Beth Joins the Corrections Service

By Susan Greenway

[This story relates to previous stories, appearing in the series, Kate Returns Home, in particular, and Kate Loves Her Job. It's not necessary to have read any or all of these previous stories to enjoy this one, although many readers will find they will enrich their enjoyment of this story. This story involves bodily functions, as well as severe administration of discipline, so if either offends you, please read no further. All characters are well over 18.]

Eleanor had suggested to her sister Meredith that Jackie Wilson, whom Eleanor had met when in the second city at the exclusive Vic club, might be a good consultant for the Service to retain. Jackie was now a principal but years ago, when she had started teaching as a young woman just out of college, she had been Meredith's husband Jackson's teacher.

Jackson had previously been married to Eleanor but when they divorced, there were no hard feelings. Eleanor, in fact, was delighted that her sister hit it off with Jackson and they married. Eleanor let them live in her apartment she still owned in the second city of the Women's Republic.

Meredith had invited Jackie Wilson over with the intention of having her discipline Jackson. She knew he would be very fearful when he saw Jackie because she had written a note home to his mother than earned him his first spanking. What made it even worse was that his mother had his older sister, Jenny, give him the spanking.

Jackie suggested to Meredith when she came to visit that Meredith should have Jackie's daughter, now a young teacher in her mid-20's, come by to discipline Jackson. Both women realized that being disciplined by a severe young woman teacher would truly shake up Jackson's confidence. He had mostly reformed but still behaved badly, usually in small ways.

Jackie's daughter Elizabeth did come by at Meredith's invitation. Jackson realized, as did Meredith, that she was indeed a severe dominatrix who enjoyed the chance to discipline a man since she couldn't spank or cane pupils at school anymore. Beth spanked Jackson hard and then subjected him to toilet discipline, both in supervising his defecation after she had inserted a glycerin suppository in his anus and having him serve her as she defecated. She also gave him a very painful caning.

Meredith, at Kate's instance after the two of them had spent a day at the Disciplinary and Retraining Unit where Jackson was put through his paces, now graded Jackson in Conduct every day. Jackie had given her a supply of school conduct report cards for her to use and to make an even stronger impression on Jackson.

Beth was used to grading pupils severely, so she failed Jackson in Conduct by 13 points, giving him a 52, lower than any grade Meredith had awarded him. The young teacher marked his report card in dark black ink and circled the failing grade in red, as teachers had long done to make sure parents noticed failing grades.

Meredith didn't tell Jackson that Jackie also had given her a supply of the more stringent conduct report cards used at her school when a pupil failed in Conduct for two straight days. The detailed card required entry of a Conduct grade by each teacher in each class, and Jackie suggested Meredith might use it to grade him three times a day until he went three days without a failure in any class or any grading.

Eleanor told Meredith that she had suggested Jackie as a consultant to the Service to Kate. After she heard about Meredith's having Beth discipline and then graded Jackson, Eleanor said that she thought Beth might be a candidate for recruitment to the Service.

Meredith agreed that the young woman was quite the severe disciplinarian and might do well in the Service. Eleanor said she would set up an appointment for her to see Kate, who was certainly in a position to recruit her if she felt she would work out well.

Eleanor contacted Beth Wilson to tell her she'd like to set up an appointment for her with the Commandant of the Correction Service's Disciplinary and Retraining Unit with the prospect of Beth's joining the Service.

"I think you'd like it and would do well and advance in the Service," Eleanor advised her.

Beth said she was interested and would come to the capital to meet Kate if Eleanor arranged it on one of her days off. Eleanor proceeded to contact Kate and tell her about this promising young woman Meredith had met who was already a highly competent disciplinarian.

"I hope you'll be willing to meet her and then see if you feel she'd be an appropriate recruit for the Service," Eleanor said. "My sister gave her high marks when Meredith asked her to discipline Jackson."

