keeping my finders crossed

for a phone call :)

Hotel Co. 3rd Platoon commanders/trainers

Erica's company

posted by: darlene r.

short note..

:) Received a very short note from Erica today...

"Well it's Monday (8/24/09) I've been here a week.

We are a "mixed" platoon 87 all together,

we are outnumbered by the guys 2 to 1.

Anyways its only training day six, each day counts unlike boot camp.

The food is good but to unhealthy for my taste.

Don't expect much letters, we get up between 3 am and 5 am

it depends on what's going on that day.

We PT before chow, straight after chow we run down to classes that

are about a half an hour away,

then we go to Prac. App. (practice application) where we practice hands on.

The classes are three to four hours long.

They changed my mos again and its completely different from what I what.

I'll write you soon and let you know.

Love you and miss you much,

Erica"

posted by: darlene r.

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.

---