THE CRUCIBLE

At 2 a.m. this morning the young men of 1st Btn./Alpha Co. began their final test -- the Crucible.

The Crucible is the 54-hour culmination to the transformation of recruit training. It is a physically and mentally challenging event that involves food and sleep deprivation and the completion of various obstacles fort he potential Marine to negotiate.

Basic Facts:

• Recruits will travel 48 miles on foot during the event.
• There are 29 problem-solving exercises during the Crucible.
• It consists of 36 different stations.
• The recruits will have three meals, ready-to-eat (MREs) during the 54 hours.
• The recruits will be required to carry 45 pounds during the Crucible, in addition to 782 gear, uniform and M16 A2 service rifle weight.

After completion of this test, they will be issued their emblems (EGAs) in a private ceremony and be officially recognized as Marines for the first time.

Then, it is time for the warriors breakfast! Yummy bacon, eggs, sausage, ham, grits, oatmeal, pancakes, steak, french toast, hashbrowns, fruit, milk, juice and even SODA for the first time since they arrived on the island! MAY THEY ALL OVER-EAT!!!!!!

Good luck, men! You are in my prayers! Love you, bud! See you in 7 days!

17 Days to Graduation!

Well, we are in the final countdown....17 days until Graduation! Hard to believe I will FINALLY get to hug my young man in 16 days! He has passed every test with flying colors. We are anxiously awaiting a letter.....we know he passed the rifle range and only missed Sharp Shooter by six points. Last week was BWT Week and the scores made during firing exercises were compile with those earned on the rifle range, so we are anxious to hear what his final score was.

Last week was BWT week and I hear it can be the worst week of all! I did hear from another mother who got a letter yesterday and from what her son wrote, it sounds like it was an absolutely miserable week! Rain, mud, night maneuvers, sleeping on concrete, fire ants and sand fleas.

Next week is the Crucible. The Crucible consists of 54 hours of intense, physically demanding training, under conditions of sleep and food deprivation. There will be night forced marches, night infiltration movement, combat resupply event, casualty evacuation drill and combat field firing. You must complete the Crucible to earn the title Marine. It all culminates with the Emblem Ceremony ceremony in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. Here, the dirty, tired Recruits are3 presented with the Corps' emblem, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, by their drill instructors. They have now earned the title "Marine."

Let's keep these extraordinary young men in our thoughts and prayers as they complete the final two weeks of training! Love you, Tom!

QUAL DAY!

Just a quick note this morning. Tomorrow is Qual Day for 1st Battalion Alpha Company. This means they must pass the VERY VERY tough test on the rifle range. Please keep all the young men in your thoughts and prayers through this testing. This is make or break time. You MUST pass to earn the title Marine. The lowest for qualification as a Marine is the HIGHEST score in all other branches of the military. So, as you can see it's not an easy feat!

THIS IS MY RIFLE

The Creed of a US Marine

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I WILL...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. WE WILL HIT....

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. WE WILL...

Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. WE ARE THE SAVIORS OF MY LIFE.

So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace!

God Bless you, Tom and to all the young men of Alpha Co. "GOOD LUCK ON QUAL DAY!"

YES!!!

Got a three page letter from Tom today! It's amazing how two sentences made my week! "I miss you a lot, mom. I love you!" What more could I ask for!? Well, how about hearing that Tom as decided to take the Marine Security Guard position!? I'm just waiting now for confirmation that he actually gets it and didn't hesitate too long in making his decision.

He sounds so upbeat. Said things are getting easier every day. Has become fast friends with his rack mate. He said that the DIs don't scare them anymore. He scored 100% on his test earlier this week too.

I'm so proud of my boy. Love him and miss him so very much! But more proud than anything else! Love you, bud!

Phase II of Training Begins!

We got another letter yesterday. Tom sounds so excited and happy! He passed his swim test and his MCMAP test. He said he heard that Phase II goes by fast for the recruits. I sure hope it goes by fast for us too! They are having their photos taken this week and also get their inoculations. Oh boy, does that sound like fun, or what!? He said things are a little bit easier now and calmer. He did also mention to Brad that he will not be able to wrestle with him any more. . . .Marine Corps. regulations. Brad is a little disappointed, but he will survive! 50 days to Family Day! Love you, bud!

Woo Hoo! Another Letter!

