Farewell Fitz C.
I recall it as one of those long nights that I was pulling Battalion Staff Duty. My ice delivery that night was strategically planned. I made it so A/787 was the last company that I needed to deliver to because I knew Drill Sergeant Fitz was on CQ (Charge of Quarters) that night; I wanted to sit with her. That night especially, I needed some encouragement because I had just completed my first attempt at earning a GT (General Technical) score of 110 or higher; that attempt didn’t go as planned. I had missed my goal by 7 points.
I was sitting on the couch in the CQ area at A/787 explaining the frustration I had with myself and venting as she was updating all things necessary for the next training day.
Murphy: “Man, I don’t know. If I don’t get it the next time, I’m done!”
Fitz: “Aw Murph, you’ll get it; You just need to study better for the next time. When you’re ready, take it again. You’ll do fine.”
I had explained to her how embarrassed I was to return to work without fulfilling the goal that I had worked for. I felt bad for being the Drill Sergeant that was gone 3 hours a day, Monday through Friday, for 8 weeks, and nothing to show for it. Any Drill Sergeant, past or present, knows that if you’re gone or not at work, it better be for a legitimate reason. It was Drill Sergeant Fitz that snatched me up out of the pity party that I was the only attendant of. She reminded me that some progress is better than none. Though she loved the Delta Company family, she told me “screw those guys!” in an attempt to make me feel just a little better and that it wasn’t right to focus on what other people thought of me.
I never got a chance to tell you so, I’m telling you now. Without the community we all had as Drill Sergeants and your confidence in me, I wouldn’t be where I am. Without that score, I wouldn’t be in college. Without college, I wouldn’t be able to work towards becoming a Commissioned Officer. If I would have given up on myself and let the fear of failure restrain me, I would be living in regret right now.
Thank you for the light that you brought when you entered any room. Your light brightened some of our darkest days as Drill Sergeants. Thank you for the striking command presence that you embodied; you needed to say nothing to be respected! You were strong, you were wise, you were focused, and you were passionate. If the phrase “actions speak louder than words” was a person, you would be it.
The love you and Savanna had for each other was beautiful and I admired the strength you both had in defeating the challenge of being Drill Sergeants at the same time. And, I am confident in saying that anyone reading this will make sure that she needs for nothing.
Courtney, you may have been an Alpha Gator and Savanna and I Delta Defenders, but all of us together were a family of Excellence, Always.
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