A few things to update on the recruit.

First, everything is on schedule for September 12^th graduation.  He left us hanging with a letter we got 2 weeks back.  In that letter he said that he failed Table 1 rifle qualification.  He passed the pre-qualification but when it came to qualification day, he didn’t score high enough to get a passing mark.  According to him, he got screwed by the pits, meaning that he had hits that weren’t counted which resulted in the failing score.  It’s a plausible line since he scored 30 points less on qualification day and that’s pretty far off.  For those who may not know (and why would you know), if they failed qualification on Grass Week, they must go back during Team Week and qualify.  According to the information if they fail a second time then they would get recycled into another platoon and go through Grass Week all over again (basically dropping him 2 weeks back in the process).  In the letter he was upbeat despite failing and said “I will go out and qualify tomorrow (Monday) because I want to see my family in 31 days”.  It was exactly the right attitude to take on, rub some dirt on it Johnny, put on your big boy panties and get back in there.  Now, from our view, we expected a letter sometime on Wednesday indicating his score from re-qualification.  However, Wednesday came and went, Thursday no word, Friday no word,…..  Although we wanted to believe that he had passed, there was this small nagging doubt in the back of our minds.  However, after a few days we decided that no news was good news so we assumed he had passed.  We finally got the letter on Friday (2 weeks after his last letter) confirming he passed and we’re on schedule.  [WHEW!!!]  Now we cannot tell him that we doubted so we left it alone in our letters over the past weeks but when we see him we’ll let him know that sometimes we are just as stressed as he is, although in a different way.  He’ll never understand until he becomes a parent, all of the parents out there understand.  A few months ago he was living at home and we had some input as to what he did etc.  Now, we have turned him over to the Marine Corps and they control his life and no matter how much we want to help, all we can do is write encouragement from the distant sidelines.  It’s a transition for everyone so while he endures boot camp for the Marines, we are enduring parental boot camp (with just less yelling and screaming).

Second thing, if you plan to write to Warren – make it happen this week.  Next week is The Crucible (dun, dun, DAAA-AH!) and there is little need to write to him beyond Tuesday (9/2).  By the time he gets the letter if all goes according to plan he will be officially a Marine (not to get ahead of ourselves).  Sending him letters beyond that time means that he will probably not receive them so if you have been thinking about writing or wanting to write, stop thinking about it and do it!

Third thing, keep praying for him and his fellow recruits.  They are all so very close to the end and we want them all to complete boot camp safely.  The light at the end of the tunnel is there, the question is what kind of light it is?  Is it the Wil E. Coyote light of train coming down the tracks or is it truly the end of the long journey that started months ago with some yellow footprints.

Last thing, here is Warren’s schedule for this week - Training Week 10.

TD54 Monday

Last uniform clothing fitting

TD55 Tuesday

Land navigation 2 – mapskills
Confidence Course 2

TD56 Wednesday

Combat Fitness Test
Classes on Terrorism Awareness, Operational Culture, OpSec/CommSec

TD57 Thursday

Combat fitness Conditioning
sexual assault, sexual responsibility, marriage as a first term Marine.

TD58 Friday

Start off the day with a 3.0mi formation run
Practical Application Testing -- PRACAP (which is the practical application of what they have learned in First Aid & customs and courtesies such as how to board a ship and how to report to an officer. They will demonstrate these techniques to the instructors of the course to show that they are efficient in them.)
Classes on Personal Assistance, Intro to Mentoring, Military Career Factors
Core Values Discussion

TD59 Saturday

Field meet (like a typical grade school field meet -- sorta; the platoons compete against each other for bragging rights in various PT related activities such as a stretcher relay, an M16 rifle assembly relay, 50 yd dash, dizzy izzy, team ironman competition, and even a tug of war)
Drill practice for Final Drill

S10 Sunday

Free Time - Chapel, cleaning and maintaining gear
Core Value Discussion

One last thing, here is a photo of the recruit and platoon drilling.

 

This is Week #9, Phase III has arrived.  Here is what comes for Week #9, BWT/Table 2 week.

