Determined Son Grows Into Infantry Soldier

By Kari Hawkins, USAG RedstoneJanuary 10, 2014

Soldier Son Graduates
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Sitting on my desk these days is a picture of my son.

Except, it's not any ordinary picture of a guy who is much loved by his mom. It's not a picture of my son in his high school football jersey or JROTC uniform. It's not a picture of my son horsing around at his grandma's place at the lake.

This is a picture of a Soldier.

As with all official Army pictures, my son looks serious, determined, strong.

And, he looks young.

I can still see the shadow of the little boy in the line of his jaw. I can still remember the golden hair that once graced his brow. I can still see the hint of the smile just waiting to burst across his face at the stupidest jokes.

But, what he wants me to see -- and the rest of the nation to see -- is a full-fledged Soldier who carries his duty with pride, who walks with confidence in his mission and who marches to the values of an organization he cares passionately about.

My son -- now Pfc. Tucker Hawkins -- is a U.S. Army infantryman. His dad, grandma, sister and I proudly watched from the bleachers Feb. 1 as he became one of 16,000 Soldiers who will graduate from infantry basic and advanced training at Fort Benning, Ga., this year. As his mom, I had the honor of placing his sky blue infantry cord on his shoulder during the "turning blue" ceremony prior to graduation. He pointed out to us the sharpshooter badge he now wears under his two new Army ribbons and the infantry cross rifle pin on his lapel. And, he gave each of us really big hugs.

That graduation symbolized some 15 weeks of training in the woods of Fort Benning, where he and his unit of about 50 other guys endured rain, mud, cold temperatures, hunger, sleepless nights, chiggers, long marches and blisters on their feet to wear the infantry cord. Tucker learned how to care for and shoot the M4 carbine, how to fire the M249 light machine gun (known as the SAW for squad automatic weapon) and the M203 grenade launcher, how to maneuver through obstacle courses and in the field, and how to lead other Soldiers through a simulated combat mission.

As members of Echo Company of the 198th Infantry Training Brigade, Tucker's unit became "infantrymen with special skills," i.e. Soldiers who are not only schooled in the points of the infantry but who also carry the training of mortar men. He is an 11 Charlie (an indirect fire infantryman) and proud of it.

But, Tucker's training doesn't stop there. He was lucky enough to also get airborne and Ranger on his Army contract. This week, he will begin his airborne training at Fort Benning, and after about three weeks we will once again make the trip south to proudly see him at his second Army graduation. I've been told we will actually get to see him jump.

Tucker will then go to pre-Ranger school, again at Fort Benning. If things go as he hopes, he will meet all the qualifications to go on to Ranger school.

My son has started an Army journey that only a few take. He is stronger because of it. He can endure more than I could ever imagine because of it. He understands things about teamwork, leadership and commitment that I will never be able to comprehend.

Best of all, he now shares a bond of military service with active and retired U.S. servicemembers that will always be a source of strength and pride for him. He is now part of a culture and history that makes him a valuable asset to his country at the tender age of 18, and that gives him something to live up to, something to live for.

As his mom, I don't know how far this journey will take Tucker. But, I do know it will take him as far as he is determined to go with it.

My son is growing into the man he was meant to be. My son is a U.S. Army Soldier.