For those that might be unaware, Warren left for MCT (Marine Combat Training) last evening (Monday).  He was scheduled to take the Greyhound bus to Jacksonville, NC and then grab a taxi to Camp Lejune to report by 1300 on Tuesday.  Sounds simple enough right!?!  Well, let us begin the adventure!

 

The Greyhound website indicates to arrive at the bus station 1 hour prior to your scheduled departure.  His bus was to leave at 2215 (10:15 to you civvies) and so we were there by 2100 just to be sure.  There were people outside on the sidewalk hanging out with their luggage at the bus station.  It was dark and it wasn't in a bad section of town but you still didn't get the warm, friendly feeling.  People in cars outside wating for something or someone to arrive.  We unloaded his garment bag, 2 seabags and diddy bag and headed inside to "check in".  I would guess that everyone is on the honor system for security since there was none (they had a security guard but I don't think she instilled a strong sense of safety by her presence) and they didn't weigh the bags or anything.  The old guy just looked at the ticket and worked rapidly (compared to a desert tortoise) to get him checked in.  The third member of the Greyhound welcome club was an even older man that looked like he would keel over at any moment and could barely assemble a luggage cart to assist with moving the bags.  Oh yeah, welcome to Hell!

 

So we go outside since the benches (aka wire metal torture racks that are only comfortable to Uncle Fester of the Addams Family) are full.  We stand outside and a bus pulls in to drop off and pick up at around 9:15.  This is when a beat up mini van in the parking lot has the doors open and begins to spill out people.  I counted 12 (yes, twelve!) men, women and children pile out of the minivan.  I count again just to be sure uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco....yep, 12.  The kids go running around and head back to the bus.  When they come back, 4 more friends show up from the bus and then the sixteen all load in and off they go.  It was like a clown car or something.  All they were missing was "pop goes the weasel" blaring from speakers on the roof and a la cucaratcha horn.

 

Anyhow, the old guy comes and tells us to get on the bus.  What!?!?  It's 1 hour early, but we get in line and the bus driver checks his ticket and moves him on.  We go to the back (did I mention the security?) and see him on the bus.  Well, he starts to get on and take a seat when we realize this is NOT his bus, it goes to a different destination.  In the meantime, another Marine shows up for the same bus Warren is scheduled to get on and his family is just as confused as we are.  Tammy (Marine Mom) steps in and indicates to the bus driver that he took his ticket but it is for the wrong bus.  This is when he makes his mistake, he loudly exclaims "It doesn't matter.  He is going to Raleigh and this bus is headed to Raleigh, so it doesn't matter."  Oh-oh....he stepped in it.  He was just argumentative and didn't want to hear it was the wrong bus, he kept insisting it didn't matter.  Tammy says "Give me the ticket back!" and he keeps giving the attitude.  I am up front to deal with the old guy up front and hear the commotion and know that between Marine and Marine Mom, I am not getting in there.  The security guard steps in and Tammy tells her to handle this because we want the ticket back and he is going on the right bus.  After some more fussing, the bus driver relents but let's be honest, he was an ASS!!!  No reason to give attitude.  The bus was absolutely full and it was the wrong bus.  Obviously to Greyhound as long as you get on a bus, it's okay!  Did I mention Hell yet?  What kind of goofball operation is this.  Nothing to indicate what bus showed up, no one to indicate where the bus is going or anything.  Just get in line and shutup minions....you'll be fine.  So we get the ticket back, luggage back (did I mention the old guy had to load the bus with all of the people's luggage....the same guy that was having a hard time walking straight in a light breeze...oh yeah).

 

So we go back in and wait (and wait, and wait).  10:15 comes and goes, 10:30, 10:45, 11:00....okay, now we are getting concerned.  The other Marine's family is also milling about with us and we are all wondering when the bus will arrive.  We go up to the desk and ask about the bus, do they have a tracking GPS system on the bus to know where the bus is?  Well, this is when you ask yourself what century we are in.  Nope, nothing, nada.  They called Atlanta (the start point) and they don't know where the bus is.  Really, no bus, no tracking.  This is when it gets even more bizarre.  They ask if we know someone on the bus from Atlanta (another Marine) so we could call them and find out where they are.  REALLY!!!  We can call someone on the bus and ask them, what a system.  I guess it's better than the Greyhound system (look out the window and hope the bus comes down the street).  How ridiculous is that!?!?  They have nothing to track the buses, no security and you can get on any bus regardless of your ticket because eventually your bus goes there.....I can see that the retired Amish mafia takeover of Greyhound is complete.  Think about it, the US government can spend millions of dollars on non-citizens but for the military folks that are truly serving the country....screw 'em, put 'em on the bus!  How's that for thanks!

