Huge Privilege!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight we received a phone call from Kevin. I'll be honest, I was very nervous when I heard it was him on the phone. Normally there is absolutely no contact with anyone outside of boot camp once you start training unless there is an emergency. Well...there was no emergency, he just got to call home because he "earned" it. They were fighting with pugil sticks; he hit his opponent in the head and knocked him out of bounds. His drill instructor told him to get up there and do it again, and if he did...he would get a phone call home. What an incentive! He got right up there and did exactly what he was told, thus we were blessed by hearing his voice. He sounded great, well his voice is gone from yelling, but his spirits were up. He said it is very hard sometimes, but he's managing. He also went on to tell us that he has been promoted from squad leader to "guide". This is the highest position you can hold in boot camp. Curt asked if there was any competition and Kevin said that there were a couple guys who want it. We gave him lots of encouragement and told him to hang on to it. This position can be given and taken away many times during training, but we're hoping he can graduate with honors. It really comes down to your drill instructors and what kind of mood they're in that particular day. Kevin could keep this position all the way up to the day of graduation and then the DI could decide to give it to someone else. Either way, we are thrilled and so very proud of Kevin. Just had to share my excitement with you;