Hello all!
7 weeks down and 3 to go! D minus 20! I am doing great. Vital signs: 91.9 GPA (4th in platoon), weight 200lbs (was able to stop dramatic weight loss from first few weeks), no probation or review boards, and no serious injuries. 5th Platoon is down to 34 of an original 55 Candidates.
Training is changing. This is where OCS really begins to distinguish itself from the recruit training that occurs in San Diego and Paris Island. In this phase of training the Drill-Instructors have begun to back off and let Candidates run training. This is to evaluate their leadership potential and see how self-motivated we are. If you can’t handle your leadership billets or start slacking off too much, you go home. That being said, it isn’t getting easier. With greater freedom come much higher expectations. The physical challenges are increasing in duration and intensity.
The real physical challenge of the first few weeks was the sheer amount of running, marching, and PT combined with sleep deprivation. Any one workout wasn’t unbearable, it’s just that the constant onslaught of physical activity never ended. They don’t technically use “incentive training” (punitive push-ups/ running) here at OCS like they do at the recruit depots. However, if drill looked sloppy discipline and motivation were often to be “found” at the far end of the parade deck.Funny. Now we get a little more sleep (5-7 hours a night), we don’t have to go searching too much for motivation, but PT and hikes are much tougher. The expectations are growing. Most of our PT now is done in boots and utes (i.e. boots, cammie pants and a t-shirt), and we generally run with rifle and an ammunition vest. Last Saturday we did a 2.5 mi obstacle course in this get-up.
On Monday we had the “Muscular Endurance Course” (this was done slick, i.e. running shoes and short shorts). I haven’t had sweat sting my eyes this bad that I can remember. It was a series of callisthenic exercises separated by about ¼ runs. I ended up getting in a sprint battle with our Platoon Commander, Capt. Lasley on the parade deck. He is a pretty good role model, especially because he does PT with us. Anyway, I managed to beat him on almost all of the 50 yard dashes.
That evening we went into the field for something called the “Night Infiltration Course”. It was squad level exercise where we practiced moving a squad through the woods under darkness to assault an “enemy” position. It wasn’t physically demanding, but required a helluva lot of concentration to keep the team together. Every now and then they would detonate and ear splitting “artie” simulation round, or a massive flare. We have a pretty strong squad (12 of us) and a really solid fire team (my group of 4). Everybody pretty much knows what’s going on so we were successful.
On Tuesday we had pugil-stick battles. We got suited up in a football helmet, flak jacket and had simulated bayonet fights with a padded stick. My platoon won the competition. In my first fight I beat the living day lights out of my opponent with the butt-stock of my weapon. No strategy, I just proceeded to thump him in the most expeditious manner possible. My "kill shot" was an unobstructed strong-side haymaker to the side of the head. The drill-instructors and officers got a big kick out of it. On my second fight I was beating so bad on my opponent that his own drill instructors were harassing him: “hey Duval, why you getting your *#@% beat!”. It wasn’t really much of a fight. I just walked up to him and started thrashing him Senator Sumner style with the butt-stock. The instructors don’t like to call the fight early though so they let it run on. My opponent managed to graze my face mask in between blows. They called it in his favor (in part to keep the platoon competition even) but rest-assured he didn’t walk away with his pride intact. My platoon-mates were laughing when I stepped out of the ring.
The rest of the week was pretty routine. We had lots of class. On Friday We had a squad run. We didn’t call cadence for some reason which ruined my day.
As we head into the home stretch I am really looking forward to the personal development aspect – to actually becoming a Marine. To be honest some of the time here I am just putting one foot in front of the next. I’m certainly in a good way, but it’s hard to keep super motivated for 18 hours a day for 10 weeks straight. The long slow grind is not always conducive to that feeling. At some point you go a little numb. That’s why I look forward to those squad runs etc. to replenish that moto.
In any case I want to finish strong. The next few weeks could just be the tail end of going through the motions, or could really be a special experience. I want to make ‘em count. I want to feel like I’m becoming a Marine. The good news is that the final few weeks are really designed to facilitate this transition. It is filled with wooded exercises, drill competitions, battalion runs, field meets etc. It will still be physically demanding, but it’s the sort of stuff that is pretty exciting.
The weather has gotten much warmer. The end of October and beginning of November were pretty fierce. Before they authorized cold weather gear it was miserable at times. I can tell you with absolutely certainty that an M16 will turn the same temperature as the outside air in about 15 minutes. Temperature and conduction – science can be a real pain sometimes. That means when it’s 30 degrees outside and you have bare hands, it’s like picking up a block of ice. However, as I said, the weather has pleasantly moderated. We haven’t even needed our windbreakers – not to mention gloves and beanies – most of the time. To be honest, we couldn’t ask for better weather. Food continues to be mediocre, but I am not wasting away anymore (ranch dressing is a helluva weight gainer supplement).
Thank you for all of your letters. It is pretty cool to get something nearly every night at mail call.
Not too much else to report. Please excuse any grammar errors, I had to punch this thing out pretty quick.
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