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Marine Corps, MCRD Graduation Family Day

November 13, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

The Parent's Survival Guide to Marine Corps Boot CampThe Parent’s Survival Guide to Marine Corps Boot Camp

After thirteen weeks of intensive boot camp training, Marine recruits see their families for the first time the day before graduation at MCRD Graduation Family Day.

Plan to arrive on Wednesday afternoon or evening for a San Diego USMC Graduation because you will not want to miss anything!

I have THREE Marines and a USMC graduation in San Diego is NOT to be missed. 

With each of my Marines, each San Diego Marine graduation in San Diego has been different. 

Family Day during a Marine Graduation is held on Thursday, the day before the actual graduation at both MCRD San Diego or MCRD Paris Island.

The first time you actually see (or touch) your new Marine is during the Moto run in the Thursday morning. There is nothing like the excitement when they first run past.

You will cry, you will shake with excitement. Promise.

MCRD Graduation Family Day Moto Run will inspire and impress you when you attend your first USMC boot camp graduation.Up until Family Day, there are no phone calls (maybe one for travel plans), no emails, no Facebook, nothing. They are totally immersed in concentrated training and focused on the task.

In this day of instant communication, it is definitely a culture shock not only for the recruits but families who are used to being in touch with their kids at all times.

What Happens at a Marine Family Day?

You get to hug your Marine recruit for the first time. Mom’s cry at the site of their son transformed so much in 13 weeks. Dads beam with pride as their child stands straighter and prouder than he has ever seen in the past. Brothers and sisters will stand in awe of their sibling who looks like the same person but is changed.

CafePress - Proud Marine Mom - Pullover Hoodie, Classic & Comfortable Hooded SweatshirtCafePress – Proud Marine Mom – Pullover Hoodie, Classic & Comfortable Hooded SweatshirtCafePress - MARINES Eagle Globe Anchor - Proud DAD Dark T-Shir - 100% Cotton T-Shirt, Crew Neck, Soft and Comfortable Classic Tee with Unique DesignCafePress – MARINES Eagle Globe Anchor – Proud DAD Dark T-Shir – 100% Cotton T-Shirt, Crew Neck, Soft and Comfortable Classic Tee with Unique Design

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What to expect at an MCRD Graduation Family Day?

Ears Open, Eyeballs Click

Marine Corps parents end the journey of USMC Boot camp with graduation starts with parents learning the meaning of Ears Open, Eyeballs Click

Family Day at the Marine graduation in San Diego starts with the Drill Instructor introduction.

It’s an interactive introduction to what your Marine recruits learned and how they had to respond. The ears open and eyeballs click command is to listen and eyes on me, with a response of YES SIR, at the top of your voice.

You will get to practice this many times.

After the MotoRun your new Marines return to their barracks to shower and change into their Charlie uniforms for on-base Liberty.

Marine Corps 101

Parents and family have about 2 hours before the Liberty review begins. There is normally several presentations by the MCRD Commander with an introduction of all the drill instructors. It is here you will learn more about the next phase of your Marines training and success.
CafePress - Marine Mom Red Friday T-Shirt - Womens Cotton T-Shirt, Crew Neck, Comfortable & Soft Classic TeeCafePress – Marine Mom Red Friday T-Shirt – Womens Cotton T-Shirt, Crew Neck, Comfortable & Soft Classic Tee

You can also shop at the MCRD Base Exchange for USMC Graduation Shirts and other Marine USMC merchandise if you didn’t buy them ahead of time. You really want to wear a Marine Mom Shirt and bring home several.

Each USMC Graduation Battalion has their own colors.

  • 1st Recruit Training Battalion = Red
  • 2nd Recruit Training Battalion = Gold (Yellow)
  • 3rd Recruit Training Battalion = Navy Blue
  • 4th Recruit Training Battalion = Maroon

Considering the Marine Corps graduations occur on Friday it’s only fitting to some Marine Mom T-shirts in Red RED so you can wear red on Fridays and support our troops.

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MCRD Graduation Family DayFamily Day Graduation Liberty

Finally, the time arrives when the new Marine Corps families and friends can hug their Marine. They will march and assemble by platoon and officially get dismissed.

Your new Marine will have four to five hours, on base, to enjoy with his family and friends. They are not free to do anything they want. They still have to be alert to salute and greet officers as they pass. My favorite part of the USMC Family Day is being escorted by my new Marine.