 

Luckily he has enough stops and layovers that he should be able to make up the time but it's all about the hassle of it all.  Finally at about 11:30 the bus comes down the street.  Then they hustle to get on the bus and we say good bye for the second time.  He gets on with his Marine "brother" and we watch the old guy heft his sea bags on to the bus (barely, you want to help the old guy but I am sure he didn't want the help, after all he just drank his juice and was doing his best Jack Lelane impression).  The bus was delayed by a wreck in Atlanta (big surpise).  The good news is that he had a Marine to travel with to watch each other's backs and the bus was more open than the previous bus (which was full of kids).

 

We got texts from him this morning and he had a rough trip.  Not much sleep and a lot of shady people at the bus stations.  After a while he said the bus was basically Marines so things were better from that point on.  He texted us that he had arrived and checked in.  We got the last text around 6:00 when he said the phones were going in the box.  So he is at MCT and arrived after a shaky start.  This will be 5 weeks and then it's MOS school.  Please keep him in your prayers as he continues his journey.

Last week was a very important week, one that we have been working towards for 13 weeks (with a little help from Warren).  Warren has graduated from boot camp.  We went to Parris Island last Tuesday on our long awaited vacation to see our new Marine. 

 

Wednesday 9/10 – This was a day for us to get on the island and get a feel for the surroundings.  We headed on to the island about mid-morning and after an initial “don’t take pictures of the main gate” moment, we headed out over the marsh (and there is a lot of it) on to Parris Island.  When they say there is only one way off the island, I think they are right.  I don’t know who would believe that they could make it through the marsh and wildlife but some obviously think it is possible.  [We did learn from Warren that as soon as they got to the main gate, they had to put their heads down so they would not see where they were going and get some idea of how to get out.  It’s another part of the dis-orientation that quickly introduces the recruits to how life is going to be for the coming weeks.]  We signed in at the Visitor’s Center and were able to see for the first time Warren’s picture wearing the dress blues (not to be confused with the Army dress blues).  It was just a small circle cutout no glasses, just the stare and look of a Marine (tired but determined).  His face seemed a little more chiseled but that was our son (at least I believe we would have been able to pick him out of a lineup).  Outside there were a line of cars in the parking lot adorned with window paint indicating they were going to get their Marine (just like we had on our windows).  We walked out to the parade deck to take pictures and watch some drill practice from a platoon of young female recruits that were on the parade deck.  The most interesting thing was that on our way out from the parade deck we were standing by the road discussing what we wanted to do next.  A DI walked past us and asked if we were there for graduation.  We told him yes, he asked the platoon.  We said 3064 and he asked the recruit’s name.  We told him and he said, Dudley is mine, he is a good kid.  We thanked him and he went about his business.  We laughed about Warren getting teased from his DI that he “met your momma” today.  It was very nice to hear something about Warren from his DI, although he may have just been being nice (but we choose to believe otherwise).  Then we headed down towards the Mike Company area just in case our Marine was around (but no dice).  We listened and watched other platoons waiting to see a “DI moment” like the movies but we didn't really witness much regarding that (darn it!).  Then it was on to the museum, which was interesting to read and see the history of the Corps and the Island.  We then took a quick trip to the MCX to get our graduation gear (or more stuff than we had).  Now that place had just about everything you could ever want that had the Marine logo attached.  We did get some shirts to add to the collection but unfortunately that was about all we could get since we would need a Marine to get much of the other items in the store.  Was it cheaper?  I don't know; it really didn't matter at that point since we weren’t looking at the prices but were trying to find stuff we wanted.  We then headed off to a 1 hour briefing about what happens with our new Marine after boot camp.  It was 2:30 when the briefing was over and we were pretty much done for the day but we decided to walk by the parade deck one more time just to see if our Marine was anywhere to be found.  There were a bunch of parents/families milling about but nothing was really happening so we decided to get a few more photos at the far end of the deck (DI statue, purple heart memorial) and head home.  We then noticed a group of young men marching up the street, we looked at the flag at the front, it was 3064!  It was odd because the “crowd” of parents/families that were milling were looking and saying which platoon and it was being passed on down the street of onlookers.  We looked and did see Warren and I headed to where they would be crossing the street so I could get my pictures of the young man we hadn’t seen in 13 weeks (did I say that before?).  I did get several photos as they ran across the street and headed up the sidewalk, I thought he had seen me but he told me later he had not.  The entire group of platoons with the 9/12 date were there for graduation practice (and practice).  We decided after the time we saw him and it was time to go, let graduation be a surprise rather than watch them practice.  We were also aided by the fact that we hadn’t eaten since breakfast and we were hungry and hot.  Sitting around under the sun watching them practice didn’t seem to be the best thing for us at that time so we headed back to the house to wait on others to arrive.

