Hey everyone,
I have successfully completed Marine Corps Recruit Training. On December 3rd I marched proudly across the Peatross Parade Deck with just over 100 other females and close to 400 male Marines probably thinking the same thoughts I was..."Oh God, I hope I'm in step!", "Please don't let me screw up and look stupid in front of all these people.", "Whose obnoxious family is that in the stands yelling so loud I can barely hear the commands?", "Is the bend in my knees enough to keep my legs from giving out...focus, focus, don't move, ugh my feet are killing me in these corfams, is the ceremony almost over yet", and finally "I can't believe this day is actually here; it seemed so far away 3 months ago."
First, I want to thank all of you for your letters and continued support throughout my time waiting to ship out to boot camp, during boot camp and my future career as a Marine. They helped me so much get through each day. Mail call was what we all waited for. Standing on line after our shower we would all look and listen hoping to hear our name called for a letter from home envious of those who got letters on days we didn't. I also want to thank the amazing friends I made...I couldn't have done it without you! We kept each other going and pushed each other when we thought we had nothing left to give. All of you really are like sisters...sometimes we got on each other's nerves and snapped but moved on quickly because that's what sisters do.
0200 (2am) 22 Nov 2010: "LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
That was the first word we heard the long awaited morning of the beginning of the end. We were about to embark on the most physically and mentally draining days of recruit training. "Hurry, hurry, let's go, we've got to go! NOW!" was repeated over and over again as the drill instructors tried to move us along to form up with our gear for the first hike of the Crucible. Side by side in a column of 2 both female platoons formed up just outside our squad bay wondering what the next 54 hours held. We knew we would only be getting 4 hours of sleep each night and eating only the 4 MREs issued to us the day before. "Left, left, left, right, left, round step, march!" There was no going back now. Our 6 mile hike had begun. Once we arrived at Page Field where all our exercises and activities would take place we grounded our gear and had a little time to eat. Then the fun began! Another short hike to the rifle range to complete the combat marksmanship part of our final test. an hour or so later we hiked back for more obstacles. It was the longest day we had experienced during our time on the island. Up at 0200, bed at 0000. We did get plenty of time to sit down, rest and eat. In addition to our morning hike, we did a 5 mile night hike through the woods without flashlights or anything to help us see. It was important to stay close to the recruit in in front of you because it was almost pitch black. The only light was a little glow stick on the pack of the drill instructor that looked like it was floating and bobbing though the sheet of black night. Not even her shadow was visible. We were all so exhausted by the end of the day all we wanted to do was go to bed.
Day 2 started early at 0400. We dressed, ate a little then began the activities for the day. One of our activities was evacuating a casualty 1 mile to safety. In our squad of 15 people we had to patrol our way to the casualty though a clearing in the woods. Not even 200 yards into it our drill instructor decided that during the incoming fire from the front one person didn't drop fast enough. She just happened to be the biggest one out of both platoons so we had to carry her the rest of the way. Luckily the drill instructor let us start over. Whew! It would not have been fun trying to carry her through the whole course! Once we finished all the small obstacles for the day and the sun went down we started the night assault course. Pushing a 35 lb ammo can through the sand while low crawling with your rifle and going under razor wire is not easy! After another long day bed was again at 0000. Now we all knew the obstacles part was over. We only had our 9 mile hike back to civilization. We did it in 3, 3 mile legs stopping for 10 minutes between each for our head and water calls. Maybe it was because we were all motivated to finish, but the hike seemed like nothing. The hardest part was the blisters and sharp pains that shot through your feet. Every time we stopped then started I would wobble for a little because of the pain. It was hard but focusing on putting one foot in front of the other helped keep me going until my feet went numb for that leg. Our last 3 miles we yelled cadence the whole way to let everyone know we were almost Marines. When we finally finished we grounded our packs behind the second battalion squad bays and waited for all the male platoons before going to our emblem ceremony. We had done it...the crucible was over and for the most part so was our training.
Normally the emblem ceremony is done in front of the Iwo Jima statue by the parade deck where graduation is but the schedule got moved around for the holiday. Because of a graduation we had our elsewhere. We were the first ones ever to receive our Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the yellow footprints. We had come full circle. Our transformation from civilian to Marine began on the yellow footprints when we first got off the bus and that's where it ended. It was a surreal feeling like nothing I can explain in words. There was an amazing sense of accomplishment in everyone's eyes knowing that throughout the past 3 months we had tested our minds and our bodies more than what we ever thought possible. Among all the new Marines there was not one dry eye...I think the males were actually crying more than us! Some even looked like they were going to hyperventilate from all the blubbering! After the speeches the drill instructors went one by one and handed each of us our EGA. Trying to maintain bearing and control the tears as much as possible we all clasped the treasured symbol of the Marine Corps tight in our left hands knowing we had the honor, courage, commitment and strength to begin and complete the most difficult boot camp in the military. We had all done it...stood tall and proud, earning the title of United States Marine; something only a hand full of people can say they did.
The last 10 days of boot camp were exciting and sad at the same time. The final test standing between us and finally getting to leave Parris Island was our Battalion Commander Inspection. We spent almost a whole week cleaning, ironing our uniforms and cleaning our weapons...there was no way we were going to fail and have to stay there longer. Oh no! We were so close to graduation nothing was going to stand in our way. Not the green dust bunnies under the beds, loose straps on our packs, a wrinkle in our uniform, a minute speck of carbon on our rifle or shoes even a quarter of an inch off of perfect alignment. Needless to say we all passed. Now we knew for sure we were going home...it was only a matter of time.
More about Marine week to come...stay tuned
Semper Fi!
PFC Rohrbach
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