 We made a trip to Fort Benning, Georgia to see Jason and attend his graduation from boot camp. We are really proud of him. He received really good scores and most importantly, had a good experience. Boot camp is a very difficult (sometimes horrible) time and if you come out of that feeling good, that is a very good sign.
 For a kid who is not too crazy about authority, he sure learned to toe the line (literally). He had to remain in uniform (even when bowling). Try bowling in patent leather shoes with non-skid soles!! He has to take off his hat within three steps of entering a building, and so on and so forth. He really enjoyed being able to come back with us to our hotel room and get on the internet.
 After his graduation, we drove to Huntsville, Alabama to the Redstone Arsenal where his next phase of training happens. He was able to stay with us for that night before reporting to base. He was really glad to see that a good friend he had made in Basic was going to be his roommate. They are both in the same program.
 At this phase, he gets to keep his cell phone, and is through at 4:30 pm each day and does not have lights out until 11:00 p.m. He said that the food is better. He has more privileges and has only one roommate.
He is not able to leave the base, but we are able to go on the base and visit with him in the evening. Tonight we went shopping with him at the PX.
We are really proud of him. The military provides a level of discipline and education that is a great growth experience and provides a lot of great opportunities. Once he is through with this 18 weeks of training, he will be assigned to a unit and where he goes from there is up to the Army.
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