My son "graduated" from boot camp yesterday at Ft. Benning.

[panader0]

He had previously been in the Coast Guard. He thought he wanted something
tougher, so he's on a course for Special Forces, and Rangers down the road.

[dawg day]

1. Congrats! My son did basic there too.

Best wishes for his future plans.

[atreides1]

2. Congrats!!!

My grandson reports there for basic in January. He enlisted for infantry and wants to go Airborne and then Ranger.

[panader0]

3. My son got a four day pass for turkey

and then it's back to Benning for jump school.

[irisblue]

4. What does the blue ribbon on his right shoulder signify? Thx

[panader0]

5. I don't know. Maybe TEB can tell us.

[Tiggeroshii]

7. I think it is a leadership thing. Means he helped keep his class in line

[SilasSouleII]

9. That's' an Infantry cord

Means he completed advanced Infantry training.

[orangecrush]

21. It's called an "Infantry Rope"

My brother wore one in the 3rd Infantry "Old Guard".

Infantry are combat foot soldiers, literally "boots on the ground".

[soldierant]

24. I would have called it a "fourragre"

I don't know whether that is more of a giveaway of my USMC backfround or of my age.

[demosincebirth]

30. You are right.

[weissmam]

35. 3rd

very cool, worked with 3 times

[kacekwl]

25. Infantry

[Aristus]

38. That and the blue discs under his brass signify qualification for the Expert Infantry Badge.

I forget the exact requirements for earning the badge, only to say one has to be a superior infantryman in order to earn it.

I was a tanker, and I always resented that the Army didn't offer something similar for tank crewmen. A set of requirements that would earn us the fourragiere and discs in Cavalry gold. Tankers can earn what is called the Master Gunner badge, but one obviously has to be a gunner in order to take the Master Gunner course. Tank drivers and loaders get nothing.

[TomSlick]

6. HOOAH!

SPC Baker will understand.

[Scarsdale]

8. You must be proud.

Accomplished young man, with ambition and goals in life. Happy Thanksgiving.

[kairos12]

10. Congratulations from

old an Army Ranger!

Rangers Lead The Way!

[onethatcares]

11. three words to live by.

Duty Honor Country

Not sure which is most important but I would think the 2nd one.

My grandson leaves for the U.S. Navy in March next year. Jeez, these kids grow up fast.

[usaf-vet]

12. MY first take was.. boot camp with a chest of ribbon?

MY first take was.. boot camp with a chest of ribbons... then I realized he previously served in the USCG.
So the ribbons and rank are most likely from USCG service.

Thank you for serving.

Remember what your oath of enlistment says. "Support and defend the CONSTITUTION against all enemies foreign and domestic"..

It says nothing about a flag. A political party. A president. Or a specific god.

[lunatica]

13. Those moments when a parent's heart just swells!

There is nothing like feeling that pride and love for your child. No words suffice.

[djacq]

14. Congrats... Big Future Ahead.

All Air Force Enlisted Basic Training is done at Lackland AFB, TX.

Not surprise to see prior service ribbons... I carried my training ribbon from 2 years Army Reserve when I crossed over to the Air Force.

You get out of the service of what you put into it.

[CaptainTruth]

15. Congratulations!

[Kaleva]

16. Congratualtions to your son!

[Fla Dem]

17. Congratulations!

[paleotn]

18. Yea! Much congrats!

You must be so proud of him.

[mahina]

19. Congratulations. Aloha to him

[Initech]

20. Cool!!

[question everything]

22. Congratulations but

Aren’t the identities of Special forces supposed to be confidential?

I don’t know but I take it you know better.

[Kali]

23. impressive

[sheshe2]

27. That's the picture.

Congrats, panader0.

[Brother Buzz]

28. Cool! So, like, do we assume he carried some rank over from the Coast Guard?

Also, I wonder if his campaign ribbons are going to drive his commanders crazy trying to sort it all out.

[AJT]

29. That's terrific. Congratulations.

[Crabby Appleton]

31. Congrats!

(ex-Army, 1968 vintage)

[TEB]

32. Congratulations on turning blue trooper

[HAB911]

33. Good deal, I did too, in 1969

[weissmam]

34. Congradulations

Go Army

[calimary]

36. Congratulations, and may he stay safe.

A huge day in his young life. Please thank him for his selfless service to his country.

[kimbutgar]

37. I applaud anyone willing to serve our country under MF45 being president now

A co workers son graduated last week from basic trading in the Air Force. And I told her the same thing. I’m hoping the military officials will put the breaks on the menace to our country if he tries to do a wag the dog event to stay in office.

[malaise]

39. Congrats

What a handsome young man

[YOHABLO]

40. I hope he will be safe where ever his military career takes him.

Thank him for me, and all of us here, for his courage and his service to the country.

[The Polack MSgt]

41. Sorry I'm so late to the party, but congratulations to you and your son