Discharged for stupidity

"It is the year 2015, and you are attending the 11B Infantry One-Unit Station Training (OSUT) at Sandhill FT Benning. Today is the confidence course during the Red Phase"

Andie "Outperforms everyone during the obstacle course. He turns around to encourage you" "Common shrimp! You can't be the weakest link in the chain. Push through!"

"After a long day with push-ups and training, you went back to the barracks. You remember Andie told you to sleep through the fire guard tonight. But you got up anyway to help. You walk into the shower to check on him"

Andie "Turns back to you as he is getting dressed. She is exposed to you in her underwear and is clearly a girl" "Shit...."

💭Andie's Thoughts: FUCK!! I told this knucklehead to sleep in. Now everything is ruined

Andie "Quickly covers herself with a towel" "I'm not jumpy, just surprised to see you up. I told you to sleep through the night."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Damn it! Why is he up? I can't let him know that I'm a woman or everything will be ruined.

Andie "Gives a stern look" "It is a big deal, David. I'm not supposed to be here as a woman. If anyone finds out, I'll be kicked out of the army."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why can't he understand that this is serious? Ugh, maybe if I distract him with something else...

"Andie walks closer to you and puts her hand on your chest"

"Maybe we should focus on something else for now."

Andie "Removes her hand from your chest" "I know that, but I'm not supposed to be here as a woman. I had to lie about my gender to enlist in the army."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why is he so insistent on this? Doesn't he understand how dangerous it could be if anyone found out?

"Andie takes a step back and starts getting dressed"

"Look, David. It's late, and we have training early tomorrow. Let's just get some rest."

Andie "Finishes getting dressed and turns to face you" "It's a long story, David. One that I'm not ready to share yet."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why is he so insistent on this? Doesn't he understand how dangerous it could be if anyone found out?

"Andie walks closer to you again"

"But right now, all I want is for us to get some rest."

Andie "Looks at you with a serious expression" "David, if anyone finds out that I'm not a man, it could ruin my career and reputation. Not to mention the fact that I could face disciplinary action for lying on my enlistment papers."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why can't he just drop this? It's not worth risking everything over.

"Andie takes another step closer to you"

"I know you're curious, but right now we need to focus on training. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of frustration and desperation" "You don't understand, David. I had to lie because...because my parents were killed in the terrorist attack on the East Coast. I wanted to serve as an infantryman to honor their memory and take revenge."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why won't he just leave it alone? Can't he see how much this means to me?

"Andie's eyes well up with tears, but she quickly wipes them away"

"I can't correct the paperwork, David. It's too late for that now."

Andie "Looks at you with a mixture of sadness and frustration" "I know that, David. But I had to lie about my gender because at the time I enlisted, women were not allowed in combat roles."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why can't he just accept this? It's too risky to tell him the truth.

"Andie takes a deep breath"

"Look, David. I appreciate your concern, but right now we need to focus on our training. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of frustration and desperation" "David, I know that women have been allowed in combat roles for some time now. But the fact remains that when I enlisted, it was still not widely accepted. And even though things have changed since then, there are still people who would see me as unfit to serve."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why can't he just drop this? It's too risky to tell him the truth.

"Andie takes another deep breath"

"I'm okay, David. Really. I just need to focus on our training right now."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of anger and desperation" "David, I know that the rules have changed. But it's not just about that. It's about how people will perceive me if they find out the truth."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why won't he drop this? Doesn't he understand how dangerous it could be for me to tell him the truth?

"Andie takes a step closer to you"

"I appreciate your concern, David. But right now we need to focus on our training."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of frustration and sadness" "I think that people will see me as someone who lied to get into the army. They might question my integrity or my commitment to serving our country."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why can't he just understand? I can't risk everything by telling him the truth.

"Andie takes another deep breath"

"David, please. Let's just focus on training right now."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of frustration and desperation" "David, I appreciate your concern. But it's not that simple. If I come clean now, it could ruin my career and reputation."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why won't he just drop this? It's too risky to tell him the truth.

"Andie takes another deep breath"

"I understand where you're coming from, David. But right now we need to focus on our training."

Andie "Looks at you with a mix of frustration and desperation" "David, I know that the joint physical is coming up. But if I come clean now, it could ruin my career and reputation."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Why won't he just drop this? It's too risky to tell him the truth.

"Andie takes another deep breath"

"I appreciate your concern, David. But right now we need to focus on our training."

Andie "Stands frozen, staring at the DI with wide eyes"

💭Andie's Thoughts: Oh no. This is it. Everything I've worked for could be ruined.

"Andie takes a deep breath and tries to compose herself"

"Sir, there's been a mistake on my paperwork. I...I'm not actually male."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Please don't let this ruin everything.

Andie "Stands at attention, trying to maintain her composure" "Sir, I wanted to serve as an infantryman and honor my parents' memory. At the time of my enlistment, women were not allowed in combat roles."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Please don't let this ruin everything.

Andie "Stands at attention, her heart pounding in her chest" "Yes sir, that's correct."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Oh no. This is it. Everything I've worked for could be ruined.

Andie "Looks down, her eyes avoiding the DI's gaze"

"Sir...I...I didn't mean to lie. I just wanted to serve and make a difference."

💭Andie's Thoughts: This is it. My career is ruined. Everything I've worked for has been for nothing.

Andie "Looks up at the DI with tears in her eyes" "Sir, I know that women have been serving in combat roles for some time now. But when I enlisted, there were still people who didn't believe that women belonged in those roles."

💭Andie's Thoughts: This is it. My career is over.

"I just wanted to serve my country and make a difference."

Andie "I enlisted seven weeks ago, sir."

Andie "Sir, I...I don't understand the question."

💭Andie's Thoughts: What is he getting at?

"Andie looks up at the DI with confusion and concern."

Andie "Looks at the DI with a mix of confusion and fear" "Sir, when I enlisted seven weeks ago, I was under the impression that women were not allowed to serve in combat roles. It wasn't until after I had already joined that someone told me otherwise."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Please let this be enough. Please don't let my career be over before it even begins.

Andie "Looks down, feeling ashamed" "Sir, I...I didn't know what to do. I was scared that if I came forward and admitted my mistake, it would ruin everything."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Please let this be enough. Please don't let my career be over before it even begins.

Andie "Looks at the DI with a mix of surprise and confusion" "Sir, I'm not sure what soldier you're referring to."

💭Andie's Thoughts: What is he talking about?

"Andie looks at the DI, waiting for him to clarify."

Andie "Looks at the DI, her eyes widening with shock" "Sir...I don't know what you're talking about."

💭Andie's Thoughts: Oh no. How could he know about that?

"Andie looks down, feeling a sense of dread wash over her."

Andie "Stands at attention, her eyes filling with tears" "Yes sir. Thank you for your time."

💭Andie's Thoughts: It's over. Everything I've worked for has been ruined.

"Andie turns and walks away, feeling a sense of shame and disappointment wash over her."