Basic Training and AIT Photo Gallery These first four photos were taken during basic training. Its very hard sometimes to get actual photos from basic training since you're not allowed to have any personal items. However, I was able to retrieve four black and white photos from a small book that they put together for the soldiers. These next six photos were taken during graduation from basic training on January 1, 1987. The night before graduation if you had family visiting, you were allowed to leave the base for the evening and return the next morning. Those of us who didn't have family members coming down for graduation could expect a leisurely evening in the barracks to finish packing or get extra hours of sleep. I knew my parents were not able to make it to graduation so I was already resigned to the fact that I would be staying at the barracks that evening. Right before dinner, I remember my drill sergeant Nelson yelling at me to report downstairs that I had visitors. I remember thinking he must have lost his mind because I had just talked to my parents earlier that day and knew they were in Florida. When I went down the stairs, I saw Grandma Smollen, my Aunt Annie and Uncle Lee and their sons John and Bill. They all had big grins on their faces as they knew I was not expecting them. I had a great time that evening showing them around the base and spending the evening with them and to this day, I don't think I have ever really told them how much that really meant to me. When I look back on my graduation, I can't help but smile when I think about them. These last two pictures are me and a few buddies from AIT at Fort Lee, Virginia.