USMC
The United States Marine Corp has always been a service based on Honor, Courage, Pride, Commitment. This is why I joined.
The Few. The Proud.
In June 2001, I made the decision to join the Marine Corp and I enlisted out of Mansfield in the Delayed Entry Program. The program allowed me to attend Marine Corp functions on the wkds. while still in high school. It also took a year off my inactive reserve contract. On June 10th, I left for boot camp, the day after I graduated high school. I officially began boot camp on June 14th.
Boot Camp
Boot camp in the Marine Corp is supposed to be the hardest, and it is the longest. This is what I want. I wanted the Marine Corp to change me into a man. 13wks. in Parris Island, South Carolina of Drill Instructors, tedious step by step instructions, and being made to feel worthless before being given any respect. Physically I did fine, I was tested daily, but was able to keep my own. Mentally, I was fine until graduation. There were a few guys in my platoon that didn't cry when they graduated, but I assure it's because they didn't put forth an effort. In truth boot camp now is easier then it was 10yrs or 20yrs ago. The DI's can't punch you, etc. and are required to give you 3 meals a day and 8hrs of sleep. That doesn't mean that you get it, it means that it was available to you until someone screwed up. Stories of the quarterdeck and house of pain and the the pit have lived on, and have confused the civilian public. They don't understand what it is, and it's not really possible to explain.
My trouble came in swim week and a little bit with drill. Swimming is not something that I have a lot of confidence at since without my contacts I can't even see 4ft in front me. Drill is something that I had to work at, and eventually did alright at. I'm not really sure why I had so much trouble with it. I guess it just wasn't me.
School of Infantry
SOI is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina at Camp Geiger. 8wks of infantry tactics, marksmanship skills, and is absolutely nothing like boot camp. In school, you've already proven yourself as a Marine, so now you're just learning your job. We usually went to the field for 1-3 days, and then were back in garrison getting classes the rest of the time. Weekends were all ours, and Eric, Hopkins, and myself usually were out in town, either eating, going to the mall, or the arcade that we found after a few wks. It was a good time, and we all thought that the fleet would be highly similar.
The Fleet
Upon receiving my orders to 29 Palms, California, I along with nearly everyone in my class was highly disappointed. We were east coast Marines dreaming of being stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC. But, it wasn't meant to be. After a 10day leave block we all met in San Diego for the bus ride to 29 Palms. Arriving in the middle of the night we were shown rooms, and were told to be up at 0530 standing in formation at the back of the barracks. After a week of processing, the battalion came back from the field. The had been doing "Squad Competence", a five day training event that I would hear about for months to come.
We were boots. It didn't matter that we had graduated boot camp, we were new, and junior to all others. Consequently, time off was something we didn't see a lot of. Even when all work had just been done, it would be done again just to make sure it was done correctly. Eric and Daniel were in 3rd LAR, and after that first night back, I lost contact with both of them. December came, and with that Christmas leave. I had no days earned, and so I volunteered for 21days recruiter's assistance in Mansfield, Ohio (about 30mi from home). Upon getting home I was so happy to be back. I hated the corp, I hated the infantry, and I wasn't fitting in well with the guys in my platoon. Most were alcoholics, smokers, and people that outside of work I would never associate with.
On Jan 30, 2003 we deployed to Kuwait for preparation of our invasion into Iraq. D-day came on March 19, I had been attaches to a security team for the supply trains. Not the front lines, but I felt comfortable being there as chemical warfare was my number one fear. We received contact multiple times and took a few serious casualties. Yet there was little left for anyone after the tanks ripped across the country. The war ended on April 20, and we began waiting for buses to take us to Kuwait. We sat in Diwaniyah for 30days all sick from the water and food and heat. Dysentery ran rampant, and our energy levels were completely diminished. Around May 24th, we touched down in the states. 1st Marine Division General Maddis told us that we did a great job to be written in the history books, and that we would never again go back to Iraq. HAHA.
In Mid-June a Marine from my platoon brought a familiar face to our barracks. Eric had been in Iraq on almost the same time frame I had. I'd seen him twice and talked with him briefly, but in my stupid awe, didn't ask what company he was in in 3rd LAR. We were reunited, and stories were told. That was when I found out about Daniel, and suddenly being back in the states didn't feel as good. Yet I counted my blessings, said a prayer, and told Eric that it wouldn't happen to us.
Eric's mother had graduated from Ashland University as a teacher, and her best friend (also a teacher) had moved out to San Diego. Barb, is just great. Living in a condo in Del Mar, Eric and I stay in a spare bedroom on the weekends, and then in turn take Barb out to a Five-Star restaurant. Through these weekends, and living the "high life", Eric and I have developed a very expensive taste for lifestyle, including food, clothing, and everything else that goes along with it.
In Dec. 2003 I deployed with Battalion 3/4 to Okinawa, Japan on a (7) month deployment. It was rumored that we would go to Iraq part way through, and we had all come to terms with this. On Feb 15th we left Okinawa and headed for Kuwait. March 4 we crossed into Iraq and began the convoy 2.5day convoy north to Al Asad Air Base. NW of Baghdad by 120miles, I believe this is the biggest Iraqi Air Base in the country.
March 12 2004 until July 10th, my platoon was attached to the regiment as a reaction force. At a moment's notice we were to be at a landing pad ready to get on helicopters and do whatever needed done. This included reconnaissance of downed aircraft, working with special forces, interdicting vehicles and other little odd jobs that needed to be done.
In July, Battalion 3/4 ended their (7) month deployment, and I requested to change units to the parent regiment. There I was put in the company office. We were almost all infantry and had made our way to working for a Captain, a First Sergeant, and a Gunnery Sergeant. Work was minimal and mostly more annoying then anything. Yet in Nov 04, 7th Marines was called upon to take Fallujah, one of many units there, we loaded up everything and headed down. There, the First Sergeant and Captain were given two humvees to do missions in Fallujah. We were just north of the city during the initial siege, and encountered our own resistance from northern suburbia. Daily we made trips into downtown Fallujah. Setting up police stations, hospitals, and escorting higher-ups around the city. It kept us busy and contact was minimal, but always was a realistic idea.
In Dec. I was sent to the states for 15 days on a mandatory break from Iraq that everyone got at some point in time if they were to be deployed more then a year straight. I was able to be home for christmas and new years, which meant a lot to my family. Upon getting back to Iraq, I was moved to the operations center, where I worked as a journal clerk for the senior watch officer. It was 8 or 12hr shifts where nothing would happen, and then everything would happen. The middle of march came, and we left Iraq for good to come home.
April 2nd to May 1st, I was able to spend with my family and just have the greatest time. It was rough being gone for so long and 15days in the middle really didn't do a thing for me. But I accomplished a lot of goals this leave block and had a lot of fun.