Trip To Georgia

In September 2008 I traveled with my boyfriend's family to Fort Benning, which is located in Georgia. All six of us drove down there together in a van type of vehicle. It was extremely crowded. Once we finally arrived at Fort Benning, it was a whole new type of atmosphere. Wherever you looked there were soldiers walking around very properly. Everything was so strict and there were so many rules. The whole point of our trip was to go watch my boyfriend graduate from boot camp. We almost couldn't even get on base because we didn't know exactly what his company number was. Once we finally got on base we got lost looking for the graduation area, since there were about five other graduations going on at that time. However, we found it, and just in time because right once we pulled up the ceremony was starting. The first thing I noticed was you had to stay behind a certain line while watching the ceremony. Also all hats were removed. There were soldiers everywhere in their uniforms watching over the ceremony. Nobody could talk at all during the ceremony, and when we could clap it was specifically announced. When the soldiers' separate companies were being announced they could not smile or anything as they walked by and saw their families for the first time in three months. That was very awkward to me. Finally after all of the speeches and announcements were done, they said we could go hug our soldier. So we ran out there and found him. Once with him, we learned more rules. He could not display hardly any affection, in other words no PDA. Also he talked a little differently and acted a little differently. We soon found out that was just while he was on base though. After we all went back to the motel and out to eat, we realized he was still just as goofy as ever. Although while we were leaving Fort Benning, I realized just how strict their lives were. The soldiers could not walk and talk on a phone, they had to stand completely straight up, perfect posture and looking forward. There were many other rules to their lives that I just don't think I could live by.