12 days to go

You know ... you start thinking what was it that made your daughter want to be a US Marine.

Was it that her grandpa Bill is a very proud Marine and talked about how he wished had stayed in?

Was it how very patriot her family is, I still cry when the flag goes by in a parade or ? I can't explain it. Did I instill it in her head somewhere along the way.

I was in her room today cleaning up my scrapbook stuff thats everywhere,

( I was supposedly going to work on while she was gone..LOL)

When I looked up at her shelves of Beanie Babies that she collects, We had started with collectable Babies, one from the year of her birth 1990, and then I saw it, I actually had forgotten I bought it for her in 1991, she was a year old???? wow

yep 1991 Marine Corps Barbie

written & posted by:darlene r.

Parris Island Map & Vehicle Pass Info

clip on map of Parris Island to enlarge

For some reason if you are coming to Erica's graduation.

I know some of you mention you might be able to go so...

As Erica mentioned in her letter that she enclosed passes, anyone can go to the graduation.

You go to the guard gate for a vehicle passes, you must know recruits name,

have valid ID yourself, current insurance and vehicle registration with you.

No cell phone usage while driving unless it is hands free and

obey all speed limit signs, the are very strict on that.

Erica will call me on Sunday the morning of the 2nd of August to inform me that she made it and is a Marine (at least thats supposedly what she will do) She also needs names of those coming, so please inform me so i can let her know.

Thursday Aug 6th the Moto run is at 7am it starts on the Peatross Parade deck.

(please stay off the parade deck) there are bleacher to sit on ..

wear your platoon shirt.

Family day starts at 9:30 am at building 281, recruit must return by no later than 3:30 pm

Friday GRADUATION DAY in front of building 154

Morning colors be seated by 7:00 am

Marine Corp band will start apx 8:00 am

with graduation to follow promptly at 9:00

in the event of bad weather the graduation will be moved in doors

to all weather training facility.

Ware your maroon shirt so they can see a sea of Maroon.

It is also encouraged to sign in at the douglas visitor center

so your recruit knows you have arrived

Woo-Hoo Finally a letter dated July 18/19, 2009

my baby girl a few years ago :)

Dear Mom,

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to write you in a while, our platoon just finished up

BWT week (Basic Warrior Training) it was all the things you expect to do in Boot Camp

such as low crawling under barbed wire and jumping over bulkheads sorry "walls"

that was on Tuesday,

which it was called the day and night movement course which messed up everyones elbows.

Then on Wednesday we did land navigation with a compass.

I was a fire team Leader so I was in charge of three other recruits

making sure we got from point A to point B. That was when we switched to 3rd Phase,

which means we are much closer to graduation, we have exactly a week and two days till the crucible, yet we have so far to go, everyone has the motivation to continue

but people are getting antsy and more and more of them just want it over.

The past two and a half months I have been just living from chow to chow.

Anyways, from Monday to Wednesday we were bunked up in these buildings that were like sheds, it really sucked. I would have rather slept outside.

On Wednesday we went straight from BWT to the rifle range.

Table 2 is combat firing, so we had to shoot targets like two in the chest and one in the pelvis

wearing a flank jacket, which is this gigantic vest that protects you from rounds with your

full mustard warrior guard, otherwise known as duce gear, over it with your weapon at a 45 degree angle so it's easier to lift your weapon up to fire.

Thursday we pre-qualed and Friday we qualified.

Yesterday, Saturday we did a section of the crucible for almost like practice, it was fun,

well it's Sunday and in a week (4 days actually) Oscar will be graduating then our platoons,

our series will be the seniors on deck, which means we are next, I can't believe it.

I can't wait to see you and give you a huge hug then go home and have real food. LOL

Next week is administration week, it's where we do exactly that - paperwork.

Oh! Inside with this letter is the parking passes and information for family day and graduation.

I love you and miss you!

Love Miss AmErica

posted by: darlene r.

WOMEN MARINES 1943

"They (Women Marines) don't have a nickname, and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines." Lt.Gen Thomas Holcomb, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corp, 1943

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