8th & I Trip

Motivation

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

- Mahatma Gandhi

My Path

Friday night was a pretty cool experience. A Marine in my platoon spent the majority of his prior enlisted time in the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, also known as the "Commandant's Own," playing the soprano bugle. His prior service provided our platoon with the opportunity to see the second to last performance of the Evening Parade at Marine Corps Barracks 8th & I. The platoon dressed up in our Dress Blue "D" uniforms and made our way to Washington, D.C. for the parade.

I have see the Marine Corps Band, also known as the "President's Own," along with the Silent Drill Platoon twice at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial for the sunset parade twice. This is a very cool experience with the monument and nation's capital in the background, but there was a stronger historical presence at 8th and I. We sat on the south end of the parade deck, directly across from the Commandant's house. Like I said, the Iwo Jima memorial is cool as a background, but not as cool as the oldest building in our nation's capital. The sun had already set before the parade began, providing a near pitch black entrance for the 8th & I Battalion.

The history that was shared by the Marines of the 8th & I Barracks was interesting to hear and gave me a new appreciation for the landmark. We heard stories from the Revolutionary War, to the different Generals' houses, to the six Body Bearers that that are members of Bravo Company. All of the information was reiterated by the different performances throughout the parade. At one point the Marine Corps Band put down their instruments and sang. The night was closed with the playing of taps by a soprano bugler from the roof of the barracks. It was a pretty moving performance.

At the end I had the privilege of meeting a few Marines that participated in the parade, such as the Drum and Bugle Corps Drum Major. I was also introduced to the Arlington Cemetery Funeral Director, whom the Marine in my platoon worked with closely during his enlisted service. The evening was amazing and a great opportunity to be exposed to a great tradition in the Marine Corps. I'm thankful to have had the pleasure of witnessing one of the last performances of the summer. It's something I won't forget.

WOD

20120825

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 3 (75%x5, 85%x3, 95%x1 or More)

Deadlift: 295#, 335#, 375# (5 Reps)

3 Rounds for Time - 8:41
 5 Reps 135# Push-Press
5 Strict Pullups
 4 Reps 135# Push-Press
4 Strict Pullups

 3 Reps 135# Push-Press
3 Strict Pullups

 2 Reps 135# Push-Press
2 Strict Pullups

 1 Reps 135# Push-Press
1 Strict Pullups

Camp Barrett Fartlek Run - 16:27
Total Distance Ran: 1.5 Miles
Every 1-2 Minutes I would stop to perform an Exercise
15 Strict Pullups
15 Dips
15 Air Squats
15 Pushups
15 Situps
15 Tire Jumps (18")
15 Burpees
15 Mountain Climbers (Per Leg)
15 Hanging Leg Raises

A Year as a Marine

Motivation

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Six Secrets to Success

1) Trust in Yourself

2) Break the Rules

3) Don't be Afraid to Fail

4) Don't Listen to the Naysayers

5) Work Your Ass Off

6) Give Something Back

My Path

I'm a day off due to some personal commitments and work around here, but yesterday marked my first complete year as a Marine Officer. I spent most of it waiting to begin my career, but everything happens for a reason. Had I started sooner I wouldn't have met the great Marines I have so far, I wouldn't have been around for my family during difficult times, and I wouldn't be the same person with the same experiences. I'm grateful to be in the position I'm in today and look forward to where I will be a year from now. For those who aren't familiar, which I wasn't until recently, Marine Officers are promoted to 1st Lt after exactly two years of active duty. What brought this fact to my attention was what I witnessed during Range Week.

At the tail end of Range Week four 2nd Lts received promotions to 1st Lt. I wasn't sure, at first, what was happening when the whole company was called to attention. I wasn't sure if something had gone wrong, which tended to happen during Range Week, and we were being spoken to by the Company Commander. But once the four Marines were called to the front and center and the Orders were read, it clicked. I would have expected the promotion ceremony to be more formal, but since we were in the field that day, it was in cammies. Typically it would be the Marine's choice of how the ceremony would be done and what attire, but as students we don't always get that luxury.

