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
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