Trouble for Tubbs

  What a crazy night I had last night!  I had the first hour of Fire Watch as Front Post so my duty was to stand at the front hatch (door) and fill out papers counting the recruits, weapons, and if anyone comes in the squad bay I salute and report my post.  I'm also in charge of time.  About 10 minutes in to Fire Watch, 5 Drill Instructors from other platoons came in.  One of them told me to take all the laundry soap to the back of the house....but I can't leave my post so I just stood there.  They yelled at me to move so I took 2 steps and my DI came and yelled at me for leaving my post, then threw all my papers and stuff everywhere.  Then he ordered me to pick up the papers in order by date starting with January 10th in 100 seconds or about 45 actual seconds.  When I didn't make it, I was ordered to throw them again and pick them up, then walk over to the guide and chuck them at his face which woke him up.  Then I had to pick them up again.  I was about halfway done organizing the papers when all those DIs came back in and told me to throw the papers again.  They made me take off my cover (hat), reflective belt, pants belt, blouse and left boot and them them in different places.  Then, they told me to put them all back on but my feet can't touch the deck without shoes so I had to hop over to all my stuff and they wouldn't let me bend my knees to put the boot on.  They kept walking on and off the deck, or in and out of the squad bay so I had to salute and report by post like 15 times.  One of the DIs was going to pour laundry soap in my cover and all over the deck...this stuff went on for literally the entire hour of Crew Watch. 
  Looking back, that was probably hazing or whatever but I walked away laughing.  They were just having fun and at least I didnt have to stand at attention for an hour.  DIs love to do that stuff..haha.  We've had to carry our mattresses around, all sorts of crazy things.  During Phase I they just yell at you and try to scare you.  During Phase II, they mess with you in funny ways.  At PT, the DI was yelling at a seagull to move faster.  Starting to get used to Boot Camp and starting to thrive instead of survive.  They're really pushing unit leadership and accountability.  My leadership skills and confidence are improving a lot.  I handle stress better now too...hahaha.  Like my story, you really learn to embrace the suck and smile through the pain. 
  At Boot Camp they have this thing called IT, which is Incentive Training.  It's basically 10 minutes of P90X times 50 and much faster.  Often times it goes for longer than 10 minutes.  Sometimes you get IT if you really screw up or if they randomly pick you cuz they're bored.  Last night I got IT'd twice while cleaning the squad bay.  A kid was walking by minding his own business and they made him come and join us.  We both laughed a little.  At one point during it, I was doing pushups and the DI got right up in my face, yelling at me to scream over and over again.  So we were like 3 inches away from each other's face just screaming.  I wish someone would have taken a photo of it. 
  In just 5 weeks from tomorrow I start the Crucible, or 50 hours of suck to earn the title.  I'm 5 weeks away from being a Marine!  6 years and I'm finally 5 weeks away...how cool!  Feels like a long way away, but then again when I first here, it felt like this point would take forever to to or never come, and now I am 6 weeks later....faster than I expected. 
  Lately I've been thinking about the song Lead Kindly Light, the words are awesome.  Look for the Light in everything!  Stay faithful, the Spirit will guide you through everything as long as you are doing what you're supposed to and praying.  Every day my testimony is strengthened.  Apparently I'm going to miss Easter and General Conference?!  What's up with that!  Oh well, all the Easter candy will just be cheaper when I get back!  The guy in the rack next to me might be getting baptized soon, how very cool.  I've already conferred the Priesthood on 2 new Marines.  Priesthood sure makes a difference here!
  My Company is the oldest recruit company on the depot so people look up to us and think we are cool...hahaha...I dig it.  I try to give them good advice and am nice to them.  They need it.  During my first few weeks, the older recruits were not nice and treated us like garbage. 
  How's the Utah weather?  It's nice down here.  It's been partly cloudy and there's always a nice breeze from the ocean.  Some days it's super foggy and we can hear the fog horns from the boats.  So close to civilization yet so far away!  One day I'll be back in it though.  7 weeks until graduation, that's going to be one heck of a day! I get all of my dress uniforms fitted and tailored this week so that's super cool.  What's the NBA looking like these days?  Someone update me! 
  Well, when times get hard just remember it could always be worse and it will end!  Stay strong and smile through the pain.  Love y'all.
Jaxon...Semper Fi

