Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Chapter 1 Basic Combat Training
My name is David Martin and I grew up in the Midwest. I was your typical student: played sports and was a good student. I am 6 feet tall with brown hair and eyes and maybe just a little bit better than average looking. While I played all sports, I liked swimming best. Like everyone in my graduating class, I went on to a university. However, I was not sure what I wanted to do and decided that until I knew what I wanted, it would be a waste of time to stay in school. So with the blessing of my parents; I dropped out of school during the second semester of my freshman year.
Almost immediately, I received my draft notice. Uncle Sam and the United States Army wanted me. So early one morning, I boarded a bus and was on my way to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Now if you have never served in the military, let me give you some background information. The first stop at Ft. Leonard Wood was the Reception Station. This is where they give you a physical exam; fitted you with uniforms and you took a number of tests to determine what you would do in the Army.
I think that the Reception Station was a bit of a shock for some of the boys. First of all there were 50 of us in the barracks. The latrine was really different from what most of us were used to. In the morning there was a large metal trash can with a plastic lining and that is where everyone was to pee. I never found out why they were collecting our urine. There also was a 5-foot urinal against a wall. It could accommodate 5 or 6 of us peeing at the same time. There was a row of 6 toilets and none of the stalls had doors. That is because there were no stalls. You could carry on a conversation with the man sitting on your right and on your left. Then there were 4 sinks and mirrors; that is where you brushed your teeth and shaved. Then there was a shower area that could accommodate 6 men.
Once everything was finished at the reception station we were sent to our BCT Unit. That is Basic Combat Training Unit. There were about 200 of us housed in four barracks. The area also had a mess hall, orderly room and supply room.
Almost immediately our training started, and for the next 8 weeks we were up at 5:00 am for 6 days a week. You became friends with every one on your barracks. But you were closest to the man that was your bunkmate. Jeff Morris was my bunkmate.. We also became friends with the two men at the bunk to our right and to our left. No matter what we did, the 6 of us were always close together.
It was near the end of the 7th week that we found out were we would go for our AIT. That is Advanced Individual Training. Jeff and I were lucky enough to both be sent to clerk-typist school right here at Ft. Leonard Wood. But we did get 1 weeks leave after we graduated from BCT. We went home and it was nice to seen friends and family.
But that week went by so fast and then we were back at Ft. Leonard Wood. When Jeff came back he brought his car with him. He had to park if off post in a secure parking lot, but at least we now had a way to go places. Clerk-typist school was a breeze for Jeff and I. Both of us knew how to type before we got there and learning the procedures was not difficult, you just need some common sense. When we were nearing the end of clerk typist school everyone was wondering where we would be sent. I was hoping for a Fort Ord in California, as I was tired of Midwest winters. Unfortunately, I was assigned to the garrison unit at Fort Leonard Wood! The only good thing about that was that Jeff was going there also.
The garrison unit was the unit that ran the post head quarters. A general commanded it. It was a good assignment except that sometime we had to wear our class A uniform and had to be on our best behavior.
Since Jeff had his car, he was able to get promotion to park it on base. And that made things easier. And since we were no long recruits, we had more freedom. We went somewhere off post almost every weekend. Of course Waynesville is right off the post. We discovered a nice small town called Rolla not to far from the base. We went there regularly.