Just wanted to put a special thanks out to Twila from Washington (and Danielle) for sending me the Marine recruit signs for my yard that was so sweet!
from: darlene r.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Letter dated : June 27th
I have a little time to write you, so here it goes. Today is Sunday (last week)
my Platoon just finished up its grass week, and that was exactly that,
we sat in the grass for hours on end learning about the positions and here and there,
we would go back to the sheds, which is a room with two walls and benches and
talk about DATA book and things of that nature. Tomorrow is the start of Rifle week
(which actually ended today) and then I'll be able to fire my M16 for the second time.
It barely has a kick, it's a 22 on steroids.
Oh, the gas chamber wasn't as bad as I thought, it stung a little on my neck then we
had to do jumping jacks in the room. I found out that I don't care for jumping off
a 70 foot tower ( as she tells bryan: "I don't care for running backwards at full speed,
speeding towards the ground")
We are working practically every day for Drill.
Yesterday we had PFT (physical fitness test) I could of done better with the hang time.
Run time 24:33 (3 miles)
Hang time 56 seconds
crunches 100 (in 2 minutes)
:) Love Erica
(Erica tells bryan that boot camp is sooo "cool", It's been hard,
but believe it or not its ALL mental, I can take the physical, in fact PT here is nothing compared to PT at the recruit station ---'I (mom) used to think is he trying to kill her? Thought she'd quit for sure!, I knew my little girl was tough, but I had no idea how tough!')
Hoping for another letter soon that gives us the update on her rifle week.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Happy Birthday America! Be Safe everyone!
posted by:darlene r.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
checking the weather
I know today was a hot one here.
I have my weather bug set to Erica's address at Parris Island SC,
It was 100 degrees at 9 pm(2100 hours) last night there... now thats HOT
Poor things I do know with the humidity if its over 90 degrees they move training in doors
or on to some other training they can do.
Read that on the Parris Island site, I do hope it is true.
posted by:darlene r.
Training Week 7 **Firing Week**
This schedule is of course subject to change due to weather, holidays and the needs of the company. TD36 Monday Well unfortunately this week may be kind of monotonous Now for the Daily Schedule: This morning, they will learn how to operate the pits (where the targets are behind the berm). They all have to take turns in running the targets up and down. No, they are not in the 21st century yet, it is all manual labor.... Then they will finally get to start firing. They will run the entire course of fire (called the Known Distance course or the KD course for short). KD course: 200 yd line 20 mins for 5 rounds in sitting, 5 rounds in kneeling, & 5 rounds in standing 1 min for 10 rounds (5 in each magazine) sitting 300 yd line 5 min for 5 rounds in sitting 1 min for 10 rounds (5 in each magazine) in prone (on belly) 500 yd line 10 min for 10 rounds in prone Don't get me wrong it can take a lot longer than the 37 min above.... the Platoons are divided into relays probably 6 (three relays shoot the entire KD range and the other three relays are in the pits running the targets....then they switch). Plus you have to figure in the walking time between the yd lines.... The rifle range is not a quick process. Later in the afternoon, of course some snap in time or drill practice time. TD37 Tuesday Today the recruits will be doing more of the same... shooting that rifle!!!
the TD36 post so check it out for a refresher course!! running a 1/4 mi sprint and also do those combat conditioning exercises in a circuit six times.
