For those among us that may be interested, I'm back from about a week with some of the best at MCRD (Marine Corp. Recruiting Depot) Parris Island, SC. There are only two places they make marines, this is one of them. I went as a media person with more opportunity to get up close to the marines than anyone in our group.

Whatever the size of your checkbook, you cannot buy this experience.

There's way too many significant details to mention here, except that Marine Drill instructors started beating on us as soon as we arrived at our hotel off-base. That continued the next morning as we drove at zero dark thirty onto the USMC MCRD and went on for days.

Highlights:

- tolerating and surviving the mental side of the event. They beat us for days. Talk was usually limited to "Aye ma'am!" "Yes ma'am!" and "No ma'am!" It eventually eased off a click or two as we went past the halfway point.
- combat conditioning and martial arts. physical challenges ranged from confidence course events to rapid 18 hour days to meals every 7 hours.
- we did live fire M16A2. 14 out of 15 at 100 and 200 meters. Nuf said.
- having my face in the dirt on part of the crucible with the recruits during their 54 hour ordeal. I went as a media person, my video frames will say it all.
- being up close to F-18 Hornets D class fighters and pilots at MCAS (Marine Corps. Air Station) Beaufort.
- weather. we went from upper 50s to arctic air. If you did not dress right you had to ignore it. Your cammo gortex had to do.
- water is the cure. You hurt, you drink water. You have a headache, you drink water. You want to sit, you drink water. I never rinsed out my water bottle, and when I finally saw what was floating in it on the final day . . . if I have a 3rd arm in 6 months I'll know why.
- throwing beer bottles at your favorite bad guy on the wall at Santini Bar at the Officer's Club. You can see this in the movie "The Great Santini" with Robert Duvall.
- the makeup of the corps. is still middle class young men and women with options, who are looking for more. They get it when they earn the globe and anchor.
- the teamwork is still un-frigging-believable.
- the corps. is smart at the top, if you understand the price of university degrees, a thesis or two, an MBA in Economics, etc. Physically tough, mentally tough and smart is a dangerous combination for our enemies.
- damn graduations still get you misty. If you never served you'll never get what I mean.

The USMC made sure we got a strong dose of each phase of the 13 weeks recruits endure. Candyass whiners need not apply. We earned the few USMC souveniers we received at the end.

Along the way we were amazed at the Phila. connection. A full bird Colonel, a Lt. Col, a 2nd Lt. and a Staff Sgt. stepped forward as soon as they heard we were Philly guys shooting a TV show. All are diehard Eagles fans. Even more amazing was one senior officer walking into the firing range asking for the Tampadelphia guys. Eagles fans, we stand tall.

Major Jarvis, Lt. Giles, SSG Anderson, Sgt. Robbins . . . whenever you're in Tampa during football season, there's a chair waiting for you in Tampadelphia. Your money isn't good either.

Bottom line: the USMC is impressive. I would NOT want to face a combat unit of these fighters. All Marines are trained the same way, know what they will do and how they will do it, and execute to precision. Having gone into doors to speak with officers few civilians do, believe me, we have nothing to fear with them on the wall. Let's just get the politicians out of the way to leave them alone to do their job.

The Corps. started in Philadelphia. Marines will go through hell not to fail each other. The Phila. marines may have felt an even stronger obligation to succeed.

Believe me, we can never thank these men and women enough.

If you support the military, you can do more to show it by finding rhe chapter of A Heroes Welcome in your area. This group meets and greets men and women coming back home as they arrive to show our appreciation and support. You can google Sharon Hyland and learn more about it from the links. In fact, it's surely worth a mention.

A semper fi and oo-rah! to all marines.

Done ma'am done!

Pain is weakness leaving the body
USMC saying