What up Civilians?!
 4 weeks of training complete and I think I'm getting the hang of Boot Camp.  I don't even care anymore when we dump out our stuff out of our war bags literally 30 times in a row, or duck walking with my foot locker around the squad bay, or throwing my boots across the deck, or whatever other games we play.  Also don't care about getting yelled at anymore.  It's yelling like you've never seen.  So much spit!! Workers at the Chow Hall wear ear plugs because it's so loud. 
 It can still suck and I feel more like a fresh recruit..zoo animal...child..instead of a future Marine.  Guess that's what first Phase is all about; breaking us totally down before they can mold is into the warriors we need to be.  Over the past 4+ weeks I've learned some great lessons.  Confidence is key.  Own everything you do no matter what it is.  Do everything better than anyone has ever done it, whether it's brushing your teeth, making your bed, your job, or just walking around.  People notice confidence.  If you want something, go for it.  Work for it and take it.  I've also learned that everything ends so don't give up on anything.  One way or another whatever is happening will end.  The sun has to rise and fall everyday.  Push through and you'll be much better afterwards.  I've also learned to understand my body and my limits and what I'm capable of. 
 It's easy to go medical here.  You just gotta say something hurts and you get a couple of days off.  At first tons of guys were going medical for tiny things and missing training, then they get behind in their training.  When there's an easy way out of something hard, the temptation is great and yeah, i've been in pain but pushed on and kept training and now feeling better.  Still got blisters and knee pain but I'm not dead so I'm going to keep kicking. 
 Here, you also learn that you're on God's time and will.  There are guys who have been here for 6-12 months for various medical reasons and who knows what else.  Our guide, or platoon leader, has been here for 5 months because he dislocated his knee trying ti flush a toilet with his foot.  His girlfriend gave birth to his first son 2 months ago.  He was supposed to be home before she had the baby.  The other day at PT, he jacked it up again and was dropped....again.  No one wants to be here longer than the 13 weeks but we all want to learn as Marines.  Tomorrow we have Initial Drill before we begin Phase II.  We are prepared and our Senior DI legitimately believes we'll break records.  The other platoons are sure worried and the entire Depot is talking about us.  To hype us tonight we were given tons of free time and they've been playing music.  It feels so good to hear music again!  It also feels good to be able to smile and laugh.  Tonight I even got to take a full 1-minute shower and got more than 25 seconds to shave!  It felt so awesome!  Don't take anything for granted!  Well that's it for now, more to come later.  Feel free to write me.  Getting mail is the best! 
Semper Fidelis, OORAH!
Jaxon

Hello anyone reading this,

I'm towards the end of my 3rd week of 12, only 9 more to go!  We are starting Phase II now.  Time is weird.  Sometimes it feels like time is going by so slowly and other times quickly.  My voice is beyond shot, my throat hurts all the time especially in the mornings.  Of course we are still expected to scream loudly so our voices can't seem to heal.  

Sometimes when I'm sitting there doing whatever training, I think "why is this so hard!" Then I remember this is Marine Corps Boot Camp...haha!  We have 5 Drill Instructors.  2 younger ones that are insane, 2 older ones that are more calmer and 1 senior one that really wants us to graduate and protects us from the younger 2.  Needless to say, he saves us a ton.  

Sometimes training is actually fun.  Today we did a really cool obstacle course.  Yesterday we did an assault course with our kevlar helmets, flak vests and rifles.  It was a killer but cool.  The hardest part of training is staying awake during classes.  We have about 3-4 hours of class a day.  Yes I know, that's less than a school day but it feels longer than a school day.  Glad I did a semester at college before this to get used to having to learn things quickly.  In a few weeks we have a big written and oral exam and we are expected to know more stuff than learn in a whole semester, it's crazy.  

In 4 weeks we do shooting, field stuff, the Crucible and then come back as real Marines.  Before we go there in 4 weeks, we have Initial and Formal Drill, swim weeks, more obstacle courses, rappelling and all sorts of stuff.  

You know what's cool about Boot Camp?  I'm getting paid to be here! But, you really earn the money here.  Nothing here is given, it literally has to be earned...literally everything! Well, that's the end of this post....more fun stories next time.  Love you all.  Hope you will write to me, getting mail is awesome!  Stay humble and enjoy life.  

Sincerely,

Recruit Jaxon Tubbs