Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Hi Everyone!  Well, My younger brother just left for MCRD on Memorial Day, May 26th.  How ironic?!  I never thought I would get so emotional but I absolutely lost it!  He said his goodbyes, and then he just stood in the door way just looking around.  I could tell he was scared.  After all, he is only 19 years old (will be 20 in August) and has never been away from home.  Not to mention away from his twin brother.  I could not help but to run over to him, give him another hug and kiss and well start to cry some more!

Yesterday, Monday the 16th was 3 weeks since he has been gone.  My parents have gotten 2 letters from him and I have received one myself (I'm married and dont live at home).  His first letter to our parents was bad, well at least I thought.  That was soon showed up by his second letter which made me cry basically all day at work.  In his first letter, he said how he has found Hell on Earth.  He said that people have already attempted suicide and some have run away at night.  This was only 2 weeks into training!  He said how one of his DI hates him but the Senior DI said he was impressed with him and knows Logan will make a great Marine!  Oh yeah, they also made him a squad leader.  So that made me a little happier.  His second letter was just heart breaking for me.  He wanted to know if we had gotten his letter.  I said others were starting to get mail and he would just wait to hear his name called but it did not happen.  We got his address last Tuesday.  My mom and I already had letters written, so we immediately mailed them on Wednesday.  He also said that he believes he gets more attention than the others.  He said he had 5 DIs screaming at him at once.  Oh boy!  They made him stand in the sun for over an hour shouting AYE AYE cause he did not say it loud enough.  But he said his throat was hurting from all the yelling they have to do.  Also, they issued him a 9 1/2 size pair of boots.  He wears a 12!  Do they do this to everyone!?  I would think being that they march all day, they would want them to take care of their feet!

 I know it will get better for him, but it is so hard to hear that your brother is going through absolute hell and there is nothing you can do for him!  My family is new to the whole military life so to speak.  We have an uncle that was a Marine but years ago.  We have never been exposed to it and there is not anyone else we know who has been in the Marines.  It is kinda a scary world when you dont know what to expect from it all.  I have been doing a lot of research on the internet trying to figure out what my brother will be going through.  It makes me feel better about it but it is still hard.  I know Logan is a strong person and without a doubt can do it!  He just graduate from an intense year long police academy where he graduated in the top of his class.  I strongly believe that will help him in training.  It was not never as intense and crazy as Marine training but it has prepared him a little bit to the whole world of discipline and all.

 I'm sorry this is so long.  It feels really good to get everything out that I have been worrying about and thinking about!  If I am going through all this, I can only imagine what my mom is going through.  She tells me that you will understand one day when you have kids!  Well, I think I already do.  Thanks for listening everyone.  It is good to know that I can actually have a place to talk to others who are going through the same times!  I have no one close around here that has been through it before.  It will be nice to hear what everyone has to say from their own personal experience!  Thanks so much for listening!

Nicole

Hi Nicole. I'm no expert on this topic at all, but my husband, brother and cousin are all Marines so I seem to be surrounded. It is really hard knowing someone you love is going thorugh a hard time and not being able to do anything about it. I just recommend writing as much as you can because your brother will love those letters and support. They will help get him through. Boot camp is no joke and I remember my brother being super cranky on more than one occassion, but that is just part of the experience. Keep reminding him how proud he'll be at the end and how amazing this journey is. Let him know you love him and that you are there for him. Support is the name of the game! I don't know if this helped at all, but I'll be thinking of your family and best of luck to your brother! 

