Leadership Stories - My Marine Corps Boot Camp Experience - 4

This is a continuation -story # 4- of leadership stories on my experiences in Marine Corps Boot Camp. I will continue them through my entire experience of Marine Corps Boot Camp.

The next morning I woke up prior to any activity taking place.

After I adjusted my eyes I was able to look around a bit even though it was very dark. I heard the sounds snoring. As I looked around a bit I could see in the distance the outline of what I was sure to be about five or six Drill Instructors in their campaign hats.

About a minute later the lights went on and they began banging the tops of metal trash can lids with night sticks. The sound was deafening but you could still hear them clearly as they walked rapidly through the squad bay yelling "Get Up - Get Up!", Hurry Up - Hurry Up!".

Leadership Stories - Staring straight ahead...

They wanted us up and at attention in front of our racks.

I stood there staring straight ahead, at attention, in front of my rack, in my underwear.

Everyone was standing at attention, staring straight ahead, in front of their racks, in their underwear.

Of course we got another lecture about how pitiful we all looked and how we didn't belong in their Marine Corps. A couple guys always got special attention for one reason or another. In most cases someone would follow the Drill Instructor with their eyes, without moving their head.

Big mistake!

Leadership Stories - Sir Yes Sir...

The Drill Instructors would be allover them, and in their face! They would be asking why they were staring at them. There was never a good answer!

At this point we were instructed that we would start every sentence with "Sir", and end every sentence with "Sir". That we would speak in the 3rd person.

So if we were to address them, or anyone, it would be as such, "Sir, Private Smith requests permission to speak with Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Banks, Sir".

If we were granted permission we would continue with something like, "Sir, Private Smith requests permission to use the head, Sir".

Leadership Stories - God forbid if you started to cry...

Of course all the time you would be screaming as loudly as possible.

If they addressed you, you would respond in the same way trying to answer their question.

God forbid if you started to cry. At this point no one had!

We were instructed to use the head, get dressed, and to fall outside into formation.

As soon as they gave the word, everyone scrambled to the head and did their thing. We all scrambled back, got dressed and ran outside and into formation.

Leadership Stories - Mob – turn to your right...

It was still dark and we were all still in our civilian clothes. I will admit I had to agree with the Drill Instructors that we looked pitiful. At this point we looked like a bunch of misfits.

This was going to be our first full day. Wow!

Instead of giving us normal marching commands the Drill Instructor just said "Mob, turn to your right!"

He continued "Mob, start walking forward!"

We did this until we reached the Chow Hall.

Leadership Stories - I was jealous...

Along the way we passed other platoons that looked fantastic. They were all in uniform with starched covers (another term for hat), marching in step with the Drill Instructor calling cadence.

I was so jealous! Would we ever arrive at where they were?

At the Chow Hall we were instructed to line up front to back. We were to stand about two to three inches at attention behind the person in front of us. Once we grabbed a metal tray that had impressions for the main dish, and two side dishes.

We were to hold this vertically in front of us about chest high until we reached the food area. When we moved forward we were to take small steps while staying at attention. We were to not look around. We were to focus on the person's head in front of us.

Leadership Stories - Stare straight at your food tray and no where else...

Once we got our food we could get one cup of milk or water and sit at the very next available seat. Once seated you were to not take your eyes off your food tray. If you did you were kicked out of the chow hall and would fall back outside into formation.

Once you completed your meal you would stare at your tray until the Drill Instructor excused you. At that time you would take your tray to the dish room and fall outside into formation.

The next week was considered processing. When we finished processing we would actually start our training. This was continually stressed to us.

Each minute I was there I could tell I was being transformed. Each time I was able to survive an experience I felt that much better about myself.

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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Thank you and May God Bless You!

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