Boot camp 3

20110109- Training day 25 (evaluation day) is right around the corner. We are on training day 17 now, 8 more days until the gas chamber. I am looking forward to watching all these girls panic and shoot snot bubbles out of their noses. Everyone is dreading the chamber except for a few of us who can't wait.

I am finally getting used to using third person speech. but I can turn it on and off when I need to, so I won't still be saying " this recruit" after graduation.

Unfortunately, I lost my guide position. I was on bed rest for the past two days with a bad double ear infection. I still can't hear out of my left ear. I hope I'm not permanently deaf. While I was on bed rest though, The rest of the platoon decided to replace me because "I quit on them when they needed me most". I guess it was my choice to have an ear infection. I didn't realize I could make that kind of decision :p O-well hopefully I will be able to get guide back for graduation.

Things would be alot easier here at boot camp if the whole platoon could learn respect and discipline. We get punished a lot for recruits that want to run their mouth and disobey orders.

We have been continuing with MCMAP, but nothing has really excited me yet. I already knew how to throw a punch and do a leg sweep. I feel like half the things we do , with MCMAP and also Pt, I would be better off learning on my own. Pugil sticks isn't all it's cracked up to be either, we only get 15 seconds to fight each other, which isn't enough time.

Aside from the ear infection, I have been to medical for a fever, and dental for fillings, I missed our 5 mile hike and Senior Drill Instructor inspection.:(  Hopefully they won't put me on trial training.

The most exciting thing we have done so far was the confidence course. One girl fell from the 40+ foot rope and shattered her leg. She will be here for 12 month's of therapy! The confidence course isn't hard, it's all about finding courage to face the things you fear, like heights, water, and failure.

Drill is so much fun, It's one of the only things I feel like I have benefited from while here. It's the only thing I never really experienced before. Without PFC Nepo's help, I probably wouldn't be that great at marching. He helped me and Recruit Griffith while we were still in pool function.

Swim week is coming up! I have been told by the upperdeck it's kind of lame though. It doesn't last all week, unless you are an iron duck ( which means you can't swim ) and then they take you before everyone else and teach you how to swim.

As far as how I am actually doing, and how I have been coping with the lifestyle change... Well, It's hard, emotionally. Mostly from being homesick. My family is extremely close, and this is the longest I have been away from home. I have been extremely stressed out because the only communication I have with them is snail mail, March 11th can't come fast enough.

There have been times ( like 24-7 ) when I want to quit and be done with this place,but when you sit back and look at it, it's not all that bad. It's a good cause, even if I joined not really knowing if it's what I actually wanted. I miss the freedoms I had outside of boot camp, but I have learned to appreciate a lot more while here. There has been good and bad, but the experience will be positive over all and I will have a huge sense of accomplishment once handed the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

I will send another update in a week or so to let everyone know how training is progressing.

For everyone who is shipping soon and just recently shipped: GOOD LUCK!

I miss everyone and can't wait to see you all in March! Love you family!

Recruit Edmiston
4th Rtbn Plt 4008 Co.O
PO Box 16445
Parris Island SC 29905