The Myth, The Man, The Legend
Last night Nik's mom, who Wes and I affectionately know as, Mor, flew from Germany to be with us for a week or so. She came an hour before the Blue Cord Ceremony for Nik's soon-to-be-graduating lieutenants, and she awesomely voluenteered to stay with Wes so I could be Captain Sifers' date.
We got all dolled up, Nik in his shnazzy blues and me in a classy dress and head downtown to The Loft. As we walk in the room there are a handful of lieutenants and a few wives, a lot were still on their way due to a later release time then we all had originally anticipated...but as they shuffle in, they all walk up to Nik and I, most of them making some joke or recalling some fond moment they had with Nik and then heading to the bar for a drink (of course, we are talking about the Infantry here.)
These events are fun for me to attend because I don't really have a whole lot to say. The few scattered wives that attend are engrossed in their man who they haven't seen a whole lot of in the past couple of weeks due to Leader Forge (their last "hooah" field 'week' before graduation.) So I do the same, and stand next to Nik and observe.
Not every one of his lieutenants was there, but within an hour of us being there, the room was filled with a good 45 people. Nik was being handed drinks before his last one was done, every one of his students wanted to honor their trainer by buying 'the old man' a drink. One of them even bought me a guinness. Smart LT, making sure MRS Cpt. Sifers was taken care of too. :)
The food arrived and so it was time for Nik to start the formal part of the ceremony so the men could receive their blue cords (the mark of an infantrymen) and then eat. He stood up and quieted the room down and read the history of the blue cord, and reminded all of them of how proud he was of what they have accomplished and the changes they've made in the past few months of training. He didn't get teary but I know Nik's faces, and I could see that he meant those words from his core; he wasn't just saying them because they fit in nicely with his printed off reading... and a few moments later, for the next 3 hours, I was able to witness their thoughts on my husband...
He put on the blue cords of one squad, and shook their hands congratulating them to the world of the infantry. They took picture by squad and then seeked Nik out to get a picture with him...he was like Mickey Mouse at Disney World...but looked waaay spiffier than that mouse ever could.
As I sat I noticed that there were 8 tables in the room, 3 of them were filled, the rest had 3 or 4 guys sitting at them. Ours was one of the tables that was filled. We ate with one group of guys and as they made fun of each other they called other guys over to our table. One guy would get up to get a drink and lose his seat with one who was waiting his turn to tell their story and see their Captain laugh.
After the food was eaten the event was pretty much complete and they were told if they were going to enjoy a few beers to change out of their uniforms. At this point Nik said he'd like to stay for a little longer to see that they all at least get to their next location good-to-go. But instead of changing and heading out, more chairs got pulled to our table, and for the next 2 hours we all hung out.
Each guy was a character.
There was the tall, broad shouldered LT, with a deep voice and big heart. He laughed like someone having an asthma attack, and when he laughed like this, everyone knew he was really laughing. He had forgotten a change of clothes and borrowed stuff from someone about his same size, a little smaller, so they were tight fitted, and had picked out a Hawaiian shirt to wear, that had a front chest pocket, in which he stored his next beer.
There was a little guy, who sat right next to Nik, and didn't change into clothes, he was very polite and quiet. I could tell he had a sassier side, but was taking this ceremony seriously and his job too, I can imagine. He was one of those guys you hoped to have on your team, quiet, but hard working.
There were the models, well 2 of them thought they should be, and one who was before he joined the Army. They all had their classy shirts on and matching shoes, a little product in their hair. Pretty boys for sure, but so full of sass you hardly noticed their manicured looks.
There was a guy who wanted to be just like Nik. He had his own personality and quirks, but he had picked up a few of Nik's traits over the course of his training, and certain gestures, and definitely the overall attitude had flicks of Nik Sifers in it. He was, however, a Yankees fan, so obviously didn't pick up on all the good characteristics....
And of course there were just a bunch of your average joe, fit, good looking (or kind of dorky looking) young guys who were on their way to be something, and knew that Captain Sifers had helped them get over a big hurdle in their careers in the Army.
They were so proud of their trainer, and so was I. Some days its hard to be without Nik, when he is out there "Training the Leader" as they say, and I don't, and never will fully understand what they are doing out there, but last night I was given a little peek at the results from all that he does, and even that sliver of respect and appreciation demonstrated how essential those long nights are... because of his dedication and ultimately respect for them, they are trained and trained well. This bodes well for Nik and his reputation but even more so for our country, because these guys are the next Platoon Leaders who'll deploy and be making decisions that effect men and womens lives.
