finally I posted ;) - MCT grad

I would of posted sooner but not much that I know ... then a wonderful mom wrote me and ask if this was my daughter .. woohoo .. only one real good picture but I was so excited.. Thanks Debra

This mom went the MCT graduation at Camp Geiger in North Carolina... and it turns out her daughter was in the same company and platoon as Erica so she sent me pictures :)

thats Debra's daughter looking back at Erica

heading to the busses after graduation to their MOS schools

thanks again Debra your awesome!! Erica seams well at her mos in 29 Palms...I sent her, her camera.. told her I want lots of pics.. so hoping soon??!!?? told her she could mail me the camera chip and I would send a new one... until at least she could come home on RA ..think she's hoping for Christmas time ... that would be awesome.

written & posted by: darlene r

woo hoo got to talk for a minute

Erica and her friend Jacob on Camp Pendleton before she went into the Marines

Erica finally called with her address..

29 Palms USA :P

She said its pretty good there, if it wasn't for PT (exercise) daily it would be like collage,

in a dorm and schooling. She said her room is okay there are four of them to a room.

It even has a small frig so she can have food in her room, so they go down to the PX

and pick up snacks.

She said she's not even close to the main side of the base and is not sure how far the bus ride was LOL. Talk about being tired when they got there huh!

Still not sure when she'll be picked up for her start of schooling,

she is guessing October or even November, but like I said she is guessing.

This week is sort of like receiving week, paperwork some classes and odd jobs to do.

Today she had to ketch up on her laundry as when they were at MCT they only got to do a set once, so as she said everything stunk so bad she want to through it all away, but she would try washing them first. Cammies are 80 bucks a pop!

She told me a mini story as some girls wanted smores (what are we on a camping trip?)

So the girls bought all the necessities for their smores at the PX, Erica said the girls melted it in the microwave in the chow hall (I'm guessing) and

well miss Erica wanted the real thing.. so she borrowed one of the girls lighters stuck her marshmellow on a hanger and toasted it with the lighter! LOL

She said it came out perfect!!

Another mini story guess the girls were heading their barracks and one of the girls screamed,

and Erica looked and said what? It's only a Tarantula...and the girls said you've seen one before .. and Erica said "oh ya...we get them in our house all the time!" The girls were ... no way ..

so Miss Erica got a cup scooped up Mr. Tarantula and took him outside, bet those girls will never want to visit our house LOL

Oh one more Miss Erica's barracks are on the 3rd floor and her Friend Jacob is on the second floor, who would of ever guessed, they'd be in the same barracks let alone the same base.

Erica and Jacob met before he went into the Marines. He has already been in almost a year, and miss Erica has already been in ..... get this... 4 and 1/2 months crazy how time flies!

I even asked Jacob's mom did you ever think those two would even be at the same base?

Let me just reiterate they are just friends.. but friends can drive and push each other to farther than we thought possible.

As I get more info, as I know it won't be much.. but I will do what I can.

the picture of my son Bryan with Mr Tarantula that visited our house which was actually a smaller one.. Bryan had to walk outside slowly as he actually had climbed all the way up Bryan's leg.

written and posted by: darlene r.

no real news

at LAX night before last, the girls had never had IN~N~Out before .. they loved it!

Erica did finally call today, said she only had two hours sleep and no time.

She said they had no liberty and no visitors for them.

She thought she was starting her class but there was a delay so they wont start

for a month or so, no real information. She did say she is in classes now but

they are not for her job, she didn't really explain.

Same old story have to go.. no time :( but at least I heard her voice.

She saw her friend Jacob, he is also there and his classes are also delayed,

he has a different job. Today was Jacob's Birthday.. Happy Birthday Jacob!

Erica did say her barracks are on the 3rd floor and Jacob is on the 2nd floor.

She was very short and sounded tired. Poor thing hopefully she'll find out

about class soon. Thats I'll I know for now...

Thanks for your prayers *hugs to you all

written by: darlene r.

Change is good..ya right

The Marines
Well you know the military Hurry up and wait , well its also change....

