Hair Bows to Combat Boots

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ashley Hall
  • 9th Security Forces Squadron
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Ten years ago today, I was stepping off the plane for basic training decked out with hair bows, a princess t-shirt, and high heels.

After just finishing the movie Private Benjamin a couple days before I left, I thought I was ready for this adventure. I had 10 toothbrushes with me, so if by chance I got in trouble and had to scrub the floor with my tooth brush, I would be smarter than the average bear and have extras.

As I stepped off the plane in Texas, and the other girls realized I was there for basic training as well, they knew quickly that I needed help. They swapped out my heels with sneakers, tore my hair bow out, and the shirt that I was wearing with "princess" on the back was tossed in the trash and replaced with a plain blue T-shirt.

After asking myself, "What have I gotten myself into?" I quickly grabbed my bags, instantly made friends, and knew I was in for a rude awakening.

I would love to be able to tell you I stayed out of the lime light for the rest of basic training, but that just wasn't the case. The worst of it was the minute when you get off the bus and you have to carry your bag in one hand. That was a huge problem for me. My recruiter told me I could bring whatever fit in my suitcase, so I chose the biggest suitcase I could find (with wheels). In it was my hair dryer, scrapbooks, CD's, bathing suit and every other necessity I could think of while I was packing for what I thought would be the perfect six-week "vacation."

As I scrambled off the bus even more scared than I was when I stepped off the plane, I hurried under the building where they formed us up as we waited for our flight assignments. Then all of a sudden the MTIs started yelling at someone near me. I had no idea why, so what better way to find out than to bend over and peek my head out of formation to see what all of the ruckus was about. Of course by doing that, I brought all the attention onto myself, and I quickly found I was surrounded by MTIs yelling at me from every angle.

Immediately, I broke down and started crying. After being told to proceed to the restrooms and remove my tears from my face, I quickly learned that this was going to be much more than a vacation.

Even with having to grasp the realization that I didn't have the weekends off to lounge at the pool like I anticipated, I quickly adapted to my new lifestyle. I embraced the humility of being told "This is not a cheerocracy, Trainee Scott," and I quickly learned what the life of an Airman was like.

And now I realize that after all of this, if it wasn't for the military I would still be wearing hair bows and chewing gum, and I would still be wondering what I want to be when I grow up.

Although my first steps were rather shaky, I knew instantly that I was being welcomed into a second family, and even though I might stumble from time to time, my Wingman will never let me fall.