TD38 Wednesday Today is Hump Day!!!! YIPPEE!!! Today the recruits will be doing more of the same...shooting that rifle!!!-- the obstacle course and a 3 mile run and and of course they will practice snap in and studying in the evening with their PMIs and DIs. TD39 Thursday I am sure you don't need me to remind you that there are only 5 weeks until family day!!!!! wow This is pre-quall day. Today is solely concentrated on practice for the big day tomorrow. Complete with practice scoring.. that can be dangerous though, because the good shooters sometimes get cocky and the not so good shooters get discouraged. I have never been so crazy about letting my shooters know what they shot on pre-quall. I hope you guys have been sending lots of encouragement – it means a great deal to them. Study some for that big final test that they have coming up as a graduation requirement. TD40 Friday Today is the infamous Rifle Qualification Day. Of Course! After time spent on the range yesterday they spent time with the PMI's to ensure that they are ready for today -- which of course we all KNOW they are! Today is a big day because they are on their own on the firing line with just the range officials, the DIs, PMIs and coaches must remain about 20 yards behind them at the benches. TD41 Saturday Well, now with the rifle range under their belt, it is all downhill from here. Yippeee!! Well they are back in their regular squadbays at their Battalions now after the range yesterday so they are "home." They will start off the day with a short 1.5mi run then do some of those combat conditioning exercises they have come to know so well and then another short 1.5mi run to work on their endurance. Then in the afternoon they will have some classes on leadership and then they all will also get to go the museum! Speaking of which I highly recommend visiting it while you at It lays out the history of the Marine Corps approximately decade by decade since 1775. It has some awesome artifacts as well as video footage. The gift shop there is very good as well and has items you can't find anywhere else (including online or elsewhere on base even!) and the DI from 1970s Rose Garden USMC recruiting poster works there and will autograph a poster for you if you like!!! Which is awesome! The deadliest weapon in the world is a MARINE and his rifle! - General Pershing, U.S.Army "Freedom has a special meaning for those of us who have fought for it, that the protected shall never know" - unknown posted by:darlene r. |
Thursday, June 25, 2009
ooh-rah! LETTER dated June 21st, 2009
Today is Sunday, Just yesterday we did a 9 mile hike to the Rifle Range, it wasn't that bad, but sadly we had a few people fell out, I actually had a girl hold onto my LV pack and another holding onto my arm so that they wouldn't fall out. We are going to be here at the range for two weeks, so we're in s semi-portal home squad bay. My Rake mate is *****, ****** and she is from North Carolina.
(she now writes a complete list of names ages and where they are from)
| Arizona-1 | |
| Arkansas-1 | |
| California-14 includes Erica and a girl from Temecula! | |
| Chicago-4 | |
| Colorado-2 | |
| Delaware-1 | |
| Florida-1 | |
| Hawaii-1 | |
| Iowa-1 | |
| Louisiana-1 | |
| Minnesota-2 | |
| Nevada-1 | |
| New Jersey-1 | |
| New York-5 | |
| North Carolina-1 | |
| | |
| Tennessee-2 | |
| Texas-1 | |
| Vermont-1 | |
| Virginia-1 | |
| Washington-5 | |
? 2
Poland-1
Guam-1
We've already had ** people drop and * people added. So far Boot Camp isn't as bad as I thought. Since we are at the Rifle Range we are eating at 1st Battalion's place and at the male chow hall which means, we are forced to look at brownies, cinnamon rolls and so much more that we stare at while we get our food, like things I wouldn't eat anyway now, but it is still torture.
Yesterday I broke down because Senior Drill Instructor was listening to music and out of everything that she was listening to the song "eyes open" by Snow Patrol. Which made me miss home even more. I'm also a cooler recruit, while the platoon marches I'm one of four that carries the cooler in case of heat cases and things like that. I am also one of four Artist recruits that are drawing the Range Flag. We found out yesterday that our DI is one of our marksman instructors. ****Anyways free time is almost over, so I'll write you later,
Love you always Erica Ann =P love ya much
posted by:darlene r.
Initial Drill
One parent said "Platoon 4023 wins Initial Drill! Lisa said in her letter today Platoon **** and Platoon 4023 competed last Tuesday. You will laugh . . . she said "It was so amazing because our platoon has sucked all these 5 1/2 weeks and the more hard work & sweat we put into it, just wasn't enough to feel like we were improving. We were always getting yelled at by our SDI and our series Gunnery Sergeant. So when we got on the parade deck this morning, we brought everything we had. It paid off. Our Series Gunnery Sergeant was like "Holy **%$ 4023 - where the hell have you been?".
Thought you would enjoy hearing it put that way! Can we consider that recognition??? Ha!"
Thought you would enjoy hearing it put that way! Can we consider that recognition??? Ha!"