For being in for a year, I don't feel that I have done much. But people are always quick to thank me for my service. I try to remain humble and acknowledge that I haven't really done anything. I don't have any deployment experience and minimal training. After completing TBS I can say that I have been well trained, but will have more training in a specific field. I know I've taken on a responsibility, but it hasn't yet been given to me yet. Maybe in another year I can feel and say that I've actually done something, but even then I feel that I will have much more to live up to with all of the Marine Corps' history and the experience of those I will some day lead.

This week has been relatively relaxed. We ran the CFT as a platoon on Monday, made a trip to Brandy Station on Tuesday to visit the Civil War battlegrounds and play a large scale Tactical Decision Game (TDG), had classes all day Wednesday, and then had our platoon Obstacle/Endurance Course (O/E Course - 5 Mile Run in Boots and Utes with Gear Over Obstacles) Orientation. It's been nice to have a slower week after Range Week, but once you get used to the fast pace the days go by slower in garrison. My body definitely needs the rest, but I'm looking forward to Field Exercise I (FEX I). I put in a request through my Student Chain of Command to carry an auxiliary weapon, the M249 Squad Automatic Rifle (SAW). I'm hoping I don't regret the additional weight during our FEXs, but I don't think I will. It will be a good experience and provide the opportunity to learn a new weapon system and gain insight into what some junior Marines have to carry and go through with auxiliary weapons.

WOD

20120820

Platoon CFT

Movement to Contact - 2:28 (100/100)

Ammo Can Presses - 111 Reps (100/100)

Maneuver Under Fire - 2:05 w/ Grenade Hit = 2:00 (100/100)

Total Score: 300/300

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 3 (75%x5, 85%x3, 95%x1 or More)

Bench Press: 185#, 205#, 235# (3 Reps)

3 Rounds for Time - 21:43
Uniform - Boots and Utes
20' Rope Ascents (3 First Round, 2 Second, 1)
Ring Pushups (30 First Round, 20 Second, 10)
Toes to Bar (30 First Round, 20 Second, 10)
1.5 Pood/53# Kettlebell Swings (30 First Round, 20 Second, 10)

20120821

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 3 (75%x5, 85%x3, 95%x1 or More)

Back Squat: 235#, 265#, 295# (Failed)

Clean & Split Jerk Work
3 Reps @ 95#
3 Reps @ 135#
1 Rep @ 185#
1 Rep @ 195# (PR)

20120823
Uniform - Boots and Utes
Platoon O/E Course

Uniform - Boots and Utes

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 3 (75%x5, 85%x3, 95%x1 or More)

Military Press: 115#, 130#, 150# (3 Reps)

EMOTM for 10 Minutes
3 Times
95# Snatch Pull
95# Power Snatch
Then
3 Burpees

A Platoon to be Proud Of

Motivation

Accepting help isn't always a sign of weakness, but a utilization of all your resources.

My Path

So maybe I lied when I said I have gained weight. I weighed myself today and I'm still 165 pounds. Maybe I've lost some muscle and put on some fat. Damn MREs. I just don't look the same, but now that we will be back in garrison for a few weeks and I can hit the gym regularly, maybe I'll get back to my usual physique. Today wasn't a bad start with a full body "Wake Up the Muscles" weight workout and then a nice MetCon (Metabolic Conditioning). We'll see how I feel in the morning and then I'll make a decision on what kind of workout to get in tomorrow. I need to keep in mind that we have a couple days of Company PT scheduled. Nothing like being introduced the the Combat Fitness Test (CFT) again and, what I've really been waiting for, introduction to the Endurance Course. Hopefully I won't be too tired to get back into my Wendler 5-3-1 strength cycle.

Now for the subject of this post's title and the meat of what I wanted to talk about. I couldn't be more proud to be a Marine of Echo Company 6th Platoon, TBS Class 5-12. There were jokes being made early in the POI that we were the meetheads of the company. We had the best scores on the initial PFT across the company, but when we took the first exam, we had the lowest average score. We did a little bit better on the second exam. Where exactly we fell I'm not sure, but I know we weren't last. We're getting it turned around academically, but that was before the last couple of weeks. Throughout Range Week we have really come together, doing things that no other platoon in our company has done and things that have been unheard of from platoon at TBS.

