TRAINING WEEK NINE
980622; Monday; 2000; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T42
Today was the first day of qual week. We were up at 0400, ate chow and were at the range before sunrise. Lead Series is on Bravo Range and we are on Delta. There are 4 relays, 2 are on the line and the other two are in the pit working the targets.
I started out the day in 4th relay down in the pits. Simple work. Just pull the targets down, spot the shot with a shot spotter (a colored plug you put in the bullet hole so it can be seen from the line), push it back up, then wait for them to fire again, pull it down, spot the new shot and paste the old one with a pasty.
Getting all 4 relays through took all of the morning. After we finished we were given bag lunches at the range. 8 of the recruits from my platoon, including myself, and 16 from the other 2 platoons in our series were chosen as a working party. We put our lunches in our war bags and marched over to the target factory. There we ate our lunch then '69 cleaned the head at the far end of the range circles. '70 cleaned the near end. And '71 moved old targets that were in storage. When the working party from Lead series arrived we were put to work building new targets. I worked with assembling the frames. You figured it, I got my hammer and nails and took off thoroughly enjoying myself.
That took us all the way up to evening chow. By the time we got back to the house we had missed the platoon and so we went with the late chow.
Just before freetime we had our 2nd mail call since arriving here. The first was last Thursday.
Shooting today went ok. Have lots of room to improve. Most of it is just becoming comfortable and relaxed with the weapon.
In Jessica's letter I received from her I notice that she still doesn't like guns, rifles or weapons. As a United States Marine my SRB (Serviceman's Record Book) if you were to look up my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) it would say "Basic Rifleman." I would be an 0311 without extensive infantry training. My job, however, will be Aviation Mechanic. All Marines are Basic Riflemen, every one, from the cook to the truck driver. If called upon they would pick up a weapon and be prepared to defend or attack.
PRAISE GOD FOR ANOTHER WEEK. WE WILL SEE THE PLAN THAT HE HAS. I AM CONFIDENT OF THIS: HE WILL CARE AND PROVIDE FOR YOU. HE WILL DO AND GIVE WHAT IS BEST. HE WILL DO ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING. HE DOES NOT DEVIATE. IN HIM IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW. James 1:17
980623; Tuesday; 2100; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T43
Day two. Went through the whole marksmanship course today doing the rapid fires (200 & 300 yd) twice (double strings). I did better than yesterday. I have two more days to work on things before qual day. Tomorrow is day three and will be the same as today was. Thursday is pre-qual and is what we will be doing on Friday for real.
I spent the afternoon out at the target factory on a work party. Today we moved the targets to a permanent storage bin until they are ready to use. We also stripped old targets to by recycled.
We had the bag lunches again today. They're just about the right size for an appetizer. Other than that, pretty good.
Just a day over two weeks before the show hits the road for good. The Crucible starts Thursday morning at 0200 two weeks from now. Tomorrow Fox Company of Second Battalion will start the Crucible. Next will be Lima Company. As the time draws near we are all becoming more excited.
980624; Wednesday; 2000; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T44
Day three. I was a lot more relaxed out on the rifle range today. I also did a lot better. Shooting at 500 yds is cool. From the prone position we fire at and are expected to hit a target the size of a half-human (B-modified). Today out of 10 shots, 6 were in the black (bulls-eye). I improved in 6 of 7 events from yesterday's performance. I also did a lot better from the kneeling and standing today. In previous days I had problems with those positions.
I was back on the work party at the target factory again. We brought up more targets to be recycled from the pits. We also stripped them down and tomorrow we will be pasting new faces on to them.
It seems that the Drill Instructors have changed their course of action again. During Grass Week they were hard. Kind of like back at receiving. Now they seem to be trying to motivate and encourage us by turning out attention towards what is ahead, namely the Crucible two weeks from today.
Read I Samuel 24 and 25 on firewatch last night. David had God's plan above his own advancement. All he had to do was kill Saul and the throne would be his. Yet he said that Saul being God's anointed ruler could not kill him even though Saul was seeking after David's life.
David had seen God spare him time and time again from the wrath of King Saul. David had complete faith that God would protect him from Saul without David having to take matters into his own hands.
Saul on the other hand reminds me of a Sunday believer. He confesses, swears never to do it again and says he'll change, but as soon as things don't go his way or he has no control over matters, he reverts back to who he really is.