Kate said she'd certainly be willing to have her come up to the city for an interview with her and possibly others at the Service. She picked one of the days Beth had given Eleanor and told Ellie that she'd arrange for Beth to be flown up on the Service's daily flight from the second city. She then had Grace, her secretary, transmit an official invitation for her to take the transport and meet with Kate, along with the voucher to give the transport official.

Beth was impressed with the invitation; she dressed in a grey pinstripe suit with a proper-length skirt, ecru blouse, grey hose, and burgundy pumps. Her lovely dark hair was in a simple ponytail.

She was escorted to Kate's office at the Service headquarters and shown into Kate's private office. Kate smiled and shook hands with her and told her that since they had spoken, Kate had been named Chief of Staff of the Service and was now a General, having been promoted very expeditiously to Colonel from her Lieutenant Colonel's grade.

"Congratulations!" Beth said with a grin. "I'm very awed by meeting the Chief of Staff. Thank you for being willing to see me."

"You come well recommended by my good friend Eleanor of Goose Cookers and originally from her sister, whose husband I understand you have disciplined for Meredith.

Beth's eyes widened at this powerful woman knowing all about her disciplining of Jackson, which she had enjoyed but never thought would open up this exciting career prospect.

"I gather you learned about discipline from your mother, which is admirable," Kate went on. "May I ask something quite personal--have you been disciplined by her since you started teaching?"

Beth blushed and said, "Yes, Ma'am, my mother has spanked and caned me when she feels I need it, but fortunately that has happened rarely for the last several years since I started teaching. She in fact recommended me to Miss Meredith to discipline her husband, Jackson.

"Very good," Kate observed. "I'd like to send you to MAJ Nicole, who has my old job as Commandant of the Disciplinary Unit, which runs the Officer Candidate Program for the Service. If you manage to graduate from that program, which is rigorous, you will receive a direct commission as a Lieutenant in the Service. I think that Nicole will approve your entering the program, but you do need to see her."

"Thank you so much," Beth exuded. "I am definitely interested in this exciting opportunity, Ma'am."

Kate liked that this young woman was using the proper term, Ma'am, to address her. "I've taken the liberty of setting up an appointment with MAJ Nicole. One of our aides here, SSG Barbara, will take you over to her office. It's been a pleasure meeting you and good luck in the program."

"Thanks again," Beth gurgled, incredibly impressed that this powerful woman would recommend her for a highly sought program. Here she was a schoolteacher and met with the Correction Service's Chief of Staff. Kate stood and walked her out where SSG Barbara introduced herself and said she'd walk Beth over to see MAJ Nicole.

MAJ Nicole had received the call from Kate's office to set up the appointment for an Elizabeth Wilson. She knew that Kate would respect her decision on whether to accept this young woman into the officer candidate program. So, when SSG Barbara, who was a longtime cadre in the Unit, came into her office with Beth Wilson, Nicole's secretary buzzed her and then showed Beth into her office.

Nicole got up from her desk and shook hands with Beth, who was awed by the wildly attractive Nicole who wore the Service uniform beautifully, she thought. Nicole said coolly that Beth certainly came well recommended by Eleanor and Kate. She had Beth describe her work as a teacher and asked her about her experience with discipline. Beth said her experience was limited but she had been asked by Eleanor's sister to discipline her husband.

"And from when I became 18, my mother began disciplining me, so I didn't get a big head," Beth disclosed. "I do think that being on the receiving end made me much more knowledgeable about the impact of discipline and increased my ability to dispense it."

"Oh yes," Nicole chuckled, "you probably know he was formerly married to Eleanor, who divorced him."

Beth looked surprised and Nicole said, "Oh well, I shouldn't be gossiping like that about people. Tell me if your meeting with GEN Kate made you want to put yourself through this rigorous program that will prepare you to emerge as an officer in this Service."

"It seems like an amazing opportunity, Ma'am," Beth replied confidently, "and I believe I'm ready for this challenge."

Nicole thought to herself that Miss Wilson (she assumed she was a Miss) presented well, was attractive, and would likely make a good officer.

