So I am a Marine now! Just posting this to let you know that I'm alive and well. I am so happy right now, I finally did it and I am a US MARINE! The Crucible was something else, I will tell more about that later. Tell everyone I made it, I love them, and I'll be back soon! This is the beginning. I have much to say soon, not much time right now but will see you soon, can't wait :-)
Private First Class J R Tubbs
We are proud of Jaxon. In the last year of high school, he had a major hand surgery that threatened to derail his course of becoming a Marine. He also had asthma that he'd have to prove he had overcome. Added to these, Jaxon made the weight minimum for military entry by a mere 5 pounds...meaning he'd likely be one of the smallest recruits in his company. So when these physical challenges stand in the way of a major goal, the measure of a man is by the heart he brings to the fight. What manner of heart; what courage, fortitude, determination, spiritual wellness, and mental toughness would he have to reach this lofty goal of serving his country as a US Marine. We now have an answer. For that we are proud of him and say Semper Fi!
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
We have a Marine!
In the wee hours of the morning, Recruit Tubbs was awakened and began his last march. Several miles, hills and obstacles later he would complete the Crucible. Recruit Tubbs is now Private First Class Jaxon Tubbs, United States Marines. He did it! We haven't spoken with him but a post was made to the Marine Facebook page that stated his Platoon had finished.
After they were given their anchor globe and eagle emblem, they were treated to a Warrior Breakfast. After their starvation, I'm sure they put a hurt on some breakfast. The post also said we'd likely get to speak with him on Sunday. Should be great.
After they were given their anchor globe and eagle emblem, they were treated to a Warrior Breakfast. After their starvation, I'm sure they put a hurt on some breakfast. The post also said we'd likely get to speak with him on Sunday. Should be great.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
The War
Jaxon is incommunicado as he is in the throngs of The Crucible. His adventure began at 0200 this morning (that's 2:00 am) when they were awakened and began a 6-mile march loaded down with all their gear. Several obstacle courses were on the menu for the day to include doing obstacles while carrying stretchers, weapons and ammo. He also gets to endure many hand-to-hand battles. The day will end when they will sleep from 1200-0400; meaning they will have been going strong for nearly 24 hours to get a small reprieve of 4 hours of sleep. Tomorrow will see another rigorous schedule while the sleep deprivation and lack of food builds. Rain and cold are in the forecast.
Why would anyone choose to do this? Kids his age are enjoying their young life, not asking for this kind of torture. But, if young men like him won't choose this, who will? The amazing thing about freedom is that we get to choose not to even defend it. We think it's honorable and necessary to serve in the military, as long as it's not me or my kid. Jaxon chose this path, even when his parents were trying to pull the reigns tighter and steer him in another direction....at least to consider other directions. Soon, we will be asleep in our warm bed while he's still in the mud struggling to complete the day's tasks.
The military doesn't have a monopoly on service and sacrifice. Law enforcement, teachers, doctors & nurses, missionaries, and many charities are just some of the other pathways of people who serve. Great is the person who will sacrifice a warm bed for mud, for a patient, for a student, for a brother or sister, or for a flag. Jaxon has chosen his path for now and other pathways will no doubt follow. In about 48 hours he will be a United States Marine. His Mom and I are truly proud of him, not only because he'll be a Marine but because he chose his pathway; not to be easy but to be hard.
Why would anyone choose to do this? Kids his age are enjoying their young life, not asking for this kind of torture. But, if young men like him won't choose this, who will? The amazing thing about freedom is that we get to choose not to even defend it. We think it's honorable and necessary to serve in the military, as long as it's not me or my kid. Jaxon chose this path, even when his parents were trying to pull the reigns tighter and steer him in another direction....at least to consider other directions. Soon, we will be asleep in our warm bed while he's still in the mud struggling to complete the day's tasks.