His fears and concerns are normal.  He's never been away from home and now someone is not only guiding him to stand on his own two feet but also teaching him to be one with his unit.  Alot of people are scared to death to stand on their own (which is a must in combat situations and will serve him well in life) let alone how to function cohesively with a group (again a must in most military functions as well as civilian work).  He is learning how to dig deep within himself to pull himself through and also learning how to sync up with his unit.  Both of these things will keep him alive in a combat situation.  You have to maintain yourself and also work well with your team.  One of the things that make the Marine Corps the strong brotherhood others envy is their ability to link up anywhere at anytime and be one.  I've met Marines in the airport after being delayed and others thought we were traveling together when actually we'd just met and what brought us together was them seeing the EGA on my bag.  Marines take care of one another.  Once you're part of that family, we all take care of each other and those they love.  You'll see that the first time he brings home a buddy for the holidays.  :) 

Trust me, everything he's going through now he'll look back on with a smile.  I know it seems impossible now, but he will.  The moment he is called a Marine for the first time after earning that title is what he's working toward right now.  A good idea is not to dwell on what he's experiencing when you write him back.  When he reads your letters, it's a few minutes of distraction and a moment for him to focus on something other than his day to day life.  Write him about your everyday life.  Tell him what you did that day or something funny that you saw on television.  Write about what's going on with others that he knows.  But my suggestion is not to write anything negative.  He can't focus and perform well if he's worried about you guys.  While he's there, there is nothing he can do but think about what's going on with those he loves.  Therefore, make sure you tell him everything is fine and don't cloud his mind with things you can fill him in after graduation.  Write him often and keep it upbeat.  Tell him how excited you are to see him walk across that parade deck (he'll be impressed you know what that is!).  Tell him you can't wait to hear him tell you how he felt when they place that EGA in his hand (again, he'll feel great that you guys are learning and participating in something he's committed to!), by the way EGA stands for Eagle, Globe and Anchor, which is the Marine Corps emblem.

Well, he's 3 weeks down and working up to week 4.  After week 4 he should be settled into the routine.  He'll have figured out things a little better and should know the ropes.  So the letters should start getting better and you'll sense the pride in them as the weeks go on.   Hang in there - upon graduation, he'll be connected with the family that is the Marine Corps.  Which means he'll never be anywhere that someone in the Marine Corps can't reach out to him.  I've broken down 3 hours from home and with one phone call had a Marine I've never met come out to assist.  I've also been the one to get the phone call asking if I could pick a Marine up from the airport or help out and I've been more than happy to assist.  The bonds of the Marine Corps can be found in just about everywhere you can imagine and some you can't.

Tell your brother to hang in there - he's earning a title that no one will ever take away from him.  Once a Marine, Always a Marine.

 

Thanks LIVEWIRE.  That really does help and to hear it from someone who has experienced it first hand makes it better!  We got a letter today, well actually two.  He wrote my mom and dad individually.  My mom's was a little upsetting though.  He said he has not receive any letters from us.  Only one letter from our grandmother.  That is really upsetting because I have mailed him something everyday since Thursday the 12th.  He did write his letter on the 15th though.  So, I'm sure as soon as he sent that too us, he started to receive ours.  We did not receive the letter with his address until 2 weeks into training( Tuesday 10th).  I sent my first letter out on that Thurs the 12th.  That is the bad part of snail-mail.  The info is always behind by the time you get it!  I am going to make sure to send him a letter or card everyday!  I have come to that conclusion early on.  I dont want him to ever have another day of not getting something!!!

It was really interesting to hear him write my dad.  He was saying how this coming week will be his 4th week and its swim week.  He was talking about getting to undo a button on their "blouse"  (I think that is what he said.  Dont know the Marine talk, sorry) and how it was a sign of maturation at MCRD.  His letter was already a whole lot more positive than the others.  Except for not receiving any letters.

 He also said that he was recovering from bronchitis and was in medical for 2 days.  He said he is starting to feel better but others are still real sick.  He lays in his "rack" at night and everyone is just hacking and coughing he said.  He did mention how cold it was in there at night.  How long do they have to be in medical before they will push his graduation back?

 Thanks again for all your help

Nicole

npezhoe:

  He was talking about getting to undo a button on their "blouse"  (I think that is what he said.    

When the Recruits first arrive they are required to button their Utiility Jacket all the way up to the collar whenever they wear it.  When the DI's decided that they have earned the privilege, they are allowed to leave the collar buitton opened as a signal that they are getting closer to making it.