Our remaining time with the Marines found us doing some close order drilling (our version of it), close combat, shooting guns, and obstacle course. We saw the indoor simulator gun range, the outdoor range, the squad room, the mess hall, the flight line, and the Thunder Dome. We were able to shoot the M4 indoors and the M16 outdoors. THAT WAS AWESOME!!! The M4 had a scope. It helped ALOT! The M16 had iron sights. I struggled. The Martial Arts Instructors showed us close combat. And, we got to battle them with pugil sticks to mimic strikes with a bayonet and rifle butt. That was exhausting but so cool! 30 seconds never seemed so long. The MAI explained and demonstrated the obstacle course. We got to try a few of the "easier" ones. Judas...need to get back on the dedicated and intense workout wagon...
The group watched parts of the Crucible. The Crucible, the final test in recruit training, represents the culmination of all of the skills and knowledge of a Marine. The Crucible is a rigorous 54-hour field training exercise and includes a total of 48 miles of marching. It simulates typical combat situations with strenuous testing, hardship, and the deprivation of food and sleep. The test emphasizes the importance of teamwork in overcoming adversity. A recruit gets three MREs and may get four to eight hours of sleep through the entire event. The recruits are faced with physical and mental challenges that must be accomplished before advancing further. Teamwork is stressed; as the majority of tasks are completely impossible without it. Every recruit in each group must complete each task. The recruits must leave no one behind. This includes any “casualties.” Each group will succeed or fail as a whole. Corps' core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment are stressed. On the final day of the Crucible, recruits begin their 10 mile final march. Immediately following this, recruits are treated to a "Warrior's Breakfast." Following this is the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony where the recruits receive a plastic Eagle, Globe and Anchor and are called Marine for the first time by their DI.
We meet with Colonels, Captains, various levels of Sergeants, and recruits. The highest ranking officer to meet with us was Colonel Garbowski. He was an Iowa farm boy. He grew up in Farmington, IA. I told him I had been through there many times while living in SE Io wa. Nice guy. We ate lunch with recruits. It was sort of an odd environment. We performed our single file entrance and lined up in 2 rows facing the tables. The recruits were waiting for us. They were standing at attention beside their seat at the table. Who knows how long they had been standing there. They were required to pop off and give basic info: name, platoon, MOS, and home town. We were able to sit among them and converse. Their responses were in the third-person. This is to help reinforce the unit and teamwork. The recurits I ate with were a future infantry man and a future meteorologist/oceanography. They were great kids.
The floor was always open. We could ask as many questions as we wanted and of anyone we wanted. It was great access to the amazing facility.
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