16 days till I see my little girl

The Night Miss Erica announced she was going into the Marines at Senior Night,

the last Lakeside Lancer basketball game of the season.

We were all surprised they announced it on the PA.

You know about kids, they say I want to be a fireman, a doctor, a vet,

so when Erica said I want to be a US Marine, I thought okay sure

(ya right?).

She had many obstacles, which I had my doubts that she would ever over come.

She first went to a recruiter without me, and without both parents signatures

she had to wait till she was 18 and by that time, being out of school and

no basketball or track she gained a bit of weight,

who knew how strict the Marines were about that which other services are not.

So when she turned 18 she changed recruiters, long story why she did that,

but her recruiter laid it on the table how hard it would be,

she retook the ASVAB two more times to get a higher score so more jobs were available to her.

She then started going to weight watchers

with her friend Erin and Kim (my best friend) who's a weight watcher leader.

She started running every day and exercising.

She had a few set backs where her recruiter even

yelled at her asking her if she was serious or not.

I was thinking it was not going to happen and

she would maybe meet someone and move on.

Then she met Jacob who was going into the Marines

and he was so excited it really got a fire under her butt!

She wrote him a few times while he was in boot camp at Pendleton.

When he finally graduated he called her a few times asking her when she was going in.

She really started pushing it, then Erica asked for a ride to Corona

because her recruiter wanted to talk to me,

so I went and he said so you know she's ready to go in.

I was happy for her and nervous.

She wanted no one really to know until it was a for sure thing.

So her recruiter gave me possible dates and

so with Bryce (Kim's son) going to Afghanistan

Kim said we'll just do a party together for

Erica going into boot and Bryce leaving for the middle east.

So miss Erica finally shipped on May 11th after a few delays,

now it has come down to 16 days till her Graduation ...

becoming a US MARINE ... a woman Marine the fewer the prouder! they say!

Jacob called me from Pendleton last night just to check on me to see how I was doing and to reassure me that Erica is well and just so busy with everything they need to know and practice.

That he knew she would make it and that he would call on graduation day. Sweet kid.

He's been a good friend to Erica. He even PT'd with her a few times... (Physical Training)

Wish he could be there but he's busy on base himself.

Well hopefully... we'll hear something from miss Erica soon.. I'll keep you all posted.

Friends Erica Ann & Jacob

written & posted by: darlene r.

Women Marines

posted by: darlene r.

Training Week 10 **Finish A Line**Lead

This schedule is of course subject to change based on weather,
holidays and the needs of the company.
If one of the items is underlined, click on it for more details.

TD54 Monday
Lead Series
- last uniform clothing fitting

Follow Series
Continue A Line
Class on the M249 SAW Light Machine Gun
Class on the AT4 light anti-tank weapon
Practical application using both the AT4 and M249



TD55 Tuesday
today will be essentially a flip-flop of yesterday.
Lead Series
Continue A Line
Class on the M249 SAW Light Machine Gun
Class on the AT4 light anti-tank weapon
Practical application using both the AT4 and M249

Follow Series
- last uniform clothing fitting



TD56 Wednesday
The obstacle course for evaluation for graduation
a haircut
classes on homosexual conduct and substance abuse


TD57 Thursday

- field meet ... it’s kinda like a typical grade school field meet -- sorta;
the platoons compete against each other for bragging rights in various PT
related activities such as a stretcher relay, an M16 rifle assembly relay,
50 yd dash, dizzy izzy, team ironman competition, and even a tug of war)

- classes on OPSEC (operational security), sexual assault, sexual responsibility,
marriage as a first term Marine, factors that effect a military career.


TD58 Friday
Start off the day with a 3.0mi formation run
classes on suicide prevention and educational benefits
then they will split off and
Lead Series will do the Confidence Course and
Follow Series will get some Corps Values classes


TD59 Saturday
- there will be some drill practice for Final Drill
- Corps Values classes
then they will split off and
Follow Series will do the Confidence Course and
Lead Series will get some more Corps Values classes

2 sea bags full ... yikes

Just thought it was interesting how much stuff miss erica will be coming home with and then some ..... thank goodness the airlines don't charge the military for extra baggage... yikes

Female Uniform Requirements List Lead

Minimum Requirements List--Women's Quantity ----- Article 2 duffle bags 1 reflective belt 1 belt, trousers, web, khaki 1 boots, MC combat: hot weather, pr 1 boots, MC combat, temperate weather, pr 1 buckle, web, khaki, gold plated 1 cap, combat utility, field, desert MARPAT 1 cap, combat utility, field, woodland MARPAT 1 cap, combat utility, garrison, desert MARPAT 1 cap, combat utility, garrison, woodland MARPAT 1 cap, garrison, womans green 1 cap, dress, white 1 cap, service cap, green 2 coat, combat utility, desert MARPAT, with name and service tapes 2 coat, combat utility, woodland MARPAT, with name and service tapes 1 coat, womans, all seaon polyester/wool gabardine, green, with belt 1 coat, womans, blue 1 coat, womans, all weather 1 gloves, leather, black, pr 1 gloves, white, pr 1 insignia, branch of service, garrison cap, black, screwpost 1 insignia, branch of service, service cap, black, screwpost 1 insignia, branch of service, service uniform collar, black, screwpost 1 insignia, branch of service, cap, gold, screwpost 1 insignia, branch of service, collar, gold, screwpost 1 necktab, womans green 1 nectab, womans, black 3 shirt, womans khaki, long sleeve 3 shirt, womans khaki, short sleeve 1 shirt, womans, white, short sleeve 1 dress shoes, oxford, black, pr 1 dress shoes, pump, black, pr 1 skirt, womans all season polyester/wool gabardine, green 1 skirt, womans, blue 2 slacks, womans, all season polyester/wool gabardine, green, pr 1 slacks, womans, blue, pr 3 socks, dress, black, pr 6 socks, boot, coyote brown (for all personnel issued them at boot camp) 1 sweat pants, green with insignia 1 sweatshirt, green with insignia 1 athletic jacket 1 athletic pants 1 sweater, pull-over, olive green 2 trousers, combat utility, desert MARPAT, with name tape 2 trousers, combat utility, woodland MARPAT, with name tape 1 trunks, general purpose 3 undershirt, cotton, green 3 undershirt, synthetic, olive 3 undershirts, cotton, white, v neck