The crucible Day 3 is the last day to call them recruits and here is what it consists of;

 

Day 3

Reveille (3 am)

Nine-mile hike (4 am - 7 am)

Recruits conduct a nine-mile hike from the Crucible site back to the battalion.

Eagle Globe and Anchor Ceremony (7:30-8:00)

New Marines will receive an Eagle Globe and Anchor from their Drill Instructor marking their transition from a recruit to a Marine.

Warrior's Breakfast

The new Marines are treated to a breakfast fit for only true warriors. It consists of all-you-can-eat steak, eggs and potatoes

Word has come down, he is no longer a poolee, he is no longer a recruit....he IS a United States MARINE!!!!!

All the hard work, all of the whining, crying, pain, exhaustion, sweat (and that's just from me) has paid off.  All of the recruits have worked hard and followed in the footsteps of those Marines that have come before.  We've been waiting for some time to change the flag on the front of the house and now, we've made that change.

 



Thanks for the prayers, the letters and the thoughts.  It's been a tough transition from having him living under our roof to watching him leave....we're looking forward to seeing the young man that Warren has become. 

Here's the list of events for the Crucible Day #2 (what they have been doing today).  They are just about to the Night Event now, don't forget that right now they have had a grand total of 4 hours worth of sleep since Thursday morning at 2:00am. 

Day 2

Reveille (4 am)

Events 4-6 (5:30 am - 6:30 pm)

Event 4 – Battle of Fallujah A one-hour event in which teams resupply water, ammunition and MREs through the Combat Assault Course.

Following the completion of the Battle of Fallujah, recruits negotiate a bayonet assault course and the warrior stations below:

Perez's Passage Teams cross a “contaminated area” by swinging on ropes from “safe spot” to “safe spot.”

Kraft's Struggle Teams climb a 10-foot wall and climb down the opposite side by a knotted rope.

John Quick Trail (Navigation Station) Basic map reading and grid coordinate plotting will be reviewed and evaluated.

Core Values Station Recruits sit inside a hut and receive information on a particular core value from their drill instructor

Event 5 – Battle of Mariana Islands Combat Endurance Course Teams have two hours to complete five events of a modified Confidence Course.

The Sky Scraper The team retrieves a “wounded” dummy from the top of an 18-foot tower.

Stairway to Heaven Team members move two ammunition cans over the top of a 36-foot ladder obstacle.

Two-Line Bridge Team members cross two 52-foot long ropes with their hands and feet suspended two feet and 10 feet off the ground as they carry ammunition cans and water re-supply cans.

The Weaver Team members climb over and under 24 logs, 42 feet in length ascending to 14 feet as they carry ammunition and water re-supply cans.

In addition to the Enhanced Confidence Course, teams go through a Combat Endurance Course. Combat Endurance Course- Teams conduct a simulated patrol, negotiate the obstacles and report the number and types of obstacles to intelligence sources.

Event 6 – Battle of Khe Sanh (Unknown Distance Firing) Teams of four fire two magazines of five rounds each from simulated building structures at unknown distance targets in a time limit of 70 seconds. The number of targets hit and number of unused ammunition is then recorded.

Following Day's Defense, team members participate in a 250-meter casualty evacuation where members remove simulated casualties from a simulated danger area consisting of artillery simulators.

Night Event (8 pm - 11 pm)- Night Infiltration Course Teams re-supply water, ammunition and MREs at night in a simulated combat environment. The teams take their ammunition cans, water cans and simulated MREs through the Combat Assault Course with the added obstacle of darkness.

Sleep (midnight - 4 am)

So the crucible began this morning at 0200 (that's 2:00 am for us civilians).  Here is what the crucible is.

