Today was the IST day, Individual Strength Test. Warren should've done well with this, he had to pass before he left so this was a repeat test. He had to do pullups, crunches and 1.5 mile run. The basic requirements to pass are 2 pullups, 35 situps in 2 minutes and 1.5 miles in 13:30. He has been training for a year so these should've been done in his sleep.
When he initially signed up, he could not do 1 pullup.....not 1. His recruiter initially said he would have to get one before he would send him to MEPS but that lasted about 1 week. I think that Warren's attitude may have changed his mind or perhaps it was to meet the quota for signups. I don't know but he was given the go ahead to sign. We purchased a pull up bar and mounted it to the wall so he would not have an excuse to get better. He started off using a strap to get himself up and help train his muscles and get the correct pullup position. The Marines don't just do any stinking pullups, they do Marine pullups. Meaning that there is no swinging, you must go straight up then come all the way down until your arms are straight and then go back up again. He worked hard and got himself up to 12 pullups. His efforts earned hinself the Most Improved Poolee Award at the Recruitment Center's Family Day. Here is the photo of him with the award.
Tomorrow is the nasty sounding Black Friday. This is the day that he will meet his full time Drill Instructors. When I went to basic training for the Army, this was not a pleasant experience and I am sure that it will not be for him either. In my letter today, I reminded him that these DIs may not be his BFF, but he will remember them for the rest of his life. He may not understand it right now (or for the next 12 weeks) but at some point it will all become clear to him.
He is almost through the 1st week but I am sure it feels like a month (or year) for him. It's a dramatic change to leave the instant gratification of the Internet and texting. He can't just pick up the phone and text "S'up" (or whatever these crazy kids text nowadays...whipper-snappers!). He was always good about telling us where he was and when he was leaving to go anywhere. Now, it's a change for us but of course we know where he is, and we have a good idea of what he is doing. We are sending him letters of support daily and hopefully he will start receiving them next week. Please keep him and the other young recruits in your prayers as they continue their journey towards becoming Marines.
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