This past Wednesday I came one step closer of fulfilling my career goal of becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Military. I traveled to 14^th street, where I met with my Officer Selection Officer. I arrived wearing a business suit at 10:30 am and I proceeded to go to the office on the 13^th floor. I spent the next hour and a half signing paperwork and reading through statements of understanding, acknowledging responsibility and the punishment that I could face if I am to break the rules under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Out of all of the documents that I signed on that day, one of the most important one was the Department of Defense form 4 (DD-4) or “enlistment document.” This document has a written oath that I signed, and which I hope is not the only oath that I take as I look forward to taking the oath of commission. After I finished signing all of the paperwork, the Captain came into the room and began signing the papers that I had just finished signing. After all papers were signed, there came the best part of the day so far. I stood up from my chair, left the office room, walked across a small living room and stood at attention in front of the American flag, facing the windows that overlooked the city. The Captain stood in front of me, I raised my right hand, so did he, and much like the president’s oath to the office, I repeated the words that the Captain was dictating, “so help me God.”

I left the office, eager to finish the application process. I am now a “poolee,” soon I might be a graduating candidate of OCS. There is this sense of excitement, when the grass seems even greener and the finish line is now visible at the horizon, a finish line that will lead to a new lap around a new track. Now it is time to focus on finishing this race, to make it to June 1^st and graduate college. Until then, the training will continue and the daily routine will be improved upon.