TD48 Monday
***********START OF PHASE III**************
Begin classes on Table 2 Classes on target engagement (multiple, moving) and a review of snap in (in case they forgot )
Guardian Angel class (be aware of the surroundings, never go anywhere alone, security in a 360 perimeter, be a hard target)

*****They will also get to sleep out under the stars tonight!

TD49 Tuesday
This is the week that you see many people mention that their recruits said was harder than the crucible even.
Continue ALine
- continue classes and preparing for combat firing
- prequalification day for the combat firing that they learned yesterday
**Follow Series
Continue BWT
- Day Movement Class (moving about during the day without being detected)
- Day Movement Practical Application (crawl thru tunnels, under barb wire, crawl on their bellies, camoflauge and concealment, crawl over walls, thru woods, etc without being detected)
- cass on different combat formations (i.e. fireteam formations)
- Then the same course they did during the day under low light conditions

**They will also get to sleep out under the stars again tonight!

TD50 Wednesday
*There are only 20 training days left!!!!
***Lead Series
Qualification day for the combat firing
Classes on other types of field firing
They will also get to sleep out under the stars tonight!
***Follow Series
Begin ALine- classes on table 2 firing
Classes on target engagement (multiple, moving) and a review of snap in (in case they forgot )
Guardian Angel class (be aware of the surroundings, never go anywhere alone, security in a 360 perimeter, be a hard target)

TD51 Thursday
Family Day is 3 weeks away!!!!!!!!!! Not like you needed me to tell you that!
***Lead Series
Start BWT
Movement Course, Hand and Arm signals, IED
**They will also get to sleep out under the stars again tonight!
***Follow Series
Continue ALine
- continue classes and preparing for combat firing
- prequalification day for the combat firing that they learned yesterday

TD52 Friday
Three ..... more........ weeks ...... until ........ Graduation!!
***Lead Series
Continue BWT
- Day Movement Class (moving about during the day without being detected)
- Class on hand and arms signals
- Day Movement Practical Application (crawl thru tunnels, under barb wire, crawl on their bellies, camoflauge and concealment, crawl over walls, thru woods, etc without being detected)
- class on different combat formations (i.e. fireteam formations)
- Then the same course they did during the day under low light conditions
***Follow Series
Continue ALine, more BWT
Qualification day for the combat firing

****Last but not least.... they will ALL get to spend the night under the stars!!

TD53 Saturday
On tap for today is:
Continue BWT for everyone
- Combat Endurance Course (a 2.5 mi course which they have to use everything they learned in the last week, how to negotiate thru woods without making a sound as a squad, negotiate obstacles such as tunnels and walls and barbed wire and up and over obstacles such as cargo nets and monkey bars over a mud puddle -- to simulate going from tree branch to tree branch)
- practice some drill in preparation for final drill

S9 Sunday Free Time - Chapel , cleaning/maintaining gear
Red Cross Blood Drive
Core Value Discuss

Team Week

 

This is team week, here is information from the Marine Family Network on what Team Week is.

 

During this week the recruits will be assigned in small groups to areas of the depot to assist in the normal upkeep of the base.  Basically team week is devoted to working on Parris Island, whether it be organizing needed goods for new incoming recruits, working in the kitchen, cleaning the depot general administration buildings, working in supply organizing and doing inventory, and related tasks that keep the recruit depot operating smoothly. The recruits spend most of their day away from their drill instructor and pretty much are janitors (LOL). You wouldn't have heard much the last weeks because when qualifying with the rifle the recruits spend all day at the range; then when they go back to the barracks they usually drill til about 8pm, shower and go to bed. It's that way for two weeks; then they spend a week in the field so not much letter writing gets done. You should start receiving letters by next week because they will more or less be back to their usual routine after week 9 and Table II. But toward the end of third phase you won't hear from them too much either because of final drill and the crucible."

 

Those that did not qualify on table I will be out in the field again this week practicing to qualify on table II.