If I remember correctly, I mentioned that we were the only platoon to have every Marine qualify on both the pistol and rifle. This was on the whole pistol course of fire and Table 1 of the rifle course of fire, but this was something that no other platoon in recent knowledge has done. I don't want to say that we are the first ever, because I wouldn't doubt that there have been a platoon or two before us do accomplish such a feat, but it is a rare achievement. We held this accomplishment all the way through Table 2 of the rifle course of fire, sealing the deal. As outstanding as this achievement may be as a platoon, this was all individual effort. No Marine could rely on another to qualify on each weapon system. It was pass or fail on your own skill. What is really amazing is what the Marines of 6th Platoon can do when they come together as a cohesive unit.

Throughout Range Week we spent every waking moment as a platoon, but not as an entire company. There were times when the company would suffer the same, such as the morning/afternoon hikes out to the range, but once we got out to the range platoons would be on their own schedule and conducting their own training. Some platoons would be in the Pits while others were on the rifle firing line, others would be at the pistol range; Some platoons would get to sit in the shade after shooting while others were police calling the range. I won't say who did what, but each platoon had their own tasks to complete, serving their own purposes. These situations facilitated an environment for platoons to grow closer, should they choose to take advantage of it. In my opinion, 6th platoon became extremely close.

We may have been close as fire teams and squads before Range Week, but after our platoon became a family. We all conducted the same training, suffered through the same pains, and dealt with each other at our lowest points. It's through these situations that unit cohesion is developed. The culminating event of Range Week is the a 6 mile hike after two straight days out at the range on little sleep. Like the 9 mile hike at OCS, this hike was a graded event. Either you completed it and you passed, or you fell out and you failed and would have to make it up in the future or get rolled into Mike Company to await another TBS class. Now 6 miles isn't very far, but after all the moving we do at the range each day for two weeks, gradually increasing the weight, and finally humping about 100 pounds of gear in the middle of the night, it's both physically and mentally daunting. With that being said, we also had Marines who had suffered sprained ankles and severe foot blisters throughout the week that mustered the courage to participate in this event.

About a half hour before stepping off for the hike our SPC called us together and gave us a quick talk. The most important take away from this meeting was that, "No one falls out of this hike." While some may have taken that as an order or demand, one Marine made it clear that it was to be taken as Commander's Intent. What that means is that it is the endstate desired by the commander and that it was up to us how it would get accomplished. While it was a graded event, and walking 6 miles sounds like individual effort, physically and mentally it requires a team effort for everyone to make it. We were willing to do everything it took to make get every Marine through the next 6 miles. I witnessed several Marines falling in the pitch black night to be helped up by members of the platoon, Marines holding up the pack of the Marine in front of them to decrease the load of those struggling, and Marines act as tugboats for others who could not march as fast as the rest of the company. We did everything we could think of to make sure every Marine of 6th platoon made it through the 6 miles, and in doing so we were able to say we did something no other platoon in the company could. We were the only platoon that did not have a "Hike Drop."

Now you might say, "But that's another physical event and your platoon was already demonstrating superior physical performance." My response would be that it isn't about accomplishing a physical task, but how we accomplished it. The team effort demonstrated on the 6 mile hike is what is important. To say that our platoon was the only platoon in the company to have all of its Marines hike all 6 miles is not saying that we are all PT studs, but that we are a cohesive unit willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that we rise to the occasion as a platoon. It may have been in a physical event, but I guarantee that it will care over into our below average scholastic performance. I anticipate seeing those who excel at the academics helping those that struggle, just as I saw the physically strong helping the weak. Individually we are all above average, but as a platoon we are extraordinary.

I'm proud to be a member of such a strong platoon. I'm proud to be able to say that we had no "UNQs" on the range and that we had no hike drops. Not only that we accomplished those things, but that we were the only platoon in the company to do so. I think you'll see many more great things coming from the 6th Platoon of Echo Company, TBS Class 5-12. It's been a little over a month and we've already accomplished so much. With five more months left, I feel like the potential is endless. We'll be able to accomplish anything as long as we work as a cohesive unit.

