By CHASE GARDNER
Every year, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, America celebrates her veterans. For over 230 years America’s armed forces have sworn to protect and serve her citizens to preserve freedom and democracy. The road that a United States’ service man or woman follows is a path that requires dedication, heart and just a bit of craziness.
Not anyone can just walk up and say I want to join the service; he must pass the rigorous trials of basic training.
“[Boot camp] was hell, back then it was 11 weeks of hell, first thing I remember was getting of the bus and them yelling,” First Sergeant Gustavus Wilson said. “Next thing I know, it was just chaos, we were just running and we didn’t stop from the time we got off the bus until I graduated.”
Basic training’s main goal is to train soldiers to survive and do what they signed up for; defend their country.
1stSgt. Wilson who is one of the ROTC instructors here joined the Marine Corps. in 1978. At 18-years-old he began his journey in the military.
After enduring basic training, he went on to become drill instructor and was deployed to the Bosnia-Serbia war in 1993 where he loss close friends.
“Its hard, because you know they’re not coming back,” 1stSgt. Wilson said. “In the Gulf War I had two friends, two gunnery sergeants that went over and they died there, It’s sad but it could have been me too if I wasn’t on the drill field.
There are currently over 1,400,000 active service members in the U.S. military, shedding blood, tears, and sweat for everyone of us.
In honor of those serving and who have served, say thank you to our ROTC staff and anyone on the streets, shake their hands and wish them well because they charged into the line of fire, or become drill instructors like Wilson so soldiers would survive battle.