Wed T8 and Thursday T9

Hello all you people out there in "Bloggerdom"...  This has truly been a good experience for me to write my thoughts and share what my (our) recruit, SaraBeth, has been doing day in and day out.

But first, last evening for the first time I went "high tech" and joined a chat room on www.marineparents.com for parents of current recruits in SD (SanDiego) or PI (Parris Island).  Wow!  Talk about high speed... I told everyone before the chat room closed that for me it was a great lesson in speed reading and multitasking... both good for this old boy, ha!  I got a host of lol's and comments that most of them had never done anything like chatrooms either.  One mom said she knew guys could multitask already...said her hubby was in the other room watching the game and flipping through comic books at the same time, ha... I was outnumbered so my replies were more benign than if I knew them all personally, right?!

There were no parents on the chat last night with a daughter in Sara's platoon, 4024, but there was a mom with a gal one week ahead of Sara that is actually upstairs to where Sara is and a Dad with a daughter one week behind her.  It was good for me to be encouraged by those that are ahead and to be able to encourage those just behind me in this...ummm... adventure.

It was also good to realize that my experience up till now is not unique at all.  Everyone gets to ride the same rollercoaster.  Wheee! Once again, I am amazed at the "family" that forms around the military.

I wrote Sara today that she is learning principles that can and will lead her to greatness.  She is at the point of crossing over into a life of new habits.  These new habits are less motivated by impulse and more and more find root in the core values of Courage, Honor and Commitment. 

Yesterday and today, T8 and T9, Sara's classes covered Marine Corps History 1889 to 1938, USMC Mission and Organization,  the core value Courage, Terrorism Awareness, and Leadership.  She had First Aid III, and I am sure started the days with some fun Combat conditioning (PT).  She will be ready for her 3.0 mile march coming up this Saturday (T11).  During her Marine Corp Martial Arts training, in addition to working on the skills already taught, Sara was introduced to Falls and Leg Sweeps.

Her history lessons covered the  (1) Spanish American War, (2) The Boxer Rebellion, (3) Central America and the Caribbean, (4) Development of Marine Corps Aviation (which I am certain perked her ears up), (5) World War I, (6) After World War I till 1938 and, (7) Amphibious Development.

The Marine Corps Mission is to provide power projection from the sea by utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces from the sea, or by strategic air lift through the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, or MAGTF.  The MAGTF appears to be where Sara is heading based on her MOS. 

Courage is the heart of the Marines Core Values.  Courage is the mental, moral, and physical strength ingrained in Marines to carry them through the challenges of combat and the mastery of fear; to do what is right; to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct; to lead by example, and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure. It is the inner strength that enables a Marine to take that extra step.

During her class on Terrorism Awareness, the class Instructors discussed the definition of terrorism, terrorism operations, and self-protection from terrorist attacks.

Sara's leadership potential is a skill that begins to be developed even this early. She has learned and will practice the eleven Leadership Principles, such as “Know yourself and seek self-improvement,” “Know your Marines and look out for their welfare,” and “set the example.” She is also learning and will practice the fourteen Marine Corps Leadership Traits: Dependability, Bearing, Courage, Decisiveness, Endurance, Enthusiasm, Initiative, Integrity, Judgment, Justice, Knowledge, Tact, Unselfishness, and Loyalty.  Her first written exam is a few days off still (T24).  So much head knowledge.... wasn't it JFK who said that "Learning and Leadership are indispensable to each other"?  Yep!

Recruits in various classes including the MCMAP techniques of falling, leg sweeps, and throws.

 
Throws and leg sweeps apply the principles of balance, leverage, timing, and body position to upset an opponent's balance, gain control, and take him to the ground. Falls teach recruits the proper technique for how to land on the ground if they become off balance, or they themselves are thrown by an opponent. Marines will never have the opportunity to choose their enemies on the battlefield and will need the skills to handle any situation with any opponent.