Amazing huh! Although miss Erica has not mention it or the gas chamber as of yet, she hasn't really talked about herself. I guess it is hard to do just like I write her everyday and some days I'm like what else do I say, it is so much easier to write about others. Anyway thought you'd all like to know... I was like "AWESOME!"
written and posted by:darlene r.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
* TRAINING WEEK 6 *
This schedule is of course subject to change due to weather, holidays and the needs of the company.
TD30 Monday
Today is the beginning of Grass Week. It is called Grass Week because the recruits literally spend a lot of time down on the grass learning how to position themselves and their rifles for best firing results. This week is spent learning the intricacies of their rifles and the factors that go into accurate firing of these weapons. You may have heard that "Every Marine is a Rifleman." Not only is that so but every Marine is a pretty darned good shot, too-- they will fire next week from 200, 300 and 500 yards in order to qualify on the range. Pretty impressive.
To get them ready for this the recruits will receive extensive instruction from
(By the way, in addition to the PMIs and coaches their DIs will be there and they are no slouches themselves! ).
Of course this is all after they go on a little run this morning....
TD31 Tuesday
Grass Week continues today.
More classes on firing and the rifle range itself this includes the stances that they must use next week (sitting cross legged, kneeling, standing, and prone - on their belly). There are specific ways that they must hold the weapon so this can become a challenge to any recruits who went to boot camp thinking they could shoot because they have been hunting before. It all works out in the end though. If they already know how to shoot it can be a better more accurate way to shoot and if they have never even held a gun before boot camp (like me) then they get the basics too.
Prone 
Sitting 
Kneeling
Standing
Today they will also get to spend some time in the ISMT (indoor simulated Marksmanship Trainer) and see how they shoot using a computerized program. They use a rifle that is about the same weight attached to a cable that is connected to the computer and they fire at electronic targets and can get an instant feedback on their shots. It can even show them how much they were moving before the shot... They will also be learning how to make adjustments on their rifle for them since each weapon and shooter are different, they have to adjust it to how they shoot. Then they will also get to fire their rifle finally in a grouping exercise to make sure that their weapon is adjusted just for them. Overall, they will spend all this week in many agonizing hours perfecting these positions aiming at that silly barrel and images of targets painted on the squadbay walls so that next week they will not be as sore in these new positions and they will also have the proper position that the USMC is a stickler about when firing for qualification.
TD32 Wednesday
Grass Week will continue today for the recruits.
They will be having more classes on the positions and have plenty of "snap-in" time to make sure those positions are up to snuff. They will be learning more about the course of fire that they will shoot and how to prepare for the rapid fire, to include some drills while snapping in. I know they absolutely loved the ISMT yesterday and the competition between the platoons is already getting fierce for who will take that rifle range trophy home next Friday!!! Last but not least they will squeeze in a haircut in there somewhere too!
TD33 Thursday
Grass Week Continues today....
The Company will get to do the MCMAP Endurance Course. This is basically just what it sounds like: a course that the recruits run through that has various stations where they stop and do different types of martial arts. Basically it is remediation of the MCMAP moves that they already know, and it is also a change of pace for PT other than running. Then they will Data Book class (a 5x7 spiral book that they write down all of their shots and wind adjustments in) they learn how to use it to their advantage. They will have more snapin time and the PMI will help them with their positions.
TD34 Friday
Grass Week continues today with more instruction on the rifles and how to do the positions correctly. Are you getting tired of the same thing yet? They will also get some more time in the ISMT (indoor simulated marksmanship trainer) today especially the ones that had some trouble the first day.
They will continue working hard as they head into Firing Week.
Everyone has been great in their support and I don't want you to get discouraged if you don't get many letters this week or next they are pretty busy with classes and practicing all the time when not in classes. This is most recruits favorite point in training and they want to get those crossed rifles (Expert). Continue to send those letters to them though and make sure you tell them that you think they are the bestest in the world.
TD35 Saturday
If you all haven't noticed... today is the midway point of training!!!!
First off they will start off with their Initial PFT.
Then they will spend the afternoon with some classes and practice drill some and of course the DIs will help them with their positions and snap in some more to make sure they are prepared for Monday
posted by : darlene r.
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