MEPS Day

Up and at 'em at 0600 (guess I'll go ahead and make like I know something of military procedure)... We arrived downtown OKC at the surprisingly nice Federal Campus that houses the MEPS (Military Enlistment Processing Station, I think). We were processed in through the metal detectors and bullet proof glass, concrete and steel structure and walked into a world of Navy, Army, Guard, Air Force and Marine recruits and a crispy uniformed quickly moving entourage of men barking names and pushing pencils (that would be keyboarding, actually). Every once in a while, Sara would pass through, sit for a moment and lay her head on one of our shoulders and let us enjoy her for a moment. The Marine recruits were the only ones actually wearing the same clothing... the navy blue DEP Poolee shirt, a 100% Polyester tee made for the Marines with a red Marine logo on the left front and the word Marines in smallish font at the top on the back of the shirt(which I am wearing now, ha, an extra she was issued that was too big, Nice for me!).

If I thought she was one tough cookie then...goodness, I wonder what she will be like at the end of her crucible transformation of Marine boot camp.

Around 1000, the recruits that made it through all the processing were called out (one of the guys from our Tulsa recruiting station got sent home due to not passing the MEPS IST (initial strength test)...yikes...he was 3 short on the crunches required during the allowed two minute limit) and led to a room where they went over what was about to happen at the swear in and reviewed documents that they were about to agree that they understood. The parents were gathered and given specific instructions and were briefed on the solemnity of the ceremony we were about to witness. "All hats off." Us first timers were huddled with wide eyes and at emotional tipping point. The "been there done that, got the tee shirt" or former military parents were smiling at us and kind of leaning back with their arms crossed. Some of the recruits' families were not there. I was glad I was able to be.

We walked into a chair-less oak paneled room with curved walls making the room smaller at the front than at the back. The emblems or seals of each of the military branches were proudly displayed around the walls. At the front was a one step stage with a slender oak podium bearing the Department of Defence seal. The flags of each branch of the US armed forces provided the backdrop. We circled behind the three rows of recruits who were in perfect formation at parade rest. Sara was front left. Once all the parents were lining the back wall (oh no...here come the emotions... again!) a man walked in and barked "Ah tayn shuh" and the recruits snapped. A captain in the Army with ten years service entered and walked to the front of the room and put everyone "at ease". Not me. Talk about smooth as silk, this Captain did a masterful job of acknowledging the honor that these recruits were bringing to their families and to their country by volunteering to serve. He told of his tours of duty, his career path, and goals and challenged each one to make the most of their lives. He covered all details of what they were about to do and stated that they were the elite. Over 700,000 individuals actually apply to become a part of the U.S. Military each year. Less than 250,000 make it to the point where they were standing. He asked if anyone was nervous... one Marine recruit and I think all the parents raised their hands... we all chuckled (between tears of pride). The swearing in was formal and sincere as each recruit swore to defend the constitution of the United States (as I stood at the back I was surprised at the roller coaster of emotions I was going through as I watched my Sara mouth the words... so proud.) As quick as it started, it was over and I snapped the few pictures allowed during our time in the building.





We headed back to the "family room" and then to the cafeteria at 1100 to watch Sara get fed, ha! (Thanks Jonathan for the PayDay candy bar!) While there, we met Sara's recruit traveling companion from Wichita, Amelia, with her Dad, Mom, and 18 month younger sister Sarah, ha!, quite emotional, and trying to soak it all in. (Cute girl...I hope they ended up platooning together). All the while we were sending Jonathan out to the parking meter to keep it ticking. Then back to the family room for multiple good byes, then a couple of good-bye's then some hugs and a few good byes and "I love you's". She was so precious to hug and to hold. At the last minute, we all stood and held each other and prayed together. One by one we trickled out through the security. My last glance was of her walking back down the hall. Three months.

We sat in the car parked on the curb in front of the building for what seemed like 10 or 15 minutes, not wanting to leave (poor Jonathan wondered if the car was broken..."Are we going to drive, or sit?" Ha!). The farther away from the building we got, the faster the car traveled... I think it may have gotten up to 25 even before we left downtown. :) Wow, much harder than I expected and totally inundated with the mixed emotions of pride, love, anxiety, etc. Particularly poignant for me is the fact that this was my last of three precious precious daughters still at home and as such the closing of a very wonderful chapter in my life of protecting and providing for my girls. Now Sara will reciprocate.

Confident I am that at this very moment as I write, she is steeping in opportunity to become tremendously self confident... having drummed into her mind the core and Corp values of Courage Honor and Commitment.

The ride home was unremarkable other than a side track onto Route 66 at Stroud to stop in at the Rock Cafe (highly recommended) for a classic burger and fries. It is a very small place and obviously is original to the era of the heyday of Rte 66. I sat imagining the people that through the years had traveled past. I know my Grandparents did on trips to California from Chicago. I wondered if they had stopped in on their trek through Stroud. Cheryl (Mom) was facing the opening into the kitchen and in one of the peaks on the emotional roller coaster began tearing up. A woman yelled through the opening in the wall "You either quit that, or I am going to start crying with you!" I showed our waitress, who turned out to be the cooks daughter, the pics of Sara swearing in. In small town fashion, once our food was delivered, the cook stepped out of the kitchen to chat. It turns out that this next Tuesday after Memorial day, she is headed to MEPS for the second time to see a second son swear in. She understood our emotions completely! She said that she has to go with her best girlfriend, the owner of the cafe, because they are both such "bawley babies" they have to support each other. :) Her sons had both worked waiting tables at the Cafe, the youngest(third) one was running the cash register and busing tables when we were there. Wow, I love small town America, patriotism, and love for God. She made our afternoon.

We got to work and home and were treated to two calls...Sara nabbed an Army recruits cell phone and called us (I bet she smiled at him...he didn't have a chance)(all the other services recruits somehow manage to get to keep their phones during basic to different degrees I am told... not the Marines). She called from the OKC airport and then later from the USO at DFW. She was very impressed with the USO and felt very special. She also met some "scary" female Marine recruits there, ha!, who were traveling with the group to Parris Island.

Then it was stay up and wait for THE CALL.