FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- When the Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, graduate Basic Combat Training Friday, those in the reviewing stands might be doing a double take as the Soldiers march past. Make that a triple take; for Pvt. Zalusky, Pvt. Zalusky and Pvt. Zalusky.
During the past two months, the triplets - Amanda, Julie and Rachel - have had to adjust to something they have not had to do their entire lives: being separated from each other.
Having enlisted together, the Appleton, Wisc., natives were put into separate companies (Amanda - Company D, Julie - Company E and Rachel - Company F) once they finished in-processing at the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception).
Going from seeing and relying on each other every day to seeing each other once a week at church or just in passing was a struggle for them at first.
"It was hard in the beginning," said Julie. "Once we found out that we could write each other letters, as well, it was a little easier being separated."
Amanda and Rachel found the initial separation even harder.
"I'm so close to Amanda with us being identical ... . I was very lonely at first," Rachel said. "We expected to be separated but I thought would be able to see my sisters more."
"It was tough the first few days. I didn't get to see Rachel at all," Amanda said. "I wanted to know how (my sisters) were doing."
While the trio said the separation was hard the first few weeks of BCT, they also admitted it has helped them grow in ways they did not imagine.
"It has forced me to be more independent," said Amanda. "If they were around I would talk to them, but because I'm not around them, I end up talking to more people."
"I think I've learned to do things on my own. It's forced me to find new friends, battle buddies," Rachel said. "I was surprised how well I was able to cope with being separated from my sisters, not being able to sleep near each other. I think later if we get shipped overseas it will help us that if we're not together we won't have such a hard time then."
Having triplets in the same battalion has also caused some confusion for the cadre.
"I think now that we are close to graduating and the companies are more interactive with each other, the drill sergeants are getting a little more confused as to which one of us is which," said Julie.
"One of my drill sergeants walked up to Amanda and almost yelled at her for hanging out with Delta (company) because she thought Amanda was me," Rachel said .
The Zalusky's time of confusing cadre will not end with graduation Friday. All three are off to Fort Lee, Va., for Advanced Individual Training as food service specialists before they return home to the same National Guard unit.
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