So there I was, a Private at Fort Benning, week 3, going through close combat training in one of the gyms they used uneven mats on the floor. We all circle around the mat and waited to hear our name to go against a drill sergeant to get him in a lock. For some strange reason, they called my name out first. I slowly walked up to the mat and was about 8 feet away from a drill sergeant.I knew that I was going to be first and I wanted to make an effort to show that I was motivated and not scared. When the whistle blew I took off as fast as I could, trying to go 110%. All of a sudden my big toe got jammed on one of the uneven mats. I tried to catch myself as I was falling into the drill sergeant. When I finally made it to the ground I noticed my elbow was right in the crotch of the drill sergeant. I had racked him pretty hard on accident. I looked up at him and before I could say "I'm sorry," three strong punches came down on my face I fell to the ground got up looked around and was so confused didn't really know where I was or what I was doing. One of the other drill sergeants just told me to go back to my flip flops on the side of the mat. I had no idea what he was talking about then one of the other drill sergeants came over to me and asked if I was okay and if I thought I had a concussion.I looked up at him and before I could say "I'm sorry" three strong punches came down on my face I fell to the ground got up looked around and was so confused didn't really know where I was or what I was doing. One of the other drill sergeants just told me to go back to my flip flops on the side of the mat. I had no idea what he was talking about then one of the other drill sergeants came over to me and asked if I was okay and if I thought I had a concussion.I told him I didn't know but then he said if I did have a concussion I would have to get recycled. All of a sudden when he said recycled I started to remember everything and I told him no I'm fine I'm fine.I went to the bathroom washed off the blood went back to the mat. It was everyone's joke for the rest of the cycle, still today one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. It wasn't until week 8 that I got to have a heart to heart with the Drill Sgt and tell him it was not intentional and that I was sorry.Read more Basic Training Stories here.
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