PVT Jacque Jo Clure's Journal

PVT Jacque Jo Clure is a student at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Montana. She is currently in the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) before shipping to Basic Combat Training.

June 3, 2010 — Hello everyone! First off, I would like to thank everyone who is serving our country. It doesn't matter which branch they are in—from Army to Navy, we are all heroes.

Training has been going well. RSP has been very beneficial for me. Whenever anyone gets back from Basic Training, the main thing I hear from them is about all the PT (physical training). Being physically fit has always been a major thing for me—I love to run. So, I know I will be semi-ready when I leave for Basic, and that when I get there, I will be a few steps ahead of the others.

Joining the National Guard has been a very good decision for me. Even though I haven't yet had as many experiences as some people, I feel great about my choice. I love that they will work with you to make sure you get your education. I can't wait to see what the rest of my Guard career has in store for me.

April 11, 2010 — I only have a couple more drills left before I leave for Basic Training. But by being in RSP (we call it RTC), I know I will be more than prepared when it comes time to ship off to Basic.

My first drill that I attended, we did Combatives. That was so awesome. Combatives also helps in my self-defense class in college. That was a memorable one also because I got smoked hardcore (ha ha, don't forget your weapons!). Looking back, I kind of laugh.

My second drill was my favorite because we learned how to disassemble our M16s and reassemble them. We also got to do some target shooting. The last one I attended, we did land navigation. I’m a hunter, so I thought this would be easy enough to do. I do it all the time when finding my way around looking for a deer to shoot. But, it actually was really difficult—but fun at the same time.

The next drill we have coming up is called “Devil’s Brigade.” It’s where all of the RTCs from around the state come and compete in one major competition. We'll compete in PT, a land navigation course—everything that we have done in drills. This will also be the first time for many to meet drill sergeants and see what they will be like once they get to Basic. GO RTC 2!! HOOAH!

April 3, 2010 — The National Guard has been an amazing exerience for me so far. I am 18 years old. I live in Great Falls, MT, and I run track and attend the University of Great Falls. I joined the National Guard because I wanted to achieve my goal of getting a college degree.

I'm studying to be a nurse so that I can someday be a pediatric nurse. I also knew that I really wanted to serve our country. As soon as I saw the National Guard booth at our state fair and I read the benefits you get from it, I was hooked. I knew that this was going to be the best decision I had ever made in my life. It's such a great thing to work on my degree and also serve my country.