Senior Drill Instructor Sgt Jenkins & Pvt Erica

missing miss erica but...

I am missing Miss Erica but glad she is happy what she is doing.

Talked to a couple people today who's kids are in different companies,

and they have not received one phone call :(

I even got an email from Erica's company commander just letting the parents know that our Marines are safe and hard at work. That phones calls would be few and letters as well, if any, since they will be in the field. That if something should happen, parents are notified asap.

We are welcome for graduation on September 15th in North Carolina.

I wish I could go, but as you know I barely made it to Boot Camp grad, if it were not for friends and co-workers I would not of been able to.

If miss Erica does not get RA after grad I am Hoping that she can get it around christmas time.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

written and posted by: darlene r.

thank goodness

I am glad I took Twila's advice she told her own son about making copies of orders.

I did it being Erica's first orders, But thank goodness I did,

received a jury duty summons for Miss Erica.. LOL

Marked that she was else where in the service,

and they ask for you in enclose a copy of orders.

So got that off in the mail today...

written & posted by: darlene r.

woohoo just got a phone call

Miss Erica just called 4:17 pm pacific, they didn't have much time, only 15 minutes for everyone in her group to call home. She sounded so happy, it was so good to hear her voice.

They have what she called a combat buddy, a girl that was from papa co. plt. 4022..(her sister platoon from boot) She said they are a good team. :)

PFC Colleen (the girl she flew out of LAX with) is in her platoon as well.

She also said it was a looooooong week. Think she was glad it was over but looking forward to what's coming up. A few more days then its off to the range, the following week is what she called devil dog week??? Then a small break.

She still doesn't know for sure about her MOS (her job) I asked if she found out about RA.

She thinks that they don't find out until the last days because they have to check the next start dates for their MOS classes. If classes start right away then she'll go straight there, if its a while then she possibly could get RA (recruiters assistance)

From the last couple of graduations, she said Fox, Kilo, (boys) & Oscar, Papa (girls) make up Hotel company.

She then asked what was new with me and if there was any news she missed? Thought that was sweet of her to ask about me, when she is so busy! Told her how everyone I talk to is so excited for her! And Proud! She said to tell everyone Hello. :) The last thing she said was "I miss you."

written & posted by: darlene r.

Phase III Questionnaire - after the fact

This questionnaire is from Erica's final month or so at Boot Camp.... as she said most of this she had not completed until crucible so she filled it out after she was home on her so called 10 day leave, her answers are in red - green is moms comments

Phase III Questionnaire

1. Now that you have made it to the final phase of boot camp, have the DI’s gotten nicer?
A. Nice is not a concept they are familiar with.
B. Yeah, we’re great pals now.
C. No. They remind us daily that we are maggot meat.

2. How would you now describe your ability to drill in Phase III.
A. I am the best in my squad.
B. I’ve been sent back to remedial drilling.
C. Other (please explain)_better the other platoon got yelled @ more______. *wrote in

3. During FFR, what kind of moving targets do you shoot at?
A. Card board cut-outs.
B. A big bulls-eye.
C. The Energizer Bunny.
D. Don’t know. They whiz by so fast I can’t see them, let alone hit them.
E. Other (please explain)_something called an E-Mod ______*wrote in

4. When you rappelled off the tower during bwt phase I, you:
A. Forgot to use the rope.
B. Looked down and immediately froze.
C. Didn’t look down.
D. Prayed.

5. For combat endurance you:
A. Asked to be excused.
B. Asked to endure it again.
C. Asked if they were firing blanks over our heads.
D. Were informed that the answer to C was,

“NO MAGGOT! MARINES DON’T USE BLANKS OOH-RAH”!

E. Other (please explain)_kept running after legs were left behind_____ * wrote in ???W???

6. For the Defensive Driving Course you:
A. Accidentally ran over your SDI.
B. Knocked over all the cones.
C. Learned how to cut cookies in the parking lot.
D. Other (please explain)___wtf? no driving course__.* wrote in - she wishes there was one

7. During Basic Warrior Training you:
A. Made wood cookies to adorn your uniform.
B. Set up a tent complete with field sanitation and camouflage.
C. Got all tangled up in the barbed wire and had to call for assistance.

* not me but Angebrant did - another recruit

D. Got confused about the hand and arm signals for silent patrol,

causing your squad to break into a rousing chorus of the Marine Corps Hymn.

8. After the Crucible, awards are given for:
A. Best application of camouflage face painting.
B. Ending the Crucible with the cleanest uniform.
C. Just coming out of the *&#*thing alive is enough of a reward.

EGA :) Eagle Globe and Anchor

9. What was the hardest part of the Crucible?

A. The lack of sleep.
B. All the marching, marching, marching…….
C. Eating nothing but MRE’s.
D. Other (please explain)__________________________________

10. At the Warrior’s Breakfast they served:
A. MRE’s.
B. Everything you’d find at I-HOP.
C. Other (please explain)___and more!________________. * wrote in

11. What is the Grim Reaper? (For SD recruits)
A. My SDI’s nickname.
B. A small mountain at Camp Pendleton. PARRIS ISLAND!!!!
C. A part of the obstacle course.

