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