The National Guard

Today David took a huge step in our lives. He joined the Army National Guard.

For awhile David hasn't been too happy with his life. He loves working at Costco but it just isn't something he wants to do forever. He has always wanted to go to college and to flight school but it is just so expensive we've never been able to follow through. David had thought about joining the military before but he didn't really consider it because he didn't want to be away from our little family. David's brother recently joined the National Guard though and it really made us start thinking harder about it.

We decided to talk to a recruiter and things went so well. The Guard will pay 100% tuition which is exactly what we need. After much thought, prayer, and going to the temple we both decided the time away from our family would be worth it.

Then we started the enlistment process. I had no idea how hard it is to get into the military. We found out that the military only has about a 20% acceptance rate. First David had to take the ASVAB. This is an aptitude test that tests your skills in certain areas to see what job best suits you. It has sections like math and english but also sections like mechanics and auto shop. To be eligible for certain jobs in the Guard you have to score so high in the different areas. Well David killed it and qualified for any job in the Guard. Yay!

The next step was his physical. The physical is a very in depth process and they check you for everything. This is where a lot of applicants get disqualified. I was so nervous that something would come up and he wouldn't make it. He passed again though!

David also had to take the TAPAS which is a crazy ridiculous personality test. Unfortunately he didn't score as high as he needed to and had to retake it. That major problem was we had to wait a month to retake it which pushed his enlistment day back. We were so disappointed.

So while we were doing all of this we had to pick a job for him to do while he is in the Guard. He really wanted to be in the aviation unit and his first choice of jobs was to be a helicopter mechanic. You really have to take what you can get though because there is rarely an opening in the job you want. David was offered a job as structural repair in the aviation unit. He was very excited to be working around helicopters be apart of the aviation unit. Then bad news came. Because the TAPAS pushing his enlistment back his job was taken by someone else. The job he was offered instead was aviation's operations which was just a boring paperwork job setting up flight schedules and things like that. He was so disappointed. We were frustrated that because of this lousy personality test he wasn't getting a job that he would enjoy. But then, just a few days before he would enlist a new job became available:  Apache Attack Helicopter Repairer. We couldn't believe his dream job was his for the taking! It's so funny how things work out. We were so bummed he wasn't getting the job that he would have enjoyed, but because of the delay he was able to get a job he will LOVE. (Thanks Heavenly Father)

Today (May, 20th) was the day he retook the TAPAS and officially enlisted. I was so nervous. I didn't sleep at all last night. I was nervous about the test but I was so anxious about officially making this big, huge decision. David had to be in Salt Lake at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) at 6am to take his test. I headed down a few hours later to watch him get sworn in. David did so well on the TAPAS today. He doubled his first score. I know the reason he didn't pass in the first place was so he could get the helicopter mechanic job. Then he got all his contract together and signed the paperwork. We did have to wait about 2 hours because there system went down. I felt like we had to wait FOREVER. Thankfully Austyn was so good and was happy as could be. Finally we were able to watch him take the oath.

He will be leaving on July 14 for Fort Jackson in South Carolina for basic training for 9 weeks. I'll get to fly out to see him graduate then he heads to Fort Eustis in Virginia for his AIT or job training for 17 weeks. I am very much dreading him leaving. We moved in with my parents so I won't have to live alone while he is gone so that will make things much better.

I'm so proud of David and am grateful for what he is doing for our family and our country. I love you David!

Taking the oath.

Austyn watching her dad.