Leadership Stories
My Marine Corps Boot Camp Experience - 3

This is a continuation -story #3 - of leadership stories on my experiences in Marine Corps Boot Camp. I will continue them through my entire experience of Marine Corps Boot Camp.

After my excruciating experience with the urinalysis, we were herded off to a squad bay that was filled with two long rows of metal framed bunk beds. On each bunk was two sheets, a pillow, pillow case, a blanket, a towel and wash cloth.

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The Drill Instructors were still full of piss and vinegar. They had us all select a bunk, which they referred to as a rack, and stand at attention in front of it.

They then barked out orders to make the bed, use the head (remember a head is a restroom) to shower and shave, and then hit the rack. Hit the rack meant that we were to go to bed.

Leadership Stories - I had a little more than peach fuzz on my face...

Now if you remember I was only seventeen years old. I had never shaved before. The fact was I had never needed to shave before. My face was still filled with a little more than peach fuzz. What a time to learn! In front of fifty-four other guys!

Guys that I would later find out from places like the streets of Chicago and New York City. Some were there because they choose this over jail. Others, because they had no other place to turn.

I was able to make my rack pretty quick and then tried to see what the herd was doing. As I watched the herd, they seemed to be stripping down to their underwear and taking their towel, wash cloth and the rest of their restroom stuff with them to the head.

Leadership Stories - I was able to see my bald head for the first time...

So I followed along with them. I entered the head and found an empty sink. I quickly claimed it as mine.

As I stood in front of the sink I looked into the mirror and I saw for the first time my bald head.

Wow! Did I look as stupid as stupid could possibly be. I found myself wanting to laugh, but held it back.

For the first time I really realized that this was for real. I was actually there. I was in the Marine Corps. No turning back now. To this point in my life I had never quit at anything. Every thing I did, I was successful at.

Leadership Stories - I was finally starting to get excited...

But this wasn't just anything now. This was the biggest test of my life.

I didn't know it right then, but this was going to test every bit of my character. Who was I really? I was about to find out one moment at a time!

I finished shaving for the first time and then quickly showered, and off to the rack I went. I hung my towel and clothes over the metal railing of the top bunk. I crawled into the top bunk and laid on my back and starred at the ceiling.

It wasn't long before the lights went off. I wasn't sure what time it was. The one thing that stands out in my mind now was that I just still couldn't believe this was happening. A part of me was excited now. I was actually here. No more waiting. I survived the first encounter of the Drill Instructors.

Leadership Stories - Running was never offered as an option...

You find out a lot about yourself when you experience something life changing. You find out if you are someone that will fight! Or if you are someone that will run!

My father never let me quit anything. He instilled a drive to never give up. He made me a survivor whether he knows it or not. I was not allowed to run. Running from anything was not offered up as an option. I didn't know it then, but that developed a character in me that I needed to make this experience better. If that was possible!

What was my next day going to be like? What Hell was in store for me and the other fifty-four guys that I will slowly learn to respect?

I finally fell asleep!

I WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE TO THIS STORY EVERYDAY OR SO. JOIN MY BLOG SO THAT YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE NEXT PORTION IS ADDED.

I WILL TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY BOOT CAMP EXPERIENCE.

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