Seriously, they are taught to bend their left arm and escort females on base. There is a hierarchy. Grandma first, then Mom, then the girlfriend. So Marine Moms, you rank over girlfriends.

The pride you feel as a new Marine Mom is overwhelming and one you will never forget.

San Diego Marine Graduation tips and what to expectBring Food to Family Day

It’s not that the Marines don’t feed your son or daughter. BUT, Marine recruits don’t have time to enjoy food, nor enjoy their favorite food. Starting at the third phase of training letters from boot camp will start sounding like a menu as Marine recruits start imagining home and their favorite foods. Ask what foods they want you to bring.

You may be surprised what food your Marine recruit is craving. My new Marine asked for food of all types and during his five-hour liberty on Thursday and he ate continuously.

All we could do was watch in amazement as two bags of homemade treats, beef jerky, oreo balls, “Memaws “(bran) muffins, Swedish fish, Pringles, cheeseburger, ice cream disappeared AFTER a full buffet lunch.

Marine Corps Traditions

Marines cannot eat and walk in uniform at the same time.MCRD graduation Family Day at San Diego USMC Graduation

Nope, won’t happen, so expect a lot of stopping to snack. We stopped to eat beef jerky, we stopped for cookies, we stopped for drinks. It was a constant “Hold on, do you have any more ______”

You will also notice other Marine Corps traditions which may be new to you.

  • Marines cannot walk in uniform and talk on their cell phone at the same time
  • Marines cannot put their wallets in their pockets of their dress uniforms
  • Billfolds are kept in their sock (yes you heard me right)
  • They must keep their right hand free to salute.
  • They will greet EVERY Marine officer or Drill Instructor with the proper greeting “Good Afternoon Staff Sergent” even when walking and talking with you, expect to get interrupted as you walk and talk.

During MCRD Graduation family day you can do several things.

  • Pick up Marines Official Dress Blues photos (the Marine Corps boot camp videos will come via USPS mail a few months later)
  • Eat lunch at the Bay View Restaurant on Base (here you can take a photo of your Marine with his drill instructor)
  • Visit the USMC Museum San Diego right on base and listen to your son describe what boot camp was all about.
  • Kick back and relax in the courtyard area outside the MCRD Base Exchange area
  • Go shopping with your Marine at the Base Exchange. He will want civilian clothes.

There will be plenty of food and gift vendors in the courtyard area and instead of walking all over the base and being exhausted you can actually relax.

Gift Ideas for Marine Graduates

Many parents like to give a gift at graduation to remember this significant day. Below are the best graduation gifts for Marines based on not only the recommendations of my Marines but countless other Marine Moms and parents.

They don’t like MOTO military gifts though and don’t WON’T wear a huge emblazoned Marine Corps logo.

So save your official USMC clothing for yourself.

Gift Ideas for Marines

Core Values - U.S. Marines Challenge CoinCore Values – U.S. Marines Challenge CoinKA-BAR Knife Desk Display Stand (USMC Emblem)KA-BAR Knife Desk Display Stand (USMC Emblem)Wrist Armor Men's 37100002 C20 Analog Display Quartz Watch with Black Silicone StrapWrist Armor Men’s 37100002 C20 Analog Display Quartz Watch with Black Silicone StrapHCSB Marine's BibleHCSB Marine’s BibleSterling Silver United States Marine Corps Medal with Christ Cross Back, 3/4 InchSterling Silver United States Marine Corps Medal with Christ Cross Back, 3/4 InchAllied Frame United States Marine Corps Certificate of Achievement FrameAllied Frame United States Marine Corps Certificate of Achievement Frame

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Have you been to a MCRD Graduation Family Day?

What has been your experience at your Marines Family Day? What did you do differently and what would you recommend?

 

Filed Under: Family, Marine Corps, Military Pride, Project 365, Travel Adventures Tagged With: 365project, boot camp, California, Food, graduation, marine boot camp, Marine Corps, marines, mcrd graduation family day, military, oorah, project365, San Diego, semper fi, snacks, travel, US Marines, USMC, Vacation

Day 297-298: Honoring my Dad on Veterans Day

November 11, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

My Dad was a private quiet man. He served in World War II and in Korea. However I know very little about his WWII experience other than he was in the Navy, on a destroyer operating one of the big guns at Normandy and in the Pacific. His papers and commendations were all lost when he arrived home on New Years Eve and put his sea bag down in Times Square. Someone else picked it up. Considering he used his brothers ID to get in at age 16 I don’t know what I can find out.

