Private 1st Class

Lisa received an early promotion to Private 1st Class on November 6th.

A walk on the beach

I thought this picture really captured Lisa well. It is from a great day we had at the coast as a family while she was home.

Parris Island

On our way home

The fatigue of graduation has finally caught up with Lisa above. This was on the flight home. The fact that she had a 102 temperature two days earlier didn't help. Expect a withdrawal from your recruit shortly after graduation when all the activities have died down. In addition to being fatigued your marine will have to adjust to 10 days of civilian life. After 80+ days of having almost every minute of their time scheduled it is suddenly very difficult to adjust to having "free time" " My advise is to step back, smile a lot, don't try and make them talk a lot. And whatever you do don't ask them what is wrong with them. There is nothing wrong; they have just finished the most intense military boot camp in the world and now they just need to decompress and take in what they have been though and what the future holds. Just be close and ready for when they do want to talk.

Lisa and her Grandma

Lisa and some of her fellow marines. Expect the joy of graduation to be followed by withdrawl as your marine adjusts to civilian life during their 10 day leave. They have been through some intense shared experience with their fellow platoonmates.

With her Senior Drill Insturctor (SDI)

SDI, the person you marine will remember for the rest of their life.