boot camp 2

Training Day 5-20101225
Today is training day 5 , and also Christmas We are having extra free time today for church, and our Senior Drill Instructor also wants to do something for us later on. She said we will make Christmas cards and possibly get a phone call home* I am crossing my fingers* The thing I want most to do right now is talk to my family and eat a tub of vanilla Ice cream.
Our Senior Drill instructor is very cool , She comes out and saves us when the green belts are being hard on us sometimes. I am in Oscar Company, Which is supposed to be the hardest, So I am so thankful we have the Drill Instructor we do.
When receiving phase was still going on , I was squad leader, Then when we moved on to forming, My fellow recruits nominated me as series guide. When training day one came I was selected by our Senior Drill Instructor to fire our guide and take her place, which was pretty cool. Hopefully I will keep the guide position through graduation.
After the first training day things got easier. I have completely adjusted to the new lifestyle now. I miss the things I used to do and the freedoms I had before, But there are definitely thing I have learned just from being here two weeks. Team work and motivation are essential. If you show you care and prove you want to be here , Boot camp will be so much easier! Always give your all and the Drill Instructors will notice the initiative.
We started MCMAP on training day one. It is probably one of my favorite classes, Its exhausting but fun. We will start sparring with each other before to long. I can't wait to take everything out on another recruit and relieve some of the stress that comes from homesickness, exhaustion, and the constant annoyance of repetitive moving and screaming.
We have been drilling everyday with our canteens instead of our rifles. They don't trust us with our weapons yet. Drill is fun, but our platoon has had a hard time keeping in step so we are slower to move on to learn new moves.
Lately we have been sitting through a lot of classes, which can get boring, but for the most part are motivating and beneficial. The one instructor is constantly keeping us alert. He makes sure there is recruit interaction by doing demonstrations.
The age difference in recruits in my platoon is 18(the youngest) to 25. they are girls from all over the country with all different backgrounds. We have already become close with each other. It really is like a second family and I know we will stay in touch. We are all going through the same thing and help pull and push each other to keep going.
By the time graduation gets here everyone will be more than excited to see family and go home, but we will also be reluctant to leave our new friends.
Even the Drill Instructors will be appreciated by the end even though most everyone hates them now.
11 more weeks and I will be heading home. And I will be lance Corporal . That is my goal. That keeps driving me, to graduate the best, not just a marine but a better marine.
An update will come in a few days , or weeks.
I can't wait to see everyone!
Recruit Edmiston

Boot update 1

I arrived here at Parris Island 20101213 at 0200. As we pulled up to the gates the bus driver made us put our head between our knees so we couldn't see anything.
We could all feel the bus come to a halt as the tension grew in the air. Out of nowhere the drill Instructors boarded the bus and began screaming at us.
When I  got to MEPS my nerves all disappeared and I thought they would come back when I got to the Island,
But once I was actually there and being yelled at I was fine.
After we all stood out in the cold for twenty minutes trying to adjust they filed us through the doors and we knew we were stuck. There was no turning back now.
The receiving phase was nothing but tiresome and boring, We spent the 1st three days sitting at desks , standing in line, getting issued uniforms and hygiene kits, the worst part about receiving was trying to stay awake.
All we ate the first week was boxed chow, the same thing for lunch, dinner, and breakfast ( a sub that had only one piece of lunch meat ) a hard boiled egg, and apple/orange, two granola bars, and a box of raisins) It was actually really good.
Friday came  and we had our IST. It was quite relieving to be able to do something besides sit. My IST was fairly good. I got a 69 sec hang, 100 push ups, and 13:04 on my run.
Then the fun part came Saturday when we met our Drill Instructors. Its defiantly a change of lifestyle. No more sleeping in, no more junk food, no down time really at all, but by the end of the day you feel more accomplished then the day before.
Yes It is stressful getting constantly yelled at and always having to scream. But its not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
They make us do everything ten times over or more. Its never loud enough, Its never quick enough, we just aren't good enough for them. But we know we will never be, and that's all part of the game. They want us to keep pushing ourselves, Once you realize they are on a strict schedule you get over the annoyance at them because you know the activity will be changing shortly.
Instead of living Sunday to Sunday , Live chow to chow, You can start to guess about what times you will be changing activities and it makes it easier on yourself.
We are now on training day one. We have started sitting through classes which help to break the day up and ease some stress. Its going to be a long 12 more weeks, But It gets better and easier everyday, you just have to accept the choice you made and whats coming next.
I have no voice from all the screaming, but once my body adjust to the change I know I will be stronger and louder. Drill is fun, but most recruits are far from capable of keeping in step so we are always stopping and screaming answers back to the drill Instructors until the diddies get stuck in your head.
Training day  two comes tomorrow along with our 1st actual PT. I will let you all know how it is.



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3 Days to Go

It feels like yesterday when i first walked into the recruiter's office.  I am extremely excited to be shipping out in three days, but, im am sure like every other poolee, i am feeling a little reluctant.  I have become close friends with a lot of the other poolees and the recruiters feel like family after spending every other day at the office training.  I know most poolees will be around when i graduate, but i will still miss everyone.


What is coming next is going to be so much bigger than just making friends and pt-ing, and that keeps me going.  I can't wait until i can call myself a Marine!  Mostly, I can't wait to make my parents more proud of me by becoming one of America's best.


I wish everyone luck in their journey!  Stay Motivated!! I will make sure to update everyone with my letters.  I can't say how often the will be, but they will certainly be here!!