May 29th - June 17th

Leatherneck started out just great. Started by gettin a uniform inspection at 1300 followed by a PFT at 1400 on the Sunday before Memorial Day. The PFT was brutal since it was at least 95 degrees when we got there at 1030 and humid. Little did I know that that experience would kinda sum up the Leatherneck experience.

The next three weeks were equally as taxing. We did really cool stuff almost everyday and we had liberty every night if we wanted it. Problem was we would be doing stuff until nearly 2000 every night and reveille would be somewhere between 0315 and 0445 nearly every morning. So as soon as they let you out, you'd go do your laundry or clean your rifle or somethin and try to be in bed before 2200.

Even though the schedule was pretty intense, we did a lot of cool stuff. Got to shoot M16, M203 grenade launcher, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, M240G (bigger version of 249), MK19 automatic grenade launcher, .50 cal from a tripod. Lotta fun. Three guys even gotta shoot AT-4s (anti tank rocket launcher). We did the Obstacle Course, Endurance Course, Bayonet Assault Course. At OCS we did the Squad Assault Course, the Combat Conditioning Course, and the Confidence Course. We got gassed in the gas chamber, taken up in CH-53 Super Stallions (huge helicopter) with full ruck sacks, and even more cool stuff.

Overall a tough experience, but Im really glad I did it. Really helped to solidify what I wanted to do with the next 5-10 years of my life.