Meet Jack Garvey. He is a senior, tennis player, fisherman, hunter, tinkerer, and soldier. Yes, you read the last word correctly. A soldier. This past May as Jack completed his junior year at Wylie High, he made the decision to enlist in the Army National Guard. A decision that is brave and life-changing at any age, but especially at the age of 17. Jack’s decision came with sacrifice and uncertainty, but also with the innate desire to become something bigger than himself. Here is his story – the why, the challenges and the rewards.
WHY DID YOU ENLIST IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD?
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do yet, and the idea of becoming part of a group of people, like a brotherhood, was something that interested me, and getting free tuition.”
IN JUNE, YOU HEADED TO FT. MOORE, GA TO BASIC TRAINING COURSE (BTC) AND DID NOT RETURN UNTIL AUGUST HOW DID THIS IMPACT YOUR SENIOR YEAR?
“I started playing tennis in sixth grade and played as the number three player on varsity my junior year. I had to give that up. However, I did earn the seven spot to play during this fall season.”
HOW DID BOOT CAMP CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
“High school is still fun, but I am more mature. I wasn’t a slacker, but now I’m more engaged in academics, and I don’t joke around as much about things that are serious. I’m a lot more grateful for the little things. It also really grew me and expanded my palette and made me excited for what is to come. I know I now have the ability to move on.”
WHY DIDN’T YOU WAIT UNTIL AFTER GRADUATING?
“I can jump up in ranks earlier and retire earlier.”
WAS BTC WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
“I was expecting the worst and hoping for the best because I didn’t know if I could do it. The first three weeks were tough. By the second week, it seemed like it had been a year, but then I started outperforming the others. If you think you can’t do it, then you’re not, but if you have a reason and belief, you can do it. Now, I feel like I am more mentally ready for the future.”
WHAT WAS BTC LIKE?
“There are four phases of boot camp. The first two weeks, called the ‘reception’, were the worst. You get your uniform, ID, dog tags, get shots, and complete two days of activities that make you sleep-deprived
WHAT HAVE YOUR LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH ALL THIS?
“I believe in myself, and I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I failed at
some stuff, but I also got better. I feel way more reinforced.”. You memorize the soldier’s creed. Then you enter the ‘red phase’ that lasts three weeks. It is where you can’t do anything right and the most physical, which breaks you down mentally. You have to look for little wins. This phase is also when you complete the confidence course, which teaches you not to be scared, and if you can’t complete this phase, you can’t stay. I also broke a rib during this phase. Then there is the ‘white’ phase, which is three weeks learning to shoot. Then there is the ‘blue’ phase where the drill sergeants start to treat you like a soldier and not a trainee – like one of their own. You complete 8 hours of rucking, 10 hours of staying in formation, and 12 hours of running.”
DURING THE RED PHASE — YOU BROKE A RIB. WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY DID YOU QUIT?
“I was going through a team building exercise and someone landed on me while I was on a chain bridge. I felt like I already got the hard part over, and I didn’t want to do that again, plus there wasn’t much I could do about it. I wanted to prove I could do it just like all the other soldiers, too.”
WHILE BTC IS FILLED WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES, IS THERE TIME YOU LOOK BACK ON FONDLY?
“I don’t look back too fondly on anything except how we all stuck through it, which made a very strong bond between us.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH ALL THIS?
“I believe in myself, and I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I failed at some stuff, but I also got better. I feel way more reinforced.”
According to the Army National Guard, individuals attend One Station Unit Training, which is a 22-week training course broken into two parts: the Basic Training Course (BTC) and the Advanced Individual Training (AIT). It combines both training in the field and classroom.
Jack will return to Fort Moore upon graduation to complete AIT, and then believes he’ll likely deploy to the Texas border to serve the first six years of his active duty.
Read about Army Basic Training – the reception and red, white and blue phases – at usarmybasic.com/basic-training
By Kristen Johnson
Photography by Christi Stark and Courtesy of Jack Garvey