This past week I was invited to attend a Marine Educator's Experience in Parris Island, SC. As a high school counselor, I talk to students about their plans for the future and sometimes those plans include military. I thought this trip would be a good way to receive first-hand experience about the armed services. What I didn't know was how amazing the trip would be and how it would change my views about Marines, and all armed services, forever.
My four day journey took me straight to Boot Camp where we had our own drill instructor. Even though he gave us about 50% of the yelling and screaming and running around that they give normal recruits, it was enough to help me understand the process. Standing in line, waiting to urinate and hearing "Move! Hurry up! No one waits on you!" was enough to make me nearly pee my pants. We were marched around, told we weren't doing anything right and made to "Step it up" over and over. Nothing we did was good enough. No amount of shouting was ever loud enough. And I could tell our drill instructor wanted to put us in "the pit" (a pit of sand where you do push-up, mountain-climbers and more while being mercilessly yelled at). Luckily, as educators, we were spared that part of the experience.
My four day journey took me straight to Boot Camp where we had our own drill instructor. Even though he gave us about 50% of the yelling and screaming and running around that they give normal recruits, it was enough to help me understand the process. Standing in line, waiting to urinate and hearing "Move! Hurry up! No one waits on you!" was enough to make me nearly pee my pants. We were marched around, told we weren't doing anything right and made to "Step it up" over and over. Nothing we did was good enough. No amount of shouting was ever loud enough. And I could tell our drill instructor wanted to put us in "the pit" (a pit of sand where you do push-up, mountain-climbers and more while being mercilessly yelled at). Luckily, as educators, we were spared that part of the experience.
But then they switched us back into educator mode and gave us demonstrations on water safety instruction, rifles, rappelling, pugil sticks and more. It was amazing to participate in the actual training that make America's Marines. Granted, the real Marines were 100 times better at each event than we were, but it was nice to be right there with them, seeing what they see, hearing what they hear. I am truly amazed and awed by our young men and women who make the commitment to serve our country. It is a sacrifice, one not taken lightly and for that I am very grateful.
My blog is usually geared toward writing, and I was reflecting today on how this experience might enhance my writing career as well as my counseling career. Obviously, I can now describe what it feels like to fire and M-16, or what a mess hall smells like. I can better imagine what a recruit on day 14 thinks about while lying in her bunk at night. All those things and more will make me a better writer. But, more importantly, this experience taught me to be open to new adventures. I am an introvert by nature and a home-body by trade. New experiences scare me and I tend to shy away from them. I think many writers are like me, content to sit in on a Saturday night with a computer on her lap instead of hitting the town. However, I think much is lost if that is all we ever do. To be writers, we need to be able to glean much from the world. The best writers can transport you, body and soul, to wonderful places. Do we need to go to every spot on the world to talk about it in a book? No. Do the best writers seem to know minute details that Google cannot provide? Yes. Though I tend to shy away from new and exciting experiences, I need to push myself. After all, life isn't about what's on the page. It's the memories we make along the way.
Semper Fi.
Semper Fi.
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