written & posted by: darlene r.

No news is Good news? ! ?

Bryan & Erica

As most of you know I have been talking with mom's who's daughters are there with Erica at Boot Camp and most of them have not received a letter in the same amount of time that I have not, so I can't worry. A mom I met in LA at Meps .. wrote me this morning and told me in two weeks they have received one letter and her daughter is a writing fiend.. in the beginning they receive a letter every other day or more, I know Erica is NOT like that, I am happy to have gotten as many as I have. As long as she is safe thats all I want to know :)

Last night Bryan and I saw Harry Potter (midnight showing) shhh don't tell Erica.

(my review of Harry Potter "Awesome" "Half Blood Prince" to the Harry Potter series as

the "Empire Strikes Back" is to the Star Wars series :))

Anyway I ran for a drink and they had they 'coffee times' there,

so I started reading the Horoscopes and I read Miss Erica's I HAD to send it to her!

LIBRA (sept 27th)

"Increased physical courage and ability,

and a strong sense of adventure,

combine to make this a very interesting time."

I thought thats her right now!

Right now for them is study study study and

test test test.... they must pass in order to make it.

I hope you are all keeping Miss Erica in your thoughts

and prayers and writing lots of encouraging and positive letters.

Thank you to you all! *hugs

written & posted by:darlene r.

my baby girl and TRAMP

no letter yet ..... more rifle this week

posted by: darlene r.

Training Week 9 **A Line/BWT**Lead

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This schedule is VERY crazy & of course subject to change based on weather, holidays and the needs of the company. If one of the items is underlined, click on it for more details. TD48 Monday START OF PHASE III Lead Series Begin A Line Classes on target engagement (multiple, moving) and a review of snap in (in case they forgot ) Guardian Angel class (be aware of the surroundings) never go anywhere alone, security in a 360 perimeter, be a hard target) Follow Series Start of BWT Land Navigation classes (how to use a compass, how to pace count, how to use their knowledge at night, Practical Application of Land Navigation during the day a Practical Application of Land Navigation at night They will also get to sleep out under the stars tonight! TD49 Tuesday This is the week that you see many people mention that their recruits said was harder than the crucible even. Lead Series Continue A Line - continue classes and preparing for combat firing - pre-qualification day for the combat firing that they learned yesterday Follow Series Continue BWT - Day Movement Class (moving about during the day without being detected) - Class on hand and arms signals - Day Movement Practical Application (crawl thru tunnels, under barb wire, crawl on their bellies, camouflage and concealment, crawl over walls, thru woods, etc without being detected) - cass on different combat formations (i.e. fire team formations) - Then the same course they did during the day under low light conditions They will also get to sleep out under the stars again tonight! TD50 Wednesday There are only 20 training days left!!!! Lead Series Continue A Line, Start BWT Qualification day for the combat firing Classes on other types of field firing They will also get to sleep out under the stars tonight! Follow Series Begin A Line Classes on target engagement (multiple, moving) and a review of snap in (in case they forgot ) Guardian Angel class (be aware of the surroundings) never go anywhere alone, security in a 360 perimeter, be a hard target) TD51 Thursday Family Day - is 3 weeks away!!!!!!!!!! Lead Series Start BWT Land Navigation classes -how to use a compass, how to pace count, how to use their knowledge at night, Practical Application of Land Navigation during the day a Practical Application of Land Navigation at night They will also get to sleep out under the stars again tonight! Follow Series Continue A Line - continue classes and preparing for combat firing - pre-qualification day for the combat firing that they learned yesterday TD52 Friday Three more weeks until Graduation!! Lead Series Continue BWT - Day Movement Class (moving about during the day without being detected) - Class on hand and arms signals - Day Movement Practical Application (crawl thru tunnels, under barb wire, crawl on their bellies, camouflage and concealment, crawl over walls, thru woods, etc without being detected) - class on different combat formations (i.e. fire team formations) - Then the same course they did during the day under low light conditions Follow Series Continue A Line, more BWT Qualification day for the combat firing Last but not least.... they will ALL get to spend the night under the stars!! TD53 Saturday On tap for today is: Continue BWT for everyone - Combat Endurance Course (a 2.5 mi course which they have to use everything they learned in the last week, how to negotiate thru woods without making a sound as a squad, negotiate obstacles such as tunnels and walls and barbed wire and up and over obstacles such as cargo nets and monkey bars over a mud puddle – - to simulate going from tree branch to tree branch) - practice some drill in preparation for final drill posted by: darlene r.