kali's got her game face goin' on.  Quite the talent for the youngest Serkette.

[Serk]

This past Tuesday Kali and her company did "The Hammer" field training exercise: Five mile road march then survivability, warrior skills with medical, gas mask, camouflage and communications skills in a field environment. I was able to find 3 very zoomed in pics of her from this exercise...

[f6gal]

Oo, oo, oo, I know. 

[carolinarider09]

This past Tuesday Kali and her company did "The Hammer" field training exercise: Five mile road march then survivability, warrior skills with medical, gas mask, camouflage and communications skills in a field environment. I was able to find 3 very zoomed in pics of her from this exercise...

I like this one.   She is looking at the camera with a smile (well sort of), head pointed straight ahead but looking and knowing. 

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for sharing.   

I was about to note the complete absence of smiles, and serious demeanor.

[cookiedough]

don't they have to cut their hair very short in the military anymore? 

She should be familiar with guns knowing Serk and his shooting land he has...

My brother's kid in the military still age 28 or so joined age 18ish range being a medic loved it when he showed my older brother the helicopters and brush cutting 50 cals (my guess?) able to shoot them, pretty impressive the volume of shells that machine on a helicopter can round off.

[scooperhsd]

Males, - maybe (you're thinking right next to using a razor - maybe not THAT tight). Females - Obviously - not too far from collar in the back,  and you should have read Serk's post about hair color / acceptable variations  (i.e.  - none ).

[Serk]

We got another brief phone call from Kali just now. Not a whole lot new, she enjoyed learning to zero her M4 and finally getting to shoot it, said the food is actually really really good. She's got a persistent cough, they're gonna send her to sick bay to check it out if it's not better by tomorrow, so we'll see what that's all about.

Her company has formally phased out of red phase and into white phase as of a few hours ago. (So the triplets and I will be having MREs for dinner, little tradition we've got for whenever she reaches a training milestone.)

[f6gal]

We got another brief phone call from Kali just now. Not a whole lot new, she enjoyed learning to zero her M4 and finally getting to shoot it, said the food is actually really really good. She's got a persistent cough, they're gonna send her to sick bay to check it out if it's not better by tomorrow, so we'll see what that's all about.

Her company has formally phased out of red phase and into white phase as of a few hours ago. (So the triplets and I will be having MREs for dinner, little tradition we've got for whenever she reaches a training milestone.)

Persistent cough?  Uh-oh.

[scooperhsd]

OTOH - at least the Drill Sargents are paying attention to their trainees.

[Serk]

Persistent cough?  Uh-oh.

Yeah, she's expecting to get a COVID test first thing tomorrow regardless at this point. She has a history of getting long lasting persistent coughs that nothing will shake but time. Worst was a few years ago (I.E. Pre-COVID) when we took her to Las Vegas, she developed a weeks long wracking cough that she just couldn't shake until it just stopped...

[f6gal]

Persistent cough?  Uh-oh.

Yeah, she's expecting to get a COVID test first thing tomorrow regardless at this point. She has a history of getting long lasting persistent coughs that nothing will shake but time. Worst was a few years ago (I.E. Pre-COVID) when we took her to Las Vegas, she developed a weeks long wracking cough that she just couldn't shake until it just stopped...

Hmmm, I assume she has had chest x-rays in the past?

[Serk]

Hmmm, I assume she has had chest x-rays in the past?

I seem to recall that was done last time she had this, but that was several years ago now. Can't recall what, if anything, the final diagnosis was but she eventually got over it.

I suspect this is just a case of her body not being used to being run at full throttle non-stop for weeks on end, but we'll see...

[old2soon]

        Not sure what humidity she's used to in Rowlet but in Missouri this time of year very high humidity normal. The Reason the heat indexes Are such a b tch up thisaway. Ans startin 2moro we uns heade back to those high heat indexes the rest of the fer sure. I remember Fondly what I Was capable of in my late teens early 20s. She'll do well. RIDE SAFE.

[f6gal]

        Not sure what humidity she's used to in Rowlet but in Missouri this time of year very high humidity normal. The Reason the heat indexes Are such a b tch up thisaway. Ans startin 2moro we uns heade back to those high heat indexes the rest of the fer sure. I remember Fondly what I Was capable of in my late teens early 20s. She'll do well. RIDE SAFE.

You need gills to breathe in Missouri when humidity is up.

[cookiedough]

I am really surprised though with that person being pulled up by 2 others with NO safety harnesses around the person being pulled up.  To me, that is unsafe and if that person falls he/she is in big trouble.  Am surprised that unsafeness still exists in today's training routine.

I for one would not trust 2 or even 4 adults trying to lift me up onto a wooden platform since am sure I could not pull myself up all alone no way not even age 22 and 200lbs. back then.  Chin-ups were never my strong suite able to only do just a couple when in so-so shape 30 years ago.

[3fan4life]

I am really surprised though with that person being pulled up by 2 others with NO safety harnesses around the person being pulled up.  To me, that is unsafe and if that person falls he/she is in big trouble.  Am surprised that unsafeness still exists in today's training routine.

I for one would not trust 2 or even 4 adults trying to lift me up onto a wooden platform since am sure I could not pull myself up all alone no way not even age 22 and 200lbs. back then.  Chin-ups were never my strong suite able to only do just a couple when in so-so shape 30 years ago.

I'm sure that there's some "soft" sand or sawdust to land in if you fall.

[Serk]

Ya'll got me curious so I did some googlin' and it appears there's giant air bag mat thingies under the soldiers on the obstacles...

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ya'll got me curious so I did some googlin' and it appears there's giant air bag mat thingies under the soldiers on the obstacles...

Bunch of pussies ! In my day we used concrete.  (Just kidding)

[Willow]

I am really surprised though with that person being pulled up by 2 others with NO safety harnesses around the person being pulled up.  To me, that is unsafe and if that person falls he/she is in big trouble.  Am surprised that unsafeness still exists in today's training routine.

I for one would not trust 2 or even 4 adults trying to lift me up onto a wooden platform since am sure I could not pull myself up all alone no way not even age 22 and 200lbs. back then.  Chin-ups were never my strong suite able to only do just a couple when in so-so shape 30 years ago.

I'm sure that there's some "soft" sand or sawdust to land in if you fall.

Not if they built those training towers as does the Marine Corps.  It's about teaching teamwork.

As for C-dough's unwillingness to execute such a maneuver I believe he will be quite safe from being asked to do so.

[f6gal]

Bunch of pussies ! In my day we used concrete.  (Just kidding)

Well, that explains it; you landed on your head too many times.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Bunch of pussies ! In my day we used concrete.  (Just kidding)

Well, that explains it; you landed on your head too many times.

probably, but that happened much earlier in life. In all honesty, I don’t remember climbing much in boot camp. (Besides the stairs to our bunks)