First two weeks

Of course mail was sent pronto. It is worth pointing out that the Marines are different in respect to the other branches of the military. There is no contact with recruits other then old fashioned US Mail. No email, cell phones or even pay phones. It is not impossible to be granted permission to call home for 5 minutes but it is very rare and we don't expect it to happen.

For six days a week the recruits schedule is generally get up at 5 am. and then have pretty much every minute of their day planned out. From 8-9 pm they are supposed to have square away time where they can write letters, read mail make sure all their things are organized and in order or do any needed studying. However it is not uncommon for Drill Instructors to take up some of this time playing "games."

Sundays are a bit different. Recruits get four hours of square away time. During this time the have the opportunity to attend church if they wish. Most do. The afternoon and evening are generally scheduled with classes and Physical Training (PT)

The first week of arrival is called Forming. This is like controlled chaos for the recruits. Controlled by Drill Instructors that make it clear to them that they can't do anything right or fast enough. Actual training begins on the the first Tuesday after they arrive. By then they have been assigned to a platoon. In Lisa's case she is in one of two platoons in November Company. Starting out with 56 recruits in her platoon it can be expected that 15% of those will not make it through. All recruits are considered to be, well, recruits. It is only near the end of boot camp when recruits complete the 54 hour Crucible test that they are called Marines.

Typical of recruits Lisa found very little to like about the first two weeks. They only things she liked were mail call and Church service. Lisa loves palm trees and said that is the only other good thing to be found. However she reiterated that she is determined to earn the Eagle-Globe-and-Anchor. This is the pin that is awarded awarded at the end of the Crucible when they are called Marines for the first time.