ooh-rah! LETTER dated June 21st, 2009

Hey MOM,

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 Nebraska 1
Nevada-1
New Jersey-1
New York-5
North Carolina-1
Oregon- 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

Just a mini update ... no word from Erica about the drill. But I have heard from other parents that Erica's Platoon won their drill and did receive a trophy.

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!"

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.

* 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 Parris Island's PMIs (Primary Marksmanship Instructors) beginning today. These guys REALLY know their stuff and they'll be working with the recruits to get them prepared. They will have the entire week this week to practice positions and learn from the PMI. When the time comes for actual firing there will also be many range coaches out there to advise the recruits and help them make adjustments, etc. So while this process is challenging to say the least, the recruits will have a wealth of information and reliable guidance at their disposal to help them be successful.
(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.

Another Letter dated June 14th 2009

Hey Mom, June 14th 2009

It's Sunday and Tuesday we have Initial Drill.

It's going to be awesome, after that it's 2nd Phase.

I can't believe that tomorrow (last monday) is the Gas Chamber.

Parris Island is different we go to the Gas Chamber and the Rappel tower.

Anyways, I wanted to check in, This week has been crazy, I can't believe

I've already been here a month. Next week is Grass Week which means RIFLES!

Anyways, its Chow and getting ready to leave. So I'll write you later.

I miss you!

Love ERICA ANN

aka Your Miss AmErica

post by: darlene

'On My Watch Tonight' Video by Mike Corrado

On My Watch Tonight Video by Mike Corrado - MySpace Video

click on the title to see my space video .. awesome

Shared via AddThis

I come from an Island

In the Carolina sand

Where I was broke down,

Built up and reborn a fighting man

My blood runs red,

white and blue

I’ll brave the cold,

the rain, the pain

and the bullets

so you don’t have to

Don’t worry about me;

I’ll be all right

Just care for your children and sleep tight

I’ll keep you safe

on my watch tonight

It’s a long, long way from that island

And a long way from home

With the thought of you standing behind me

I could never be alone

There’s a promise

I need you to make

While I’m gone you take care of the love

And I’ll deal with the hate

Don’t worry about me;

I’ll be all right

Just care for your children and sleep tight

I’ll keep you safe

on my watch tonight

Don’t worry about me;

I’ll be all right

Just care for your children and sleep tight

I’ll keep you safe

on my watch tonight

written by Major Mike Corrado 

posted by: darlene r.

Letter from miss Erica getting down to business

miss erica's saint

"Dear Mom,

Sorry I have not written you in a while, I've been really busy. This week was swim week. Monday I qualified and passed. Initial Drill is on Tuesday. This is really important! We've been poppin sticks everyday, with inspection arms and port arms.

The weather here is freaky, it ranges from 115 degrees to thunder storms that shut down Parris Island. They have this air raid siren that goes off telling everyone to take cover. It rains practically every other day.

As for chow, I've been eating hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal, honeydew,cantaloupe and thats for breakfast. For lunch, it changes a lot, but I always have my apple raspberry juice, it's actually sugarfree. Oh with every meal there is a banana, which is awesome. Parris Island JUST got back peanut butter as they had that scare a few months back.

Anyways, once again I'm sorry I didn't write you sooner, it's just that you have no time. First Phase will be over on Tuesday, right after initial drill, then from there we start blousing our boots. We have already sent our woodland cammies to get our names stitched.

Our platoon has already dropped 6 people, that was with-in the first two weeks.

4 claimed to be suicidal, sadly my one of my bunkmates and my rack mate. My SDI had the whole platoon move bunks so that the empty bunks would be in the back of the squad bay. We started with 60 recruits on forming day and now it is TD 22 and we are at 56, we just got a new one today who is from FRP, FRP is recruits that had gotten dropped because they got hurt or sick.

Just found out we have gas chamber on Monday (today) the day before the bid drill off. Our sister platoon is 4022. I've gotten close to a few over there. My new bunk mate is (.........), she is from New York City, I believe Queens. The bunk beside me is (.....) is from Washington. and (S.......) from Brookland, New York(this recruit was a bunk mate that has been with erica from the beginning) Then there is (.....) who is from Arizona.

Iv'e been pitted three times and IT'd 'quarterdecked' 4 times. (IT is being punished with exercises) It's not like some people. Our Phase 1 test is training day 25, so it right around the corner. (Tomorrow - Tuesday) I haven't been writing because for square away time we have an hour and we have our hair perfect!

I'll write more in my next letter.

I love you & miss you Love Erica Ann"

posted by: darlene r.

FLAG DAY today

PARRIS ISLANDS FLAG
USA and Marine Corp flags

posted by: darlene r.