PROCESSING & TRAINING
WEEK ONE
Tuesday; 980505; 2145; MCRD, San Diego
Although this is my first journal entry; I have been at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) since 980421. Only lately have I had the time to do things such as writing letters and now journal entries. Let me take you back to 980419 when I left to begin my training to become a United States Marine:
Sunday; 980419
This was my last Sunday. I was to report to the recruiting station in Olympia at 1400. The night before we'd had both sets of grandparents, Aunt Rea, and Uncle John and Aunt Jeanne and their 2 kids over for a farewell dinner. This morning Mom and the girls cooked up a special breakfast and we relaxed and just spent time together before I left.
I and another recruit left the recruiter's station at about 1600 and arrived at the Seattle Executive Inn by 1730. We were both in the same room and being hungry we went to McDonald's which was the only restaurant within our price range and walking distance. After that, at 2000, we ate, again, at the hotel.
The next morning we got up at 0400 to get ready to go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). All the recruits were shipped to MEPS by van at 0500. At MEPS I had a quick physical to insure that nothing had changed from the last time that I was there.
After the physical, things went wrong with my paperwork. It turned out that I didn't qualify for the bonus that came with my job; and since the two were inseparable I needed to find another job. The next one I asked about was Marine Security Guard but they didn't have any openings there either. By the time that had been covered it was already late afternoon. I was sent back to the hotel for another night. The next morning I got the job of Aviation Mechanic.
After going through travel arrangements we left MEPS at 1300 and arrived at Sea-Tac at about 1400. Our flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 1830. The flight, on a Boeing 737, was great. As we flew past Mt. Rainier I could see Lake George (where Ben Phillips, Jon Magnuson, and I went camping in '96). The food on the flight was ok; they had lasagna (Mom's would've put them to shame). Somewhere over Southern Washington or Northern Oregon the cloud cover gathered below us and I couldn't tell where I was.
We landed at Los Angeles International around 2000 and, after an hour layover, left for San Diego International in a small, jump plane.
After going to the USO (United Services Organization) all of the recruits were taken by bus to MCRD (with our head between our legs). All through the night was our initial indoctrination, processing, and issuing of gear and clothing. Early in the morning we were taken to our receiving barracks and set ourselves up in there. Our first breakfast was somewhere around 0400. I ate almost nothing. My stomach wasn't even awake yet.
All throughout our first few days at receiving was the medical, processing, and indoctrination period. We were in medical, for shots, x-rays, etc.; processing our final paperwork; and indoctrination into drill, chow procedures, knowledge, etc.
Friday; 980424
Today was our IST (Initial Strength Test). I ran the mile and a half in 9:38, 12 pull-ups, and did 64 crunches in 2 minutes. I think my platoon (3070) lost about a dozen recruits today because they failed the IST.
Saturday; 980425
We gained back several of the IST failures (they retested today). Of most importance today, though, we first met our Drill Instructors for the next 3 months. Our Senior is Sgt. Saenz (pronounced 'signs') and Drill Instructors: Sgt. White, Sgt. Wilson, and Sgt. Harrison. Of all days this was the worst. At one point everyone had to empty their seabags on the deck simultaneously. All of our gear was scattered all along the deck. Sorting it out would take the next 2 days. Even then most of us were still missing things. Things got smashed, stepped on, and stained or dirty. This truly was the bottom of boot camp. Things were not looking good.
During the pickup process of all our issued items (while we were inventorying our gear on the deck) I was instructed to follow Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz. From my barracks he took me across what I now know of as the Parade Deck and into the Administration area of MCRD. I was taken to the 3rd Battalion Chaplain's office where I was given a Red Cross form stating that Grandma Grape (my great-grandma) was in the hospital and very near death and wasn't expected to live long. I was allowed to call home. I reached Mom at home and she filled me in further. It wouldn't be until 5 May when I would learn that she died only a few hours after my phone call with Mom.
Wednesday; 980506; 2145; MCRD, San Diego
This journal entry is a continuation from yesterday's:
Sunday; 980426
On Sundays we get up at 0600 instead of 0530. After breakfast we had morning clean-up and then we proceeded to our respective churches when they were scheduled. The Protestants went to a First Steps in Christ Class at 0830 which is held by Campus Crusade for Christ. Simply put it discusses the very basics of Christianity, Christ, and salvation. That lasted an hour. Then we were "escorted" to the Protestant church service. That service starts at 1000 and ends at 1100. We had some down time in between services to relax and talk within our platoon and other platoons.
After the service we had our chow and our Drill Instructors proceeded to fill the rest of our day with their bidding. One of the things that we did was to re-dump our footlockers and sort out all the things that had gotten mixed up in yesterday's "excitement."
Monday; 980427
Today we were issued our M16A2 Service Rifle. We didn't start drilling with it for several days though. We began to concentrate more on drilling. That night was our introduction to BDR (Basic Daily Routine).
Tuesday; 980428 - T1
Today is T1. T1 stands for Training Day 1. There are sixty-some training days in boot camp. Along with continued increasing drill, there also was the beginning of our classes (more commonly known as: Knowledge). Later that night as part of our BDR we were given our first mail call since arriving.
Wednesday; 980429 - T2
Today we were given haircuts for the first time since being shaved on 980421. (I would also learn at a later date [980505] that Grandma Grape was buried today). Today is also Caleb's birthday.
The chow is becoming much better and I can actually eat breakfast now as I am slowly adjusting to the time.
We were finally allowed our first freetime tonight. Our BDR goes as follows:
1915 Mail Call
1930 Freetime
2030 Hygiene
2100 Evening Devotions
2110 Hygiene Inspection
2130 Rack Time (sleep)
Thursday - Saturday; 980430-0502 - T3-T5
Were all basically the same. Lots of drill, classes (except Saturday), chow, and BDR.
Sunday; 980503 - H1
Again we get up a half hour later than on the other six days of the week. By this time we are eating as much chow as they ration us (never enough). So to fill up we fill up on bread (the only unlimited food we get). At breakfast they have jelly with it and sometimes peanut butter. We often grab 4-6 slices of bread to eat with our chow.
Again I went to the First Steps in Christ Class. This week they discussed the 7 I AMs in John. It was encouraging to hear that my God, my Savior, and my Creator is all 7 of these things and more. The Protestant service later that morning was generally the same as the week before. They do a lot of singing and a short "sermon." The service is completely lacking in fellowship, communion with Christ, sincerity in light of who God is, etc. Practically all of the recruits that attend the service do so to get away from the Drill Instructors who are not allowed in there during the service.
The rest of the day was filled by the ever present, ever watching, and ever pushing Drill Instructors.
"Let me give you a run down on my Drill Instructors. Our Senior Sgt. Saenz is cool. He is firm and yet he is also patient with us as we are a very undisciplined platoon.
Sgt. White is also cool, but he does run a temper. Though he is a 'heavy hat' (disciplinarian) he basically teaches us our marching drills.
Sgt. Wilson is a 'heavy hat' though I have seen a softer side as on occasion (rarely) he almost seems nice.
Sgt. Harrison is all 'heavy hat' and he has never displayed patience (neither has Sgt. Wilson). Sgt. Harrison is Force Recon [the Marines' elite reconnaissance units] and like Sgt. Carey in Making the Corps he wears the insignia. He literally tries to kill us all when we do something wrong. I mean kill us to death on the quarterdeck or pit. Fortunately he is the fourth Drill Instructor."
from a letter dated 980429
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