My Walk
Terry Martin
My walk started at 4:00 a.m. May 19, 1993 with a one half hour drive to downtown Kansas City. I can't remember what my father said as he dropped me off. His words where soft and full of love, but hard for him to express. It was an awkward time for both of us saying good-bye.
At 5:30 p.m. the same day I and two other people were taken to Kansas City International airport. We were headed for San Antonio, Texas. We were going farther away from home than ever before. We were going where we didn't know anyone, not even each other. We were on our way to basic training. A place where all men and women of the Air Force had gone before us.
When we arrived in San Antonio it looked like any other airport, people rushing by, waiting, looking lost, hugging loved ones whom they haven't seen in some time. We were put in a holding area with both men and women from all over the United States. We were all there for the same reason, but yet with different purposes.
The time was going slowly and it was getting late. A bus finally arrived around 9:15 p.m. About 40 of us got on and were ready to go. I sat up front by a window. All I really remember is looking up at the moon and thinking about my family. How I wished I would have spent more time with them before I left. It didn't take long to get to the base, only about half an-hour.
Upon arriving the first place they took us was to a cafeteria to get something to eat. After that we went to a different building to go through a check-in process to ensure everyone was there. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. we all got back on the bus and proceeded to our respected living quarters. As we went from building to building they all looked the same. Then my name was called "Martin." It was kind of an uneasy feeling hearing my name called, but it still hadn't hit me that I was actually at basic training. As I got off the bus with about six other guys, they told us to line up in a straight line along side each other. The building looked old and it's design was like nothing I've ever seen. We stood under an overhang that extended from the building on all four sides.
Shortly our TI (Training Instructor) came out of a door in front of us. There was the man who was going to yell at us and teach us all the things we needed to know to be in the Air Force. He didn't look at all like I had pictured him big and intimidating. He was a short guy about 5' 7" and not very big. Actually I was kind of disappointed. None the less, he started calling off our names to make sure everyone was there. The first guy responded, "here." The T.I. then yelled, "you all better stand at attention when I'm talking to you." He then took a moment to show us all how to stand at attention. After the last name was called he said, "this is your new home, this is the place where all of you will be staying for the next six weeks. Now get in line, shut up and follow me upstairs".
We went up two flights of stairs and entered a door with a tiny little window at eye level. Upon entering we took an immediate left into another room with couches and chairs on three sides of the room. We were told to sit on the floor and be quiet. It did cross my mind as to why he would tell us to sit on the floor. I didn't question it, I just sat down. At this point I not only felt like sitting down on the floor, I felt like lying down and going to sleep.
After I sat down I glanced up at this chalk board and saw written "Sir, Airman _________ (last name) reports as ordered". Just as I finished reading the sentence. The T.I. threw me this book about three quarters of an inch thick. He told everyone to write down those six words on the board on top of this book and to fill in our last name. He stated, "from this point on if you need to speak you better memorize those six words. If you want to know how to do something read the book". This is similar to the way we speak to God in prayer and read the Bible for instruction in righteousness.
By this time it was getting close to midnight, and my attention span was non-existent. Then he told us to get up and to bring our book with us. As we walked out of the room, the door we originally came in was on our immediate right. To our left were two big open rooms with no doors. We went past the first one and then went about another 15 feet to the second one. We were told to find a bed and go to sleep. This was the best news I heard all day and I wasted no time in finding a bed.
The next morning the lights came on, music started playing and I heard men yelling. I sat up in my bed and looked around on both sides of me. I saw guys jumping out of their beds and standing up. Then I tuned in to what the men were saying, "get up, get up and stand next to your bed." Then and there I realized where I was and the reality began to sink in. I got up quickly and stood next to my bed like everyone else. Two T.I.'s came to our side and told us to put all of our valuables in our hands and spread everything else out on our bed. One T.I started yelling at the first guy. I was about the 5th bed down. No one could understand him he was talking so fast. He got to my bed and rattled off something real fast. I just said, "Yes sir" and then he went on. Once all that was complete they told us to get dressed and get downstairs for breakfast. During breakfast I tried to observe all the guys who were in my group.
After breakfast we were headed off for the traditional first day thing. Everyone must have their hair buzzed off. We lined up in four columns, about 12 people deep and started marching. It seem liked we marched for ever. Finally, we reached the building where we got our haircuts.
