John

[knloregon]

Never killed a deer at more than 200 yds. ----for a reason----never took a shoot at more than 200 yds. I'm obviously not former military---- but also, I never fired more than one shot in the (deer) rifle season.... know your limits, and work within them..

[Zhou Zhou]

Z'ster, were you in the service?

 

Yup...when I joined the Marines, they all said that I'd be sorry and I wuz.

[slw268]

Yup...when I joined the Marines, they all said that I'd be sorry and I wuz.

Well, John is now a Sharpshooter at 300 points, and he's pretty pumped about being a Marine.

[slw268]

Next Week

 

The Crucible

 

Day 1 Reveille (2 am) Night movement (3 am)

Recruits conduct a 6-mile hike to the Crucible site. Events 1-3 (5: 30 am - 6:30 pm)

 

Event 1 ¨C Battle of Hue City

A one-hour event in which the teams resupply water, ammunition and MREs through a course which consists of trenches, wire fences and walls. After the resupply course, teams negotiate the warrior stations below: Pfc Jenkins Pinnacle

Teams cross two horizontal cable-supported logs. Pfc Garcia's Engagement

Individuals demonstrate their knowledge of hand-to-hand combat skills, and then participate in a warrior case study of Pfc. Garcia. Lehew's Challenge

Teams of two climb over an eight-foot high horizontal log. Corbin's Convoy

Teams react to a simulated IED while on patrol.

 

Event 2 ¨C Battle of Belleau Wood: Pugil Sticks/Body Sparring Leadership Reaction Course

A three-hour event in which the teams perform six reaction course problems which test their ability to work as a team to solve problems.

 

Some of the problems include:

1. Using three wooden boards to cross a number of stumps without touching the ground.

2. Negotiating a water hole using the same wooden board concept to get from point A to point B.

3. Transporting a large container over a wall using the limited resources available.

4. Once completing the events, the teams of two face off in a pugil stick bout.

Event 3 ¨C Core Event and Warrior Stations

A one-hour event which can hold a maximum of six teams working concurrently. Noonan's Casualty Evacuation

The team will recover a downed pilot and another recruit ¡°shot¡± by a sniper and transport them over a mile of wooded terrain. Enhanced Obstacle Course

the recruits carry a dummy casualty on a stretcher and ammunition cans from one end of a standard Marine Corps obstacle course to the other, going over all obstacles. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Strikes Station -

Recruits are required to demonstrate and conduct five-minute MCMAP strikes. Core Values Station

Recruits sit inside a hut and receive information on a particular core value from their drill instructor. Night Event (8 pm - 11 pm) - Five-mile night hike with a time limit of three hours. Sleep (midnight - 4 am)

 

Day 2 Reveille (4 am) Events 4-6 (5:30 am - 6:30 pm) Event 4 ¨C Battle of Fallujah

A one-hour event in which teams resupply water, ammunition and MREs through the Combat Assault Course. Following the completion of the Battle of Fallujah, recruits negotiate a bayonet assault course and the warrior stations below: Perez's Passage

Teams cross a ¡°contaminated area¡± by swinging on ropes from ¡°safe spot¡± to ¡°safe spot.¡± Kraft's Struggle

Teams climb a 10-foot wall and climb down the opposite side by a knotted rope. John Quick Trail (Navigation Station)

Basic map reading and grid coordinate plotting will be reviewed and evaluated. Core Values Station

Recruits sit inside a hut and receive information on a particular core value from their drill instructor. Event 5 ¨C Battle of Mariana Islands

Combat Endurance Course

 

Teams have two hours to complete five events of a modified Confidence Course. The Sky Scraper

The team retrieves a ¡°wounded¡± dummy from the top of an 18-foot tower. Stairway to Heaven

Team members move two ammunition cans over the top of a 36-foot ladder obstacle. Two-Line Bridge

Team members cross two 52-foot long ropes with their hands and feet suspended two feet and 10 feet off the ground as they carry ammunition cans and water re-supply cans. The Weaver

Team members climb over and under 24 logs, 42 feet in length ascending to 14 feet as they carry ammunition and water re-supply cans.

