Monday, June 16, 2014

Day 2....aka Day 1 of the formal Marine Corps introduction.  Warren was at MEPS in Columbia all day (and for those who know MEPS, they understand it's hurry up and wait and wait and wait...did I mention hurry up?)  Then he leaves MEPS late in the day to arrive at Parris Island at night.  Why at night?  It's more disorientating and puts the kids back on their heels right away (we're not in Kansas anymore Toto), plus it puts them right into the fire.  He'll be up for the next 36 hours and start off his introduction into what life will be for the next 13 weeks.  This week is basically the Pre-Week since his official Week #1 training doesn't start until Tuesday next week (Phase I).  This week he'll process in, get all his medical checkups, new glasses (everybody loves the "birth control" glasses), get his paperwork in order (check it, check it again and one final time, check it again).  Later in the week he will have to take his initial IST (Individual Strength Test) and score high enough to continue his journey.  This should not be an issue since he passed this the other week at the recruitment station (they don't want to send a sub-standard individual into the Marines either).  This entire week is just about getting some acclimation into how to do things the Marine way.  He'll get his uniforms and all of his gear and of course, he'll get the haircut.
 
The last time we will hear his voice until graduation is sometime late this evening or early in the morning when he makes the 30-second phone call home.  We've seen a video of this event where they read a script and then move out.  The script basically says he has arrived safely, do not send him anything beyond letters and that he will contact us again by letter in 7-9 days with his address.  It's a sweet phone call home, none of the "GET ME OUTTA HERE!!! - Yosemite Sam screaming, or anything personal just the basics.  I'm here.  We don't know what the time is so we'll just have to pick up the phone when it rings.  He told us to keep his phone handy just in case he locks up when being yelled at about the phone number to call.  He said that he'll say his own number if he has a brain freeze so we'll have his phone with us as well.  I expect the call around 1:00 or so but maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be before midnight.
 
We've both written to him already just to let him know that we haven't forgotten him (yet...after all those big Ronald McDonald boots in the garage that we trip over all of the time are a big reminder that he isn't here).  His brother hasn't moved into his room.....yet.  I missed him today, because it was time to mow the lawn (HA!).  He is always helpful and that will serve him well as he has to work with others to get things accomplished.  It's too bad he had to leave before the USA vs Ghana soccer match tonight (USA won 2-1, if you don't know what I am talking about pull up SportsCenter and see for yourself) but we'll tell him all about the match in our letters tomorrow.
 
 

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