This starts the 2nd week of training for the recruits.  They will continue MCMAP training.  Here is some information regarding this program and this week's new weapon of choice....pugil sticks.

 

MCMAP - Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

From its inception in 1775, the Marine Corps has distinguished itself as a Martial Culture. The legacy of our Corps is built upon the close combat of ships of sail, the storming of the bois de Belleau, and the holding of “Bloody Ridge” on Guadalcanal. Drawing upon our rich tradition of promoting values and our warrior ethos, the Marine Corps developed the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program or MCMAP. It is a martial art that was designed to be, and is the “synergy of mental, character, and physical disciplines.”

MCMAP is based on five, colored-belt levels with six different degrees of Black. Each belt level is broken down into three disciplines, each of which a Marine must become proficient in before attaining the next belt level. The mental, character, and physical disciplines of the warrior are the foundation of the Martial Arts Program.

The mental discipline consists of warrior studies, martial culture studies, combative behavior studies, and other professional military education. The character discipline is built around the Marine Corps’ core values: Honor, Courage, and Commitment. The character discipline stresses the role of the warrior on and off the battlefield. The physical discipline consists of the techniques taught at each belt level.

Through the successful synergy of these disciplines at each belt level, a Marine will enhance their own warrior spirit. Recruits are introduced to the fundamentals of MCMAP on training day one and progress towards the final test to earn their Tan Belt. The Tan Belt syllabus teaches recruits basic MCMAP techniques, is an introduction to the martial culture, and form the basis for all further MCMAP instruction.

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USMC Photo

Pugil Sticks

A pugil stick is a heavily padded training weapon used by military personnel for bayonet training since the 1930s or 1940s. Similar to a quarterstaff, the pugil stick may be marked at one end to indicate which portion represents the bayonet proper and which the butt of the rifle.

Pugil bouts are usually conducted with hard contact while wearing protective gear such as football helmets, flak jackets, groin protectors, and gloves. Many recruits have never experienced the realities of inter-personal violence found in close combat, and pugil sticks provide effective, but safe, "full contact" combative training at the entry level. It is also an effective tool for enhancing the endurance and improvisation that are building blocks to developing the physical skills and mental toughness vital to success on the battlefield.

 

[Thanks to the MarineFamilyNetwork website for the information above]

 

Looks like fun doesn't it?  If they thought they were sore last week, I think that there is a new definition of sore coming.  Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they are challenged mentally and physically this week.  Don't forget to keep on writing letters, any little boost from home means the world to these young men.

Parris Island is on the coast of SC, which means that the weather can be an issue.  Mostly the combination of heat and humidity will be the threat that the recruits will need to overcome.  However, whenever you live on or near the coast, you also may encounter some weather that is problematic.  Right now, there is a tropical depression heading up the coastline.  It may be nothing or it may turn into something and generate a lot of rain for the recruits to endure when they travel from point-to-point at Parris Island. 

 

 

In his letter Warren mentioned Red and Black flags during his training.  I decided I would look into this further.  I was made aware of this during my time at basic training in Oklahoma but never really knew what it meant (except that it limited some of what they could do to us).

 

The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGTI) is a means of assessing the effect of heat stress on the human body. The WBGTI is a single number derived mathematically from three distinct temperature measurements: wet bulb temperatures, dry bulb temperatures, and globe temperatures. Color-coded flags are flown in strategic locations so that all personnel will be aware of the current heat stress index and make appropriate adjustments.

 

a. Green Flag (WBGTI of 80°F to 84.90F). Heavy exercises, for un-acclimatized personnel, will be conducted with caution and under constant supervision.

b. Yellow Flag (WBGTI of 85°F to 87.90F). Strenuous exercises or physical labor will be curtailed for unacclimatized, newly assigned Marines and Civilian Marines in their first 3 weeks. Avoid outdoor classes or work in the sun.

c. Red Flag (WBGTI of 88°F to 89°F). All PT or very strenuous work will be curtailed for those not thoroughly acclimatized by at least 3 weeks. Personnel not thoroughly  acclimatized may carryon limited activity not to exceed 6 hours per day.

d. Black Flag (WBGTI of 90°F and above). All nonessential physical activity will be halted. Essential activities are activities associated with scheduled exercises, or critical production work and maintenance where the disruption would cause undue burden on personnel or resources, be excessively expensive or significantly reduce a unit's readiness. Essential outdoor work will be conducted at a level that is commensurate with personnel acclimatization as determined by the unit's senior leader. All efforts should be made to schedule major hot weather training activities or work production to occur during cooler periods of the day, such as very early hours in the morning or later in the evening.

 

Right now, the recruits would probably fall under the "unacclimatized" category but in another week or two, the flags that might have had some impact on them will no longer be as daunting.  For those that are watching the World Cup (and why wouldn't you be watching), you should know that they are monitoring these same conditions.  They had a "cool break" during the Mexico-Netherlands game, played early this afternoon, due to the WBGTI and the risk to the players.

