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!"