Pictured, from left, are Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, his daughter and U.S. Army Basic Combat Training graduate PFC Morgan Hutchinson, and his wife, Paula. Morgan is a senior at Columbia High School. (submitted photo)

Morgan Hutchinson had a busy summer.

While her friends worked and played, Morgan participated in the U.S. Army split training option, which means she spent the summer before her senior year at Columbia High School going through basic combat training.

Six days after school let out, Morgan was on a plane headed to Fort Jackson, S.C., for Army Basic Combat Training, where she was assigned to the Second Battalion 13th Infantry Regiment, Foxtrot Company, Third Platoon.

“I really wanted to get a jump start on everything,” Morgan said. “Joining the military is obviously a really big decision.”

Morgan is the daughter of Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and Helping Strays President Paula Hutchinson. And while achieving, and over-achieving, runs in the family, Morgan’s summer accomplishment goes pretty close to uncharted territory.

Basic training is notoriously unpleasant, but 17-year-old Morgan displays a toughness belied by her youth and stature.

U.S. Army PFC Morgan Hutchinson

“The hardest part was being away from home,” Morgan said, noting it was her first time away from her family. “Physically, it wasn’t too hard on me, but mentally it could be challenging at times.”

She only got to make two phone calls home during her time away. One lasted three minutes and one five minutes. In the days of cell phones and constant communication, it might be difficult to imagine a teenager taking on that restriction willingly. But Morgan did, and she thrived, finishing in the top 5 percent of her class.

Described on the U.S. Army website, basic training is a 10-week training course that “transforms civilians into soldiers.”

Through the split training option, high school students entering their senior years are allowed to complete Army Basic Combat Training alongside their adult counterparts.

Following high school graduation, Morgan will either report for Advanced Individual Training or, if things go according to plan, earn an ROTC contract.

These highly competitive contracts allow soldiers to attend a four-year college or university on the ROTC’s dime. If Morgan earns an ROTC contract, she will graduate from college as a second lieutenant and be commissioned as an officer.

Morgan comes from a military family. Kevin joined the Army in 1983 as Airborne Infantry, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, the Fourth Infantry Division and Second  Infantry Division in Korea. He was honorably discharged a sergeant E-5 in 1987 as a track commander.

“I joined the Army on the delayed entry program so I was still in high school when I joined, but I went to Basic Combat Training after I graduated,” Kevin said. “I was in total support (of Morgan’s decision); Paula had some reservations.”

Morgan’s company, Foxtrot, had about 260 soldiers — roughly 220 men and 40 women. Third platoon started with about 65 soldiers.

Over the course of 10 weeks, Morgan learned to shoot everything from rifles to machine guns and a .50 caliber heavy machine gun. She learned to use hand grenades and received training in nuclear, biological and chemical defense as well as landmine defense and how to survive in the woods.

She repelled and completed obstacle courses. And, of course, completed lots and lots of marching, running, sit-ups and other physical training — all in the humid heat of a South Carolina summer.

Morgan earned her expert marksmanship badge, just like her dad some 20 years earlier. Hers was for her prowess on the M-16. She was also the top female shooter in her company and among the top overall shooters in her company.

But Morgan didn’t just nail shooting; she was also in the top 5 percent of women in physical training in her platoon.

In fact, Morgan so excelled at all her tasks that she was selected at the conclusion of ABCT by her platoon drill sergeants for promotion — one of only 16 out of 260 who were promoted, and one of two females.

“The best (part) of all was when I was honored to pin on her E-3 stripes (Private First Class),” Kevin said.

The lack of communication was hard on Kevin and Paula, too. It was difficult to communicate with their daughter solely through letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service. But ultimately they supported her decision and now couldn’t be prouder.

“For her to make tough adult decisions and begin her life’s journey at 17 is impressive,” Kevin said. “To say we are proud may be an understatement.”

Five days after graduating basic training, Morgan started her senior year at CHS, officially ending a summer “vacation” that consisted of 11 days off and 72 days in the Army.

But what may sound like a lost summer to some was a summer full of learning, planning and preparing for a promising future. And, as hard as it may be for some readers to believe, she even managed to work in some fun.

“My favorite thing easily was throwing grenades,” Morgan said.

She learned to shoot the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and M203 Grenade Launcher.

She also made the most of her time by learning all she could about military life and meeting new people whom she considers friends for life.

“My friend from basic training — we’ll probably always be best friends,” Morgan said. “We’ll be friends until the day we die.”

She also said she enjoyed learning to “be a better person and soldier.”

“To speak respectfully to people,” she continued. “Just learning how to do everyday things in a positive and respectful way.”

Morgan will participate in drills one weekend a month throughout her senior year with the 620th Army Reserve Unit in St. Louis.

She plans to pursue a medical career in the military, eventually becoming a flight nurse.