David, too, loses his head in the next chapter and decides to take matters into his own hands. The difference between him and Saul is that David was a man of God. He believed, practiced and applied these beliefs daily. God in this case intercedes for him by sending Abigail. THE LORD'S CARE AND SAFETY ARE BLESSINGS TO BE COUNTED AND TREASURED. THEY SHOULD BE TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT. IF NOT, THINK LONGER AND HARDER.
980625; Thursday; 2005; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T45
Pre-qualification day. Today was the same as yesterday except that we kept score. The score cards were thrown away immediately, but they were to prepare us for tomorrow. Tomorrow is where the rubber meets the road. The high for the Delta Range is 243 out of 250. My high on Wednesday was 232. Today I shot 226. What hurt me the most was the 300 yd line. For both the sitting-slow and the prone-rapid I didn't make a wind call. The high points of the day were at the 200 sitting-rapid and the 500 prone. At the 200 yd line I shot two possibles (where all ten shots are in the bulls-eye). At the 500 yd line, of the 10 shots, 9 were bulls-eyes.
In reality though, what I did today doesn't mean a thing. All it shows is what I am capable of shooting. What I did today won't matter if I shoot a 187 tomorrow.
I've been praying that God will help me to relax and focus on what I need to do. I can't afford to get all wrapped up in the statistics and the possibilities. All I must do is go out and shoot my best. If I know that I did my absolute best under the circumstances, then I will have nothing to worry about or be ashamed of. That "Expert Badge" is my goal. Some are just satisfied with qualifying as a marksman. No way. Shoot for the top. Or as the Air Force says, "Aim high"; Army, "Be all that you can be"; Navy, "Full speed ahead". However you want to put it, high standards lead to quality, contentment and a clear conscience.
Cashiola was dropped from the platoon today. He is being dropped back 5 weeks to India Company. India is also 3rd Battalion. Cashiola was a little slow upstairs, but he was a hard worker and he gave 110%. He was harassed by the Drill Instructors continually because he was prior Navy. We are now at 45 and we may possibly lose some from the Rifle Range.
980626; Friday; 2010; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T46
Qualification Day. To get right to it, I shot a 213, 3 points shy of expert. I'll be bringing home the Iron Cross. Let me explain. The "Marksman Badge" is a square with a target inside. It is referred to as a pizza box (don't want it). The "Sharpshooter Badge" closely resembles Germany's Iron Cross and is called as such. The "Expert Badge" is two crossed rifles inside of a wreath. It is simply called the crossed rifles.
The biggest problem I had was getting relaxed at the 200 yd line. I shot horribly in stage one getting only about 55 points out of a possible 75. That is what really hurt. Frankly, though, there is nothing that I can do about it now. It's in the past and I'll live with the results because it is already done.
Spent the afternoon on Bravo Range in the pits for the "unks". I helped run the targets for the recruits who didn't qualify on the first try. We got back to the house in time to go to PT.
After PT and evening chow we prepared our packs and LBV's for the 7 mile hump tomorrow.
I thought of something very interesting today while marching to evening chow. I began thinking about the similarities between shooting and life. I wondered if God might be trying to teach me something.
In relation to time, there are three tenses - past, present and future. The past is done, we can only learn from it. The present is now, where we must apply. The future is uncertain, and must be left up to God.
In life, once an event happens, a word is spoken, a deed is done, it cannot be redone, changed or taken back. It is permanent. It is on the record book in ink, not to be done over. The same applies in shooting. Once the trigger is squeezed, the round cannot be retrieved. Where it goes it will go. Its flight and destination cannot be changed by you. It hits where it hits and its score is its score.
In the kneeling today, I had a round that totally missed the target. It hadn't happened before. The problem was that I anticipated the pull of the trigger and disrupted my sights when I threw my shoulder into the weapon. I was disgusted with that shot, but it was done. It had been fired and it had hit, where and what I do not know. The only thing I could do was learn from that mistake. What I could not do was meditate on it and let it bother me. I didn't do that, either.
Looking back on the past and worrying about it is a common thing to do. Especially when wondering how it will affect your future. To do that, though, is wrong. Philippians 4:4-6.
In relation to the future, the past affects and determines the future. Our actions as well as our shots in the past determine where or how high we will be in the end. They say around here at the Range, you are only as good as your last shot. Even here you must take it one step at a time. One simple step at a time in the care and direction of the Lord. One step - One shot. Contentment in Christ and contentment with the past.
980627; Saturday; (980628; 0750); Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - T47
First thing after chow this morning was our hump. 7 miles. Even though it is tiring I enjoy humping.