Extra Feature - Qualification Scores

Pistol: 272/300 - Expert Qualification

Rifle - Expert Qualification

Table 1: 221/250

Table 2: 97/100

Total: 318/350

WOD

3 Rounds for Time - 9:01

5 95# Clusters (Squat Clean Thrusters)

10 Burpees

15 Pullups

20 Pushups

30 Double Unders

Range Report and Update

Motivation

Find something you want, go all out to achieve it, and once you have it, never let go of it. Don't just be willing to kill for it, be willing to die for it.

My Path

It's been one hell of a week, and there's still another one quite a bit like it ahead. The week was the beginning of "Range Week." Very similar to "Zero Week," it's not just a single week, but closer to two weeks. This last week focused on marksmanship with the M16A4 rifle and M9 pistol. We would march out to the range every morning with the rising sun, stage our gear, and make our way to the pistol range. The pistol course of fire is brand new and is focused more on combat marksmanship than competition marksmanship. From what I've heard, it's easier than before, but it's hard to compare the new and old because they are so different. Our platoon would run through dry-fire exercises that were identical to the qualification course and then live-fire the same drills on the range. This was good preparation for qualification, but for those who had never handled a pistol before or weren't familiar with the M9 it wasn't a lot of rounds to establish good fundamentals with live-fire. It's not too bad from the seven yard line, but the fifteen and twenty-five yard line requires a lot of practice. And those are the yard lines we shoot the fewest rounds from.

After the pistol range, my platoon and 5th platoon headed to Range 2 to pull targets in the pits. One Marine from each platoon would man a target, so two per target, and after receiving rounds would drop the target below the berm, repair, mark, and score the target, and run it back up above the berm. We did this while 3rd and 4th platoon were on the firing lines. Yard line took approximately an hour, and we shoot from three different yard lines. It wasn't too bad of a gig in "the pits," the name for the target area. I was able to each chow and air out my feet, put on fresh socks, and make head and water calls. One day were in the pits for an extra hour as we waited for a bad thunderstorm to pass. The storms out here are amazing. The only downside to the storms is the humidity afterward.

Once we finished up in the pits it was our turn to shoot on the range. For the rifle course of fire, as I mentioned before, we fire from three different yard lines. We fire twenty-five rounds at the two hundred, fifteen from the three hundred, and ten from the five hundred. The two hundred yard line consists of a slow fire in 20 minutes from three positions: sitting, kneeling, and standing, firing five rounds in each position. Then there is a ten round rapid fire in the sitting, to be completed in 60 seconds. At the three hundred yard line is a five round slow fire from the sitting to be completed in 5 minutes, and another ten round rapid fire in 60 seconds. This rapid fire is in the prone position. All the way back at the five hundred yard line is a ten round slow fire in the prone position, to be completed in 10 minutes. None of these are overly difficult if you observe the wind and utilize the RCO properly.

Friday was supposed to be our qualification day, but the anticipation of another nasty storm pushed the rifle qualification to Saturday. We were able to get the whole company qualified on the pistol Friday and were released relatively early. At the pistol range I had shot my best on Tuesday, our first day with rounds, and progressively shot worse as I began to mess with my stance and grip. Prequal-day I shot a low Sharpshooter ranking. I was not happy and knew I could do better. There was talk that they might take our prequal scores if the storm hit us hard this weekend. Thankfully it didn't and I was able to shoot a 272/300 on pistol, earning an Expert ranking (264 was the lowest you could shoot and still achieve expert). That same day, we prequalled on rifle as well. I shot a low Expert ranking with a 222/250 (220 is the lowest to earn Expert). I had a rough day on the two hundred yard line that day and anticipated much better for Saturday.

Coming off the two hundred yard line on the actually qual day for rifle I had improved my score by 9 points, much better. But some how I managed to screw up the three hundred yard line, which is usually my bread and butter. I had a 4 point cushion and ten rounds left at the five hundred. I bettered by prequal five hundred yard line score by one point, finishing with a score of 221/250 and an Expert ranking. Technically I have yet to officially earn that ranking, as we still have Table 2 of the rifle course of fire to complete on Tuesday. It is focused on more combat oriented marksmanship and close quarters. Marines have been able to finish Table 1 with a 205/250 score and come off Table 2 perfect (100/100) and earn Expert ranking overall. I have a bit of a cushion here as well. It's said to be a much easier course of fire than Table 1, but I will not take it for granted.