 

We did not get a letter this past week but expect to at least hear something this week from our recruit.  They had rifle qualification on Friday and we're very anxious to hear from him and know how he did. 

This is Week #7, past the halfway point through boot camp and Firing Week.  Here's what platoon 3064 is up to this week.


TD36 Monday
This morning, they will learn how to operate the pits (where the targets are behind the berm). They all have to take turns in running the targets up and down. No, they are not in the 21st century yet, it is all manual labor.... Then they will finally get to start firing. They will run the entire course of fire (called the Known Distance course or the KD course for short).

KD course:
200 yd line
20 mins for 5 rounds in sitting, 5 rounds in kneeling, & 5 rounds in standing
1 min for 10 rounds (5 in each magazine) in sitting
300 yd line
5 min for 5 rounds in sitting
1 min for 10 rounds (5 in each magazine) in prone (on belly)
500 yd line
10 min for 10 rounds in prone

It can take a lot longer than the 37 min above.... the Platoons are divided into relays probably 6 (three relays shoot the entire KD range and the other three relays are in the pits running the targets....then they switch). Plus you have to figure in the walking time between the yd lines.... The rifle range is not a quick process.

Later in the afternoon, of course some snap in time or drill practice time.

TD37 TuesdayToday the recruits will be doing more of the same... shooting that rifle!!!!!!! --

After firing they will have a little PT: running a 1/4 mi sprint and also do those combat conditioning exercises in a circuit six times.

TD38 Wednesday
Today is Hump Day!!!! YIPPEE!!!
I told you this weeks posts would be BORING!!!
Today the recruits will be doing more of the same...shooting that rifle!!!!!!! --

In the afternoon they get to do the obstacle course and a 3 mi run and and of course they will practice snap in and studying in the evening with their PMIs and DIs.

TD39 Thursday
Only 5 weeks until family day!!!!!
This is pre-qual day. Today is soley concentrated on practice for the big day tomorrow.

Complete with practice scoring ... that can be dangerous though, because the good shooters sometimes get cocky and the not so good shooters get discouraged. I have never been so crazy about letting my shooters know what they shot on pre-qual. I hope you guys have been sending lots of encouragement -- it means a great deal to them I know. They should also be getting another haircut and also study some for that big final test that they have coming up as a graduation requirement.

TD40 Friday
Today is the infamous Rifle Qualification Day. Of Course!

After time spent on the range yesterday they spent time with the PMI's to ensure that they are ready for today -- which of course we all KNOW they are! Today is a big day because they are on their own on the firing line with just the range officials, the DIs, PMIs and coaches must remain about 20 yds behind them at the benches.

TD41 Saturday
Well, now with the rifle range under their belt, it is all downhill from here. Yippeee!!
Well they are back in their regular squadbays at their Battalions now after the range yesterday so they are "home." They will start off the day with a short 1.5mi run then do some of those combat conditioning exercises, including a 12km Conditioning March, they have come to know so well and then another short 1.5mi run to work on their endurance. Then in the afternoon they will have some classes on leadership and then they all will also get to go the museum! 

This come highly recommend visiting it while you are here. It lays out the history of the Marine Corps approximately decade by decade since 1775. It has some awesome artifacts as well as video footage. The gift shop there is very good as well and has items you can't find anywhere else (including online or elsewhere on base even!).

The deadliest weapon in the world is a MARINE and his rifle! - General Pershing, U.S. Army
"Freedom has a special meaning for those of us who have fought for it, that the protected shall never know" - unknown

S7 Sunday
Chapel / Free time
Core Value Discussions
Today they also learn how to maintain their clothing and equip

This week has been a busy week for the postman.  3 letters and graduation information, a whole lot of new reading material for the Dudley family.  I'll dispense with the formalities and get right into the matter.

 

Letter #1:  One of the SASE (self addressed stamped enevlopes) we sent him.  One thing that has changed with the past couple of letters is that he has started to print everything and given up on the attempts at cursive writing.  This makes it much more likely that we can read the letter or at least only miss one or two words.  He wrote two pages but one was written to his brother.  Not a lot of information in the letter but I'll sum it up from his brother's letter. 