We were back from the hump at about 0930 and spent the rest of the morning with a Core Values class and hooch drills. Noon chow was an MRE. Had Beef Stew today. Not bad. It would have been better if it was heated up. The MRE came with crackers, a cheese spread w/Jalapeno's, and a chocolate-covered oatmeal cookie.
In the afternoon we field stripped 3 MRE's for Monday (removing all the waste possible) and packed our packs. We will spend all day Monday out in the field. We will also be sleeping in the field.
I decided that tomorrow I will not go to church. Instead I will spend time alone with God. I'll see how that goes and proceed from there.
We had a new pick-up today. He was from Fox Company who finished the Crucible today. He came from MRP (Medical Rehabilitation Platoon), though.
We're already half way through our time here at Camp Pendleton. Hard to believe, but the Crucible is still 11 days away. Can't wait to get back home.
980628; Sunday; 2005; Edson Range; Camp Pendleton - H8
This morning reveille was at 0600. Different getting up when its light. After morning chow was our routine Sunday freetime at 0750.
I opted not to go to church today. Instead I decided to spend time with God alone. I did this because of the church here at Edson Range. I spent just shy of an hour reading, praying and praising God. I read I Samuel 26-31; Psalm 139; and Hebrews 1-5. I prayed for you back home and especially my family's Psalm 139. I read his letter to me again today. It still brings tears to my eyes when I marvel at the protection and grace of God and how it applies in our lives.
A couple of weeks ago I mailed a letter home requesting the words for "Lead Me To Calvary". I only knew the first verse, but since I have been here it has been a great source of strength and encouragement to me, as well as a reminder of where I belong and Who owns me . . . KING OF MY LIFE I CROWN THEE NOW. THINE SHALL THE GLORY BE . . . Praise God because I'm His and never to be lost.
Hebrews 4:12-13 says that, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." God has shown and acted upon these verses with me today. Especially during my time with Him. My "Sunday Watch".
As I was reading in I Samuel, God threw a verse at me. This verse is I Samuel 30:6. For a little background, David had just returned to Ziklag (this was while he was living in Philistia) with his army of 600. Upon his return they found the city burned and all their women, children, personal belongings, and animals had been taken as spoil by the Amalekites. Verse 6 tells of David's condition, his men's attitudes, and David's actions. I Samuel 30:6, "Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and daughters. BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD."
In his deepest hardships and trials David turned to God. This is the man of God I want to be. A depender on God and a truster in Him.
As I was reading in I Samuel I was thinking of and remembering back to 1995 and CIT (a 3 week work/Bible-study program at Shiloh Bible Camp). That year we studied David. I keep thinking back to those lessons that LeRoy taught. I say to myself, "WOW, what a God we serve."
I was even more amazed and encouraged when I read in Hebrews. More specifically Hebrews 2:17-18, "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." and Hebrews 4:14-16, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." I marvel at how our God endured these same trials and temptations and yet He never sinned. What a mighty God we serve. Angels do bow before Him. Heaven and earth do sing His praises.
I can truly say that MY God speaks to me. I hear His voice in His word. His word is alive and it is working in my life.
Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz told us this morning that we would no longer be addressing ourselves using the third person. Since 19 April we have been saying (for example), "This recruit requests permission to speak to Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz" or "Recruit Howard requests permission to speak to Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz." Now we say, "I request permission to speak to Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Saenz." Funny, but this is going to take some getting used to.
Our afternoon was spent working on the finishing touches of our packs or IPing (Irish Pennanting - cutting off loose threads) our Service Alpha uniform for the Battalion Commander's Inspection coming up in 10 days.
Our Range Flag is almost done. It is great. All of you should know what the famous picture of the raising of the American Flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima looks like. Our flag has that image with 4 people (instead of 6), one for each of our Drill Instructors. The flag is being raised on the top of a hill and the face of the hill has "Lima Company" etched into the rocks. In the background is a huge setting sun with a glowing sunset which reflects into an ocean below the horizon line. The number 3070 (our Platoon number) is painted on the right side of the Range Flag to the right of the American Flag in the painting. A Range Flag is a canvas stretched over a 6'X6' frame like a huge painting. It is posted and displayed on the range that we use (Delta Range) until we leave. When we get back to MCRD it will be displayed on Visitor's Day for the visitors to see. We'll have to remember to take pictures of it.
See you all very soon. 19 days remain.
Please feel free to me!
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