Brian Pehrson
Bio
I am a 38 year old retired Army Military Police Officer. I am married to my absolute best friend and the most amazing, supportive and intelligent woman I know. We have three children and currently live in Virginia.
Stories (18/0)
Last day before Basic training
By this point in the story, I am shaved-balled, shot up with more needles than I remember, and sufficiently sore as crap from the smoke session/breaking in our uniforms. I wish I could say this is where basic training started for me, but it is not. There were a few more days of pre-basic training to get through. Which mainly consisted of waiting around and getting yelled at for… well, about everything. Did you know you could breathe wrong? I Never knew that personally. Lucky for me, Drill Sergeant Culp let me know I was doing it wrong.
By Brian Pehrson3 months ago in Serve
Day One-ish
Remember I said, "I was starting to think that Basic and AIT was not going to be too bad since the Drill Sergeants at the airport were so patient and lovely "…. I was very wrong about that. It turns out there may have been something in those round brown hats that makes these friendly and caring NCOs turn into some earthly spawn of a demon. Keep in mind that this was still coming from the perspective of a civilian kid. I was a kid sheltered in life and had no idea what he was getting himself into. Maybe it was something in the USO at the St. Louis airport; perhaps it was just that life finally gave me an uppercut to the chin trying to hit that knockout blow!
By Brian Pehrson4 months ago in Serve
Being a Soldier is one hell of a ride!
Being a Soldier is one hell of a ride. I personally have experienced the extreme highs, lows, the very frequent in-between moments, and the overwhelming amount of time spent waiting for something but you are not sure what. Of course, every ride needs to start somewhere, so let’s take you back to when that ride started for me. Now, most people would say it was the day basic training started, or they graduated from Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and became real Soldiers. But, my ride started the day before I went back to MEPS and shipped out to basic training. It all started in my bedroom with my left foot. Weird, I know.
By Brian Pehrson4 months ago in Serve
When I Joined The Army
Then I heard my mother crying and begging me to change my mind, stay there for a few years and go to the local community college. The look on my father’s face was a combination of pride, concern, and gloom. My mother again begged me to change my mind. When I said I would not, my decision was made. If they did not sign the papers allowing me to join, then I would wait until I was 18 and do it myself. My mother then left the table crying. That was the last time she spoke to me for nearly two weeks and the worst dinner we had ever had as a family.
By Brian Pehrson12 months ago in Serve
Valentines Day
Valentine’s Day has come and passed. Now, something to know is that Dad Bot tries to embody the idea of valentine's day every day of the year as I know I married up way up, to be exact. However, this year I wanted to take both Mom Bot and Mini Bot on a true-to-life, fancier than our regular dinner date. Things went just as expected, which is to say not nearly as expected.
By Brian Pehrsonabout a year ago in Families
An Open Letter
To the people who believed in me and those who did not, This letter may be one of the hardest things I have ever written. Distinguishing who was a good or great mentor from those who were not is a fine line. A line I learned after a few years in the U.S. Army. I learned you could not just dismiss those who get in your way, those who were bad leaders, bad mentors, or even just bad people. Everyone you meet has a role to play in your life and vice versa. You are either encouraged to be a better person by them or learn what not to be like. This is especially crucial to understand when you are growing up. However, most of us, myself included, usually do not have the life perspective and emotional maturity to realize this. I have learned this finally after 20 years of adulthood.
By Brian Pehrsonabout a year ago in Psyche
The Snowball fight
One of my favorite things to do in winter is to make unforgettable memories with my children. Big Brother Bot and I went ice fishing, his first time too. Medium Brother Bot and I routinely threw snowballs and pulled each other on the sled, more me pulling than him. And making epic snow forests whenever we could. (Un)fortunately, now, my wife and I are down to one child at home, so I should try to go big, right? Make those winter memories the most fantastic thing ever to happen. Let’s dive into one story full of fun times, freezing bodies, and snowballs.
By Brian Pehrsonabout a year ago in Families
My first Half-Marathon
In my life, I have done many things which resulted in friends and family questioning my decisions. However, none more so than what I just accomplished. A half marathon, 13.1 miles, 21.0975 KM, 69217.51969 feet, or a long way to run for most everyone. Myself included. Let’s skip over the 12-week train up which consisted of a ton of running, Epsom salt baths, wireless headphones, smartwatch choices, and so many other things. Let’s get right to race day.
By Brian Pehrsonabout a year ago in Motivation
Hell's Gate
Hell’s Gate: A Short Story Brian J. Pehrson Night infiltration course, better known as Hell's Gate, my first real test as a Soldier. One hundred and fifty meters of barbed wire, dugout fighting position, hidden artillery simulators, and continuous M60 machine gun bullets flying just feet over our heads. To make it all better we just completed a forced 8-mile ruck march carrying 50lbs of gear and it is 2300 at night. Drill Sergeant Thorpe says that tonight at least one of his 75 privates will die a glorious death on the simulated battlefield by gunfire or explosions if they are lucky. I think he is just full of it though. At least I hope he is full of it. I am not too sure sometimes with him. He always has flashbacks to someplace called Kyrgyzstan fighting an unknown enemy there.
By Brian Pehrson2 years ago in Fiction
Join the Space Force they said….it will be fun they said….
Join the Space Force they said….it will be fun they said…. the training is unparalleled and the opportunities are never ending they said. Lies…. all lies is what Sal was thinking as he piloted the Emergency Escape Vehicle from the exploding ship. “stupid freaking officers…. they should have listened to me, but noooo they knew better.” He mumbled under his breath. “O MY GOD the ship is about to blow up! Hurry Sal! Why re you not flying faster!” yelled First Officer Roger, who used to be the second in command of the Space Force Ship Exploration. You see, the First Officer and Captain should have listened to Sal…they never would have been in this situation. If only they raised their shields.
By Brian Pehrson2 years ago in Fiction
THE SUBURBAN SECRET
Carl was always a little unsure about moving into such a suburban area. All these cookie-cutter houses right next to each other were strange to him. Every yard was neatly manicured with an excessive number of flowers in their yards. All the cars were perfectly clean and the neighbors seemed just a bit too happy and friendly. It was as if none of them had lived in the real world where people can be mean, cruel and Home Owners Associations did not exist to govern the appearance of one’s house and yard.
By Brian Pehrson2 years ago in Fiction