The Crucible is a test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. It tests every recruit physically, mentally and morally and is the defining experience of recruit training.  The Crucible takes place over 54-hours and includes food and sleep deprivation and over 45 miles of marching. The Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together to solve problems, overcome obstacles, and help each other along the way.  The obstacles they face include long marches, combat assault courses, the leadership reaction course, and the team-building warrior stations.  Each Warrior Station is named for a Marine hero whose actions epitomize the values the USMC wants recruits to adopt.

Bottom line -- The Crucible is a rite of passage that, through shared sacrifice, recruits will never forget. With that memory and their core values learned in recruit training, they can draw upon the experience to face any challenge in their path.

We have a class that are to begin the Crucible, that 54 Hour Test that Defines a Marine. As they march into those woods, it is up to each of us, To Light a Candle, for it is the single flame within the night that defeats doubt, conquers concern, and brings them back to us....as Marines. During these Next 2 Nights, remember our people, 3rd Bat. Mike Co. and Extra Steppers, Graduation 9/12/2014, Parris Island…

 

And yes, we have lit our crucible candle and will keep it burning until Saturday when the crucible ends and the recruits become Marines.  The banner on the candle is "Earning the Title", For those who understand, no explanation is necessary.  For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible.

The crucible begins tomorrow morning at the wee hour of 2 am.  The crucible is the final test for the recruits.  Please say a quick prayer for their safety as they embark on their final challenge.  What's the crucible?  Keep reading to find out the schedule for Thursday

 

Day 1

Reveille (2 am)

Night movement (3 am)

Recruits conduct a 6-mile hike to the Crucible site.

Events 1-3 (5: 30 am - 6:30 pm)

Event 1 – Battle of Hue City

A one-hour event in which the teams resupply water, ammunition and MREs through a course which consists of trenches, wire fences and walls.

After the resupply course, teams negotiate the warrior stations below:

Pfc Jenkins Pinnacle

Teams cross two horizontal cable-supported logs.

Pfc Garcia's Engagement

Individuals demonstrate their knowledge of hand-to-hand combat skills, and then participate in a warrior case study of Pfc. Garcia.

Lehew's Challenge

Teams of two climb over an eight-foot high horizontal log.

Corbin's Convoy

Teams react to a simulated IED while on patrol.

Event 2 – Battle of Belleau Wood: Pugil Sticks/Body Sparring

Leadership Reaction Course

A three-hour event in which the teams perform six reaction course problems which test their ability to work as a team to solve problems.

Some of the problems include:

Using three wooden boards to cross a number of stumps without touching the ground.

Negotiating a water hole using the same wooden board concept to get from point A to point B.

Transporting a large container over a wall using the limited resources available.

Once completing the events, the teams of two face off in a pugil stick bout.

Event 3 – Core Event and Warrior Stations

A one-hour event which can hold a maximum of six teams working concurrently.

Noonan's Casualty Evacuation

The team will recover a downed pilot and another recruit “shot” by a sniper and transport them over a mile of wooded terrain.

Enhanced Obstacle Course

the recruits carry a dummy casualty on a stretcher and ammunition cans from one end of a standard Marine Corps obstacle course to the other, going over all obstacles.

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Strikes Station -

Recruits are required to demonstrate and conduct five-minute MCMAP strikes.

Core Values Station

Recruits sit inside a hut and receive information on a particular core value from their drill instructor.

Night Event (8 pm - 11 pm) - Five-mile night hike with a time limit of three hours. 

Sleep (midnight - 4 am)

This week will probably have the most posts just due to the amount of information available on every step this week.  This is the week when it all comes together as they take all of the "finals" needed in order to graduate. 


T60 Today is the FINAL PFT and the WRITTEN EXAM, both requirements to graduate.
The minimum passing standards which will be enforced on the final PFT are listed below.

Male Recruits:
3 Pull ups
50 Crunches in two minutes
3.0 mile run in 28:00 or less

Female Recruits:
15 second Flexed-arm Hang.
50 Crunches in two minutes
3.0 miles run in 31:00 or less
 
They will also begin the Pre-Crucible medical exams and will be evaluated by the DIs and the “Docs”.