 

Today we received out first letter from Warren.  It is a good day.  It is good to at least know that our recruit is alive and kicking (although we didn't get a photo with Warren holding a copy of today's newspaper).  We also received a letter from his DI, it was a form letter and contained nothing really new to us.  In this blog, I will incorporate snippets from his maill so you can get a flavor of what he is experiencing.  I will not recite the letter line for line since that would violate the parent-recruit code and could lead to discipline at a later time.  I will write his notes in quotes and italics so you can know it's from him.  I'll edit the spelling mistakes (damn you spell check, generations of kids that can't spell...hope you feel good about that).  Anyhow, the letter was dated Tuesday 14/24/06.

 

"Receiving week was easy, no PT just walking around getting gear and stuff.  Today was training day 1, which sucked epicly.  Oh, we got a few shots, one of which was for TB (tuberculosis) and this RCT (meaning Warren) got put on meds for 9 months!!!!  That is only to prevent because this RCT has been around in Asia.  Forming Day 1 the DIs "tornadoes" our stuff (foot locker) if it was unlocked.  Hunt (this is his buddy Logan) and I are rack mates."

 

"I'm the "crack dealer".  I pass out all the drugs.  Just for that I get messed with every day all day.  Tell everyone that I'm doing ok.  Motivation is hard to find, but keep eyes on the prize .  Two ways off the Island, Die or Graduate.  Tell people to write me."

 

"The toilets are called shooters (without the o's). We have had to do many Up Downs before this with our DIs. Receiving ones were nice but these not so much.......I've lost my voice and it cracked several times. We start real PT tomorrow along with more classes. The food is GREAT and church is really, really good. Chow-to-chow, Sunday-to-Sunday. Write back soon"

 

We have been writing to Waren since he left but we suspect they are holding back the mail from the recruits. We only have 2 data points to support that but I would suspect this is part of the indoctrination and conversion from civilian to recruit.  That being said, please continue the letters.  I am sure when he starts to receive letters he'll understand and it will be a lift to his spirits.  It's a little tough to understand but I know they are doing what needs to be done.  You don't want to see your child go through this but we have to let go and just be there.  When he starts getting mail, I think that will help us feel better because they make it appear to him that we aren't there or don't care.  I think he knows it isn't the case but his mind will play tricks in that environment.  Hopefully they'll give him the mail real soon.

 

Speaking of which, here is yet another updated address;

 

Rct. DUDLEY, Warren J

3rd RTBN  PLT 3064 CO  M

Box 16355

Parris Island, SC  29905-6355

 

Replace the previous address with this one (I'll need to make more labels).  Now back to the letter.

 

Funniest thing (besides the "crack dealer" and toilet note) is he signed the letter RCT. DUDLEY, Warren J.

 

Reading between the lines, he is struggling but that isn't unusual.  He knows he has to keep moving forward.  I am very happy that he and Logan are rack mates, since they know each other and I believe they will work as a team and help each other out.  They will need to keep each other motivated and I believe when the letters arrive it will be the lift that they (and all of the other recruits) will need to help them as they work hard to adapt to recruit life.

 

Thanks to everyone for your support, keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  Keep writing to let them know they are not forgotten and that we support them.

 

 

Today we heard some bad news from Parris Island.  Cory Dismuke, one of the 3 amigos that left for Parris Island 11 days ago, had to take a pause in his training due to a medical issue.  He will be able to continue his training once he has been medically cleared but he will need to be moved to a new platoon.  This is to give him the best chance to graduate since he will lose valuable training time and would be behind the other members of his current platoon.  We feel badly for Cory and pray for a speedy recovery for him.  I am sure all of the boys are disappointed since they wanted to graduate together but that will not happen.  The training at Parris Island is about overcoming and adapting to situations.   This will be a chance for the recruits to incorporate that into this circumstance.  They will need to keep a upbeat attitude in order to maintain their focus on what is important.  For Cory, he needs to get better first and then continue to demonstrate the desire and drive to earn that emblem.  For Warren and Logan, they need to maintain their energy on the things that they can control and drive on with their training.  It's easy to get sidetracked but I believe that the DIs will put them back on the path.  They all need to continue to be positive (something I tell him in every letter I send) and keep giving maximum effort with everything that they do.  Letters can still go to Cory so don't hesitate to send this young man a quick note to help lift his spirits in this time (his address will be changing but I don't know what it will be, I believe if it is sent to him using the same formula we used prior to knowing their platoon, it should get to him maybe later than normal but it should get there).  Like all of the poolees and now recruits, these are good kids that have made an adult decision to put others ahead of themselves.  Let them know that you appreciate it (but do it following the guidelines established).