12. For the final PFT, you had to:
A. Jog at a leisurely pace for 5 miles, stopping to rest whenever you felt like it.
B. Do 100 crunches. *wrote in & over 70 seconds dead hang (85) run a 24:01 ^ 3 miles
C. Race through the chow line, slam down 10 pancakes, 8 sausage links, 1 lb of hash browns, 2 glasses of OJ and be back in formation in 10 minutes.

13. After the gas chamber you:
A. Asked if you could go again. * wrote in really I did!
B. Asked for a medic.
C. Asked yourself once again why you joined the Marine Corps.
D. Other (please explain)___________________________________________.

14. When you get home for your ten day leave after boot camp, what special meal would you like to request first?
A. MRE’s! I love MRE’s!
B. Mom’s homemade ________________.
C. Other __in-in-out, Jimmy's -- aka:Everything!!____.

15. Now that you are just about done with Phase III, if you could pick one word to describe your boot camp experience so far, what would it be? _CAKE!_LOL_ (annoyed with girls)_* wrote in

even though its done and she's a Marine now.. i still wanted her answers :)

posted by: darlene r.

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Terms and Acronyms

Marine Corps Motivational Sayings
Semper Fi	Short for Semper Fidelis, Latin for "Always Faithful"
Ooh Rah!	Motivational statement in acknowledgement or agreement
Terms about the Depot
MCRD	Marine Corps Recruit Depot, also called "The Depot"
PI	Parris Island (MCRD PI)
SD	San Diego (MCRD SD)
RTB	Recruit Training Battalion
Plt	Platoon
DI	Drill Instructor
SDI	Senior Drill Instructor
CO	Commanding Officer
CG	Commanding General
CMC	Commandant of the Marine Corps
MRP	Medical Rehabilitation Platoon
PCP	Physical Conditioning Platoon
Graduation Terms
Parade Deck	Graduation: ceremonies takes place on the parade deck. Do NOT walk across the parade deck.
Moto Run	Graduation: the last battalion run taken together on Thursday morning prior to family day - motivational run
Theater	Graduation: classroom-style seating in a theater where families will hear information from the DIs
Viewing Stands	Graduation: the bleachers for families to sit on during ceremonies
Training Terminology
IST	Initial Strength Test
PFT	Physical Fitness Test
PT	Physical Training
IT	bootcamp term, extra attention and extra PT
Quarter Deck	this is where you get IT'd
Ink stick	Pen
Lead stick	Pencil
Knowledge	School book/notebook
Guideon	Platoon flag
Titles of Recruit Training "Jobs"
Guide	in charge of the entire platoon, carries the guideon
Squad Leader	in charge of the squad
Scribe	the recruit who keeps notes and records for the DI
House Mouse	makes sure the cleaning supplies are put up and the "Duty Hut" is clean, usually more than one recruit
Orders, Acknowledging Orders
As you were	disregard my last statement
Aye, aye	a term used by a subordinate to a senior in acknowledgement of an order
Carry On	an order to resume previous activity after interruption
Marine Corps Gear
Weapon	M16A2 (NEVER called a gun)
Canteen/water bowl	Water bottle
Moon Beam	flashlight
Clothing/Personal Property
Cover	uniform headgear
Blouse	any shirt that is part of the Marine Corps uniform
Trousers	pants
Go Fasters	Running shooes
Skivvies	underwear
Portholes	glasses (also referred to as BC glasses where the BC can stand for Bootcamp or Birth Control - Birth Control because they are so ugly there isn't a chance of...well, they're that ugly)
Verbs/Activities
Chow	meal time, also the food itself
Hydrate	drinking water (a critical component of recruit training and being a Marine)
Hygiene	Shower (or any other way to clean yourself)
Drill	Marching
Swab	Mop
Mini Grinder	Little bit-o-hell (moving bunkbeds to one side so they can drill with weapons)
Space, Direction, Buildings
Rack	Bed
Squad Bay	Where they sleep (also referred to as "the house" or barracks)
Duty hut	Office (Room in the Squad Bay where the DI staff has a desk, computer and a cot- the DIs are with our Recruits 24/7 they do not knock off at 5pm and get to go home)
Head	the bathroom
Whiskey Locker	closet in the squad bay where cleaning supplies are kept
Foot Locker	recruits store their gear in a footlocker at the foot of their "rack"
Overhead	roof/ceiling
Bulkhead	a wall
Porthole	Window
Hatch	Door
Ladderwell	Stairs
Port	Left
Starboard	Right
Bow	Front
Aft	Back
Other Terms
Suzie	Girl back home (girlfriend)
Jody	(guy that the girl "is cheating on him with")
T-Day	Training day
H-day	Holy day
Fresh blood	Recruits
Doc	FMF Corpsman (FMF = Fleet Marine Force)

The Last phone call for a while

Miss Erica called at about 4:20 PM (1620) with her address, and she said that they will be in the field tomorrow, like a big camping trip :) they will mostly be in the field.

So although she can receive mail it will be rare when she does receive it.

Their barracks there are two rows of twenty cots.

So forty girls and forty boys make up Erica's platoon.

The boys and girls are in separate barracks.

I already had to mail her her sweats she forgot.

Thank goodness I made it in time for the mail today.

If they are good they can get liberty on weekends.

So some free time to go to the PX and hopefully a phone call,

I gave her a calling card... so we'll keep our fingers crossed :)

written & posted by: darlene r.