So, we got another letter yesterday. Seems Tom's cold turned into pneumonia and he was on bed rest for a couple of days and light duty for another two. But, he is extremely upbeat and happy. He has been approached about being Marine Security Force for the President of the United States! Wow. I spoke with his recruiter and he told me it is a "good and a big thing" to do this. "Very prestigious." Tom said he's not sure he wants to do this, but did ask for our opinion. SO, I wrote him a very, very encouraging letter. This is a once in lifetime opportunity. I pray he takes it and runs with it. What an honor! I think my heart is going to burst with pride! Thomas, I love you, bud!

Missing Tom

Well, it's been about two weeks since we have gotten a letter as a family. Brad did get one last week that was dated July 4th. Tom said they didn't get to participate in any of the festivities on the island that day. :( He did also say he will be stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. He told Brad that he picked Pendleton because that way he will be close to LA when Brad hits the big time and will then be able to attend his red carpet premiers. I can see my two boys on the red carpet now! They are both destined for good things!

I've been kind of down for about a week now. Waiting to hear from Tom is hard! While I am glad that he is writing to his brother and friends, I do wish I would get a letter soon! Am I wrong and feeling somewhat miffed when I open Face Book to see shout outs to him daily along with "I got two letters from Tom today" and other various sappy statements? It's like rubbing salt into a wound. And then to hear shock in someone's tone when they ask, "You got a letter too?" or "I see he told you that too." I want to shout, "I'M HIS MOTHER. OF COURSE HE TOLD ME!" There I've said it. I'm not trying to be malicious or hurt anyone, but please c'mon, a little common sense here. He was mine for 18 years. My baby. My boy. Give me time to adjust to the fact that he is now his own man. I love my boy and he will always be my baby.

Just a letter. I just want a letter. Soon. Oh, and if you should get a letter from him, please feel free to share with me what he had to say. I will hang on every word; but, don't do it in a manner that is gloating or boasting because you got one and I didn't.

Tom, I pray for your safety and the safety of those in your platoon. Stay strong. I'm proud of you, bud! Love you!

A Letter!

We got our first REAL letter from Tom today! All the reading up I've done and preparing for the "I hate it here" letter was in vain. He said he misses us so much and can't tell me how hard it is but, "there is NO way I'm giving up." He got his M16 a few days ago and says, "Man, I love that thing." Hard to believe the kid who was playing airsoft with "toy" guns three weeks ago is in love with a REAL M16! That's my boy.

Good night, Tom. Love you!

Socks and Other Inevitibilities

This morning I washed and dried and put away the last of Tom's dirty clothes. As a parent there are things that are an inevitability. Mine has been the mysterious "missing socks." Almost weekly, I would hear, "Mom, I have no clean socks." Or, "Mom, Brad took all my socks again." With the number of new socks I have purchased over the years, I should be a voting stockholder in Hanes. Well, there are at least 15 clean pair of socks in Tom's dresser now. Not that he will ever wear them again - they are civvies and he no longer is.

My boy is now ending week 2 of Recruit Training on Parris Island. Guess I should start referring to him as "young man." Or, Tom will just have to get used to the idea that I will inevitably always refer to him as "my boy" much as my grandmother always referred to my father (Tom's namesake) as "Tommy."

From the beginning, it was inevitable that Tom was military bound. When he was two, his father and I took him to the airshow at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It was love at first sight. Tom was thrilled beyond words with the sights, smells and sounds associated with all things military. From that point on, the military had my boy's heart. Save for a few flirtations with other occupations he remained focused.

There was a period of time when Tom aspired to be a velociraptor; but, honestly, who REALLY has arms that short! Then there was the time when, upon viewing Twister for the 50th or 60th time, he announced he was changing his name to Bill when he grew up so he too could be a storm chaser. And, how could we ever forget the Apollo 13 phase? Tom Hanks, eat your heart out, my boy made one damn handsome astronaut! But, it always came back to the military.

Toy tanks, camouflage clothing, helmets, toy guns (and later air soft guns), dress uniforms have now become very real in Tom's world. I'm sure he's like a kid in a candy shop at times. This has to be the most exciting time in his life! His dreams are coming true. It was inevitable.

God Bless! Love you, Tom.

One Week Down, 12 To Go

Well, Tom's been gone a week now. Not sure what's going on for him today, as the Matrix is blank. I'm sure he's anything but bored! The week has actually gone by quickly for me and I'm hoping the remaining 12 do too! I did find out what "Female 1st Pick Up" and "Male 1st Pick Up" mean......its the initial strength testing. I knew it couldn't be as fun as it sounded! :) I did some digging on places to say when we are at Parris Island for graduation and have come across a few interesting places. I'm hoping Jeff, Brad and I can make a mini vacation out of the trip. I know Tom will be anxious to get home following graduation, so it will be a quick drive to Aunt Lori's on Friday with the remainder of the drive on Saturday. I'm sure his friends will be waiting in line to see him. Hoping that we can get a little family time in during his leave! I'm going to send off another letter in the morning and will let everyone one when I hear back. Good Night, Tom. God Bless! Love you!