 

Wednesday, we have arrived at the 9 day mark from his harried phone call home, when he said he will be contacting us in 7 - 9 days.  So, we wait and have yet to receive the form letter telling us how much fun he is having at Camp Krusty.  All of the outdoor activities they have planned and the smores they eat every night by the bonfire as they sing camp songs (and wait for the arrival of Jason the DI).

 

We understand that this is not his fault, so we have to accept it and wait for the letter another day.  It would be nice to hear from him and know for sure that he is doing well but we are in for a whole lot more of the silent treatment from our recruit.  We know that we are not alone in this and that it is a precursor of what is yet to come as he moves out and becomes an adult.

 

He should have started his Combat Conditioning training today with punches.  Warren has never been an aggressive kid but I think that they will change that.  He will have to change in order to survive the training and I am sure he will.  In one way, I think the beginning of Phase 1 is an escape.  He gets to focus his mind every day on a new task and new traiing techniques so he will not be thinking about home and "what the hell was I thinking when I signed up for this?".  It should make the days go by quickly and give them all something to talk about during their free time before they are tucking lovingly into their bunks.  For a 18 year old kid, all of the combat conditioning looks like fun and I believe in many gyms around the country, people actually pay for this training.  Imagine the reaction of those suckers when they realize that these recruits are getting it for "free".  Tomorrow is bayonet technique.  That seems a little odd since the bayonet is really a weapon of near last resort but they still train on it like we are back in WWI.  Bayonet training was a part of the Army training I received many years ago and that was a lot of fun.  You get to take out your stress and all of your anxiety on a bunch of old tires and stuffed dummies.  It was tiring but it was a good release that was needed after getting your butt kicked around for a week or two.  I think this begins the days where they think  "Now this is what I signed up for".

 

Keep writing, we're getting letters out every day but I am sure he would like to hear from others.  Keep Mike Company and the recruits of Platoon 3064 in your thoughts and prayers as these young men strive to earn the title of Marine. 

Monday.  Tomorrow he changes from the Receiving Phase to Phase I of training.  If you don't know what that means, there are two links above you can check out.  Check out the training matrix to see the schedule day-by-day.  Then look at the Marine videos to see a little more of what each week means.  It's interesting and it's for public consumption so I think maybe the videos are a little more toned down than what is really happening but it is an idea.  Watching the videos brings makes it look like a lot of fun (anyone want sign up?).

 

By now he should know how to get his bed made properly (a task his brother needs be trained to do).  He should be able to sh__, shower and shave all in less than 15 minutes.  And, he should be able to dress himself (his mommy isn't putting out his clothes anymore).  No more decisions about what to wear, let's see...camo or camo?  Green boxers or green boxers.  Boots or...boots.  Seemingly mundane tasks are now a key component to training and changing the mindset of the recruit from civilian to military life.  Learning to march in step may not seem to be an integral part of the miliitary but it is part of the change from individual mindset to a team mindset. 

 

 

 

 

Warren has made it through his first weekend at Parris Island.  Today marks the full week since we last saw him.  Obviously, this is a different weekend schedule than he would normally have when he was at home.  Since his early enlistment, every Saturday he would get up early and go to PT.  We would usually not be up when he left and he would come back home sore, tired and smelly around noon.  He would stretch, grab a quick bite to eat and then shower.  After that was complete, he would hit the lazy boy with Arnold and take a nap. 

 

 

 

The good news for Warren is that he basically could sleep anywhere and at anytime.  Although this could be skill, like anything else "with great power comes great responsibility".  Being able to sleep anywhere is only good when they tell you that you can sleep.  Sleeping at the wrong time can cause a world of pain in boot camp.  I think he can distinguish when and where to sleep and let's hope that he never goes over to the dark side.

 

We've been sending him mail with regularity so hopefully he has begun to receive some mail from home.  We both have indicated to him that we don't expect him to write.  We'd love to hear from him, just to know he is okay but when it comes right down to it, he is there to grow and learn.  If he has to study and practice a skill he learned that day, then that's the way it is.  We'd rather be sure that he is confident in his answers and abilities so if he has to sacrifice some of the time he would spend writing doing what is best for him and his situation, then so be it.  So although we have asked that you write to him, don't be upset if he may not respond.  I think his plate is pretty full at the moment so try to understand and don't be upset about it.  Continue to write to him and when he has completed boot camp, he can thank you for your letters in person.

 

Keep Warren and all of these recruits in your thoughts and prayers.  Especially as you (and I) sit in air conditioned comfort and think "Man, it is hot outside!"  That's true and remember that this recruits are going to be out in the heat learning the next tasks on the training calendar.  This  week will begin Phase I Training which includes the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and that will continue throughtout Phase I.  I don't have to tell you that means they do these programs out in the heat.  So if you think you're hot.....remember these young men (and women) that are in boot camp vying to earn the title of Marine.