A Marine Recruit's Basic Training
There are sometimes many long, days & even weeks of wondering while waiting to receive word from the recruit and from home.
The first 2-3 weeks is really the hardest for them, due to all of the adjustments they have to make upon arrival. Once adjusted to the drastic & very precise change, it usually gets much easier for most of the new recruits.
They will not watch TV, or listen to any music other than the U.S.M.C. Military Band. The only other songs they will hear are the ones they'll be singing or chanting while they run & march. Nor will they be allowed to leave off the base(s) during their whole basic training. Unless of course, that they are with military personnel.
Marine Recruits will also be restricted from all products containing sugar while training. This means no candy or softdrinks will be given to them by any military personnel during this time. They will not even be allowed to purchase any of these items until week 12. At this time, it will be the DI Dinner & Liberty Day, which takes place the last 2 days before their Friday Graduation. They can either purchase or be given these items at these times. Parents bring lots of candy or other snacks that your (Marine now) enjoys & dearly missed.
They are allowed to receive treats such as brownies, cakes, candy etc.
by mail, which they will only be allowed to eat during their 1 hour of free time & all that is remaining will be disposed of immediately
afterwards. They are normally allowed to share the treats received by
mail with fellow buddies in his/her platoon, but that will be up to the discretion of their Sr DI, as everything always is.
This is why so many recruits write home with different detailed letters. Not all recruits share the same experiences, therefore; this is only generalized information. Some of these instances may vary, some can be better & some are worse, but in whole these are the basic formalities.
No recruit will be allowed to consume any alcohol or tabacco products
of any kind, "At All", what so ever during their 13 weeks of training.
These Recruits will undergo a multitude of training procedures that
will effect them mentally, physically, emotionally & spiritually as
well. It is so important that they receive letters from family members & friends as often as possible. They get the much needed moral support & words of encouragement that comes with those letters.
On the other hand, parents are left wondering what their recruit might be enduring, if they are okay or sick, among a number of thoughts racing through their minds. It's the not knowing that's the hardest part of all. The detachment is usually much harder for parents, because some of them receive letters of dispair & maybe they won't hear anything more for atleast a week or longer. Not being able to touch or talk to them for so long can be very heavy on the heart.
This is a "Happy" and "Very Emotional" event for parents, when their sons & daughters become such "Outstanding Adults".
So many of the recruits who are now Marines, maintain an astonishing, positive outlook & attitude, while appearing very dignified as they display their impecable manners. These young men & women have undergone such a tremendous amount of change, and are now with a newfound direction in their lives.
I am, as well as All other parents of a Marine, willingly admit with extreme pleasure, that we are "Honored" to be the Parents of Sons & Daughters who are "One Of The Few", "One Of The Proud", "A United States Marine"!
"OOHRAHHHH"
The information below was obtained from my own experience & knowledge I gained through letters from my son during bootcamp & his first leave home from bootcamp.
Many recruits write detailed letters & come home telling many stories about bootcamp. Not all recruits share the same experiences, therefore; this is only generalized information. Some of these instances may vary, some can be better & some are worse, but in whole these are the basic formalities.
This event can be one of the hardest times in both the parents & sons/daughters lives.
Not only because of the seperation, but mainly from the lack of the
ability to communicate verbally & a poor communication through letters to & from one another during this time.
Through letters is the only way of communicating the recruits & parents have during his/her whole 13 weeks of basic training.
It is normal that the first letter(s) a new recruit will recieve is usually between 2-3 weeks after he/she has been gone. The letters they write can also be very short, few & far in between during this time. Recruits train so vigorously during training & only have 1 hour of free time a day, which isn't totally free. They have to wash their clothes, shine their shoes, clean their lockers, etc. & prepare themselves for the next day. Therefore, the constant activity that they maintain, rarely leaves much time for them to write or to answer all questions they are asked in the letters they receive. Also be well advised that all letters and pictures they receive must always be of good taste. No pornography of any kind is ever allowed.
It has become enjoyable for many recruits in their remaining weeks, even though it is highly structured & quite physically demanding. The proper type of this ongoing training gives them great discipline & helps build their self esteem so durabely, that it's next to impossible to destroy.
Other than a Family Emergency, the only chances of a recruit talking
on the phone is by winning "A Phone Call" during PRAC WEEKS 1 & 2.
This is when all the platoons have competitions among one another. The platoon that wins the most events overall also wins a
(10 minute only) phone call. These events will usually take place approximately just before & right after they are midway in their training weeks.
They are so "Proud" of who they are & what they have become. They have developed such an "Honor & Respect" for one another, that they have created a bond among themselves that lasts for an eternity, known as "The Brotherhood Among Marines".