 

"I have yet to barf and have always finished food"  [Ahh, the words you long to hear to know that things are going well]

 

Letter #2:  This was a quick answer letter from a questionnaire we sent to him.  Here goes;

•   6 recruits have dropped out but they have picked up 3 so the platoon is 74 recruits.
•   14 recruits have had their wisdom teeth pulled (ouch!).
•   He can do 10 pullups (the correct way)
•   Every recruit has a watch (no excuse to be late)
•   What food does he miss the most?  Chik-Fil-A, Five Guys, Mom's food
•   His locker has not been tornadoed
•   He has not gotten sunburned
•   The most exciting thing at the MCX - Boot insoles
•   He has received letters from 8 different people
•   Initial drill, they passed but came in last

He also mentions that they have a new SDI.

Letter #3 :  This was a form letter from his new SDI.  No explanation as to why they have changed DIs in the middle of camp.  The letter is slightly different because he provides contact information (not that we would ever use it).  Warren made a note that he wanted to know what was in this letter.  I am certain that the recruits all want to know why the change and there's probably a lot of scuttlebut happening but I responded to him in my letter to focus on what he has to do and don't get caught up in the change.  He has a new slate with new leadership so he should show the new SDI what he can do.  Speculating about the DI situation does nothing for anyone so they need to continue to focus on training.  Rifle Week is next week so they need to focus on learning how to fire properly and let the other stuff go.

 

The last thing we received was our MCRD Parris Island Official Graduation Guide.  This lists the activities available for Family Day and Graduation.  We've had information on this but now we have the official info as we plan to attend many of the events.  We're looking forward to it. It's only about 6 weeks away so it's never too early to start planning.

 

They have almost reached the halfway point, it has become more routine and normal but we'll continue to send the letters and encouragement.  His platoon will still be challenged over the remaining weeks so he'll need the support.

 

Today we received a surprise letter.  After getting letters on Thursdays every week, getting one on Monday was a bit of a shock but we're always happy to get a letter from our recruit.  The letter centered around one main theme and we'll share this with you.

 

CHOW

 

Saturday chow is the best!  But le't start with Morning chow.....the one which stinks (sucks!) the most, not because the food is bad but it at 0430ish in the morning.  We get up for chow technically 0345 to prepare "wake up" then get on line at 0400.  Morning chow has eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, hash browns (yyyeessss!), biscuits, then desert which we aren't allowed to get because someone stole from the chow hall.  People complained to the officers about not getting enough chow so now we get extra seconds. 

 

Afternoon chow has pasta. meat rice for mains, then veggies (just about anything veggie wise), then bread (rolls, loaf and rye bread).  There is also a salad bar with a section of fruit.  This chow really depends on what is in the back.  The people serving chow are much more pleasant than the food service people at Woodmont High School and they talk tons.

 

Dinner chow is really like afternoon chow, same stuff.  For all chows the food is made really plain so you have no choice but to salt the crap out of everything, except fruit.  We get two cups of gatorade for every chow.

 

Oh, box chow is chow in a box.  Sandwich, chips, apple, raisins, cookies & nature valley granola bar.  Get more time to eat it.

 

********************************************************************************************************

Here is an update from the letter on what has been happening (separate from chow).

 

Gas chamber - easy

Repelling - easy

Written test - easy

 

Yesterday we did pictures (22nd).  We got to order rings, books, videos, and something else (which we assume were pictures).  Today we all got our dress uniforms.  Motivating as crap!  (Editors note: this is a positive statement).  Now these next 6 weeks better fly.  This week is our grass week, then firing week, team week, then bwt, admin/crucible week and Marine/Graduation week.

 

So close to being done.  Longest letter so far, enjoy.

 

He had a few other notes in the letter.  The one that got the most attention was he asked "How's the dog?" before he asked about Jacob's school classes.  So who rates where....you decide. A very upbeat & positive letter, two in a row.  We believe he is on track and has his head in the right place.  He actually seems to be having fun which is really another way to show that he has found his way through the hardships.  There are still hurdles to overcome in the next six weeks so keep praying for Mike Company - Platoon 3064.

