Heartbreaks, Prosecution, and Retribution

Chapter 2: Spring of 2001'

A few weeks have passed, and I was at home. I received a phone call from an Army Recruiter out of the blue. One day the calls died down from my senior year. The recruiter introduced himself over the phone as Sergeant Brown and asked, "Does James live there?"

I replied, "This is James."

Then he continued to ask me, "How was your graduation?" So, I responded with a brief synopsis of my graduation dilemma.

"What are your plans now?" he asked, but it was more of an exciting statement instead. I explained to him that I was currently going to the community college in town and working as a pizza delivery driver now. Not that I was really happy with my life, but I was semi-complacent.

As Sergeant Brown continued to pursue his own agenda with a few more pre-qualifying questions, he then asked me the question, the one I was waiting for. "Have you ever thought about joining the Army? And do you know what types of opportunities and benefits the Army offers?"

I told him that I was not interested and that I had other plans for myself. Sergeant Brown said, "Please, just allow me to have a few minutes of your time, and I'll discuss with you the benefits and career opportunities that the Army can provide for you. And if you do not like what you hear, then I will not bother you again."

I personally just wanted to hang up or tell him to piss off and that the military life is not my style. But since I considered myself a nice guy, I thought this recruiter is trying to sell the Army by doing his job. I will offer a little of my time to hear what the offer is, even though I wouldn't plan to buy into it. So, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment with him, and I would see him in two days.

Today is March 23rd and we have an appointment scheduled on the 25th. I really didn't want to listen or hear what Sergeant Brown had to say. I was thinking about just calling him back and telling him I was sorry, but it was not for me, but I couldn't do that, so I just waited it out. I also even debated of not being home when he would show up, but since he had to drive nearly an hour to visit with me, I figured I would just go with it.

The 25th finally had come for our appointment. While I was sitting on the couch patiently waiting, I heard someone pulling up in the driveway. I looked and it was the recruiter; he was on time! Actually, he was about 15 minutes early. And why would he, a service member showing up late for an appointment? Would that be right? Like that old saying goes, "If you're early, you're on time, and if you're on time, you're late." I was kind of hoping he would have gotten lost.

Then the recruiter stepped up onto the front porch. Just before he could knock, I opened the door to welcome him in. I was trying to hurry this discussion up so it would be over. Before we sat down and discussed the overall incentives (benefits and career opportunities of being in the Army), he had me take a practice ASVAB called the EST (enlistment screening test). This was to see how I would do if I was to take the ASVAB right then. I scored a 55. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. He told me that anything over a 50 was good, but all's I needed was a passing score of a 31 to join.

After seeing my score, he continued to discuss the opportunities about what all the army had to offer like career job training, education benefits, and 10-year retirement. I happily declined even though the entirety didn't sound too bad. There was a lot he had to offer me and all would be if I were to join.

He then asked if I had any plans of getting married, knowing that I had a girlfriend. I became shocked in a way. A 19-year-old getting married. I didn't have any real plans for myself, let alone getting married at such an age.

I took a look at the life I was living at my parents' house, going to college and barely making it in a few courses. I was working off and on at fast food and pizza delivery jobs, making little money. I have a girlfriend that has a child. I love both of them dearly and wish the best for both of them. I would like to see Jessica and her son in a better environment instead of having to put up with traumatizing personal issues at home. I asked the recruiter if it was possible to let me think about it. He insisted that we take our time, but he also said that if I join the army being married, I would have a family plan set up towards insurance for health and dental coverage. We would have our own place to live at the government's expense. I would even receive additional money in training from being separated from each other due to the military's need since I would be married.