Into the terminal, and off to the first experience of adulthood.
Our son the soldier left on Thursday the 3rd for Ft Lewis WA, for LDAC.
"Leadership Development Assesment Course" is the final evaluation of over 4,500 MS-3 (rising Senior) ROTC Cadets each summer.
The criteria includes GPA, PT scores, swimming, shooting, and a final 10 day FTX where all take turns as platoon leaders in the field.
The Cadre consists of ROTC officers and Senior NCO's from all over the country.
They are looking for leadership potential, particularly under stressful conditions.
And not only how the cadets act when it is their turn to lead, but how they support their fellow cadets when following their lead.
He has been preparing all year. Serious weight lifting, running in the NC heat in a weighted vest, and studying all of the material he will be responsible for at LDAC.
The upper echelon will have a choice of picking two out of three critical areas.
Branch of Service/M.O.S., location of post, or fully paid and salaried Grad School.
He will choose Branch and location at Ft Bragg, just an hour and a half from home.
Although Grad School is tempting, it can wait.
Few of us are as fortunate to have a definite demarc between our childhood and school years and full adulthood.
When his proud parents watched him walk into the terminal, we knew he was leaving his school boy years behind him.
He will fly straight to Ft Bragg after LDAC grad for three weeks training with an active unit, then straight to fall semester of his senior year.
His primary task will be to help prepare this years MS3 cadets for their LDAC next year.
After graduation and commissioning next Spring, he's off for his initial branch training and his full time Army career.
We will see him at Christmas and during semester breaks, but this summer was most likely the last long term time at home for him.
God Speed, soldier, our prayers go with you!
You've always made us proud, but neve more so than now.
One thing's for certain, he looks a lot better at 05:30 than his old man!
After several days of frantic activity and study, everything did fit into those two duffel bags!
04:30 and off to RDU Airport
Csonk surprises Dad with a smooch on top of his old gray head, much to Ariel's amusement.
How will all of this stuff fit into two duffels?
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