In addition to the Enhanced Confidence Course, teams go through a Combat Endurance Course.

Combat Endurance Course- Teams conduct a simulated patrol, negotiate the obstacles and report the number and types of obstacles to intelligence sources.

Event 6 ¨C Battle of Khe Sanh (Unknown Distance Firing)

Teams of four fire two magazines of five rounds each from simulated building structures at unknown distance targets in a time limit of 70 seconds. The number of targets hit and number of unused ammunition is then recorded. Following Day's Defense, team members participate in a 250-meter casualty evacuation where members remove simulated casualties from a simulated danger area consisting of artillery simulators. Night Event (8 pm - 11 pm)- Night Infiltration Course

Teams re-supply water, ammunition and MREs at night in a simulated combat environment. The teams take their ammunition cans, water cans and simulated MREs through the Combat Assault Course with the added obstacle of darkness. Sleep (midnight - 4 am)

 

Day 3 Reveille (3 am) Nine-mile hike (4 am - 7 am)

Recruits conduct a nine-mile hike from the Crucible site back to the battalion. Eagle Globe and Anchor Ceremony (7:30-8:00)

New Marines will receive an Eagle Globe and Anchor from their Drill Instructor marking their transition from a recruit to a Marine.

Warrior's Breakfast

The new Marines are treated to a breakfast fit for only true warriors. It consists of all-you-can-eat steak, eggs and potatoes.

[Yuanyang]

Next Week

...

The new Marines are treated to a breakfast fit for only true warriors. It consists of all-you-can-eat steak, eggs and potatoes.

What! No brie and quiche?

 

 

We're all proud of him Steve!

[Urkidding]

Hey Steve...

 

I was thinking that we should rename the title of this post to

 

BIG JOHN

 

after all he is getting to be a better man!

[slw268]

Just to let y'all know

John passed the Crucible and

received his EGA.

He is a

U.S. Marine.

Well, that's all I have to say about that.

[Randy W]

Hey Steve...

 

I was thinking that we should rename the title of this post to

 

BIG JOHN

 

after all he is getting to be a better man!

 

To paraphrase Johnny Cash,

 

They never re-opened that worthless pit.

 

They put an outhouse on top of it

and a sign that reads,

 

Inside this door, is a

BIG, BIG JOHN

Congrats, Steve and John

Edited August 23, 2010 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Dennis143]

Just to let y'all know

John passed the Crucible and

received his EGA.

He is a

U.S. Marine.

Well, that's all I have to say about that.

That is awesome, Steve. Post some pictures, when you can.

 

It would really be interesting to know of the perspective of a Chinese nationals thoughts of his training to defend the United States and what he believes within himself. This is truly a remarkable story that lets us all know that there are many who defend our freedom who do not yet have the right to call themselves a US citizen.

 

Thank you John for serving. I am proud to have met you and hope to someday meet you again.

 

http://i33.tinypic.com/2qujay1.jpg

That's John on the right.

[warpedbored]

They say once a Marine always a Marine. You have every right to be proud, this is no small accomplishment. I too would love to see some photos of your son after passing the crucible. He is no longer a boy, he has joined an elite group of warriors that defend our nation.

 

Thank you for your service John. It is people like you who make our nation great.

[Amaro]

Nice, congrats to him.

 

They really have changed the Crucible since I went through in 2005.

 

What MOS option did he select before he left for boot camp?

[tsap seui]

Great news Steve!! It's been awesome to hear of John's boot camp and now passage into a Marine. OHH-RAH

 

I got to meet and become friends with some young Marine combat veterans in my two stays in PTSD wards last year....DAMN FINE young men.

 

tsap seui

[Zhou Zhou]

Hummm...back in the "Old Corps" 250 was the possible score on the range....>220 was Expert, >210 -220 was Sharpshooter and Rifleman was >200 to 210. The chow was pretty good in the crotch, but we never got no steak 'n' eggs in Boot Camp.