The military doesn't have a monopoly on service and sacrifice. Law enforcement, teachers, doctors & nurses, missionaries, and many charities are just some of the other pathways of people who serve. Great is the person who will sacrifice a warm bed for mud, for a patient, for a student, for a brother or sister, or for a flag. Jaxon has chosen his path for now and other pathways will no doubt follow. In about 48 hours he will be a United States Marine. His Mom and I are truly proud of him, not only because he'll be a Marine but because he chose his pathway; not to be easy but to be hard.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Thursday, March 15, 2018
The End Is In Sight
The End is in Sight!
As you have likely noticed, there haven't been recent updates to Jaxon's blog. Towards the end of February, Jaxon's platoon moved to a part of Camp Pendleton where they started doing more field exercises. We were told by the Marines that once this happened, the mail from our recruit would become infrequent. They were right. We haven't heard much from him. But, what we have heard we will share.
This past week, Jaxon was on Fire Patrol....which is akin to Guard Duty. While on duty, he heard a loud crash come from the area of the latrine. He ran there to find the source of the noise when he came upon a fellow recruit on the floor having a seizure. He acted quickly by rolling the young man over, clearing his airway and giving him assistance while he directed another recruit to call for help. Help arrived and the recruit received medical attention. Jaxon said the young man is ok but didn't state whether he was allowed to continue in his training. He did say however, that the doctor credited his quick action and response to saving the young man's life. How cool is that? I will be curious to find out if he thinks his Marine training or perhaps his scout training prepared him for this event. Maybe both? Either way, I can say that his scout training has been a huge factor in his success so far. I would also say his AF Marching Band experience has also played a key role in preparing him.
After telling us about the seizure event, he told us that they were in the field doing weapons exercises when someone's weapon sent a round about 2 ft from Jaxon's head. How not-so-cool is that!
3 weeks from today he graduates. Next week is The Crucible.....which is the biggest event at Boot Camp that they've been building towards. At the end of that week and with successful completion of The Crucible, he will shed the title of Recruit and assume the title of Marine! He'll still have a couple weeks to finish but he will have earned a title that has meant much to him, and achieved a goal as an 18-yr old that is mighty impressive. As a military vet, I truly wish nobody's child ever had to serve in a military. But, it's a reality that we are faced with due to the world we live in. I hope Jaxon never tastes the bitterness of combat....but it's a reality that we will likely be faced with. Can't even express how proud of our son his Mother and I are! Semper Fi!
As you have likely noticed, there haven't been recent updates to Jaxon's blog. Towards the end of February, Jaxon's platoon moved to a part of Camp Pendleton where they started doing more field exercises. We were told by the Marines that once this happened, the mail from our recruit would become infrequent. They were right. We haven't heard much from him. But, what we have heard we will share.
This past week, Jaxon was on Fire Patrol....which is akin to Guard Duty. While on duty, he heard a loud crash come from the area of the latrine. He ran there to find the source of the noise when he came upon a fellow recruit on the floor having a seizure. He acted quickly by rolling the young man over, clearing his airway and giving him assistance while he directed another recruit to call for help. Help arrived and the recruit received medical attention. Jaxon said the young man is ok but didn't state whether he was allowed to continue in his training. He did say however, that the doctor credited his quick action and response to saving the young man's life. How cool is that? I will be curious to find out if he thinks his Marine training or perhaps his scout training prepared him for this event. Maybe both? Either way, I can say that his scout training has been a huge factor in his success so far. I would also say his AF Marching Band experience has also played a key role in preparing him.
After telling us about the seizure event, he told us that they were in the field doing weapons exercises when someone's weapon sent a round about 2 ft from Jaxon's head. How not-so-cool is that!
3 weeks from today he graduates. Next week is The Crucible.....which is the biggest event at Boot Camp that they've been building towards. At the end of that week and with successful completion of The Crucible, he will shed the title of Recruit and assume the title of Marine! He'll still have a couple weeks to finish but he will have earned a title that has meant much to him, and achieved a goal as an 18-yr old that is mighty impressive. As a military vet, I truly wish nobody's child ever had to serve in a military. But, it's a reality that we are faced with due to the world we live in. I hope Jaxon never tastes the bitterness of combat....but it's a reality that we will likely be faced with. Can't even express how proud of our son his Mother and I are! Semper Fi!
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