He felt burning sensations throughout his skin, constantly choking, hating the fact that he couldn’t breathe, mucus draining out from his nose and not being able to open his eyes from all the gas that has been let out for two minutes.

Going through the Gas Chamber in Basic Combat Training (BCT), "Was the hardest challenge I had to face," said Karnes City High School senior Jeremy Hinojosa.

Jeremy left to BCT June 14 and graduated Sept. 8 in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, completing 11 weeks of his training.

His first thoughts on leaving home were, "This is going to be the longest eleven weeks of my life."

Jeremy is considered a "split-op," meaning he finished his BCT in the summer and has to come back to finish his senior year of high school, and then leave to A.I.T to serve for the U.S. Army.

Jeremy who is in the Bravo Company Division, Number 2/10 first platoon and ranked E-1 is, "Excited about graduating." He also gave advice to those who want to join the army to always, "Stay motivated and just do what the drill sergeants tell you to do."

From 11 weeks of experience in BCT Jeremy has learned that the military expects recruits to be physically and mentally tough and be able to complete some rigorous obstacles such as water obstacles, land navigation, climbing walls, repelling from walls, road marches and gas chambers.

"At first it was really hard with all the yelling, but after a few weeks I got used to it," he said. "It makes you understand things a lot better; it also mentally changes you, from going one place to another."

Being away from home for 11 weeks was a long time, especially when you have to meet new people and in Jeremy’s case he not only had to meet them, he had to live with them.

"When you’ve lived in your hometown all your life and then go to a totally different state, it’s very different meeting new people that you’ve never known and having to get used to their living styles for 11 weeks," Jeremy explained. "It’s tough."

In BCT they had to know all of their "battle buddies" and adapt to living with them for a long extent of time.

"Learning our battle buddies was the easiest obstacle that I had to do," said Jeremy.

In the six weeks of training Jeremy looked forward to the one perk given to them. He explained that they had a "free day." During the day that was given Jeremy went bowling and ate a lot of junk food. He also attended church.

"I just hung out with some of my buddies for the day," Jeremy said.

Jeremy has been treated with great respect, but also with a lot of curiosity, since returning home.

"Everyone wanted to know how it went and asked a lot of questions about training in general," said Jeremy.

His family and friends are proud of him and are spending as much time with him as possible because they realize he will leave again for full military service next summer.

At first senior Alicia Wright worried he might not return to school for his senior year.

"But now that he’s back, I can spend more time with him before our senior year is over," Alicia said.

Senior Roland Sanchez said he is relieved Jeremy is back home.

"It takes a brave young man like him to serve our country," he said. "I am proud of him and I am glad that he’s back home."

"I’m very proud of Jeremy," senior Mary Villanueva said. "I’m glad he’s accomplishing his goals and dreams by serving his country. I wish him all the best, and God bless."

Jeremy, who is the second child, joined the military to gain experience and money for college later. His brother Josh Hinojosa also has joined the Army and leaves later this month for basic training.

"It’s hard for me to let Jeremy go because, of course, he is my ‘baby boy,’ " his mom Nancy Hinojosa said. "But I’m also very proud of him to serve for our country, and the smart, intelligent, young man he grew up to be."