I don't see any issue with the PFT or the Written Exam.  Warren's Mom can run 3 miles in 28 minutes, so if he can't after all of the physical training he is in trouble.  The pullups and crunches should be no problem either.  They do get certificates for high scores (285+) in the PFT so they all push to go well beyond the minimum score, which is what we indicated to Warren in the support letters he should've received within the last week.  "Push yourself to a personal best" is the message we sent.  They do get some time to recoup so they can push it and expect to be sore but as we know "Pain is weakness leaving the body".  Here is the chart for points (300 is perfect score).

Marine Corps PFTs are scored the following way for males:

• Pull-ups: Each complete pull-up is worth 5 points up to a maximum of 100 points (20 pull-ups). Additional pull-ups beyond 20 are not counted and do not add to the score.
• Crunches: Each completed crunch is worth 1 point up to a maximum of 100 points. Any crunches completed after the two-minute time limit are not counted and do not add to the score.
• Three mile run: A perfect score of 100 points is achieved by completing the run in less than 18 minutes. One point is deducted from the score for each additional ten seconds that it takes to complete the run. Completing the run in less than 18 minutes does not add to the score.

Marine Corps PFTs are scored the following way for females:

• Flex-arm hang: The maximum score of 100 points is achieved when the recruit maintains the flex-arm hang for 70 seconds. The clock is stopped when the recruit drops off the bar or the arms become fully extended. The chin at no time is allowed to touch the bar. The score is calculated by subtracting the actual hang time in seconds from the maximum hang time (70 seconds) and deducting two points for each second of difference. It is important to note, however, that the flex-arm hang will no longer be a part of the Marine Corps PFT as of January 1, 2014 (see ALMAR 046/12).
• Crunches: Each completed crunch is worth 1 point up to a maximum of 100 points. Any crunches completed after the two-minute time limit are not counted and do not add to the score. (Note: This is the only event that is scored identically to the male event.)
• Three mile run: A perfect score of 100 points is achieved by completing the run in less than 21 minutes. One point is deducted from the score for each additional ten seconds that it takes to complete the run. Completing the run in less than 21 minutes does not add to the score.

Minimum Fitness Requirments for Each PFT Event - Males
Age	Pull-Ups	Crunches	3-Mile Run
17-26	3	50	28:00
27-39	3	45	29:00
40-45	3	45	30:00
46+	3	40	33:00

Marine Corps PFT Classification Scores - Male and Female
Class	Age 17-26	Age 27-39	Age 40-45	Age 46+
1st	225	200	175	150
2nd	175	150	125	100
3rd	135	110	88	65

What does it really matter in the "real world" what they score on the PFT (meaning why don't they just get the minimum qualification for each rather than pushing hard)?  There are probably several answers with #1 being, they are recruits that have chosen the Marines so why would they settle (there is a pride factor here) and this score does play a factor in promotions (believe it or not), here is how is plays that role;

Physical Fitness Test Scores to Promotion Point Conversion Chart
Male/Female Ages 17-26		Male/Female Ages 27 and above
PT Score	Promotion Points	PT Score	Promotion Points
280-300	5.0	280-300	5.0
270-279	4.9	270-279	4.9
260-269	4.8	260-269	4.8
250-259	4.7	250-259	4.7
240-249	4.6	240-249	4.6
225-239	4.5	225-239	4.5
215-224	4.4	215-224	4.4
205-214	4.3	205-214	4.3
195-204	4.2	200-204	4.2
185-194	4.1	195-199	4.1
175-184	4.0	185-194	4.0
170-174	3.9	175-184	3.9
160-169	3.8	170-174	3.8
150-159	3.7	160-169	3.7
140-149	3.6	150-159	3.6
135-139	3.5	140-149	3.5
0-134	0	135-139	3.4
		110-134	3.0
		0-109	0

As far as the written test, it includes:

• Core values and ethics
• First Aid
• Military History
• Customs and Courtesies
• Marine Corps Uniforms
• Leadership
• Marine Corps Policy and Organization
• BWT (Basic Warrior Training) subjects like land navigation and hand and arm signals
• Marksmanship

I would imagine that this information has been drilled into their psyches by now so I don't expect this to be new.  Some "kids" have more trouble with taking tests but I still think that this should be relatively easy for them all to get beyond.

Keep the recruits in mind when walking around in AC comfort as the recruits battle not only the physical & mental challenges but also the heat & humidity at Parris Island.  We ask you to say a quick prayer for their safety as they look to take that final step towards the EGA.