We're in the Army Now!

     Columbus, GA  week vacation was very relaxing and was much needed time with Eric and his family!! Tuesday Johnny (aka: Pops), Connie (aka: CeCe), and I went to a meet and greet with the men that were in charge of our man's life the past 10 weeks. We got to ask questions as a group an learned more details pertaining to the week ahead.  Most men were getting on a bus or airplane after graduation and moving to different places for AIT (Advanced Individual Training), but luckily our man along with thirty others were staying in Fort Benning for OCS (Officer Candidate School) and had a weekend pass to spend time with loved ones! 

First time to see him in 10 weeks!! EXCITING!!

     Wednesday Pops, Cece, and I went to the award/family day ceremony and got to see Eric for the first time in 10 weeks!!! Our man was a bit smaller and surprisingly hairier, at least on his arms and chest Ha! He was just as excited as we were to see him, but more excited to spend time doing what he wanted and not what he was told to do! Getting off base was a bit of a challenge though, with all the construction going on on base, roads were blocked and one ways just got my little GPS lady all confused. So a few U-turns and illegal round-a-bouts had to occur to get off base and into civilian life for the afternoon. Immediately we went to a restaurant with TV's so he could have food and watch and hear about what had been going on in civilian life. Most of the afternoon was filling him in on sports, politics, and family life talk!  Then unfortunately we had to take him back to his barracks for the night, so they could prepare for graduation the next morning. That trip ran a bit more smooth getting on and off base!

My ARMY Man =)

     Thursday's Graduation was more exciting than I thought it would be. When getting ready to leave the hotel and head to the Infantry Museum, I walked into Pops and Cece's room and lo-and-behold IT'S GUPPIE!! Guppie came for graduation, as well as Eric's sister Amy, uncle Dayton, and grandmother Neanie!! At the ceremony the Army band was great and actually played some entertaining music! A Georgia state senator spoke, there was a demonstration of all the Army uniforms in history, a reenactment of today's soldier and a presentation of arms-- each kind our man learned to use. Then finally our men came onto the field and did their ceremonial parade and finally they were ours and we could take them with us for the rest of the weekend!! ...Wrong! They were instructed that OCS men were to report and file 2 hours worth of paper work,  they had to report back to the barracks for the night, be picked up at 07:00 on Friday, and then they could be free to leave base for the weekend. So without being told where to go for OCS check in and a few phone calls later, the men finally realized one of the OCS guys' father knew that base like the back of his hand!! So half a dozen cars caravanned to the OCS check-in and five minutes later they were finished with their "two-hour" paper work! wooo hoo!!!

 

    Friday was an early start to the day leaving the hotel at 06:30 to go get our military man for the weekend... Lots of napping occurred that day! Friday night was fun because Amy, Guppie, and I got to hang out with Eric and a few of his OCS buddies and get to know them better.  Saturday and Sunday flew by extremely too fast and before we knew it, it was time to pack Eric up and send him on his way back to Fort Benning for the next 14 weeks...

     Eric is very excited to start OCS (Officer Candidate School) and begin the next part of his career... October 9th officially started his OCS schooling which will be 14 weeks long and he will come out a 2nd LT!! WOO HOO!! He may have no phone access for a few weeks but if he does it will be limited, which is ten times better than basic with one phone call every 3-4 weeks.  November 16th will be his Branching ceremony, which will determine our future in the military!!! (EEE EXCITING AND NERVE RACKING!) He will get the week of Thanksgiving and the week of and after of Christmas to come home and spend some family time!!! He will graduated OCS January 10th! After that it is right now up in the air about what his/our plans are -- After his Branching Ceremony we will have more of an idea of where and when we will be for the next year!!

Until next time XOXOX