GOING THROUGH THE ROPES

THE PLANE LEFT CHICAGO en route to Columbia, South Carolina, the first part of a split to Charlotte. If there were military personnel aboard, I could not tell because there was not a pickle suit in sight. There was only one familiar face and that was my assigned buddy; a designated companion to endure the hardship of military training... an escort of sorts. Neither were very sure of who ordered the "buddy plan" but it was to be appreciated in the long months to come. For these two, training was more of a summer camp... the summer camp neither had managed to attend as a child... than the torture it was designed to be. They enjoyed the inundated hell out of it. (excuse the french) Sullivan and Williams looked at the secondary transportation provided for the final leg of their trip to Fort Jackson and shrank away, forgetting their military... or soon to become military bearings. It was a prop... a small twin propellor plane. A four seater with only enough extra room for a pilot. The "grunts" who were to accompany them in this contraption boarded with no problem. Neither of these two women had seen such a tiny plane and were concerned about their welfare, their return, their lives, etcetera. Sullivan went back inside to purchase flight insurance for the trip. If she was going to bite the dust, it wouldn't be in vain. At least her kids would eat.

They boarded the plane and sat motionless for the first fifteen minutes in excruciating pain at the thought of dropping from the sky in this toy plane. Noticing the agony on the faces of their co-riders, Sullivan asked, "So what moment of dementia got you into this?" A tall brown-skinned guy with an almost pixie expression and foolish grin looked at her and responded, "I just wanted to see if I could stand being away from my family. I've just gotten married." the poker-faced girl seated behind him spoke up in a country drawl, "Well, I just wanted to see if I could do this. My family thought it would be a good move. We'll just see about that, I've never been far from home before." Sullivan looked over at Williams, "Well, we both came in for different reasons. I needed the money to support my children... while not paying it all out to rent; and Williams... you want me to say for ya?" she nodded toward her buddy," ...came in to travel." "We're both from Chicago, where are you from?" The guy spoke up, "I'm from Atlanta, Georgia... most of my family's there." The girl followed with, "I'm Paterson, from Kentucky, just call me Pat." Sulli had to prod the guy next to her for his name, he answered with Dwayne, Dwayne Bigham... if all the soldiers are like you, I think I can do this easy!" They all smiled, and continued with distinct reasoning for taking drastic moves for joining the military. Sulli and Williams were Army National Guard, Dwayne and Pat were active Army. Before training was over they would all have intertwined thoughts and lives. Sulli and Williams had established their friendship in the months prior to departing for basic training in the "wait period" after the enlistment date. With the five month wait extending through the midwest's winter season, they spent freezing winter drills learning to service attempting to use "the latrine" and not have their rear ends stick to the iced toilet seat... outside the building and designated as the "women's toilet" standing self-assigned guard as one another utilized the facilities... collecting "choke sandwich rations" of inch thick American or Colby cheese and equally dense ham or bologna between bread slice... each for the other. Occasionally, they were joined by other women enlisted in the same unit but already processed through basic training and advanced individual training sessions, in escapes to civilization... the Reuben deli across the street from the military base. William's sister expressed desires to join the military for the freedom it presented but chose to remain at home with her children and the tendency for them to keep her preoccupied. Other women had given their critique of military life for females, Sulli's sister in particular, had served in regular Army and toured Germany for three years with her MOS listed as truck driver despite having trained prior to enlistment as a medical technician in a private academic setting.Both Sulli and Williams were married but separated and raising their childen from their marriages alone. Military was just one "cut throat" action, as far as reason and rationale goes, for resolving crisis at home... some of which were kept private.

Other women in their assigned basic training unit would grow to resent them for their pre-existing bond. This gave them an advantage over the other enlistees. They already had moral support for the hard times. For the tearful muscle aching times. For the "who's been hassling me" moments of rough summer camp in a man's world. For the screaming out loud "rat in my foxhole" and the "trainer pushing to molest me"... for the "swinging off the high rope wall" or sliding under "barbwire and live-fire overhead" sessions, the twenty file mile march into bivouac and monthly coming on, fire ants under push-up points in the fitness field and busted tendons, ankles, and ligaments from heavy black boot marching... there was already someone to talk to. Someone understanding helps pass through hard times. They were presented the documentation to depart for military basic training and had taken it eagerly. It would be time to destress and get mental notes in order for raising children and keeping home. Neither had gone to summer camp... This would be one vacation and a "great adventure" toward escapism. They were ready to go.