My best friend says don't think its in stone unless its in writing

and even then it could change...

anyway they changed Erica back to her second MOS.. its in communications..

she was bummed, I'll tell you but what can you do....

so last second she tells me I'm coming to 29 Palms.

She called me after her MCT graduation..

they had a three hour bus ride to

Raleigh NC,

then she called from Detroit

where they changed planes ..

she is becoming and old pro

at this flying thing LOL

I asked her do you get to come home at all??

Nope its late flight and a bus straight to 29 Palms. :(

I told Kim I want to go

even if I only get to

see her for a second..

when she called from detroit she

asked if I would bring In~N~Out :)

so we got off of work and

drove to LAX..

almost 10 pm we were pooped...

the USO has people there that gets carts

for them for free and

helps them get there stuff together

then takes them to the USO for

sandwiches, water,snacks and such..

they have showers and irons

so they can get back in uniform.

We (Kim and I) got some hugs and miss yous,

but I didn't have my camera,

but I did get some pics with my cell..

so not so great

but they are something.

Then we headed home...

Erica said their bus finally left

at 1am for 29 Palms.

She said she would try

and call today

but so far no such luck.

She told me don't expect much

being in the middle of no where

and more training and schooling.

I remember Bryce being there,

cells didn't work and he was so busy

he didn't call or write much.

Once I get a phone call

I'll get you up to speed I hope..

this is where it will start to

become vegg on her doings.

written by:darlene r.

woohoo my last phone call before graduation

Yep she called, it was already 7pm our time so it was 2200 hrs (10pm) her time.

She sounded really good, in high spirits. Although a little bad news, she sprained her ankle the first day of devil dog week, they were out of ace bandages so they only gave her Motrin and told her to ice it.. ya right with them going in the field for combat.

She said it poured their first day so their ditches or holes were almost full of water, at first they were prone to their hole (laying down) then someone got them in trouble and they had to get in their holes up to their hips in muddy water for hours, 10pm to 3am she said.

She said it wasn't so bad.

She said she passed all her written tests.

And their Brass (I called them that not her) were real proud of her platoon as they ended with the same number of Marines that they started with. :)

They had a few injuries but nothing to serious.

They did street to street and house to house like you see them do on TV like in Iraq.

She named all the weapons she fired and yes she did fire that tank rocket.

She doesn't know any particulars yet as they don't find out until the receive their orders on graduation day.. she'll call me when she can.

Its just so good to hear her voice and now she is happy at what she's doing.

Funny thing she didn't blame the Marines for her injury she blamed the Navy Medical for not being able to take care of it correctly. LOL

She stays very positive, it is so nice .. to hear her with fellow Marines and how many friends she has, life time friends :) Its so awesome

written by:darlene r.

MCT - military combat training -graduation requirements

BSRE FIGHTING POSITION

•Common Skills

–3 Phase exams

–Land navigation

–Weapons handling

–Fire and movement

–20k hike

–Hand grenade

–IED awareness

HOTEL COMPANY IS WORKING ON THIS TODAY

was posted on twitter from the MCT's post.

BATTLE SKILLS

REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE

•Military Operations on Urban Terrain

•Individual actions while mounted in a tactical vehicle

•Rules of Engagement

/Law of Armed Conflict

•Patrolling

•Defense

•IED Awareness

•Continuing actions

GRADUATION IS ONLY A WEEK AWAY 9/15/09

posted by: darlene r.

still waiting for my call :(

The day before Erica was to leave for boot camp, the first time we thought she was leaving,

we had a breast cancer walk. We were on team Weight Watchers. I myself walked five miles, I had to go to work. My mom even walk I think 15 miles with having both knees replaced :)

But Miss Erica ran 25 miles a full marathon, she told Kim don't tell my mom. She was supposed to leave for boot camp the next morning.. and as you all know we found out she was on stand by and didn't go till the following week. See everything happens for a reason!

The photo is from the walk ... just love it

add on... just a quick note what looks like a string down the front of Erica is actually pony beads of how many laps she made at the cancer walk... cool huh

written by: darlene r.