After nine weeks and six days of Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, my boyfriend, Pvt. James Massingale, graduated with the other 184 soldiers of the Delta Company 2nd Battalion, 10th infantry, also known as the Delta Dogs.  James was in the 4th platoon of the D Company, also known as the Outlaws.  Over the last couple of weeks the company commanders and drill sergeants have taught these soldiers everything that they need to know for basic combat and have lead them through many different and challenging drills and exercises.

The training, known as BCT, is divided into three separate phases; Red, White, and Blue.  Each phase includes a different level and type of training and in turn allows them different levels of privileges. 
The first phase, Red Phase is total control.  Every thing that the soldiers do is completely controlled by the drill sergeants.  This phase also focuses on individual skills training and confidence building.  During White Phase, soldiers begin to work on marksmanship and tactical skills.  Each individual soldier is introduced to and has the opportunity to use several weapons within the Army’s arsenal.  The Blue Phase is when soldiers are introduced to advanced tactical skills such as Urban Operations, Convoy Live Fire, and a Night Infiltration Course.

For the first couple  of weeks I received only one letter from James and a three-minute phone call that was just to let me know he got to Fort Leonard Wood all right.  Because the Drill Sergeants have total control, their phone time is completely limited and having personal time to write letters is next to nothing.  The Red Phase was the hardest phase for me and I wasn’t the one doing anything strenuous or crazy.  Eventually James and the other soldiers were able to have their cell phones for a certain amount of time on Sundays, that is, if no one had gotten into trouble during the week.  Those phone calls seemed to make the weeks go by
Since James shipped out on February 19, I had been counting down the days until the Meet and Greet and BCT Graduation.  After flying into Tulsa, OK and driving the five hours to Fort Leonard Wood, my countdown was complete.  Driving onto the base I was immediately impressed with it’s size.  It was no surprise that Fort Leonard Wood is affectionately known as “Fort Lost in The Wood”. 

On May 7, the Meet and Greet was held at the USO on the base.  The USO is a big open room with arcade games, pools tables, televisions, and a concession stand for soldiers to use during their down time.  I, along with James’s family, was able to spend three and a half hours with him after a quick briefing about what we could expect during the gradation ceremony the next day.  The company commander, CPT McNichol and First Sergeant Huling also showed the families two videos with pictures that were taken throughout the Delta Company’s BCT. 

During the Meet and Greet the soldiers were not allowed to leave the USO, so James’s family and I sat around in chairs and bombarded him with questions about training. Those three hours seemed to fly by so fast and before I knew it the soldiers had one minute to get back into formation outside.  After a quick hug and kiss goodbye, James was marching off to the chow hall and I was left counting down the hours till graduation the next day.

The company’s graduation was held in Baker Theater at on May 8, at 8 a.m. We were told in the briefing the day before that we could arrive up to 45 minutes early in order to get a good seat.  Videos and pictures were allowed during the ceremony as long as taking them didn’t interfere with anything that was going on.   Baker Theater was almost a full house, as families and friends gathered together again to see their soldiers. 

The first event of the graduation was the soldier’s entrance.  All four platoons and their drill sergeants marched onstage in their Class A uniforms and berets.  Class A’s are the Army’s dress uniforms used for special occasions.  The soldiers were then seated on the right side of the auditorium in their platoons.  After all 185 soldiers had been seated, the audience watched the two videos again, stood for the posting of the colors, and sang the national anthem.  As I was sitting in my seat, I could really feel the sense of pride, not only for the graduating soldiers, but for our country as well, throughout the theater. 

During the ceremony the families were introduced to the drill sergeants that had instructed and drilled the soldiers throughout basic.  Then each platoon was marched on stage one by one and individual soldiers were able to introduce themselves and were they came from.  The cheers from the family members and friends for each solider made me smile and laugh. 
After the introductions, several graduating soldiers were awarded special awards for accomplishments. Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Butler gave a speech praising the soldiers for their hard work and dedication.  For the last few minutes of the ceremony the soldiers said the Oath of Enlistment and the Soldier’s Creed, the colors were retired, and Company Commander CPT McNichol gave the final announcements and instructions for the rest of the day. 

The soldier’s families were able to sign them out on an off-post pass for the remainder of the day, but they had to be back by 8:30 p.m.  The soldiers were limited to a 50-mile radius around the base, but luckily there were several stores and restaurants around Fort Leonard Wood.  For lunch all James wanted fast food and a Dr. Pepper.  All I wanted to do was just be around James and have it be like we hadn’t been apart for almost 10 weeks and we weren’t going to have to say goodbye again the next day.  We did exactly that and I loved every second of it. 

Just to be on the safe side we got him back to the barracks early and said quick goodbyes.  The next day James was shipping off for Advanced Individual Training at Fort Huachuca and we were told that we could see him off that morning, which is exactly what we did.  James, his family, and I all stood in the rain for about an hour before we had to say our final goodbyes and he got on a bus headed for the airport.   

I am so happy that I was able to travel back to Missouri and watch James and the other soldiers graduate, in a ceremony that was filled with tradition and pride.  I consider all of those men and women my heroes, because they are willing to serve and protect their country and the people living in the country.  Watching the gradation and spending the time with James and his family during the meet and greet and after the graduation ceremony was a great way to end my countdown.