TRAINING WEEK THREE
980511; Monday; 2145; MCRD, San Diego - T12
Back into another week of PT, classes, drill, and chow. After morning PT we went out and drilled until afternoon chow. In the afternoon we finished our First Aid classes. There will be a lot to remember about First Aid when prac (practical exam) comes around on T32. Today is T12. During our mini-grinder (when we take all the racks [beds] and foot-lockers to one side of the barracks and drill in the cleared-out area) earlier this evening we made some improvement in our armed or halted portion of the initial drill. Initial drill could be divided into two different parts. The first is the halted portion. This is when we do drills associated with the weapon (ex. port arms, order arms, present arms, inspection arms, rifle salute, extend and close on the line, about face, open and closed ranks, etc.). The second part is where we actually march while we execute different movements (left or right column, extend and close on the march, change step, left or right oblique, half left or right column, left-right flank or vice versa, to the rear march, etc.).
I finally received the small box from home as well as seven letters from home (thanks you all, keep up the writing). One of the letters was from Grandpa and Grandma Howard. As I understand it, he made pizza yesterday at a family gathering and he didn't mail me any. (Please don't. I'll wait until I get back home)
I caught myself up in Proverbs today. I was a couple of days behind. God has such great encouragement wrapped up in that book.
In that box that Mom sent from home, she had a note. Part of that note was a song, "It Is Well With My Soul." My first Sunday here I saw this song in the chorus book and the words in it spoke volumes to me. The very next song that was requested was that song. We also sang it this last Sunday. That song has become my mainstay. It is my hope, it is my goal, my strength, my joy and most importantly it is my experience here at Marine Corps Basic Training Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. THIS BECAUSE JESUS HAS CALMED THE TEMPEST OF MY SOUL. HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD.
980512; Tuesday; 2150; MCRD, San Diego - T13
The morning started out okay; but by noon it was raining. This was our first rainy day here. We had a couple of days with scattered showers, but no showers that continued of any real length of time.
PT was the Oak Course again (the first course we went on with the rope climb from 2 weeks ago). After PT we went onto the Parade Deck to drill. We were forced off of it by the rain. We spent the remainder of the morning working on our drill cammies. Our drill cammies are set aside for initial and final drills and inspections. We also found out that we have the first of our inspections tomorrow. It should be interesting.
I spent most of my freetime ironing my drill cammies. I never would have spent that much time ironing anything at home. Always left the ironing to Jessica or Rachel.
During the afternoon I helped with three other recruits to make and post poster-sized drawings of Marine insignia. It is always nice to do something out of the ordinary every once in a while.
We have been noticing that the Drill Instructors have been backing off a little. Tell you this though, I don't know how Sgt. Harrison can have a bad day every day of the week for the last 3 weeks and not be declared mentally incompetent of any positive act, deed, thought, etc. He is one tough dude.
I read Proverbs 12 this evening. Some of the things that stick in my mind are honesty, wisdom, the acts of the wise as compared to the foolish, the learning capacity of the wise as compared to the foolish, etc... I think you get the point. All these are applicable to my situation here. Do pray that I will continue to learn and grow both in Marine Corps discipline and, most importantly, in the love of my Savior, Christ Jesus.
I think often and pray about you at home and you my grandparents. We're quickly closing on two months. Sunday will signify the two months left mark. It's coming up pretty soon. Well, at least for me. Another week and Team Week will be upon us. And with that the start of some more interesting things.
REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR ONE AND ONLY HOPE, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
980513; Wednesday; 2135; MCRD, San Diego - T14
We didn't start off the day very well. For PT we had line training again this morning and got kicked out for not being motivated (this was the series not only our platoon). Our inspection was in the afternoon. We were inspected by our Drill Instructors. To say the least they tore us apart. Most of the platoon was hit on knowledge. Especially the Chain of Command. We also were killed with losing our bearing. After evening chow we went out on the Parade Deck to work through a drill card. It was out there where we really began to pickup some intensity. Especially with our halted portion. When dealing with our weapons our intensity is often measured in how we handle the weapon. To handle the weapon intensely is to make it sing. To do that you do what they call trying to bend the barrel. They want us to knock the handguards off or bend or break the weapon while handling it in our various movements.
