Page 7 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - May - June 2023

7

Intense training brings rewarding new career

Nathan Boyd joins
military, seeks to serve
as a role model for
tribal community

By Frazier Myer
Chehalis tribal member
Nathan Boyd joined the United
States Army and is on his first
deployment at Fort Shafner in
Hawaii. He decided to pursue
a career in the military and
completed boot-camp training in
June.
Boyd, 21, grew up on the
Chehalis Reservation. His
original plan after graduating
from Oakville High School in
2020 was to attend college, but
the COVID-19 pandemic made
schooling difficult. He began
seeking other options.
A couple of Boyd’s friends
had already enlisted in the Army,
which sparked his interest to join.
It was at the same time Boyd was
looking for a route that would Nathan Boyd, who is stationed in Hawaii, used grit and determination to get through U.S. Army basic training.
improve his livelihood. He also
wanted to be a good role model for test near the end of boot camp. Control Base.
the community he is from. Boyd described how bonds Those in training surrounded
“I wanted to do something that are formed among people going the perimeter of a site to keep it
would make my parents proud to through basic training together. protected while others slept. Drill
call me their son,” Boyd said. I wanted to do They helped push each other on sergeants tested how secure the
This led to his decision to walk something that all of the tough days and while base was to determine whether the
into a recruiting office and begin performing physical tasks. He said team was successful.
the process. would make my they motivated one another during The forge includes a drill called
Training begins parents proud to demanding training. the Battle March and Shoot. This
is when all of the skills they’ve
The biggest obstacle was
Boyd described the multiple call me their son. staying mentally focused. been developing meld together.
benefits and skill sets gained from – NATHAN BOYD Individuals are broken down and The main purpose of the drill is
going through military training. built back up to ensure soldiers to assess how well soldiers can
He emphasized that his health was are equipped to handle combat function in high-stress situations
almost instantly enhanced. situations. and remain poised to do the job.
The steps to improving his Boyd said the most intense
health and becoming physically fit said. He explained it is all about Tough tests part of this stage of training was
started prior to boot camp. Boyd believing in oneself and giving Boyd completed three big tests in the middle of the night when
completed physical fitness tests 110%. at the end of each boot camp they crawled underneath a wire
specific to the type of job assigned phase: the hammer, anvil and fence more than 100 yards with
to him, which is 13 Bravo (Army Pushing through forge. Boyd explained that one simulated fire going off above.
cannon crew members). He was Boyd and his fellow troops were of the most challenging parts of Boyd said he was sweating so
tested on the dead lift, long- required to complete a series of testing is what’s commonly known intensely that he jumped into the
distance running and a standing three tests during basic training: as rucking, which is hiking for lake to cool off.
power (ball) throw. miles with a 45- to 50-pound
Boyd said basic training was red phase (first three weeks), backpack on. Additional weight is Moving on
challenging because he arrived at white phase (next three weeks) also added, such as rifle magazines After completing the forge,
the site at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and blue phase (final three weeks). in the military vest and water Boyd had wrapped up all of the
overweight and out of shape, but During red phase, they mainly canteens. Boyd said everyone was requirements for basic training
he was able to get back into good focused on endurance running blistered after the rucks. and was ready to move on to
form quickly. and completing obstacle courses. The hammer challenge is advanced individual training.
Boyd credits his days of playing White phase was a period for a two-day hike, 5 miles each Boyd said the training went by
sports growing up and in high those in training to become more direction, in extreme weather. quickly and it wasn’t long before
school as part of the reason behind familiar with their weapons. The anvil is three days of intense he graduated from the program
why he was able to meet the Boyd said this involved shooting training, including hiking more and returned to the Chehalis
physical demands and overcome practice and learning how to take than 15 total miles at a quick pace. Reservation for a two-week visit
moments of adversity. apart and assemble his rifle. Blue During the anvil, field action is with his family before he left for
“It’s all a mental thing,” Boyd phase prepares troops for the final simulated with a mission called Fort Shafner in Hawaii.