Please help, friends! I got distressing news from David last night. I'll post a little bit of backstory for those of you reading this for the first time. To my dear old friends, sorry you have to read it again!
My husband was supposed to graduate from Basic Training on September 19th. He has completed all of the requirements...field training, obstacle courses, written tests, weapons qualifications, etc...But could not pass his PT test when it came to graduation week. He has to run two miles in 17 1/2 minutes and he was a minute over. So, he stayed at Ft. Knox and was told he was going to FTU-a fitness training unit. There they specialize in helping you to pass your PT test. David, and about 15 other "holdovers" as they call them, didn't go to FTU however. They stayed around the barracks and did crap work...painting the walls, washing trucks, and other busy work. They weren't allowed to do PT actually, except the occasional trip to the weight room. But no running except for the 2 or 3x a week PT tests, which David has continued to fail...though improving his time each test. He's now 20 seconds over on his two mile run. He's a very tall man, 6'0, and in great shape, but he has a very long torso and very short legs. He's working on his stride right now and his technique...trying everything he can to pass!
He called last night and told me they sent him to FTU, but that one of the drill sargeants gave him some bad news. That he won't receive another PT test until next Thursday (a week from today) and that is 27 days after his supposed graduation date. The drill sargeant continued on to say that if you don't pass your PT test by 28 days past graduation, you are discharged from the Army. :(
This is potentially devastating news. I know that exceptions may be made, and maybe they'll give him a little more time since he will have only been at FTU for one week, but if he doesn't pass he could be out of a job! Of course, we hope and pray that he passes! With nothing to focus on for a week but fitness hopefully it will be the boost he needs to make a difference and shave off that last 20 seconds. If he does get discharged from the Army, it means our world will be flipped upside down. We'll have no income coming in, and no place to live as it stands, either.
I'm not allowing myself to dwell on the negative possibilities. This is going to be a long week for me, not knowing, and not having any control over anything. All I can do is cheer him on from the sidelines. That's where I was hoping you could come in.
He gave me his new address at his FTU. I was hoping that maybe if he got enough letters of encouragement, it would help his morale and lift his spirits. It's one thing to hear that I'm praying and wishing the best, but it would be quite another to have the surprise of a stack of encouraging mail waiting for him!
I'm asking you to just send a little encouraging note, it doesn't have to be a novel...or a little card...but please don't send any packages :) I'm asking you ONLY to send something if you can get it in the mail on Friday or Saturday and live in the U.S. Obviously after next Wednesday he could be on his way home, or on his way to AIT at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, so I don't want stray mail straggling in after that and being wasted. I have a feeling they don't forward soldiers' mail because they get so much of it after a person has already left the unit. I'm thinking anything mailed by Friday or Saturday will be recieved no later than Wednesday.
In exchange for your kindness, if you post a note here in my post comments OR email me at lenabrandenburg@gmail.com letting me know you've dropped a note in the mail to him, I'll enter you into a drawing for a $5 gift card to an online store of your choosing. It's not much, but just my way of saying thank you for helping me support my husband so that he can continue to support us.
Thank you, friends!
My husband was supposed to graduate from Basic Training on September 19th. He has completed all of the requirements...field training, obstacle courses, written tests, weapons qualifications, etc...But could not pass his PT test when it came to graduation week. He has to run two miles in 17 1/2 minutes and he was a minute over. So, he stayed at Ft. Knox and was told he was going to FTU-a fitness training unit. There they specialize in helping you to pass your PT test. David, and about 15 other "holdovers" as they call them, didn't go to FTU however. They stayed around the barracks and did crap work...painting the walls, washing trucks, and other busy work. They weren't allowed to do PT actually, except the occasional trip to the weight room. But no running except for the 2 or 3x a week PT tests, which David has continued to fail...though improving his time each test. He's now 20 seconds over on his two mile run. He's a very tall man, 6'0, and in great shape, but he has a very long torso and very short legs. He's working on his stride right now and his technique...trying everything he can to pass!
He called last night and told me they sent him to FTU, but that one of the drill sargeants gave him some bad news. That he won't receive another PT test until next Thursday (a week from today) and that is 27 days after his supposed graduation date. The drill sargeant continued on to say that if you don't pass your PT test by 28 days past graduation, you are discharged from the Army. :(
This is potentially devastating news. I know that exceptions may be made, and maybe they'll give him a little more time since he will have only been at FTU for one week, but if he doesn't pass he could be out of a job! Of course, we hope and pray that he passes! With nothing to focus on for a week but fitness hopefully it will be the boost he needs to make a difference and shave off that last 20 seconds. If he does get discharged from the Army, it means our world will be flipped upside down. We'll have no income coming in, and no place to live as it stands, either.
I'm not allowing myself to dwell on the negative possibilities. This is going to be a long week for me, not knowing, and not having any control over anything. All I can do is cheer him on from the sidelines. That's where I was hoping you could come in.
He gave me his new address at his FTU. I was hoping that maybe if he got enough letters of encouragement, it would help his morale and lift his spirits. It's one thing to hear that I'm praying and wishing the best, but it would be quite another to have the surprise of a stack of encouraging mail waiting for him!
I'm asking you to just send a little encouraging note, it doesn't have to be a novel...or a little card...but please don't send any packages :) I'm asking you ONLY to send something if you can get it in the mail on Friday or Saturday and live in the U.S. Obviously after next Wednesday he could be on his way home, or on his way to AIT at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, so I don't want stray mail straggling in after that and being wasted. I have a feeling they don't forward soldiers' mail because they get so much of it after a person has already left the unit. I'm thinking anything mailed by Friday or Saturday will be recieved no later than Wednesday.
In exchange for your kindness, if you post a note here in my post comments OR email me at lenabrandenburg@gmail.com letting me know you've dropped a note in the mail to him, I'll enter you into a drawing for a $5 gift card to an online store of your choosing. It's not much, but just my way of saying thank you for helping me support my husband so that he can continue to support us.
Thank you, friends!
11 comments:
Lena, I blogged this for you (link is clickable on my name) and I will also be sending him out a little card today!! I hope he knows that there are a TON of people supporting him!! I will also send some prayers that he does well on his PT test for you all!! GOOD LUCK DAVID!!!!
Lena, Note going out tomorrow!!
Hi Lena, I'm going to mail his card in the morning. I'm so sorry that you have this stress. Please let us know when (not if) he passes! - Cindy
If you need to contact me, I'm JoyintheJourney at Digishoptalk.
I have just finished my not to David and putting it in the mailbox as we speak....."Keep the Faith David" is what I wrote. Sending big hugs to you and the kiddos Lena...and crossing my fingers too!!!
I am sorry I won't be able to get to the post office today. But you and your family will definitely be in my prayers. Keep faith in God because with him anything is possible! Just don't give up.
I live in Ireland, so can't send anything physical, but sending you some hugs and prayers instead.
Lena, this is so not right! NO WAY!
I'm certainly going to send him a note in the mail and I'll have Shannon make him a card too.
Big hugs to you and David.
Good Luck David!!!! Hugs to you and the fam, Lena!!
I just stuffed an envelope and it will be going in the mail today. It's mainly doodles from Hudson & a big "Run, David, Run" ...
I learned about your little plea for notes from Barb' s blog, Black Belt Scrapping
and...... I linked up your blog on my Facebook :)
Here's my post for you...
http://nwatankersleys.blogspot.com/2008/10/note-from-lena-of-dst-read-below.html
I got a note in the mail last night. *hugs*
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