Update from Boone

Last Friday, Ariel passed the last of three CLEP tests he needed to fulfill all graduation requirements.
He's now finished with the undergraduate phase of his academic life.

The Army will pay for grad school someday, several years down the road.
Full Time Active Duty status for two years while in grad school.
Not a bad deal!

Magna Cum Laude, quite an accomplishment!

He will commission on 7 August, and will start his active duty career on 14 November as a Gold Bar Recruiter at App.
Two more semesters in the college atmosphere without the rigors of classwork!
Great Duty, only one other newly commissioned 2LT will serve with him.
They will also share an apartment until next April when they report for their intensive training as a platoon leader/Infantry officer.
This will include Ranger School, one of the toughest training regimens in the U.S. Military.
Only Special Forces training, Seal or Air Force Para training is more demanding.

He now has a rare gift.
Several months to travel and see the world without the encumbrances of job and family!
He plans on seeing as much family as he can here in the States, and is just starting the planning for a potential trip to Europe in September with two of his cousins on my side of the family.
My cousin Rob has lived in Germany for many years, and has offered to squire the boys around.
Dave and Robert are his nephews, and as a retired Air Force Master Sgt he has keenly followed Ariel's training and military career.

Wow! His old man is jealous!

The Queen and I could threaten to tag along, but we don't want to cramp his style.

Some of the family will be able to attend his commissioning rites in August.
Rest assured there will be a lot of pictures posted for those who cannot.