"You've done well in your work so far," she said to Elizabeth, "and I'm assuming that if we checked you out, you'd have good references and reports. I mention that because I received a direct commission from being a noncom in this Unit and later served as Commandant of what is regarded as the toughest camp in the Service--Hergolia.

"I've had a few run-ins with authority and lived to tell the tale. You may or may not have seen GEN Kate--she was just a Major then--and I doing some commercials for Goose Cookers panties; that turned out to be a plus for me, even though a lot of people, including Kate then, were worried about whether we would kill our careers by showing our panties," Nicole chuckled. "Sounds rather naïve, I suppose, but you know how people can be about this."

"I'm not here to encourage you," Nicole then said, "but I think from what I've seen and heard, that you have the wherewithal to make it in this program and the Service. If you want it, I'll be pleased to sign you up. Sorry for the tight schedule, but you'll start a week from Monday."

Beth's face brightened. "Oh, I want it, Ma'am, and thank you! I'll be here a week from Monday," she said brightly.

"That's great," Nicole grinned. "We'll look forward to seeing you here then. Don't bring too many of your own outfits. You'll be in our fatigues or Corrections uniform like I have on most of the time. This program is a hyped-up version of military basic training. That means you'll be harassed by sergeants and taught by noncoms and officers. I'm going to give you a little insight into what to expect. Since we teach you--even if you think you know this--how to discipline, you will be disciplined.

"You will wear special tight panties and for a few days, depending on how you behave, you'll have dorks in both of your holes, to put it plainly. You may be in locked panties, too--that means you'll have to report to the duty sergeant at the latrine to get permission to use the toilet. Awful, isn't it? Makes you appreciate how good you usually have it," she continued.

"So yes, you'll be challenged, physically and mentally, but then you'll be a commissioned officer in probably the most respected public institution in our Republic," Nicole observed. "Have you ever been restricted in your use of the toilet or had your private orifices filled at the same time?"

"You don't need to answer those questions," Nicole smiled. "I was just trying to give you a fair picture of some of what you will encounter here. Still OK with signing up?"

"Oh, yes!" Beth responded with alacrity.

"Good girl!" Nicole complimented her. "I'm looking forward to seeing you a week from Monday." She stood and Beth understood that this was the end of the interview.

"Thank you, again," Beth managed to get out.

"If you can say that two weeks from now, you'll be in good shape," Nicole told her. "Good luck! Be prepared for some big challenges--so, don't get upset too easily. If you feel you're in any kind of danger though, tell them that I told you to contact me and they'll bring you in here. I hope you resist the temptation to do that unless things are totally wrong and crazy. Your fortitude will be tested. Remember that it was only a few years ago that GEN Kate went through this same program and look where she is now. By the way, she brought less experience with her then than you are bringing now."

She smiled and walked Beth out to the outer office. Grace, her secretary, told her she had about 45 minutes until her flight back to the second city. She said that since she was leaving for the day, she'd walk Beth to the transport center.

Beth phoned her mother to tell Jackie that she had been accepted for the Officer Candidate Program at the Disciplinary Unit of the Corrections Service.

"That's marvelous, Beth," Jackie said soberly, "you have a great opportunity and it's all because I ran into Eleanor at the Vic a few weeks ago."

Beth arrived home a few hours later. She was still flying--mentally. She arranged to lunch with Meredith to learn whatever she knew about the Service and some of the players. Meredith explained a lot to her: Eleanor's own amazing story, the position Goose Cookers played (Beth was wearing their underwear), and what she knew about Kate. She didn't know many others, including Nicole, but was sure Beth would do fine.

"Just be prepared to put up with some hazing and tough moments," Meredith told her. "But you know a lot already about disciplining, and I've seen people from the Service in action, including Kate--she's a close friend of my sister. They will try to break you, but you know you're strong enough--physically and mentally--to make it through."

