Received a text from my wife yesterday, apparently our son is being awarded something for his work ethic today.
I know he's been working long hours (I joked with him he's on salary now) and is one of the first to arrive and the last to leave (apparently they trust him enough to give him building keys).
He was home for Thanksgiving and was pretty proud of the fact that he qualified and did well with the new M17 sidearm (he qualified with the M9 earlier this year), and apparently now he's been assigned one with a serial number that is "his" (certain job duties he's required to carry one).
He was never a kid really into guns growing up, so it's nice to see he can adapt and learn, but the few times I had him out, he didn't do to bad, and wasn't afraid to handle one.
Better yet, he finally seems to be embracing physical training and told me he's now hitting the gym and working out. He's always been skinny as a rail (even after basic) and he made the "working out" comment after I told him he looks like he's putting on "good weight" in his class A's (he's also still proud of that buscap he bought like his grandfathers and not wearing the airman's cap that is apparently standard issue with his class A's LMAO)
It does put a smile on my face because I told him before he enlisted, that from what I saw of his work ethic since he started working at at the age of 15, as long as he kept that same work ethic, he will do fine in the life he wants to make for himself.
He definitely has a game plan on where he wants to be when his enlistment is up and it's nice to see that he's setting long term goals, and more importantly, still giving 100% and not just trying to get by.