Boot camp graduate gets his day, sort of

CELINA - Jakob Poor was undergoing basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina when his Celina High School classmates received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony that had been delayed until late June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His mother, Malea, didn't get to watch her son participate in that milestone event. She surely wasn't going to miss seeing him graduate from basic combat training with the 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, even if she couldn't view it in person because of pandemic-related restrictions barring public attendance.

Malea Poor situated a big-screen TV in front of her garage, put up a couple of tents and invited family, friends and neighbors over on Thursday morning to watch her son graduate from the grueling, 10-week training via a Facebook livestream.

"We can't be there because of the COVID so I decided to have everybody over to watch," she said. "We're going to send him greetings with a video (too)."
Family members and friends of the former high school wrestler and cross country runner appeared to be focusing intently on the screen trying to locate him among the hundreds of other privates standing in formation.

Lt. Col. Patrick Collins, commander of the 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, praised the young men and women on the field for their accomplishment.

"Most importantly, they've learned that they're far more capable than what they ever thought was possible, and that is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives," Collins said at the ceremony.

Every single one of them volunteered to serve their country, knowing that they would have to challenge themselves mentally and physically through the gauntlet known as basic training, entailing 21 warrior task and battle drills, including mastery of their weapon system, land navigation, medical skills and learning how to operate in a chemical environment, Collins pointed out.

"They learned that they could overcome whatever obstacle was put in front of them. They developed confidence and have now embodied the spirit of the American solider," he continued.

Malea Poor said she wrote to her son and talked to him a few times on the phone during his training, discovering that he appeared to be doing very well.

"He's having fun. He likes it," she said. "He spent the training time being the platoon guide and having a little bit of a leadership position while he was in. He shot expert in basic rifle marksmanship."

Further military training awaits Jakob Poor, she said.

"He's going to (advanced individual training) where he's going to be a human resources specialist," Malea Poor said.

Her son has aspired to join the military ever since he was quite young, she said.

David Morgan was on hand Thursday morning to watch his grandson make it past the finish line of basic training.

"I think it's a good thing for him, and it's something he's looked forward to," Morgan said. "So far he seems to be doing well and enjoying it. I think it's a good start in life for him."