My nephew (Curtis Ward) signed up for the Marines the summer before his Senior year of H.S. This kid is all about the military and we have known for a long time thats where he was headed. He left for Parris Island on the 15th of July. Things have been going well, though the recent letter home seems to show things are getting to him. He turned 18 today and is the youngest recruit in his platoon.
The good news. He made Swimming Survival Level 2 which is the highest level a recruit can reach. 14 of the 550 recruits made that level. Another Fish.
He has moved into Phase 2 and is hitting the rifle range these days. His graduation is scheduled for Oct 12.
Now for the reason for this post. There DI (Drill instructor) has finally let his platoon have Powerbars, apparently other groups have been getting them for awhile.
The catch they can only have them when they have enough for the whole platoon (91) You can send 91 at one time or one box and when they get enough he passes them out.
So I decided to extend this request from my sister to a bit bigger group.
Even if you just want to send a letter of support to a Marine recruit, I know he would love the letters. If you have some Powerbars sitting around, or a bunch that are soon to expire, they will be appreciated by the recruits. Thanks in advance
His address:
Rct. Ward
Plt. 1086 1st Bn. A Co.
Box 11086
Parris Island SC 29905-1086
We can probably agree that there is old school and there is old, dumb school.
A lot has changed since my basic training days 30 years ago, most for the better, incl the approach to nutrition and hydration. There were times when concentrated energy in the form of a Powerbar would have improved stamina and concentration.
Sometimes old timers like us get carried away with how great the old times were.
As for $2/Chuck, enough already with the HTFU. It only comes across as look how tough I am. He enlisted in the Marines, thats good enough.
As a PowerBar athlete and just ordering a bunch, I will happily send a case or two to the up and coming Devil Dogs. I remember those days of getting a care package with cookies and such, and my DI’s taking them away and holding them until enough was had by all. Otherwise we only got a half a bite of something and that sucked.
i guess some would rather eat out of tubes or anti real food .
if I got a shipment of them candy bars in boot camp they would have squat thrust me to death
I don’t think it is dumb school
they did a job on Tarawa , iwo jima ,vietnam ect ect without the aid of power bars
i was at boot camp
I am a marine
when he gets out of boot camp he will be my brother
end of story
“we have done so much for so long with so little now we can do everything with nothing”
interesting, I guess times are a changing, even at OCS they didn’t let us have powerbars. We could have them on the weekends etc. but you weren’t supposed to have them when you were in the field or in the barracks. I’m not saying somtimes they miraculously appeared in and around the squad bay but openly the only thing we got from the Sergeant Instructors was gatorade powder at night that we mixed in a big orange cooler and kept in the head (bathroom).
-Semper
I am sorry I don’t understand the need for powerbars in boot camp.
the PT training isn’t that long each day
The USMC in boot camp was very good about watter and running shoes and eating well.
they took very good care of out feet never running us in boots
they must be aware of the cost of sick bay for hurting recruits.
I don’t trust the DI about giving them powerbars
they say that kind of stuff
then they blame the kid and PT the crap out of them
it is like a game for the DI
lots of games head games all the time
We could have them on the weekends etc. but you weren’t supposed to have them when you were in the field or in the barracks.
I was thinking along the same lines. There were no powerbars when I was in boot camp, but I believe they would be treated just like goodies from home - cookies, cake, etc. They would probably be allowed as a snack for “free time”, not as a nutritional supplement during training. Personally, I’d rather receive a cake!
That’s what I was thinking, send me some cookies, screw powerbars! I remember one time a kids mom sent him like 3 dozen cookies, Sgt Instructor said: “make these disappear” they were gone in about 45seconds
When I wanted more food while I was in Boot camp I would sit near the recruits that didn’t feel well in the chow hall. They didn’t seem to mind me taking their pancakes, potatoes or whatever. Man…I was allways hungry.
I would be surprised that the diet privates would get to have power bars. Maybe in the 3rd phase or in field training.
Damn, I almost feel like a shit but I agree with the other guys. I spent 9 1/2 years in the Suck. and went into Boot as a 223 lb powerlifter and came out as a 185lb Marine without being a diet-priv. Never drank anything but water and ate crappy chow hall gruel. I’d rather have my wife send them some of her cookies as she does for her Bro-in-law and Marines down range in Afghan.
Dave should I send some or not? I’m getting conflicting info here.
OK, let me put it another way…
If you want to do a good deed, and powerbars are what you have to offer, then I’m sure they will be appreciated. I just suspect they will be eaten as a treat, rather than as an energy supplement.
On the other hand, if you (anyone) simply wants to do something nice for the recruits, then they would equally appreciate any goodies you would like to send.
Jesus, I’ve never heard so much bullshit surrounding a simple request to do a nice thing for some Marines. Who gives a crap if they are being used for treats or as nutritional supplements. The guys can’t have any unless they have enough for all of them, and this particular Recruit asked for Powerbars. Send some or don’t, but why do we need to bitch about it?
Sure eat um if ya got um.I didn’t have them at Paris Island the summer of 1977.They my have helped,we had WATER.Times have changed so what the hell,but you are being trained for war, and sometimes there is no goodies when you are pinned downed or you have to pound 15k with a 75 pound ruck sack. Old Jar head ,4 time Ironman.Semper Fi