We also found out today that for Mess and Maintenance Week (coming up the Thursday after Initial Drill Inspection) we will be going up to Camp Pendleton. After our week there doing Mess and Maintenance (also known as Team Week) we will be coming back south to MCRD to finish out our last 2 weeks here before going back up to Camp Pendleton for rifle range, weapons qualifications, field exercises, and The Crucible.
("The Crucible is the culminating event for recruits as they complete the transformation from civilians to United States Marines. This grueling 54-hour event was designed to inculcate the Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Recruit platoons, already cohesive units, act on what they have been taught under conditions of food and sleep deprivation. The Crucible has truly become the defining moment in Marine Corps boot camp, the molding and transformation of a group of civilians into an unconquerable team deserving of the title Marine.")
taken from Tour of Recruit Training on the internet
All that will take 4 weeks, after which we will come back to MCRD as Marines awaiting the official recognition on July 17th at graduation.
Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz stopped me at afternoon chow and asked me whether I knew how to march. I said, "Yes Sir," at which he told me to keep an eye on what the squad leaders were doing. After Initial Drill, some, if not all, of the squad leaders will probably be fired. He needs to keep them there because of Initial Drill and changing them now would jeopardize our performance.
When I first came here my only goal was to just fit in and try to disappear. Another thing recruits want to avoid is having the Drill Instructors know you by name during the first week or two. Over the last week though, I have noticed that my leadership abilities and my inclination to be involved and help supervise have started to take over. That first 2 weeks were really an adjustment period. Now that I have really begun to adjust, I am becoming more comfortable in just being who I am.
This is something that I really need prayer for. That no matter what happens I will trust in God, lead by example, speak only that which honors God, and do my best at all times. The responsibilities of squad leaders and guide are extensive. Often when a recruit is out of line, undisciplined, or not uniform with the rest of the platoon, the squad leaders and/or guide are held accountable, also. Kind of like an incentive program.
Also pray for me that I will spend more time in God's Word. I have found that I am reading less this week. I need this food just as I need physical food. How important a concept and yet one so neglected. TRUST ONLY IN GOD. FOR IN THIS WORLD HE, AND HE ONLY, IS OUR MAINSTAY. This is a concept that I have only discovered since coming to basic. My reliance upon my family and church at home for my spiritual needs can't be filled out in the world. God alone is my stronghold. My fellow refugees in the faith that I write to and hear from are also dependent upon this stronghold. Many just don't know how much the stronghold protects us from until we move outside of our parent's house.
980514; Thursday; 2355; MCRD, San Diego - T15
Today in drill we were evaluated by the drill master in a dummy drill. We did ok. Not as well as 3069 and we didn't see 3071 drill. Whatever happens though, we will know for sure sometime Saturday.
We should be leaving for Camp Pendleton next Thursday for our Team Week. Over the last two days we've had classes involving our graduation and beyond. Yesterday it was graduation video and pictures. Along with a class for signing up for a calling card. Today it was a class for Savings Bonds. I signed up for a $200 savings bond. $50 will be taken from my paychecks on the 1st and 15th of June and after six months I will be able to increase the amount, stop and collect, change beneficiary, etc. It sounded like a good deal as it will help with saving money.
The calling card offer included one standard stateside rate of 24¢ per minute any state any time. If I don't use the card it doesn't cost me anything. No monthly, semi-annual, annual, etc charges. International calls are also pretty good. All these deals for military personnel. HA.