For the sake of possibly finding anybody who served with my Dad I’m listing his full name: Leo Thomas “Terry”  Tyrrell, his nickname in WWII was Tiny Terry the Terrible. He wasn’t very big, 5’6″ and weighed 125 lbs sopping wet. But, from what I understand you didn’t want to mess with him. He fought like a little bantam rooster. I often compare his physique to Clint Eastwood, not an ounce of fat on him.

Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia
Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia

He reenlisted in the Korean War with the Army airborne and I do have his papers and airman’s wings which I treasure greatly. (There is a longer story on this shadow box which I will relate later) He was a paratrooper and after the war worked for a parachute factory in Manchester Connecticut. The area is now called Silk City. For many years he didn’t talk about the war, but he would watch all the black and white television shows on WWII and occasionally he would say “I sat there, that’s what I did.” I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid.

Here’s to my Dad and all the veterans today that served our country and have given us the freedom we enjoy today. We are a safer country and world for what you did many years ago. We salute you.

Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
Related articles
  • Honoring My Dad, the Paratrooper (ndjmom.wordpress.com)
  • Korean War 60th Anniversary (gunnerscorner.wordpress.com)
  • 82nd Airborne Gifts (Cafepress.com)

Filed Under: Military Pride, Project 365 Tagged With: 365project, army, army airman, Connecticut, dad, honor, Korea, korean, korean war, memorial, memories, military, Normandy, Pacific, Pacific Ocean, paratropper, project365, restoration, tradition, troops, United States Navy, veteran, veterans day, war, World War II

Veterans Day from a Military Mom

November 11, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

On this Veterans Day, I wish to salute my sons who have chosen to serve their country in the United States Marine Corps.

I know the Marines seem to be the proudest, and the Mom’s are just as bad. But there is a reason why they are called The Few, the Proud, The Marines.

Mother of two Marines, boot camp photos from MCRD San Diego

They are the only branch of the service that once you go through Marine boot camp you can transfer to any other branch without going through boot, or basic again.

But every other service man wanting to transfer into the Marines must go through Marine boot camp. They train the hardest and the longest of any other branch. Thirteen weeks, followed by four weeks of Marine Combat Training (MCT)

From boot camp, to their uniforms, Marines are disciplined to pay attention to detail. Everything has a purpose, not that you are supposed to understand that purpose, but there is a trust in every command, every directive, that there is a greater purpose in mind. Here are a few pictures from my youngest son’s leave from boot camp in October.

He received the Expert Rifleman award, the highest marksmanship award given in boot camp. It is pined exactly an 1/8 of an inch above the left pocket. If you don’t have a ruler in your kit the width of two nickels will do.

Attention to Dress Blue Details
Attention to Dress Blue Details
Marine Rifle Expert Pin
Marine Rifle Expert Pin
US Marine Dress Cover
US Marine Dress Cover

Learn More about the Marine Corps

  • Marine Gifts on Amazon (amazon.com)
  • Custom Military Gifts on CafePress
  • Bring Veterans Day To Life In Your Classroom (teacherpop.org)
  • Essential Marines Boot Camp Guidelines – What You Need To Know To Endure Marine Boot Camp (hfingerhut83.wordpress.com)
  • Deals and Meals on Veterans Day (coupons.answers.com)

Filed Under: Military Pride, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, country, Holidays, Marine Corps, marines, Nebraska, pride, project365, rural, semper fi, USMC, veterans day

Where Poppies Grow, In Flanders Field

November 11, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I could make it to the Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day program this year, so I’m posting last years tribute from the high school choir. It’s my favorite  and never fails to give me chills.

Thank you to all our veterans who have served and who are now serving in the United States Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Filed Under: Military Pride, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: army, choir, choral, Elmwood-Murdock, Marine Corps, marines, memories, military, music, navy, project365, singing, soldiers, thanks, tradition, troops, veterans day, video, videos

Day 288-290: High School Football

November 10, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

High school football, the central point of every fall Friday night in a small town. It’s the center of the social scene, the place to be seen and to see people and watch some football. Elmwood-Murdock high school has been conference district champions for the past 13 years and make the state playoffs every year I can remember.

Nebraska, High school football
Nebraska, High school football, obviously doesn't want me to take his picture
Class C2, Nebraska Football
Class C2, Nebraska Football
High School Football Cheerleaders
High School Football Cheerleaders

Filed Under: Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, cheerleaders, Elmwood-Murdock, entertainment, fall, football, high school, Nebraska, project365, rural town, small town, sports, tradition

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