The Birth of an American Soldier

Although I am not currently serving in the U.S. Army, I am still an American soldier, and a U.S. Army veteran deep inside my heart and soul. I will always be a soldier and a veteran for the rest of my life.

I am very honored and proud to have spent six months serving my country while trying to complete my basic combat training (boot camp) in the Army from March to September of 2005 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

During the six months I spent trying to complete my basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, I accidentally incurred two left pelvic stress fracture injuries while doing some routine, daily physical training exercises with the rest of my fellow soldier trainees (running, push-ups, pull-ups, etc.).

I was 33 years old when I first enlisted in the Army and I incurred my first left pelvic stress fracture injury during my second week of basic combat training with my first basic training unit.

After my initial injury, I was placed on crutches and on medical profile until I was sent home for 30 days of sick leave to stay with my parents while trying to heal my stress fracture.

After I completed my 30 days of sick leave at home, I went back to my first basic training unit where I stayed for a few more weeks and then was transferred to a physical therapy rehabilitation program (PTRP) at Fort Leonard Wood.

I spent almost two months going through PTRP where I slowly made a full recovery from my first left pelvic stress fracture injury. After I was completely healed and I had completed my PTRP training agenda, I was then transferred to a new second basic training unit at Fort Leonard Wood to start my basic combat training all over again.

During my second week of basic combat training with my new training unit, I accidentally incurred my second left pelvic stress fracture injury while doing some very hard and intense disciplinary physical exercises with the rest of my fellow soldier trainees in our barracks.