When she arrived with the twenty or so other young women who were accepted for the program, they were welcomed by 1SG Wendy. Wendy had been at the Unit forever and knew everything about the Service. She told them to do what they were told and to play it straight. "If you need to piss or shit," she said, "go to the desk and tell the sergeant on duty at the latrine. They might make you wait so give yourself enough time, so you don't pee in your panties waiting to get permission.

"And you are going to be very uncomfortable for three days in the plain cotton panties with vaginal and rectal dorks," she informed them. "Put up with them for three days and you're free of them. I'll give you one piece of advice: those dorks act like suppositories. Who knows what that means?"

One young woman raised her hand, "They make you need to make doody," she offered.

"Of course," Wendy responded. "Very good, Miss?"

"Taylor, Ma'am," Bethany Taylor replied.

"Miss Taylor," Wendy said clearly, "I'm a noncommissioned officer. We like to say we work for a living. So, you will not call us 'Ma'am' or salute us. Just say, 'Yes, Sergeant' and you'll be fine."

"Thank you for correcting me and explaining that, Sergeant," Bethany replied.

"Listen to the lecturers--these women are sergeants and officers who know what they're talking about. I'm here if you need me but learn to do what you're told unless it's clearly off the charts--the odds are huge that that won't happen," she added.

Beth wasn't surprised to find herself in a dorm with the other women. She had a small cot and a locker. SFC Denise, an attractive blonde, told them how they needed to keep their locker. They moved as a group to the mess hall for each meal and to lectures and physical training, which was demanding. Beth was in decent shape, but she had not been working out as much as she knew she needed to.

She became friends with her neighbors on adjacent cots: Lisa and Francine. One had been a police constable and the other was a publicist. They shared their feelings that this would be rough, but it would get them into a good career. Neither was married. They gradually opened up: Lisa had a boyfriend, and she was resigned to not seeing him for weeks. She said that he'd be there for her when she graduated. Francine said she'd had deep relationships with two different women. Beth told them she too had had relationships with more than one woman.

The dorm was patrolled at all hours. Trainees were warned against bedhopping. Beth remembered what Nicole had told her about the dorks--her friends hadn't known that that was coming. When they were outfitted in one of the most embarrassing scenes Beth had ever experienced--two 30ish sergeants inserted dorks in their orifices to check what size they needed; this was like no fitting that Beth had ever imagined.

The dorks hurt, especially if you tried to walk fast. SFC Linda told them to slow down if they didn't want a sore pussy--yes, she used that word. "The cadre here will never get another chance to haze you once you graduate," she said, "so expect some nasty stuff, because you'll never be back here unless you fuck up and get sent here for retraining, which would be your last chance before they throw you out of the Service. And when you become officers, all the noncoms here who made your life miserable will have to do what you tell them. That should be something that helps get you through."

Beth was not alone, although she may not have been aware of it. Kate called Wendy every week to find out how she was doing. Wendy said she thought Beth was one of the top women in the program. She promised to keep Kate informed.

Beth made it past the dork regime in the standard three days. A quarter of the cohort didn't. She managed to deal with the wait to use the latrine and even endured her period two weeks into the program. No one expressed particular sympathy, but the noncoms knew and made sure she didn't get hazed then. SFC Denise seemed to take a liking to her and even provided her with tampons during her period. "Normally," she told her, "they just give you maxipads. It does make you appreciate pons, but you're probably used to having tampons, aren't you?"

Beth was still able to be embarrassed, and her red face disclosed it. Denise laughed and told her she'd lose a lot of her inhibitions before she graduated from the program.

Beth realized when they were training in administering discipline, including use of paddle, cane, martinet, and whip, that she brought good experience to these implements from the discipline she had administered on request at home after her mother taught her what she knew. She concluded that she was in a good position during this part of the program, much like men who came to military training already having mastered the rifle and handgun.

They were given a weekend off after four weeks. Beth almost forgot what putting on her normal clothing felt like. Francine invited her to spend the weekend with her as her family home was on the edge of the capital. They shared Francine's bedroom which was spacious and had two full-size beds. Her parents were welcoming and the two stopped in on Saturday night at the night spots Francine had been a regular at before she started the program.

