The Crucible (OCS) − 19 July, 2000
We left for the crucible at about 2 am.
I remember the prep happening. There was a feeling in the squad bay that there wasn't before. That the Sgt Instructors were getting ready for this just as much as we were. They knew what was coming. They had been there before, and they knew that we were more Marine than we were college grads or kids getting into something that we didn't know about.
We started out with a pack of gear that was just so according to their standards. I knew what was coming I thought, but there is nothing that can compare to what we were about to do.
I guess here I have to qualify a little. I've been through a lot of things in my life athletically. I've run a 4:20 mile, I've run 20 miles in one trip without stopping, I've rappelled, I've been through Parris Island. I've been a Marine for 4 years already. But this is something completely different. I have never felt really physically tested.
I almost fell out, meaning that I almost couldn't finish.
The crucible is actually a simple set of tasks that have to be completed. It's a week long with squad sized attacks that we have to do. Squads are 13 men strong with an assortment of weapons to use from rifles to small machine guns to rifle mounted grenade launchers. They're actually really effective. So the tasks. There are 2 that have to be completed by every Candidate (Marine Officer Candidate) You have to lead a squad sized attack through the woods, and you have to lead a smaller element called a fire team through a obsticle course that entails a lot more thought than brawn. But more of both than most people have.
So I get thought my stuff pretty well. I go early in the week before all the issues began.
Chicken Terryaki, that's what did me in. I swear that someone salted my canteen, but I think it was that damn chicken.
Everything tasted like salt after that. Everything. I felt so dehydrated. The reality of the situation is that I didn't drink enough water. I was in full uniform, pants and long sleeves, pack, and rifle. I didn't drink enough water....
I was sitting there, leaning against the wall thinking that I was going to die. Dehydration is not fun.
I made it through without dieing, as you can read, and more importantly I made it through without falling out.
At the end we got our Eagle Globe and Anchor. That symbol that every Marine holds dear to his or her heart, and I cried.
My Platoon Sgt saw it, and he said "You've been here before, you know." And I did. That moment was the most proud moment of my life to that point, and most importantly, I cried and everyone else that saw it respected it, didn't think it was weak, rather they knew as well.
I remember the prep happening. There was a feeling in the squad bay that there wasn't before. That the Sgt Instructors were getting ready for this just as much as we were. They knew what was coming. They had been there before, and they knew that we were more Marine than we were college grads or kids getting into something that we didn't know about.
We started out with a pack of gear that was just so according to their standards. I knew what was coming I thought, but there is nothing that can compare to what we were about to do.
I guess here I have to qualify a little. I've been through a lot of things in my life athletically. I've run a 4:20 mile, I've run 20 miles in one trip without stopping, I've rappelled, I've been through Parris Island. I've been a Marine for 4 years already. But this is something completely different. I have never felt really physically tested.
I almost fell out, meaning that I almost couldn't finish.
The crucible is actually a simple set of tasks that have to be completed. It's a week long with squad sized attacks that we have to do. Squads are 13 men strong with an assortment of weapons to use from rifles to small machine guns to rifle mounted grenade launchers. They're actually really effective. So the tasks. There are 2 that have to be completed by every Candidate (Marine Officer Candidate) You have to lead a squad sized attack through the woods, and you have to lead a smaller element called a fire team through a obsticle course that entails a lot more thought than brawn. But more of both than most people have.
So I get thought my stuff pretty well. I go early in the week before all the issues began.
Chicken Terryaki, that's what did me in. I swear that someone salted my canteen, but I think it was that damn chicken.
Everything tasted like salt after that. Everything. I felt so dehydrated. The reality of the situation is that I didn't drink enough water. I was in full uniform, pants and long sleeves, pack, and rifle. I didn't drink enough water....
I was sitting there, leaning against the wall thinking that I was going to die. Dehydration is not fun.
I made it through without dieing, as you can read, and more importantly I made it through without falling out.
At the end we got our Eagle Globe and Anchor. That symbol that every Marine holds dear to his or her heart, and I cried.
My Platoon Sgt saw it, and he said "You've been here before, you know." And I did. That moment was the most proud moment of my life to that point, and most importantly, I cried and everyone else that saw it respected it, didn't think it was weak, rather they knew as well.
Comments:
kga245 (March 21, 2007. 05:16am)
So I'm confused. What's the crucible? You were already a marine, right? I'm just a civilian so I guess it needs to be spelled out for me...
straticos (March 22, 2007. 03:07am)
Ok, so the crucible is the end of bootcamp for Marines. Yes, I am a Marine (former) The crucible is this "test" at the end of bootcamp to give recruits the chance to apply everything that they have learned, as well as a test to see what you are really made of. It's the toughest thing that any service member has to go through to get into the military of any of our branches, and most likely of any service in teh world...
straticos (March 22, 2007. 03:08am)
I was already an enlisted Marine, but the Crucible that I went through was when I became an officer.
kga245 (March 22, 2007. 05:44am)
Ah. That makes sense. You should know that I'm a huge fan of the marines. One of my best friends, seriously, is a Marine working in DC at the Pentagon. He's a photographer and writer who publishes their recruiting magazine. If you care about such things, there are a few marines here on the site, him included. I'll be happy to introduce you.
straticos (March 30, 2007. 04:13am)
Cool!!!
kga245 (March 30, 2007. 05:55pm)
OK. I'll point him here. We'll see if he nibbles.