Boot Camp for Karissa

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School senior Karissa Potts has signed papers to join the Navy and will leave for nine weeks of boot camp on June 29.

When Potts was in the seventh grade, she considered joining the Coast Guard after high school.  After researching job training, boot camp, and benefits, including healthcare and housing, she decided the Navy would be her choice of military service.

Potts went to the recruiting office, gathered more information, and a week later, returned with her mom, Angela, to enlist in the Navy.

As an enlistee, Potts underwent medical, aptitude, fingerprinting, and drug testing at a Military Entrance Processing Station before taking the oath of enlistment.

Over the past four months, Potts has attended weekly Navy's Delayed Entry Program meetings. The mandatory program prepares recruits physically and mentally for basic training and measures readiness.  Through the program, Potts is learning branch-specific information, including history, terminology, culture, chain of command, and the military code of ethics. Activities also include physical training to meet initial, foundational standards, reducing the shock of basic training, and improving retention rates. Knowing how to "fall out," salute, "address" chain of command members, and hold the parade stance is vital to reducing the number of pushups at boot camp. 

Potts scored well on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery in her junior year at Waitsburg High School. The multi-aptitude test determines enlistment eligibility and measures skills in math, science, and technology to help determine suitable job opportunities. In eighth grade, she taught herself stick welding by watching YouTube videos and using equipment from her dad's shed.  Potts took the welding class at WHS in her sophomore year to continue building those skills, which she hopes to use in a Navy job.

Potts said she likes the training so far and is ready for boot camp in June.

In the words of the late Jack McCaw, "Go Navy".