report to lackland air force base
san antonio texas
1 february 1983
catch a flight
paid for courtesy of the air force
to san antonio
embarking on a new chapter
in my life
following in my
daddy's
some of my uncles'
my brother's
footsteps
joining the united states air force
join the air force
travel the world
arrive late evening
report to receiving station
with stories
advice
runnin' around in my head
don't volunteer for nothin'
listen to the drill sargeant
do everything they say
even if it sounds nuts
you don't wanna tick em off
there the meanest sob's
you'll ever meet
they'll take your head off
and eat it
meet some drill sargeants
but in the air force
they're called training instructors
t.i.'s
they welcome us to san antonio
and the united states air force
they seem pleased to meet us
surprise
whoever said they were mean
these don't seem so bad
line up please
they said please
i thought all they did was
yell and cuss
daddy used to say he heard one
yell and cuss
for over five minutes
and not use the same word twice
but these guys ain't bad
naaaah not bad at all
awright ladies
let's march to the bus
even though i don't know how
left right left
no bouncing
left right left
i said no bouncing
march to the buses
left right left
get on
an hour's drive
have a last smoke
approach the gate
pass through
into a whole new world
butterflies flitter
around in your stomach
because you've heard
stories
about these drill instructors
oops
t.i.'s
about basic
arrive welcome center
turn in your orders
your records
inprocessing
paperwork paperwork paperwork
hurry up and wait
good thing i'm not impatient
assigned your flight
your group for the next six weeks
mine is flight 77
w-023
suddenly
there she is
spit shined and strack
the biggest meanest person
you've ever seen
bigger than your mama
meaner than your daddy
*the t.i.*
mine is tech sgt hallie a. vardell
even though she is
shorter than me
her voice is the
biggest
i've ever heard
intense
pale pale blue eyes
bore right through you
turning your spine to mush
your stomach to jelly
*i hope she doesn't notice me*
awright ladies attenHUT
what is this
you are the most pathetic bunch
attenHUT
whattaya call that
slouchin' ain't allowed
throw yer shoulders back
stick yer chest out
poke em out poke em out
stand up straight
arms at sides
hands cupped thumbs forward
feet 45 degrees
attenHUT
whatyew lookin' at airman
*uhhh* nothin'
NOTHIN'? NOTHIN'???
do ah look like a nothin'
to you
no
MA'AM
no ma'am
what's yer name airman
karla
not yer first name
vidra
airman vidra the proper way
to address me
your superiors
in the united states air force IS
airman vidra reports
as ordered
no ma'am
or yes ma'am
dependin' on what's said
do yew understand me
yes ma'am
airman viiidra
ma'am airman vidra reports
as ordered
no ma'am
yes ma'am
*oh God what have i done
i don't think i'm gonna survive*