 

 

If you were interested to know, here is Warren's schedule for Training Week 6 ** Grass Week and Initial PFT**

This schedule is of course subject to change due to weather, holidays and the needs of the company.
TD30 Monday
Today is the beginning of Grass Week. It is called Grass Week because the recruits literally spend a lot of time down on the grass learning how to position themselves and their rifles for best firing results. This week is spent learning the intricacies of their rifles and the factors that go into accurate firing of these weapons. You may have heard that "Every Marine is a Rifleman." Not only is that so but every Marine is a pretty darned good shot, too-- they will fire next week from 200, 300 and 500 yards in order to qualify on the range. Pretty impressive.

To get them ready for this the recruits will receive extensive instruction from Parris Island's PMIs (Primary Marksmanship Instructors) beginning today. These guys REALLY know their stuff and they'll be working with the recruits to get them prepared. They will have the entire week this week to practice positions and learn from the PMI. When the time comes for actual firing there will also be many range coaches out there to advise the recruits and help them make adjustments, etc. So while this process is challenging to say the least, the recruits will have a wealth of information and reliable guidance at their disposal to help them be successful.  Of course this is all after they go on a little run this morning....

TD31 Tuesday

More classes on firing and the rifle range itself this includes the stances that they must use next week (sitting cross legged, kneeling, standing, and prone - on their belly). There are specific ways that they must hold the weapon so this can become a challenge to any recruits who went to boot camp thinking they could shoot because they have been hunting before. It all works out in the end though. If they already know how to shoot it can be a better more accurate way to shoot and if they have never even held a gun before bootcamp then they get the basics too.   Prone........Sitting........Kneeling................Standing

Today they will also get to spend some time in the ISMT (indoor simulated Marksmanship Trainer) and see how they shoot using a computerized program. They use a rifle that is about the same weight attached to a cable that is connected to the computer and they fire at electronic targets and can get an instant feedback on their shots. It can even show them how much they were moving before the shot... They will also be learning how to make adjustments on their rifle for them since each weapon and shooter are different, they have to adjust it to how they shoot. Then they will also get to fire their rifle finally in a grouping exercise to make sure that their weapon is adjusted just for them. Overall, they will spend all this week in many agonizing hours perfecting these positions aiming at that silly barrel and images of targets painted on the squadbay walls so that next week they will not be as sore in these new positions and they will also have the proper position that the USMC is a stickler about when firing for qualification.

TD32 Wednesday
They will be having more classes on the positions and have plenty of "snap-in" time to make sure those positions are up to snuff. They will be learning more about the course of fire that they will shoot and how to prepare for the rapid fire, to include some drills while snapping in. I know they absolutely loved the ISMT yesterday and the competition between the platoons is already getting fierce for who will take that rifle range trophy home next Friday!!! Last but not least they will squeeze in a haircut in there somewhere too!

TD33 Thursday

The Company will get to do the MCMAP Endurance Course. This is basically just what it sounds like: a course that the recruits run through that has various stations where they stop and do different types of martial arts. Basically it is remediation of the MCMAP moves that they already know, and it is also a change of pace for PT other than running. Then they will Data Book class (a 5x7 spiral book that they write down all of their shots and wind adjustments in) they learn how to use it to their advantage. They will have more snapin time and the PMI will help them with their positions.

TD34 Friday

Grass Week continues today with more instruction on the rifles and how to do the positions correctly. Are you getting tired of the same thing yet? They will also get some more time in the ISMT (indoor simulated marksmanship trainer) today especially the ones that had some trouble the first day.

TD35 Saturday

If you all haven't noticed... today is the midway point of training!!!!
First off they will start off with their Initial PFT.  Then they will spend the afternoon with some classes and practice drill some and of course the DIs will help them with their positions and snap in some more to make sure they are prepared for

S5 SUNDAY - Chapel / Free Time
Core Value Discussions