It's getting very late. Read Proverbs 14. Several verses really jumped out at me. Verse 8b, "the folly of fools is deceit." Verse 16, "A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident." Verse 25, "A true witness delivers souls." Verse 29, "HE WHO IS SLOW TO WRATH HAS GREAT UNDERSTANDING, BUT HE WHO IS IMPULSIVE EXALTS FOLLY." This last verse applies so very much here in this environment. Please pray about this. That God might be patient with me, and I in turn to my fellow recruits. Also look at Proverbs 14:34. This is so very true.
980515; Friday; 2145; MCRD, San Diego - T16
Prep day. Initial Drill Inspection is tomorrow. 3069 starts at 0730 and we go after them with 3071 following us. We had one of our better days today. We brought the intensity up and started marching and drilling like we actually wanted it. As Drill Instructor Sergeant White says, "Time to whoop it on."
I received the pictures Mom sent (from the Saturday night before I left) yesterday. The one with Andrew and I together is precious. I will treasure that picture. It is who Andrew is to me: innocent, beautiful, an example of 1 Peter 2:2, and most of all, my brother who would greet me with such love when I would come home from school after being out most of the day. It will be hard to remember him as anything else.
I looked at myself in each of those pictures and examined myself then and there at the time that those were taken (about 1 month ago). I have changed greatly. I was so ignorant of the Marine Corps. I carried myself in that ignorance. Never could I have thought that I would have changed so much in one month.
After evening chow, Drill Instructor Sgt. White marched us back to an area of MCRD that was only somewhat familiar. As we came around the side of the building and walked down the passageway, we saw the yellow footprints (when recruits first arrive at MCRD, they are ordered off the bus by a Receiving Sergeant and ordered to stand at attention on "rows of yellow footprints painted on the asphalt ... The footprints, our to a row, eighteen rows, are so closely packed that the newcomers can't be seen as individuals."). quote taken from Making the Corps p.29 Drill Instructor Sgt. White had us stand in Platoon formation on the footprints, had us close our eyes, think back to our first night, and then he gave us a short motivation speech. I left there not wanting to return. To go through all that again would be hideous. Our eyes are looking anxiously for that Eagle, Globe, and Anchor at the top of the Grim Reaper ("At the conclusion of the Crucible, the recruits complete an eight-mile hike which takes them to the top of a hill known as the 'Grim Reaper'. There they participate in a morning colors ceremony where the Marine Corps emblem [the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor] is presented to each, and they are called 'Marine' for the first time."). taken from Tour of Recruit Training on the internet To look back or reflect upon an earlier event or period is torture. The possibility of going back to T1 is an ever-present thought and is the source of nightmares. To go back to T1 is not real probable, but it can happen and does. At Marine Corps Recruit Depot we go forward not backward. To go backward is to stand on the sidelines while your friends and comrades graduate. That is terror to think of.
980516; Saturday; (980517; 0321); MCRD, San Diego - T17
Today was a rather full day. First off, starting a little after 0800 was our Initial Drill Inspection. 3069 went at 0730 and 3071 went after us. 3071 won. They beat us by 3 points. Two of the guys in my platoon that have been constantly messing up and making mistakes went through the drill without making a mistake. We got hurt in other areas. I am in 3rd squad 4th rank. The recruit directly to my left (2nd squad 4th rank) cannot for the life of him stay in step during marked time (marching in place). His name is Fitzgibbons, but the Drill Instructors gave him the name McFeeters. The Drill Instructors do that with several of the recruits. Other names that were created are squid and popeye. If you go to Marine Corps Basic Training, do not become so acquainted with the Drill Instructors that they give you a nickname.
After the Initial Drill Inspection, our Senior talked to us. During that chat he fired the 3rd squad leader and made me the 3rd squad leader. After the chat the squad leaders and guide went outside to work on several new drill movements. The first one is, column of files to the left. What this does is takes the platoon, when it is in regular platoon formation (4 squads), and lengthens it out to one row of ducks. The second movement brings the platoon back into platoon formation. The third movement is column of 2's to the left. Same as the first movement except there are two columns instead of one. The fourth movement closes it back up into platoon formation.