After our haircuts, I could hardly recognize one person from another. It's an odd feeling getting your head shaved. I think about it now and I can compare it to being baptized. Before you are baptized, you are of the world. Once you have been baptized you are a child of God and everyone around you of like precious faith is family. Once we received our haircuts, it was like we had shed the things of this world and were isolated from the cares of this world. "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col 3:10). We were physically isolated yes, but the haircut made it evident that we were together as a team and dependent on each other. We had been transformed. We all came from different backgrounds of race, culture and families. The things that made us individuals and the way we expressed ourselves in the world didn't matter in this situation. Being a Christian we know that we must not love the things of this world. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I Jno 2:15). Our Christian walk today is similar to this. We live in the world everyday, but we must remember not to fall into those things that are of the world.
After our haircuts we were issued all our clothes. Everything from socks and T-shirts to a coat and shoes and a duffel bag to throw them into. This was the last time we would wear our civilian clothes. We put on the standard military camouflage uniform, boots and all. Now we all truly looked the same from our shaved head to our combat boots. We packed all of our stuff in our duffel bags and prepared to march back to the barracks. The bag was heavy and each man had to carry his own. Paul speaks of this, "For every man shall bear his own burden" Gal 6:5. Everyone had to carry their own bag. This was a test of faith and endurance to see if every man could carry his own weight. This is another comparison how we must take care of ourselves as Christians, so that we might be able to help others in need of help.
Upon arrival at the barracks we hauled our duffel bag up the stairs and the TI instructed everyone into our training room; the one with all the couches and chairs. He explained to us how to mark and fold our clothes, everything from undergarments to our laundry bag. When everything was marked we went into one of the rooms where all the beds were. He showed us how to make a bed the military way. He stated that who ever sleeps beside you will be your partner and that you must help each other. He had a couple of us make the bed so we would understand how people must work together to get the job done. Once we were familiar with it, he told us to go make our beds and to fold our clothes. Folding the clothes was the complicated part and we had to look to each other for help. This same principle applies for Christians. In Gal 6:2 we are taught to, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
Finally after three days of training and marching everywhere it was Saturday. Even though it had only been three days, I was drained from the long days. I was glad it was the weekend. The T.I will go home and we can finally get some rest around here. It wasn't long until I realized there were no weekends. Saturday we spent all day learning the techniques of marching to different commands on this huge blacktop. March, march, march, the day was over and my legs were tired. All I could think about was I sure hope tomorrow isn't like this. After supper we were told anyone wanting to go to church would be allowed to go. This was music to my ears.
Sunday morning I was ready to go to church. I was exhausted from the week and was looking forward to the day. Some other troops from another unit who were farther advanced in training came by to escort us to church. They informed us that TI's were not allowed to attend church services with us. This was a relief to everyone. We marched to the church building, which took about 15 minutes. I walked in and there must have been 1,000 young men in this building sitting in pews and everyone looked the same. We were greeted and told to sit anywhere we wanted. It was overwhelming at first, no TI's and sit anywhere you want. We were given back some freedom that I had taken for granted.
Church started and they asked us all to stand and to greet the people beside you. Then they called out a song selection, so I opened up the book and started singing. Then all of a sudden something came over me, I started crying. I wasn't sure why, I guess I felt at ease, I felt alive, I felt like the Lord was there with me, yet I felt fear for the days ahead. I didn't want the services to end. However, this day made it bearable to go ahead with my training, because I knew I could attend services on Sunday. Sometimes I don't think we realize how much Sunday worship service, or any service for that matter, helps us. Whether in uniform or not, we are all soldiers of Christ. "Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph 6:11). "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (6:16). "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (6:17).
During my last week of training, we finally got to sit on those couches and chairs in our training room. Graduation was only a week away and we had earned the privilege of sitting on them. Our T.I came in that day and he just simply said, "It feels good doesn't it?"
I chose to join the military and to be a soldier for my country. We all must choose to be a soldier for the Lord and be a voice for him. "Thou therefore endure hardness as a soldier of Jesus Christ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (II Tim 2:3,4).
Graduation day finally arrived and we knew without each other none of us could have made it. I walked up to receive my diploma and I was filled with joy. Now being officially members of the United States Air Force we were expected to uphold the standards and conduct ourselves accordingly. It's the same as Christians, we are expected to obey Christ and his commandments. "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (Phil 3:16).
I have learned a great deal in the military about people and how to treat them. But most importantly, I learned about myself. My basic training taught me to be the best that I can be in life, which is being a Christian. For, you see, when I started basic training I wasn't a Christian, but my walk through that difficult discipline was the test of my character that aided me in obeying the Lord.