This is it!!

AS you can see by the schedule this week, this is it! So get those letters in the mail. Monday tomorrow is the last day for her to receive the letters just before The Crucible! Make sure its all positive, she has to know how we are pulling for her and we know she can Bring It!

Again I thank you and Erica thanks you for all your prayers and support! ~Darlene

Week 11 - Final PFT & Testing, Crucible -

This schedule is of course

subject to change based on weather,

holidays and the needs of the company.

TD60 Monday
Today is a BIG day!

There are two of the

graduation requirements today!!!

- Final PFT is first thing in the morning.
- 171 question written test
- test is combined with the

practical application part (which is Tuesday)

to make one score -- a recruit must pass both

parts as a graduation requirement.

They get 2 hours to complete it,

but it is multiple choice

and they have been going over the

information since they got to Parris Island.

It will include questions on

general military knowledge

(like what time is morning colors on base

and What color DOD sticker do you salute),

first aid (like how to treat a wound

or how to cover a chest wound),

and also basic Marine Corps History

(like who are the only two Marines to win

two Marine Corps Medal of Honors and

where did the battle of Belleau Wood take place)

TD61 Tuesday
- PRACAP

(which is the practical application of what

they have learned in First Aid & customs

and courtesies such as how to board a ship

and how to report to an officer.

They will demonstrate these techniques

to the instructors of the course to show

that they are efficient in them.)
- a haircut
- platoon photo

TD62 Wednesday
Today is:
FINAL DRILL
Then the rest of the day will be fairly easy

to help them for the crucible...

they will have several classes on mentoring,

leave and liberty as well as

some Corps Values classes.

TD63 Thursday
1 week from Family Day!
You certainly don't need me to tell you

what the recruits are doing today.

It is finally time for the big challenge

that we have all been waiting for while biting

our nails for the last 11 weeks....

starts at 0200 (2 AM)

This is the official

USMC headquarters definition:

The culmination of

recruit training is the Crucible,

an intense field training exercise designed

to build unit cohesion, reinforce core values,

and complete the transformation

from recruit to Marine.

The Crucible is the defining moment

of the recruit training experience.

As a right of passage,

the 45 Concepts and Issues

Crucible is a 54-hour ordeal that tests

the mental of every recruit (and DI).

The physical and mental challenges

are intensified by

sleep and food deprivation.

The Crucible focuses on six major

field events and is augmented by

eleven challenging Warrior Stations.

Throughout this rapid paced exercise,

emphasis is placed on the importance

of teamwork in overcoming adversity
and adaptive problem solving.

The teams of recruits,

under the leadership

of their drill instructor,

succeed as a team.

The experience pushes

recruits to their limits

and is a poignant culmination

to the transformation process.

An overview:

during this time they will be given

4 MRE's (meals ready to eat) and

about 8 hours of sleep total

(about 4 each night).

They will march about 40 miles total

in humps and between different stations

carrying their packs and rifles.

They began this "test" at 2AM (EST)

Thursday morning

after getting up at 1AM to get ready.

TD57 Friday
Crucible Continues!

By the time most of you wake up

(if you slept at all that is)...

they will be on the DOWNHILL SLIDE!!!!

Yippeee!

TD58 Saturday

The company of recruits, DIs,

corpsman, and officers should complete

the last of their march back to Battalion.

This is an incredibly

emotional time for them

(yes even for the guys! )

They realize that really

the rest of boot camp

is just a walk in the park.

They will be issued their emblems

(EGA)- Eagle Globe & Anchor-

by their drill instructors in a private

and memorable ceremony and

are now officially recognized as

trained Marines for the first time.

Then it is time for them to take part

in the Warrior's Breakfast!

Yummy, bacon, eggs, sausage, ham, grits,

oatmeal, pancakes, steak, french toast,

hashbrowns, fruit, milk, juice and

even soda for the first time since arrival on island.

In the afternoon they will begin cleaning up

their equipment from the crucible and

preparing it to get turned in.

They will then finally get to go to bed

after their regular square away time

later in the evening.

I am sure basic Marines and DI's,

corpsman, and officers alike will have

no problem falling asleep tonight.

They are MARINES!

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.