Motivation?
What was Robin's motivation
to join a uniformed military service? I wouldn't begin to speculate as
to her reasoning nor should I. I do know that she was within weeks of a
birthday that would put her past the maximum age for entry by persons without
prior military service. She entered 'just under the wire' as the statutory
age prerequisite stands. She did not seek my advice nor consent. She did
request that I be available to administer the enlistment oath. This did
require some scheduling as her mother and I were attending the annual national
conventions of the VFW & MOC in Milwaukee. The big event finally was
consummated on Thursday afternoon, August 30, 2001.
Then twelve short days later
on September 11, 2001, the following occurred: Four U.S. commercial passenger
airliners were high jacked by terrorists and crashed. Two of them took
down the World Trade center complex in NYC. One crashed into Pentagon.
And the other went down in Pennsylvania. All this immediately after Robin's
first 'drill' weekend on September 8th & 9th.
9-11-01
Now that
was an "attitude" adjustment extraordinaire! Robin shifted to flank speed
and with strong personal determination applied herself to the completion
of the many prerequisites for attending basic training. This is normally
accomplished over a period of nine months or so. Upon completion of her
third drill weekend, she had completed the Basic Military Requirements
(BMR) course and the extensive administrative and medical requirements
then came home with her "orders" in hand!
Excuse
me, if my pride is showing.
Her
dad
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