So last month when I decided to host this "Anything Military" Challenge but I didn't realize how quickly everything was going to change with the Coronavirus.

My son is in Basic Training (Boot Camp) at Fort Benning, Georgia. He left home Jan 13th and we had been looking forward to seeing him for a few days for family day on March 26th. He was planning to show me around the base so he and I could take photos together and spend some quality time together but that quickly changed as family day and graduations have all been cancelled until further notice. No family members are aloud on base, my only way of communicating with my son now is through letters as they are not aloud their phones while they are training.

So now I am scrambling trying to find some Military photos to take. Thank goodness my son collects WWII items that are still in his bedroom.

So let me see your military photos but please be careful out there and remember the social distancing rule.
Hope you are all healthy and keeping safe out there. I don't go anywhere without gloves and a mask on these days. Once a week to the grocery store and that's it for me.

Hi Lorima. We are living in difficult times and I am sorry you had to forego the reunion you were so much looking forward to. I hope that you will be able to attend his passing-out parade, which is so cherished by the troops.

Here's a photo of my own passing out parade after 6 months of "basic training" (i.e. boot camp) in 1954. As colonials, we trained under the British army. Here you see my squad under the command of our instructor sargeants, who both served in WWII and the Korean War. I was in the rear rank, so you can't see me.

I was never so fit in my whole life, and I expect your son will be able to say the same by the time you next see him. I was not a career soldier, but after my training, I was 9 years in the "territorials" (equivalent to your militia, I think). I still have my "No.1" head gear.

An ingrained memory is of the bellowed order of our Scotts Guards Sargeant Major Cameron (nickname, Rumbleguts) at the rehearsal for this parade: "Swagger, you bastards, SWAGGER!"

Your son will also have memories of his period of training to last him a lifetime.