This weekend, my brother Philip graduated from boot camp in San Diego and became a Marine! Having read his letters, I can tell you that becoming a Marine is probably worse than enduring childbirth. Given the choice, I'd choose childbirth.
He went through so much during his 3 month stay, including losing 20 pounds that he did not have to lose, enduring TWO WEEKS without showers, toilet paper (yes, I said toilet paper), and clean clothes, and while wearing at least one shoe that was not his. He had to "eat" every meal in 4 minutes, and that includes the time it took him to get through the chow line. Grown men (but not my brother) resorted to dumpster diving to find leftover scraps of sustenance. The only "dessert" he was allowed while there were protein bars, which his family so lovingly kept him supplied with.
He worked out and trained pretty much all day every day. He sat in a gas chamber without a mask for who knows how long while the snot dripped from his nose and his eyes felt like they would burn out of their sockets. He competed in an Ironman, taking 2nd place, and he went on a crazy hike for 54 hours with an 80 pound pack and only three small MRIs. All this is nothing short of inhumane, but I speak the truth.
I could go on and on telling tales of crazy things that he did there, but the point is that he's one tough guy. And not only did he graduate, but he graduated top of his platoon. Of the three fitness tests he took while there, he scored 100% on each. Now that he's on his 10 day leave, not only is he basking in the wonderful life outside of boot camp, but he is working on gaining some (or all) of the 20 pounds back, and my mom is happily obliging, baking him his own apple pie as per his request. I hope his uniform fits when he goes back for combat training.
I love this guy and just had to brag on my awesome brother. Congrats Philip!
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