[vundy33]

I just got out of the Army in March, after 4 years. First off, the National Guard is NOT a career. They go to "drill" one weekend a month, and train for a total of two weeks a year. And usually deploy to whatever war we're in at the time on a 3 to 5 year rotation (it's 5 these days, I think), which means they deploy every 3-5 years.

Army Basic Training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training, or their job school), and OSUT (One Station Unit Training, basic and AIT put together and varies from 15 to 18 weeks compared to the normal 9 week Basic Training) for combat jobs like Infantry, Cavalry, Armor, ect will make these boys men to a certain extent. I believe that a combat deployment, a "real" one with an emphasis on combat, is what really makes a man out of someone, but regardless, these boys will come back to their teams faster, stronger, more mature, and better than most of their teammates.

Alot of military strategy can apply to football too. What is drilled into us from the day we get to training...honor, integrity, pride, being willing to die for your buddies, teamwork, and the ability to accomplish ANYTHING will do nothing to help these boys on the field and that killer attitude will likely spread to their teammates.

On another note, the Army started this program (letting high school kids attend basic training between their Junior and Senior years) in summer/fall 2008, which happened to be when I was in the middle of hell in Cavalry Scout OSUT. We gave those boys absolute hell, screwed with them whenever we could, hahahaha. Made them harder and tougher. Those were the good ole days, when I was still just an innocent kid...hah, I miss it.

But anyway, this will do nothing but HELP these boys in my experienced opinion on the matter.