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Thursday - Parris Island Boot Camp - CRUCIBLE

Dear Journal,

Up at 0200, staged and ready to roll at 0215. After having to wait for a while, we proceeded to the Parade Deck where we broke up into our squads and humped 6 miles out to Page Airfield (the Crucible site) for our first set of obstacles. Our gear is heavy, but we are in good spirits. Each Platoon has different Drill Instructors for Crucible Leaders. Another Drill Instructor followed behind us in a safety vehicle. We humped to the first Warrior Station and waited until 0600.

Each obstacle is set up at a Warrior station. On our first obstacle the scenario was that our HUMVEE had run out of fuel while carrying supplies. While we were headed back to Motor-T to get fuel, we came across a bridge that had been partially destroyed by the enemy. Our obstacle was to carry (3) 55 gal. drums across a cable from one platform to another. The drums had to remain upright and there are 3 red stripes on the cables 3' long. If you or your equipment (drums) touch the stripes… you are dead and your equipment is lost! It was hard because we were looking to the Crucible Leader to tell us how to get across, but he told us we had to figure it out ourselves. It was just out of habit, because for the last 11 weeks we hadn't made a move without asking permission. It made us feel proud when we made sound decisions and executed a successful plan!

Another station was called the Enhanced Obstacle Course, where we had to maneuver though while carrying a dummy (casualty) and heavy ammo cans. We had to get the casualty and ammo cans over each obstacle, as well! Then there was another station in which we went from tire swing to tire swing (6 swings total) and at each end was a platform. Touch the deck instead of the platform and you're dead! Another obstacle was a 12' pole and we had to get a tire around it and lower it all the way to the deck. We cheered when the first recruit finally hooked the pole and the tire went down! We thought man, this is going to be fun…like throwing rings over the bottles at a fair!! Then the Crucible Leader said we had to take the tire back off too!!! You can imagine the smiles fell right off our faces. Afterwards, we were told we would be starting the Team Shoot and Pugil Sticks shortly.
I will update as soon as I can…"

Thursday - Parris Island Boot Camp - CRUCIBLE continued

Dear Journal,

One of the Warrior Station obstacles is built around an enemy-mined rope bridge called the "Two Line Bridge." It is just two very long ropes, basically, that wobbles…and impossible to cross when two are on it. So, as a team we determined it was best to cross it one by one. But we are timed…so we had to move quickly. We had to cross with all our gear on, carrying those heavy ammunition boxes! When we were finally forging on and were well on our way, we lost one of the guys.

"If one fails …We all fail."

So, I was the last person on the bridge and I just couldn't leave him there. He was either going to have to start over from the beginning of the rope, or I could help him. So, I let go of the rope with one hand and kept a good strong grip with my other. I extended my hand out towards my fellow Recruit. He grabbed my arm and I pulled with all my might to get his hand back up to the rope. "Lord, I can't pull any harder. I know I'm going to drop him. Please give me strength." And, just when I thought the rest of the team had moved on ahead of us….through my clinched eyes I heard rounds of "Come on Man!… You've got him!… Pull- Pull!… You're almost there!" My team had come back to encourage me! And then…somehow…he was safely holding on to the rope. Everyone was shoulder bumping me after. It felt like this was real-life! Like I really did save someone…Wait! I really did!! My Crucible Leader said, "You did, you saved a Recruit from failing this. Well done!" I tell you NOTHING feels like this. No matter what you do to make yourself happy, new cars, watching a game, hunting… none of what you do for yourself compares to the feeling of helping another human being! NOTHING! Maybe, I CAN do this after all! I WANT to do this!! Man, I know Mom and Dad would be so proud of me! I wonder what they are doing right now?

At another Station called Cpl. Day's Defense, we had to run into firing positions and engage pop-up targets in and around a building with 10-rounds in two magazines. We only had about a minute to fire. That was cool! If I wasn't so tired, I would have wanted to stay there all day! Afterwards, we humped back to the huts and chilled until 2100. At 2100 we stepped out for a re-supply hump. Each squad had to carry 2 large ammo cans and 4 small ammo cans …again filled with concrete for 2.5 miles! I could not believe this! After all we had done today they "told" us that our huts had been stripped so we had to re-supply. That was the last obstacle for the day. So we humped back to the supply station. We are getting grouchy now and short with each other. It was so dark and we couldn't see 2 feet in front of us. The DI's said the last 2 companies did this run in 2.25 and 2.3 hours. I don't know our time yet, but I know we did it in better than 2.0 hours!

