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!