...those of you who've been hangin' around here long enough may have noted the absence of one of our more toothsome regular commenters, Cortillaen.
Here's why:
Welcome to the club, Private!
Here's why:
I'm finally back in the real world... after a lovely three-month vacation in the bizarro-land they call Boot Camp. I'd like to thank everyone for your advice before, and thoughts and prayers during, the past few months. I have to admit it being worthy of the phrase "the hardest thing you will have ever done", especially the whole "get fully submerged in muddy water right at dusk, then fool around in near-freezing temperatures for the next 5-6 hours before being allowed to change" part (yay for yet another bout of URI). Thursday and Friday, Family Day and Graduation, respectively, made it all worthwhile, though. In the end, it's still a little hard to believe that I'm really back home with my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor in hand, but there it is.
Also, since there's only so much catching up one can do, if there's anything of great importance in terms of world or national events or personal matters for those of you I know more closely that I need to hear about, I'd appreciate letting me know. It's good to be back, folks, and better to be back a Marine.
Semper Fi,
Cortillaen
Pvt, USMC
Welcome to the club, Private!
What MOS did you get?
You make us all proud!
Thank you for your service. As they say in SEAL training (I am told) "The only easy day was yesterday."
As President Ronal Reagan said “Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
Now go kick butt! Airborne, all the way!
No matter -- you'll be ready for the transition in a couple of months.
BTW, Well Done, Gyrene. Very Well Done, indeed!
Now comes the hard part. You're going to have idiots, non hackers, slackers and other assorted brands/versions/types of douchebagery around you from time to time. Yep, even in our beloved Corps, such do exist. A sad part of being human and dealing with humans. Can't fully avoid it.
The task set before you now and forever is to not let the weak sucks and whiners, the stupid above and below you drag you down and errode your personal esprite.
You are responsible for the maintenance and care of your own morale.
Also, you're going to run into situations where you ask "why do we have that stupid rule?". When that happens, take a good long look at the weakest and least disciplined among those around yourself and remember, they aren't the weakest or least disciplined to have been there doing that. That rule is made for them and those like them. Saddly, you have to live with the rules made for the least.
One way to help mitigate all that is to be one of those who refuses to compromise and accept the weak and stupid.
You've earned the title. Now comes the "keep our honor clean" part. That's a daily effort.
Also, the Dental and Medical staff are all Navy, but the Corpsman like you, and, before it's over, you will like "Doc" as well.
Listen to Grimmy. He speaks wisdom.
Except in garrison when we'd call them pecker checkers and they'd be all...
"Oh? Broken arm? Here's a Motrin." "I see you've got your head cracked open. Here's a Motrin." "Wow, both legs cut off at the hip? Here's two motrin!"
You are
What you do
When it counts.
Keep that in mind as you go about your daily affairs.
Semper Fi.