Story #2288

This want really funny just truly awkward weird and ask around uplifting.

We arrived in July. It was deleting and down right unbearable the first few days as we acclimated to the unforgiving Georgia heat.

We weren’t far into our training cycle when one day we were formed up about to go to one of the many training sites. We had just received our SDS back from something, not sure what it was as privates aren’t privy to information that “isn’t any of their fucking business”.

SPC M was an older guy, quiet, reserved, and focused. He didn’t get much into the Fuck Fuck games with the rest of us. He seemed quite easily adapting to all the training his only real fault was PT.

The SDS walked right through or formed rank and up to him two men down from myself. He said his name and said “Get the Fuck out of here…” panic washed over us all as we had no clue what we had managed to Fuck up. M knew right away.

DS – Where do I know you from specialist?

M – I was there when you pinned that CIB on your chest… Earned that combat patch the same tour you did Drill sergeant.

DS – HOLY SHIT SSG M? What the Fuck are you doing here sergeant?

We all racked our brains trying to process what we had just heard.

What he said next inspired us continually.

Basically, M was a former Army Infantryman. He was our SDSs squad leader once upon a time. They had served together in Panama/Grenada. M had gotten out some years ago as a SFC. He rejoined when his two sons enlisted to inspire them to give everything they had that if a man his age could still get shit done they could certainly exceed the standard.

M made it quite apparent that he expected no slack and that he was there to price himself fit to wear the uniform. He transferred out of our platoon into second and graduated the same day we did.

I ran into him not long ago add he was preparing to retire again after serving another six years to our nation. He was a master sergeant this time as he had been given his rank back shortly after reporting as his duty station.

He was a icon of our cycle and took time to mentor us privates in a personal fashion that truly set the bar high for our future NCOs.