When the Smoke Clears

Walking up to the training area I heard the yelling. Lots of it. There is a purpose even if outsiders think it’s cruel. It’s not.

Among that cacophony, that chaos, I heard a voice calling out for another trainee to retie the knots, redo his own work and do it right this time. Then I saw the eyes.

His eyes stand out, that bright green which contrasts so starkly against dark skin. It seems to happen to a few blessed folks of multiple mixed-race decent. The stern look on his face switched to a smile and he strode over towards me after barking a final order.

All of my young ones are special, but this one, so important. I’ve watched him for over three years now. I’ve met his sister, beautiful. They’ve invited me to spend Thanksgiving with them before. I joked and said I would, but I don’t like black people. He just grinned wider and punched me hard in the chest, his sister shocked for a second, then hugged me tightly.

I’ve never met his parents. He left them a long time ago, when he was 14. He’s been making his own way ever since. Some things, he’s not proud of. He was never supposed to amount to much, the child of a difficult place, born poor, with very few possibilities to succeed, but plenty of influences to take him down the wrong road. I won’t go into details because he is identifiable, and he has confided many things to me.

He made his way off the streets. He went to college. He found a way to pay for it. After I talked with him a few times years ago as he started with the elites, I let him know to get in touch with me for anything he needed. I knew his tuition was covered, I offered to pay for any books or supplies he needed. I was serious. If he were hungry, I would feed him.

Up until this year he had a 4.0 average. He’s dropped to a 3.98. He’s a leader among the elite unit. He is physically one of the most fit, capable men I have ever met. Not a bodybuilder, but his forearms are about the size of most people’s biceps, though this strength is hidden on his frame. He’s a leader among all the soldiers as well. He’s a leader among the students at the college.

“I got some news today,” he said. He looked uncharacteristically… giddy. I’ve never seen him… giddy.

“What’s up?” I asked, turning to walk with him away from the others.

“Well, first, what I wrote on that card, I meant every bit of it.” Sunday night the elites were over at my house, about 20 of them, eating, joking, having fun. They know I am about to go away again on training. They gave me a card and a beautifully crafted, practical Buck knife. I will use it in training and on deployment with pride. Something tells me it will save my life one day.

“I didn’t really have a dad, so… you know… you and Sergeant P and Mr. L have all been inspiring men to me. I try to follow your examples. You mean a lot to me. You’re like a real father to me.”

I had to put up a wall to not let emotion take over.

“You know about the accessions process?” he asked.

This has to do with how all ROTC cadets are rated, where they will fit in with the military.

“Yep.”

“Well, the rankings came out.”

“And…?” I asked, knowing he was interested in sharing some news related to it.

The elite unit is small, never more than 40 total candidates and full fledged members. They consistently excel wherever they go. When at hooah schools, a member of this unit is often at the top of the class, Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare, etc. They have had cadets rated in the top 5% in the nation consistently. I knew we were about to tack yet another one onto that honor. We even had one a few years ago who was the 4th highest rated cadet in the nation.

I just needed him to tell me he was up there, it was his news.

“Well, guess who is at the top of the list…”

My eyes wide.

My heart was bursting.

7 years ago folks were giving up on this man. He decided to take full responsibility for everything in his life.

One of my young ones is the number one cadet among all the thousands in the nation for this year’s graduating class.

Years ago I ranted at a group of my colleagues that, among other things, we must lead by example because we want our soldiers and students to become even better people than we are. The words are now included on a plaque that sits in many of the offices at work.

But today I had the incredible honor of seeing those words come to life. I will never be as great as these kids are, but they inspire me every day to strive to be a better person.

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