Leadership Stories - My Marine Corps Boot Camp Experience – Page 9

This is a continuation -Page #9- 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 flag was scarlet red with gold edges with our platoon number, 1094, across the middle in bold white colors. Platoon 1094 would become our identity to the other platoons attending boot camp.

As we began it was just like what I expected. The DI started calling out cadence. During a run what made that fun was we also got to participate by echoing back what they called out. It was a real motivator at least to me.

The idea is to keep everyone in step. So you they calling out a phrase or words your right or left foot hits the ground. But you would do this according to however the DI called it out.

Here is just one example of several.

The DI would call out "I know a girl from a Mississippi town". Then all of us would sing that very loudly. Then the next line was "She makes her living going up and down". Then again we sang that back loudly. The next line was "Elevator Operator". Again, we repeated it back. The next line was "Deep Sea Diver". The next line was "That's my girl". The final line was "From a Mississippi town".

Keep in mind that you called out a word when your foot hit the ground. The point was to keep your mind occupied while at the same time, keeping us in step. It was fun.

There were a lot of them.

I wasn't sure what to expect the first time out, but based on everything else that took place prior to this, I'm sure it would be another test of wills. Unless they had to pick my cold dead body off the ground, I was not going to give in.

For the most part the run was flat. I was actually enjoying it. We were able to see quite a bit of the area. We ran by the obstacle course. Now that looked like a good time.

Each step that we took my boots got just a lit bit heavier. My breaths got just a little bit deeper. I suppose we had gone about two miles or so and some of my fellow recruits were starting to fall behind.

We then had to circle around them in formation at a slower rate, but still running. I don't remember specifically how many had fallen behind, but it was annoying. Didn't they think that we would be doing this? Why hadn't they prepared themselves for this?

We learn in life that many times we can be absolutely ready, but a team member holds us back. Don't stop running though. Even if you have to keep the same energy level going, don't leave them behind. A team is a team. Everyone has different abilities. Capitalize on those abilities.

You will have time to excel when you are asked to perform individually. But, when you are asked to perform as a team, be a Team!

The DI did not make it very enjoyable for those that fell behind. But, we just kept circling around them all the way back to the starting point.

I was determined to never be one of those that fell behind!

I don't know how far we ran, but I knew then that I could do more without any problems. I was prepared.

But, once back, it was off to the PIT again. The reason! For the recruits that fell behind!

The DI let us all know why we were there. Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing for the leader. Not so much for the ones targeted!

I guess we spent about an hour or so there again. We did everything from the four count bend and thrusts to four count push ups. Even four count jumping jacks became almost impossible when you did so many you wanted to collapse onto the ground.

Just like before, every time we got close to ten, someone was doing them wrong and we had to start over.

During this era of boot camp, letting us drink water was a real privilege. We had not had a drink since just prior to leaving for the run. Not until we got back to the squad bay did we get our first drink, and it tasted like heaven.

That night at Chow I was so hungry that I would have eaten dead bugs, cardboard, or anything else you placed in front of me. Unfortunately, we were only allowed one trip through the line, and one glass of milk, juice, or water. I thought for a minute about eating my metal spoon and fork, but decided against it. Probably would be a trip to the PIT for destruction of government property!

When we sat to eat, we were not to remove our eyes from our tray! We were not to speak! Just eat! Wait to be dismissed individually! Out to do as many pull ups as possible. Then fall into formation and wait for the remaining platoon members.

I looked so forward to meal time. I was always hungry there. Even though I love women, just ask my wife, I thought of cookies and ice cream when my mind was idle.

That night like all other nights we had to lay in our racks at attention even after the lights went off. To this day my wife tells me I lay at attention in bed. Old habits are hard to break.

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