This next week will be very busy again with more time at the range, including an overnight. We will be conducting night live-fire exercises, utilizing night vision, and shooting with a full combat loadout on. I'm more than excited. We'll conclude the week with a company 6 mile hike and then it will be time for some well deserved R&R. You probably won't hear from me until next weekend, but I should have a lot to report!

WOD

Resting Until in Garrison

My Marine/Career Goals

Motivation

Have tough skin and a soft heart, a quick wit and a slow tongue. Be stern, but fair.

My Path

I have been assigned to a Fire Team Leader billet by my squad leader. Not too much responsibility, just have to keep accountability of four other Marines and their gear. Not too much to ask.

Where do I begin? I have told my SPC that my first MOS choice is Infantry. Why? When I think of a Marine, the first image that comes to mind is a grunt. To have an 03 MOS designation (Infantry) would not only make me into what I have always thought a Marine was, but also offer loads of challenges and responsibilities. I look forward to the physical and mental challenges. The challenges of dealing with salty Marines; Marines that came from homes where they didn't feel loved and joined the Corps to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That desire to be in a brotherhood, a group of individuals serving for a common purpose is exactly why I wanted to join the Marine Corps. I want to be a mentor to whoever would have me. This means I have to be very knowledgable in not just my MOS, but of other resources that would benefit my Marines. The drive for continuously expanding knowledge and proficiency is what motivates me and inspires me every day.

While combat can be glorified in movies and video games, I have a profound respect for everything that takes place in combat. I'm not looking for glamour or glory that some might associate with war-hardened veterans, I simply want to lead those who need leadership the most. Some might as why I want to be in the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) as an operator. It simply comes down to being the best of the best. There is plenty of argument as to which special forces team is the most elite, but it is the general consensus that the Marine Corps is the elite of all the American fighting forces. If MARSOC is the best of the Marines, then that makes them the best of the best. I respect operators in SEALs, Rangers, PJs, and other Spec Ops. I hope that I get to work with them somewhere in my career, but MARSOC is where I want to be.

With those short term goals stated, I can now address my long term goals. I know a lot can change in a short amount of time, but at this moment I would like to spend at least twenty years in the Corps. This goal has two sides. I want to make a difference in many people's lives and help the Corps out as much as I can for as long as I can. On the other hand I want to be able to collect retirement benefits and a pension while starting another career. I'm not one to care about money, but in order to provide for my family I will need to have it. The more financial security I can establish the better. Working toward collecting two pensions will have me and my family set into the foreseeable future. I didn't have a rough upbringing, but I have the same desire that my parents had as they began their family. I want to provide a better life for my children than I had for myself. That's a pretty lofty goal considering everything my parents provided for me. But because they provided such a great life in my early years, they set me up to provide an even better life for my future family.

In summary my goals consist of attaining an 0302, Infantry Officer, MOS, attend the Infantry Officers Course (IOC) here on Camp Barrett, lead Marines through deployments, become a MARSOC operator, rise through the ranks of the Corps, and retire after twenty years of service and begin another career in a related field where I will retire after twenty more years and collect two pensions. Is that too much to ask? Hahaha. As I said earlier, a lot can change in a short amount of time. It never hurts to have goals and to write them down. It gives you something to shoot for. And as cliché as it might sounds, there is something to be said about "if you shoot for the moon and miss you'll land amongst the stars."

WOD

Rest Day

Long Overdue

Motivation

"Obstacles are often times stepping stones."

- Prescott

My Path

So it's been a while since I lost posted. I apologize for the delay. We've had some pretty long days this week. The days have blurred together, so I will just fill you in on what all we have been doing.

