Alpha Beta Charlie, (gotta know those ABC's)

Well, Stephen didn't get to start actual BCT until Friday the 22nd. This means he won't graduate until he has been there 11 weeks instead of 9 weeks. And so life according to Army orders begins!!!

He had injured his knee by pulling a ligament. He wasn't in actual BCT yet so he was gonna ride it out. He almost went to sick call because he was worried it wasn't getting better fast enough. He didn't go though and it is much better. He just has a slight twinge now and then now.

BCT started off with a physical exam. They had to do a 2 mile run, push-ups and sit-ups as fast as they could. I don't remember his exact numbers, but they were good. They were divided into 3 groups depending on those numbers; Alpha, Beta, or Charlie. Just like grades A is best. Stephen is in Alpha. By the end all the guys have to get to Alpha group before they can graduate. He is already there, so we know he won't be behind physically.

About a week or so ago a DS (drill Sargent) came in and called 6 names for a test. Stephen's was one of them. They were confused because the rest of the guys didn't have to take it. You never ask though, you just do. Come to find out it was a test that the smarty pants guys who scored really high on their entrance exam had to take to test their intelligence. It was either a audio or visual tape of some dude with a thick accent teaching them a pretend language. They had 20 minutes to study the fake language then take a test on it. Only a couple of the guys past and Stephen was one of them.

On a not so great note, Stephen and a couple other guys got busted writing letters after lights out and got the whole platoon in trouble. They all had to get out of bed and go outside for a punishment of exercises. Stephen and the other bad boys had to stand in the front and watch they peer get punished for their mistakes. Stephen said it was awful and it WON'T happen again.

That is all I can think of for now. Just wanted to give you a quick update. The boys and I fine. We are getting by as best we can. I am actually proud of how much I am able to get accomplished in a day.