They had a few pops but knew not to get loaded. Fortunately, Beth thought they were able to walk to where they were going. Francine's parents' bedroom was on the other side of the expansive house. By midnight, they were exhausted. Each fell into bed. They woke up early and Francine invited Beth into her bed to cuddle. Beth was charmed by the move, as she had missed having female company of this kind, since it was strictly barred at the program.

They had worn p. j.'s but slipped the bottoms off and neither had panties on. Both found to their surprise that each had trimmed their pubes neatly. Francine was a natural dirty-blonde and Beth had dark ones matching her hair on her head. Francine knew how to arouse her with her talented fingers and after Beth erupted, she applied her oral abilities to licking Francine's pussy. She succeeded in getting her to orgasm.

They admitted to each other that they had no interest now in disciplining each other. The sergeants at the program made free use of their whips and canes on their belts so all the women had stripes on their bottoms. Beth and Francine showed each other their marks. Francine had some toys, so they used butt plugs and vibes. These were not permitted in the program.

When they were enjoying touching each other down between their legs, Beth ventured to insert her finger into Francine's cute little anal opening. She felt the tip of an incipient bowel movement and chuckled as she asked her friend if she was going to need to use the potty soon. Francine instantly realized Beth had felt her bowel movement inside her anal canal. She had her own bathroom attached to the bedroom and invited Beth to join her there.

"I can't believe you felt my doody inside me," she said, still amazed. "That is so wild, Beth. Well, now you can see me poop it out."

She turned round on the toilet seat so Beth could see her poo edge out. She made a long, dark brown, thick movement that slowly emerged from her bottom-hole. Later, when it was Beth's turn, Francine got under her and played with Beth's doody as it slid out. She held it to show her friend before flipping it into the toilet.

The two enjoyed themselves by cuddling and holding each other closely. This was human contact that they needed because the program was strictly business. Back in the dorm, they maintained the practice of not touching one another despite the intimacy they had shared when at Francine's home.

1LT Helene, the deputy commandant of the unit, spoke to them about being an officer. "I went through your program, and I've also commanded a tough reeducation camp," Helene said plainly. "I've also been disciplined severely, even when I became an officer. So don't think being an officer means you won't have to follow the rules. It's important that you learn how we do discipline here, but you won't be doing it all that often.

"In fact, most of the caning and such is administered by the sergeants. You will learn to be leaders. You will be trained in making decisions. We want to encourage you to keep your minds open and aware, so that you are able to make good decisions for you, the cadre you command, the inmates under your authority, and the public," she concluded.

Helene stayed around to speak with the trainees personally. When Beth had her chance to talk to her, she asked Helene how she had been disciplined as an officer.

"That's a nice question," Helene said, amused by it. "I did behave badly and when I was a deputy commandant at the camp, my boss, the Commandant, sent me here to be retrained. Few officers were sent here, so it was a black mark on my record. But I managed to turn things around and was the top graduate in my class. Later I became Commandant at the same camp. As for how I was disciplined, I spent time in the toilet box. You may have heard about that, but you'll be introduced to it soon--no, you won't have to go into it!"

Beth made a mental note to try to find out more about 1LT Helene. She sounded like an interesting person. Beth enjoyed the training in discipline, even when she was the subject. As a domme, she now got accustomed to having her panties taken down for a caning or whipping. She didn't get punished for breaking rules, but everyone got a dose of discipline, so they knew what it felt like.

"Bend over the desk," SFC Linda ordered, and Beth rapidly complied. Then Linda picked up her thin cane and began giving Beth a serious caning: 12 strokes, moving down her bottom, in the sensitive crease, crisscross diagonal strokes, and a final powerful one right down the middle. She screamed often and neither Linda nor anyone else paid that any mind. One day, to show her she was not getting special treatment because she knew people like Eleanor, Denise had her fellow trainee Francine whip her.