God blessed Nik with these gifts and abilities, and I am proud to be his partner in crime, the girl on his arm and the wife he comes home to. :)
We got all dolled up, Nik in his shnazzy blues and me in a classy dress and head downtown to The Loft. As we walk in the room there are a handful of lieutenants and a few wives, a lot were still on their way due to a later release time then we all had originally anticipated...but as they shuffle in, they all walk up to Nik and I, most of them making some joke or recalling some fond moment they had with Nik and then heading to the bar for a drink (of course, we are talking about the Infantry here.)
These events are fun for me to attend because I don't really have a whole lot to say. The few scattered wives that attend are engrossed in their man who they haven't seen a whole lot of in the past couple of weeks due to Leader Forge (their last "hooah" field 'week' before graduation.) So I do the same, and stand next to Nik and observe.
Not every one of his lieutenants was there, but within an hour of us being there, the room was filled with a good 45 people. Nik was being handed drinks before his last one was done, every one of his students wanted to honor their trainer by buying 'the old man' a drink. One of them even bought me a guinness. Smart LT, making sure MRS Cpt. Sifers was taken care of too. :)
The food arrived and so it was time for Nik to start the formal part of the ceremony so the men could receive their blue cords (the mark of an infantrymen) and then eat. He stood up and quieted the room down and read the history of the blue cord, and reminded all of them of how proud he was of what they have accomplished and the changes they've made in the past few months of training. He didn't get teary but I know Nik's faces, and I could see that he meant those words from his core; he wasn't just saying them because they fit in nicely with his printed off reading... and a few moments later, for the next 3 hours, I was able to witness their thoughts on my husband...
He put on the blue cords of one squad, and shook their hands congratulating them to the world of the infantry. They took picture by squad and then seeked Nik out to get a picture with him...he was like Mickey Mouse at Disney World...but looked waaay spiffier than that mouse ever could.
As I sat I noticed that there were 8 tables in the room, 3 of them were filled, the rest had 3 or 4 guys sitting at them. Ours was one of the tables that was filled. We ate with one group of guys and as they made fun of each other they called other guys over to our table. One guy would get up to get a drink and lose his seat with one who was waiting his turn to tell their story and see their Captain laugh.
After the food was eaten the event was pretty much complete and they were told if they were going to enjoy a few beers to change out of their uniforms. At this point Nik said he'd like to stay for a little longer to see that they all at least get to their next location good-to-go. But instead of changing and heading out, more chairs got pulled to our table, and for the next 2 hours we all hung out.
Each guy was a character.
There was the tall, broad shouldered LT, with a deep voice and big heart. He laughed like someone having an asthma attack, and when he laughed like this, everyone knew he was really laughing. He had forgotten a change of clothes and borrowed stuff from someone about his same size, a little smaller, so they were tight fitted, and had picked out a Hawaiian shirt to wear, that had a front chest pocket, in which he stored his next beer.
There was a little guy, who sat right next to Nik, and didn't change into clothes, he was very polite and quiet. I could tell he had a sassier side, but was taking this ceremony seriously and his job too, I can imagine. He was one of those guys you hoped to have on your team, quiet, but hard working.
There were the models, well 2 of them thought they should be, and one who was before he joined the Army. They all had their classy shirts on and matching shoes, a little product in their hair. Pretty boys for sure, but so full of sass you hardly noticed their manicured looks.
There was a guy who wanted to be just like Nik. He had his own personality and quirks, but he had picked up a few of Nik's traits over the course of his training, and certain gestures, and definitely the overall attitude had flicks of Nik Sifers in it. He was, however, a Yankees fan, so obviously didn't pick up on all the good characteristics....
And of course there were just a bunch of your average joe, fit, good looking (or kind of dorky looking) young guys who were on their way to be something, and knew that Captain Sifers had helped them get over a big hurdle in their careers in the Army.
They were so proud of their trainer, and so was I. Some days its hard to be without Nik, when he is out there "Training the Leader" as they say, and I don't, and never will fully understand what they are doing out there, but last night I was given a little peek at the results from all that he does, and even that sliver of respect and appreciation demonstrated how essential those long nights are... because of his dedication and ultimately respect for them, they are trained and trained well. This bodes well for Nik and his reputation but even more so for our country, because these guys are the next Platoon Leaders who'll deploy and be making decisions that effect men and womens lives.
God blessed Nik with these gifts and abilities, and I am proud to be his partner in crime, the girl on his arm and the wife he comes home to. :)
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