This last week has been dedicated to preparing us for "Range Week." We have had classes in the morning that describes our weapon systems, how qualification is run, marksmanship fundamentals, and proper weapons handling. After receiving the M16A4 and the M9 (we only have them during the day as they would be too easy to carry off base) we do what is called "snapping in." It consists of dry firing our weapons at a barrel with targets, similar to what we will be shooting at on the range, from each of the different firing positions. The firing positions for the rifle will be prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing while we will only be standing with the pistol. This is good practice to establish good sight picture, trigger control, and target acquisition.

Friday we finally made our way out to the range to zero our rifles and do some more snapping in with both the rifle and pistol. We had our smaller assault packs on for the 2.5 mile hike out to the range. It took our company about forty minutes to get out there. I was able to zero my iron sights at 100 yards in about 9 rounds with the aid of the Primary Marksmanship Instructors (PMIs) and Marine Combat Trainers (CMTs). Once that was established we mounted our Rifle Combat Optics (RCOs) and zeroed those. I kept tight groups at 100 yards with the RCO, but it took about 12 rounds to get them onto the target, right where we wanted them. Then we broke for some chow and "lined out" (a process of ensure that know live ammunition is taken off the range). Then it was time to grab our M9s and head to the pistol range. It's probably about a half mile from the rifle range. Twas a quick pace we took, in order to "correct" some leadership mistakes within our platoon...or so I think.

I felt extremely confident with the pistol while we snapped in. The trigger isn't as heavy, or at least it doesn't feel as heavy, as my Sig Saur P229. Both pistols being double to single action weapons, I felt very confortable with the M9 and had good trigger control. Then it was off to the "Tiers" for some more snapping in. The Tiers is a shorter range with multiple levels of different heights for Marines to snap in on without  flagging (pointing their weapons at each other) one another. Friday wrapped up with a a hike back to the SOQ by platoon. Having an Infantry Officer for an SPC is awesome when it comes to being evaluated and receiving training, but when we hump...it's no joke. We made the same 2.5 mile trip back in thirty minutes. It was a smoke check for many, and some Marines fell back. I haven't felt that awful since the 9 mile at OCS. I don't care if I've put on five pounds since I've been here, while everyone else is losing weight...I am going to be eating as much food and drinking as much water and electrolyte replenishers as I can get my hands on. I don't want to fall out of any humps or field events due to heat. That won't bode well for my getting my desired MOS. I'll cover that topic tomorrow.

With that being said it's time to get some sleep. I stayed up just to get this out and I'm using tomorrow to rest and eat. I'm looking forward to range week, but that means you probably won't hear from me until next weekend, after my post tomorrow, of course. Early mornings and late evenings. I will survive! And yes, I meant for you to sing that. Good night everyone! 

WODs

20120802

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 2 (70%x3, 80%x3, 90%x3 or More)

Back Squat: 215#, 250#, 280# (3 Reps)

Skill Work, Not Timed
5 Rounds
Muscle Up to 5 Ring Dips (5 First Round, 4 Second, 3, 2, 1)
Toes to Bars (15 First Round, 12 Second, 9, 6, 3)

20120804

Wendler 5-3-1 Strength: Week 2 (70%x3, 80%x3, 90%x3 or More)

Deadlift: 275#, 315#, 355# (4 Reps - Lost Grip)

Single Attempt at Unbroken Double Unders - 118 Reps (PR)
8 Minutes to Establish 1RM Weighted Strict Pullups
5 Reps @ 35#
5 Reps @ 53#
5 Reps @ 63#
2 Reps @ 90#
1 Rep @ 100# (Time Expired - Could have done more.)
Max Reps Weighted Strict Pullups @53# x 3 approx. 2 Minutes Rest Between Sets
10 Reps (Grip Gave)
7 Reps (Muscle Fatigue)
6 Reps (Muscle Fatigue)
Single Attempt at Unbroken Double Unders - 120 Reps (PR)

Strong Man Buddy Circuit
(Each Buddy Completed the Same Amount of Work)
Uniform: Butes and Utes
5 Rounds for Time - 13:10
Hinged Log Press to Fingertip Walk (50# - 10 First Round, 8 Second, 6, 4, 2)
30m Farmer's Carry (100#/Hand)
30m Sled Drag/Sprint (150#)
325# Tire Flip (5 First Round, 4 Second, 3, 2, 1)