I guess you are wondering how I am doing with my 2.5 MRE's! Well, we are responsible for rationing them out ourselves. So, today I ate 2 of my 3 cracker packages with peanut butter and grape jelly. I also ate my peanuts, pound cake, and beverage powder. The beverage powder is like PowerAde. We just had to pour it in our mouth and swish it around inside our mouth with some water. We couldn't put anything into our canteens but water. We also have 2 coffee packets…same deal…pour in mouth…swish with canteen water. My plan was to eat as light as possible today, saving the most of the MRE's for tomorrow. I just made sure I hydrated a lot.

When we got back, we had to sit and wait for 0000 (midnight) to come around… before they would let us go to sleep! I held my eyes open somehow, but inside I was already sleeping.

More tomorrow…"

Friday - Parris Island Boot Camp - CRUCIBLE:

Dear Journal,

Got up at 0400. Each platoon's daily schedule is different. 1104 and 1105 may be scheduled for an obstacle that 1106 and 1108 completed yesterday, and 1109 and 1110 may be on their way from re-supply to take the same challenge. With 500 guys out here, there is no way for us to do obstacles at the same time. So last night after Prayer and the Marine Hymn, we talked to each other quietly about the other obstacles we saw. I should have slept more.

We stepped out for our first challenge of the day. The first Station was a good 3-mile hump from our huts. The obstacle was a tire suspended 4' with the side painted red. All members of our squad had to go through the tire without touching the red. We did all make it, but it was hard. The tire was swinging and spinning…guess that was the challenge. After we finished up there, we moved over to the Bayonet Assault Course. This course is exactly the same as the one at the Base. Lots of hooking and jabbing here! Kind of fun actually. But we are all run down.
From there we went to the Day Infiltration Course. We had 25 minutes to go through the whole course dragging with us a real team member (casualty), 2 large ammo cans, 2 small ammo cans, and 2 water jugs… filled with concrete!! God, I wanted to be the one being dragged! But, another Recruit had pulled a muscle, so we took turns pulling him. We are all filthy and covered in dirt now. We stopped for a sock change and foot check. My blisters are filling with fluid now. I put a double layer of moleskin on but it comes right off when my socks get wet.
Then we humped over to the Day Movement Course. And believe me, they don't call it "Movement" for nothing! This course had booby traps all over! And if we tripped them, that team member became a casualty. The more traps we tripped during the course, the more difficult it became because we had to pull the casualties along with all our gear. We are so tired and hungry and sore and aggravated. We are over halfway through. I'll write more later…

Saturday - Parris Island Boot Camp - CRUCIBLE

Dear Journal,

0300. Before we stepped out to conquer our final hump back to the Base, the First Sergeant briefly reviewed the EGA ceremony with the whole Company. At 0330 we stepped out to take on our last challenge… our last obstacle as United States Marine Corps Recruits! The hump back is a good 10-miles long and was NOT easy!! We all limped along with our feet sore to the core. My blisters kept bleeding through my bandages and socks. I changed socks 6 times! The pain was irrelevant now… we continued on, because no one wanted to be dropped this close to the end. We have no watches so we don't really know how long we've been humping. The DI's have been amazingly supportive this morning. They started telling us "That's already two miles down. Not long now men." But I know that was not two whole miles...maybe a little over one at the most. They just want to keep our spirits up.

We stopped for a foot check at the base of the Ceculas Climbing Wall. Since we had not completed this obstacle, it was added to our final hump. We took a few moments to rebandage and regroup. I keep repeating to myself, "You're almost done!" Then, one by one we climbed up and over the wall, falling to the other side as gently on our sore tender feet as possible. Right foot…Left foot…Climb, Climb, Pull, Pull…holding on with all our might to get over. NO WAY any of us wasn't going over that wall!! 'Cause on the other side was our reward. We were almost home! The closer and higher we got to the top, the more it motivated us! When we fell to the other side…we were amazingly energized! One-by-one we fell over and over the top of that huge wall until we were all together.
I watched the last of my platoon go over the wall thinking, "Have I really earned this? Have I worked hard enough? Do I deserve it? Am I ready to be a UNITED STATES MARINE?"

For the past 49 hours, we have had little sleep, little food, and our team has run through a physically, mentally and emotionally challenging set of events. We have almost completed the Crucible -- the culminating event of Marine Corps basic training.