This week we will start working on oral practicals more. We designated and set-up stations in the squad bay for the first time today. Next week things will really start jumping. Thursday we leave for Mess and Maintenance at Camp Pendleton; but things have to be done before that.
This billet (squad leader) that I now have is right now a rather delicate position. If I can hold it until after Final Drill Inspection I will probably have it for good. Basically if I do good in Final Drill I will probably graduate a squad leader. If I do bad, the position will go to someone else (probably the person who had it before). I have lots of work ahead to learn my new responsibilities as quickly as possible. NEED LOTS OF PRAYER. I'VE GOT LOTS OF LEARNING TO DO.
TRUST IN GOD. DON'T LOOK BACK AND WONDER, COULD I? LOOK FORWARD AND LEARN. GIVE GOD THE GLORY, PRAISE, AND UTMOST HONOR. MAY THE GRACE OF GOD BE UPON US ALL. FOR IT IS THROUGH CHRIST THAT WE ARE CALLED SONS OF GOD. WHAT A TITLE AND WHAT A POSITION IN ALL OF GOD'S CREATION. PRAISE GOD.
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
Romans 11:33
"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
Romans 11:36
980517; Sunday; 2150; MCRD, San Diego - H3
Sundays are sleep-in day. We get a half-hour's extra sleep. Instead of getting up at 0530 it is 0600. Pretty cool, huh! I didn't get that half-hour's sleep though. I had 2 hours firewatch for the second time. My rack-mate was moving while we were supposed to be at the POA (Position of Attention) and being a squad leader (and right next to him) guess who got punished for it. Double firewatch isn't all that bad unless you have hatches (doors) for both hours. Under normal circumstances the firewatch is changed every hour. Each firewatch has 4 people in it. One on the front hatch, one on the rear hatch, and two rovers. The rovers sweep and swab the squad bay and head. Occasionally there are other special orders that they are required to do. The Drill Instructors use firewatch as an incentive to discipline and good order (yea, ok). They do this by assigning two hours of firewatch.
Over the last 3 or 4 days we have seen a dramatic difference in the weather. It has been getting hotter during the day and staying warmer at night. Really feeling like what an early summer would feel like in Western Washington (about mid to late June).
Worked a lot on our oral practicals today. We will be increasing our time spent on that now that Initial Drill is out of the way and Final Drill Inspection is still 2 or 3 weeks out.
Tomorrow afternoon is our first Pugil Sticks competition. It will be interesting to see how that turns out. Our first PFT is also rapidly approaching. Before Thursday I think we will also be issued more uniform items. I heard that Tuesday might be the day (T 19), but not positive. Thursday is Camp Pendleton for a week then back for swim week. We leave for Camp Pendleton (for good) on JUNE 14. Hard to believe that it will be June 14th again. Remember what happened last June 14th? North Kitsap. Father's Day. Dad and Mom's anniversary. Baseball. GET THE PICTURE? (Seth hit his first and only home run in a baseball game against a team from North Kitsap)
Well, the first month is behind us. That's the slow month, too. Before we know it we will only have 2 weeks until Camp Pendleton. Mess and Maintenance (Team Week) starts Thursday and will completely occupy our minds.
Looking forward to getting the ball rolling. Camp Pendleton is going to be much more demanding physically, but with all kinds of different things to do it should be a lot more fun as well as informative.
Think about and pray for you often. I have reflected upon that e-mail that Mark Mattix sent. In it he said that at some point there is no turning back, we just need to trust in God and have faith in His judgment (or something to that effect). Looking forward to a new day. And yet I am also looking forward to seeing it through and getting into and through the next day.
2 MONTHS. That is all that is left. As I think more and more about my graduation and seeing my family again, I treasure that day and look forward to it with great anticipation. This is my goal, real, alive in my imagination, anticipated with great joy. Why can't I feel this way about the second coming of Christ? Makes me wonder, where are my priorities?
Please feel free to me!
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