Something Special by Someone Special

Tonight I'm going to share someone else's blog with you. The following was written by my son Brad's girlfriend, Shelby. Shelby has become part of our family over the past several months. She put in words, better than most of us could, the feelings we have all had from time to time in our lives. Shelby wrote this as her final and it has been posted on murmurnews.blogspot.com. The Murmur is the student newspaper at Waterford Kettering High School.

Grab some tissues and soak in the following. We love you, Shelby!

So Long, Farewell, Aufweidersehen, Goodnight

By Shelby Netschke

It's never easy saying goodbye. I guess we get attached to things and used to things, change just throws everything off balance and we don't welcome it with open arms.

But, saying a real goodbye isn't just a simple "later," when you leave to go to the grocery store. The goodbyes that hit home are the ones said to a loved one who is slowly slipping into a sleep they won't wake up from, or to your brother who is going on a no-return mission to Mars. A real goodbye is something more serious, like that. But, it could mean just about anything, really.

I'm talking about the goodbye that you know is coming. It lingers over you like a black storm cloud. It follows you with every footstep. It's always there, hiding in the shadows, ready to jump out at you, never letting you forget that it's there.

Those are the worst kind of goodbyes. You know they are coming all along. But, once you get to that point, it catches you off guard and in a loss for words, overwhelmed and stubbornly trying not to accept this slight change in your life, tears spill over and drown you in self-pity.

I had to say one of these goodbyes just the other day. I knew it was coming for months, but reality didn't sink in until a few days before it happened.

Details are not important; you and I aren't on a personal level yet. But, basically a friend left. He will be gone for a few months, be home for a few days, and then I don't really know when I, or his family, will see him next.

"It's just boot camp," they say. "His life isn't in danger. . ." yet. And "It isn't like he's dying. I know this, and his family knows this, but saying that everything is going to be okay doesn't make it so.

I didn't cry for attention, or because he is the most significant person who has ever stepped foot into my life. I cried because he was leaving the life he has always known. I cried for his family. I cried for his brother, who has to walk by his empty room every morning. I cried because I loved him like a brother, and I don't think he knows that. I cried for that little empty feeling that will be in our group of friends now that he isn't around. I did not cry for his girlfriend. I cried because he was finally fulfilling his dreams, and I couldn't be happier for him.

It's like they say, (well, I don't know who "they" are. . .) you don't realize how much someone means to you until they're gone. I do disagree with this, because if they mean something to you, you already know that, and their absence shouldn't make it clear.

I think what it really is, is that you don't realize how much people affect your life until they suddenly dip out of it, and not knowing what's next or what will happen when they are gone scares people.

I don't think the best cure is a clean break, because that's just an attempt to forget how great they were. I think the best medicine is to love your friends, write them, shed a little tear when you miss them, and remind them that they are awesome and that you will never forget them.

I'll miss you Tommy Boy. Have fun chasing your dreams. We will all write you, I promise.

And with that, Good Night and God Bless! Love you, Bud!

Thursday Evening Thoughts.....

Well, I had every intention of sitting down tonight and writing about how Tom the Marine came to be. But seeing as my better half, Jeff, brought home some yummy wine to have with dinner, and I've managed to drink half of it, I'm going to spend the evening thinking of Tom with pride and I will go to bed saying a prayer for him. I fully intend to write over the weekend. There's so much I have to say about my boy and how very very proud we all are of him. In the meantime, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Here's a photo of Tom and his brother Brad....dressed up for Halloween.....Tom was 7 when he came home and announced he wanted to be a Marine for Halloween.....pretty easy....camo, face paint, a toy gun.....nope. He wanted DRESS BLUES! Luckily, I have a little bit of creativity in me and was able to come up with this consume. Tom was so proud to wear the costume - complete with Grandpa's ribbons! Until later, God Bless! Love you, Bud!

Introduction to my Blog

This is where I will be posting daily (hopefully!) thoughts and information about my boy, Tom. Tom left for Marine Boot Camp on Monday, June 14, 2010. I suspect he is somewhere on Parris Island doing push ups or pull ups as I type this. If you are friend or family or even stranger, this is where you will get information about his progress and, if you so desire, follow my ups and downs as his mom. While I miss my boy very much, I am so very proud of him and thankful for young men and women like him. I will be back later today to add something of substance. God Bless!