This was especially humiliating for Beth because she and Francine had become truly close friends. Francine told her later that she really didn't enjoy doing it and would let Beth discipline her after they graduated. Beth told herself that she was lucky in that Francine was more likely to whip her properly but not excessively. She had never felt the soft whip strike her vulva between her labia and her vaginal opening before. It was both humiliating and exceedingly painful. She did still like being dominant, but she had little desire to give Mistress's Strokes.

The program emphasized leadership skills, which Beth appreciated. She knew she lacked experience in that realm, so was prepared to invest time in studying the materials and the notes from the lectures. There was an incredible lecture from the recently-retired Chief of Staff Annette, who was quite forthcoming about the kinds of decisions she had faced when running the Service.

It was time for the exams. Beth prepped solidly and knew she had done well on the written exam. She also passed the physical test and did well on the disciplinary administration test even though much of that was new for her. MAJ Nicole called her in after they had completed all the testing.

"I'm very pleased, Beth, to inform you that you performed highest in the cohort on the combined score of all tests in the exam and thus will graduate as first in your class," MAJ Nicole told her.

Beth was bursting with delight at what she had achieved.

"You'll get your commission at the same graduation ceremony next Wednesday," Nicole went on to tell her. "You'll have a chance to deliver a brief speech. I'd be happy to look at it for you if you want. But please accept my personal congratulations for a job very well done," she smiled.

"Thank you, Major," Beth responded. "I felt I learned a lot from the program and will be excited to start my time in the Service. I'll want to show you my draft of the speech, in accordance with your kind offer."

"Please let my secretary, Grace, know who you'd like to have invited for the ceremony," Nicole said. "I know you'd want to have your mother and any other close relatives or friends. There will be plenty of Service dignitaries there, so you'll have a chance at least to meet many significant people in the Service and in other government or contractor operations."

Beth thanked Nicole again and was told she would be staying in the dorm until the ceremony. However, Nicole replied, "All the rules including of course the latrine rules are now not in effect for the soon-to-be graduates. On Wednesday, then, you'll be First Lieutenant Beth. Let me be the first to congratulate you," Nicole smiled. "And take it from me, finishing first in this program is something that will always be with you in the Service. Ask GEN Kate or 1LT Helene if you want to hear that right from two who finished first."

"And one last bit of advice: you might discuss with your friends in the cohort, the sergeants here, and anyone else in the Service, where you might feel most useful as you enter upon your Service career," Nicole advised Beth, "because you'll have to make this important decision soon. Understand, as well, that it's definitely not your decision to make, but your preference will be taken into consideration.

Beth was still overwhelmed by finding that not only had she passed the program but had finished the highest in her class. She thanked Nicole for making her participation possible.

"Don't forget to thank GEN Kate, who put herself out for you, Beth," Nicole observed. "People in the Service remember those things."

Beth told herself to make sure she sent a message to Kate and also to Eleanor.

Nicole's secretary, Grace Benson, who had previously been Kate's secretary when she headed the Unit, sent Beth a message asking her to give her the names of who she'd like to have invited to the graduation ceremony.

Beth responded quickly and figured some of the listed people would be there anyway, but she would not omit them: her mother and other family members; Eleanor, Meredith, and yes, Jackson, too; her principal at the school where she taught. She thought some more and realized it would be presumptuous to invite GEN Kate, or indeed, any of the Unit sergeants.

Graduation Day arrived, and it was bright and beautiful. The Service grounds had a large field where a platform and plenty of audience seating was provided. The Service leadership was always present on these occasions: GEN Kate, Corrections Secretary Gloria, former Chief of Staff GEN Annette, COL Rachel--the Inspector-General, as well as the Unit chiefs: MAJ Nicole and 1LT Helene.