At 3:45 a.m., the company assembles. Our feet and some muscles hurt and some of the recruits limp into place, too. No one quits. Everyone wants to finish. The end is close enough we can almost taste it. We shouldered our backpacks and weapons and clap on our Kevlar helmets. Then we check our teammates' equipment. One last slug from your canteen and we’re ready.

The company steps out at 4 a.m. The pace is fast and the "accordion effect" occurs as the 481-member formation marches. Gaps appear and recruits have to step out quicker to close them. The march becomes easier as our sore muscles stretch. Some of us, obviously with blisters, try to find a way to walk that doesn't tear at our feet and I notice the Navy corpsmen, carrying at least 50 pounds of gear, checking out recruits who seem to be having difficulty.

It's still dark. No one speaks, as if the effort might be too much. Actually, though, talking's not allowed. An hour and a little over three miles later, the formation stops. As we drop our pack, I see that the sweat has soaked through everyone's BDU blouses. We've got a 10-minute break, to hit the head and drink more water. Some recruits sit on their packs and check their feet. Too soon, the drill instructors are rousting everyone.

The other platoon takes the lead this time and now I really understand what the accordion effect means. Drill instructors tell us to close up. "Don't run," they yell. "Just lengthen your stride." It doesn't work, we have to break into a trot to close up the space.
Again, there is no talking and I am just focusing on the pack in front of me and let my mind go blank. The sky is lightening in the east and we are getting closer to end of this torture.

A little over six miles into the march, we stop again. This time, there is juice and fruit available and I realize we're going to be here for a bit. Now our woodland pattern BDUs are soaked. I suck down some more water and get ready for the final stretch.

"Not far to go now men…just a couple more miles." The DI's have been saying that for over 4 miles now. I don't think about it anymore, 'cause I am almost to my dream.
I look around and realize where we are: That's the gas chamber! I've marched past here a number of times. I can get back to Main Base with my eyes closed. Everyone trades a few quiet words. "You can do it!" "It's not far now," we say to each other.
The company starts out. As I march I look to the side and see the swamps of Parris Island. Birds are starting to sing and I can see white cranes walking through the shallows looking for food. The sun clears the horizon as we approach the DI Bridge. Just before getting there, the senior drill instructor starts a Jody call. Our team pick it up. It makes it easier to march and takes your mind off those pack straps digging into your shoulders.

As we got closer to the main base, the Jody calls got louder and louder!! Then, I looked up and what do you think I saw?? The trail back was lined with flags! Our State Flags!! As I passed all the different State Flags, I grew more and more eager to see my………...THERE IT IS!!!! My HOME STATE FLAG! I never felt more proud to see that flag!! And right then, the loyalty of all the folks back home overwhelmed me. I was shaking. I couldn't wait to get to the Parade Deck and hold that pin in my hand!

As we approach the base, I can see two figures off to the left -- it's the base commander and sergeant major. We must really be close!
The Jody calls get louder as we reach the Parade Deck. Folks can probably hear us in Charleston!
Finally, we get the order to halt. The road march is over. We ground our packs, stack our weapons and put that heavy Kevlar helmet on top of our pack. The soft cap never felt so good. We form up around the Iwo Jima Memorial. The Color Guard raised the flag on the memorial. The Chaplain read a prayer specifically written for the finish of the Crucible. He thanks God for helping us through the Crucible. He mentions all the difficulties we surmounted, and he prays that we will be worthy of the honor we are about to receive.
When he finishes, the first sergeant speaks. He tells us about the Marine Memorial and says we are about to join an elite company. The sculpture depicts real men -- four Marines and a Navy corpsman. The first sergeant tells us to NEVER besmirch their memory.

The Company First Sergeant called the Company to attention. After that we were brought to Present Arms (salute) and the National Anthem was played. My heart was pounding out of my chest, so I didn't hear one word until…
"o'er the land of the free…………………
and the HOME……………………………….
of the …………………………………BRAVE!!!!!"
After the National Anthem, the First Sergeant turned us over to our Senior Drill Instructor to carry out the plan of the day. With tears of pride and joy streaming down our faces, we heard the Marine Corp Hymn being played softly and slowly over the loudspeaker…
"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;"
I tried to mouth the words but just couldn't.

"We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;"
From the corner of my eye, I saw the DI's on my row.
"First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;"
…I'll never forget when my Drill Instructor stepped in front of me, congratulated me, handed me my emblem, and shook my hand. I will never forget holding that tiny pin that symbolized huge honor. Most of all… I will never forget when he patted me on the shoulder and said… "Congratulations, "MARINE."
"We are proud to claim the title of UNITED STATES MARINES