This week I visited a few schools (talked to about 100+ kids) and conducted physical training to about 30 future Soldiers from the South Corpus Christi Recruiting Station.  I went to Mary Carroll High School, which I visited twice and spoke to a group of Navy JROTC students.  Ever since I have been doing DSEP and conducting presentations, I try to get a feel for the students.  You get to see that first hand expression of a classroom environment and how they act.  But once the Drill Sergeant is introduced, and the Drill Sergeant speaks, it gets more compelling.  I think it is either my Army story or basic training, and how it is, and how it is going to be.  The opportunities are out there, and choosing the right path to success is the hardest.  I wish I had had some for of JROTC type training before going to basic, it would of have made a world of difference.  It could be the hat, makes me more intimidating.  

Here is another reality that I have noticed and have gotten a chance to experience.  When I joined, before my senior year of high school, I was in the delayed entry program (DEP).  All I needed to do is graduate high school.  Too easy right?  Not so much, when you don't start caring about attending school, and getting crappy grades.  It happens then and it happens now.  However, you still need a high school diploma to pass go, and collect $200!  Not saying that I did not graduate with good grades, but one can become lazy, and say that: "Hey, I am joining the Army after I graduate, so who cares"!  Key word though, GRADUATE.  The good thing is that the recruiters want to seem them succeed as much as their parent wants them too.  

So, on Wednesday, future Soldier physical training.  It is kind of hard to demonstrate exercises when you are doing it on your own, luckily, I had SSG Rippstine (or SSG Ripp), former Army Drill Sergeant, and now and Army Recruiter, to help me demonstrate PRT.  You can show them what right looks like.  I was very impressed to see how easy it was for them to comprehend the method of instruction, and they executed the exercise perfectly.   Thanks SSG Ripp for the help, I owe you one!

On Thursday and Friday, I headed to Beeville, TX.  A small town of about the size of Junction City, KS, near Fort Riley.  Visited A.C. Jones HS Navy JROTC, talked about the Army, my story, what can it provide or what not, and gave some pointers about Drill and Ceremonies.  Not knocking on JROTC, but, sometimes when I hear some of the commands, it is like they are singing them, but that is why I am there for, for some pointers.  When a command is giving, there is a preparatory command and a command of execution, one pause, one second, in between the preparatory command and the command of execution.  And say it with a commanding voice.  When the Drill Sergeant does it, it is an eye opener, and I have a loud voice as it is.  I might sound humble when I talk, but when it comes from the diaphragm, it is on.

An eventful week.  I am heading home for a few days then it is off to Chicago, my hometown for a few days, and then Christmas vacation (Disney World, here we come!)