The full cadre of sergeants and corporals in the Unit, led by 1SG Wendy, also were given special places. Non-Service guests included the families of Beth and her classmates, as well as Janet and Eleanor from Goose Cookers. MAJ Nicole made sure to invite her closest friend and former deputy, CPT Cynthia, now Commandant of Hergolia Camp, along with WO3 Kathryn, the principal procurement officer, to whom Kate had introduced Nicole. Cynthia had asked Nicole to get 1LT Frederica from her camp on the list, despite knowing that learning about this would frost other officers at Hergolia.

GEN Kate presided and opened the proceedings with a welcome and a short intro that gave an overview of the importance of the Officer Candidate Program and how well it served the Service, as well as other methods of recruiting officers, including direct commissions for those already in the Service. She emphasized that she felt that every prospective officer would benefit from going through this program.

She then asked the cohort of those graduating to stand. She introduced the new Corrections Secretary, Gloria, who added her welcome to the graduates and swore them in as commissioned officers in the Service. Kate then invited the graduate who finished first in the cohort, now-1LT Elizabeth, to speak.

Beth stood, walked carefully but with a firm step to the platform, and assumed the podium. She thanked all of the lecturers and cadre, as well as the leadership, of the Disciplinary and Retraining Unit. Then she lauded the training she had experienced.

"I entered this program from being a schoolteacher, but even in the current milieu regarding discipline in schools, I did have some experience in administering discipline. It strengthened my belief that although sometimes questioned, appropriate discipline is a critical factor in a fair and enduring society, especially in this Women's Republic. These feelings were broadened and enriched by the training I received, as it did for my fellow cohort members," she said.

"The training and the trainers sometimes put us through a demanding and yes, sometimes physically painful, program, but I feel it prepared us for the many challenges we will face during our time in the Service," Beth emphasized.

"As I and my fellow cohort members, whose support and contribution I will always value, embark on our careers in this Service, I want to convey my respect and appreciation to the many Service members who made our education so valuable," she concluded.

Kate then called on MAJ Nicole, as the Commandant of the Unit responsible for administering this program, to speak briefly. Nicole rose from her seat on the platform and eloquently said that her several tours of duty in the Unit had made her an effective officer. "Most of our time is spent on retraining Service members who have led their commanders to refer them to us for retraining because they have demonstrated a need by their misbehavior," she declared.

"It is consequently wonderful for us to have the responsibility of preparing this cohort to become commissioned officers in the Service," Nicole emphasized. "I want to congratulate our valedictorian, Beth, on her achievement because when I first interviewed her, I was impressed by her maturity despite her scant direct corrections experience. I accepted her despite what some might have regarded as a reason to reject her application. She has not only validated my action but has exceeded all expectations. I wish her and all our graduates great careers in the Service, which I have been privileged to enjoy," she finished.

GEN Kate concluded the ceremony and invited all in attendance to the reception which would now be held in the adjacent meeting hall. Kate and Gloria had decided to make the reception a high-level one in terms of the décor and the menu. The Service members present, who constituted most of the assembly, were careful in their drinking, knowing that becoming inebriated here would be a sure way to kill their careers.

Eleanor and Janet introduced themselves to Beth, telling her how they had heard such fine reports on her suitability for the Service. Then Meredith and Jackson came over, too, and Meredith expressed her happiness at seeing how Beth performed. Jackson grinned and said he felt privileged to be able to confirm Beth's outstanding abilities as a disciplinarian.

Beth blushed but gave Meredith and Jackson kisses, which pleased them immensely. Her mother and family also came by and congratulated her; Beth did tell her mother, "Mom, you really were the single person who prepared me best for this career." She then gave her mother a hug and kiss. Her father, who had played a lesser role in her education, told her how proud he was of her accomplishments.

COL Rachel, whom Beth did not yet know, also spoke to her. She explained who she was--now the Inspector-General, but previously Commandant of the Disciplinary and Retraining Unit. "I'd like to offer you a position as my deputy," Rachel said pleasantly. "Talk to the people you know in the Service and then you can make a good decision about where you land," she said. "If you want to come to my office, I'll be very happy to have you."