Spencer senior reflects on basic training experience
By Cheyenne Thomas Elbert Hubbard once said, “The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed, it is a process of elimination.” For Spencer senior Yazmin Gonzalez, her time spent in basic training this past summer can best be described by this process, as the experience taught her a great deal about discipline as well as new skills that will apply as she continues her journey into the Army National Guard after she graduates.
Gonzalez returned to her senior year of high school a changed person. For 10 weeks this summer, Gonzalez worked and trained in the hot Georgia sun to gain the experience she would need as a member of the Army National Guard Infantry. Her training at Fort Moore was only the beginning of her journey, as she said work will continue next summer to advance her skills.
“I did what is called split training,” she said. “So I will finish this summer with advanced infantry training to prepare me for my job.”
The decision to join the Army National Guard came at the end of Gonzalez’s junior year. Desiring to see more of the world, she began talking to recruiters last May to discuss her options and find a role that would be suitable for her.
“I’ve always had big dreams and wanted to make opportunities for myself,” she said. “I reached out to recruiters and had in-person meetings with them. We talked about how it would work and how joining the military would benefit me.”
After making the decision to join, Gonzalez said she talked to her parents to receive permission to begin basic training. Although they were nervous at first about their daughter’s desire to explore a military career, they understood how strongly she felt about getting the opportunity to explore the world and learn important new life skills.
“My parents didn’t want me to do it at first,” she said. “They thought it would be dangerous. But they knew that it was something that I really wanted to do and so they gave me permission. I know I’m capable of doing this, even though the infantry is a male-dominated field. I know that it will take a lot of focus, but I can do it.”
The focus on her work began with going to a military entrance processing station to make certain she met the standards of the Army National Guard. After a medical exam, Gonzalez said her job was selected, she signed her contract and took an oath to enlist. Once that was completed, she traveled to Fort Moore for her first stint of basic training.
“There was a lot of field training,” she said about her experience. “We trained with weapons, which I had never had any experience with weapons before this. We stayed overnight in the woods, with four days and three nights learning how to survive out in the wilderness.”
By the end of basic training, Gonzalez said she had learned a great deal, both about herself and the world. Learning skills that will be necessary as a member of the infantry, the 10 weeks she spent in training molded her into the type of person needed in the field.
“It was a very different experience that’s hard to explain to someone else,” she said. “But I came out of this as the best version of myself that I can be. It’s molded me into what they want me to be. I have learned a lot of discipline that I didn’t have before.”
After her senior year is complete, Gonzalez said she will be receiving advanced infantry training over a 14-week period that will conclude in September 2025. She will then serve in the Army National Guard for six years in active duty and two years in reserve. While she is on active duty, Gonzalez said she plans to go to college at an ROTC campus in Wisconsin to become an officer.
“I will come back to Wisconsin to go to college near where I am stationed,” she said. “I’m currently stationed out of Chippewa Falls, but the nearest infantry unit is in Menomonie. I’m not sure if that’s where I’ll end up after training is done, but we will see. When I’m on active duty, I’ll be required to do drills and training once a month. I hope to eventually become an officer in the Army and go into it full time.”
Since she has returned to Spencer to complete her final year of high school, Gonzalez said there have been a few other students at the district who have talked to her about the experience she has had with military life so far. In each interaction, she’s been upfront about the experience and the kind of person who will likely get the most benefit out of joining the Army National Guard, giving others an idea of what they could expect from that sort of start in life.
“A couple have asked me about it,” she said. “One even enlisted as well. As I told them, if you’re doing it only for college, then you won’t benefit from the experience. But if you have an openness to travel and want to explore and meet new people, then it’s a really good choice.”
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
