thedrifter
08-31-06, 05:13 PM
Once NJROTC cadets, now U.S. Marines
Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter
“Ladies and gentlemen I now introduce you to the newest United States Marines,” is what two young men of Live Oak were told by Lt. Col. McBreen at a boot camp ceremony last weekend.
It’s official, Trey Reeves and Robert Townsend are Marines. They recently completed 13 weeks of boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. The two enlisted under the buddy system, where the recruits paired up for training.
Both young men are 2006 Suwannee High School graduates where they served in NJROTC all four years of high school. And both agree they would probably not be in the Marine Corps today had it not been for that training.
“If it wasn’t for Msgt. Doug Aukerman, we wouldn’t be in the Marine Corps today,” said Townsend about his NJROTC instructor.
“He (Aukerman) has been our idol since we started the first day,” said Reeves.
“They were both very motivated to join the Marine Corps. That’s all they talked about during their senior year,” said Aukerman about Townsend, who was the commanding officer of the NJROTC unit and Reeves, who was a senior chief in the unit.
The training in high school was only a mild taste of things to come for these Marines.
During boot camp in South Carolina, the young recruits were pushed to the limit. The most difficult part of training was the crucible, which was the main test. The crucible is a test of everything taught in boot camp to see if recruits can actually apply it in the field. It’s a training that is unique to the Marines.
During the crucible recruits lived off of two MREs they had to ration over a period of 54 hours. They hiked a total of 48 miles during the period; never took a shower; and drank a solution of water and sodium for hydration.
“In the Marine Corps you take care of your rifle first, then you make sure all your gear is good and then you can worry about eating,” said Reeves, 18.
“It’s 54 hours of food deprivation and sleep deprivation,” said Townsend, 19, about the crucible. “It’s 110-115 heat index. We thought we were going to die. You push yourself to the limit.”
The two both agreed in the midst of such a test, drill instructors kept good care of recruits.
“During training it’s so hot out there and you see recruits fall flat on their backs foaming from the mouth. Their eyes roll back in their heads, and they’re shaking. Then you’d see the drill instructors run over, rip off their clothes and pour ice on them,” Townsend said.
“They take care of them,” said Reeves. “They make sure there’s always drill instructors with us to take care of us during boot camp, making sure we’re well-hydrated and healthy.”
The two new Marines gained great respect for their drill instructors.
“The drill instructors, they’re the meanest people you’ll ever meet in life,” said Townsend.
“But you fall in love with them,” said Reeves, finishing the sentence of his fellow Marine.
“They’re like your dad,” said Townsend. “They teach you everything you know and in the end when they shake your hand it brings tears to your eyes.”
The next stop for these new Marines is Camp Geiger, N.C. where they will undergo 22 more days of training.
“Basically we’re going to shoot bigger guns and throw hand grenades and live in the field for a few weeks,” Townsend said.
Next, they are headed to Pensacola for six weeks to enroll in a general aircraft training school. After that, they will prepare to specialize in a certain aircraft.
Reeves said he wants to retire from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant.
Townsend said if his first five years goes well, he will re-enlist and consider staying until retirement.
“Marines are always respected more and carry themselves better,” said Reeves about why he chose the Marines instead of another military branch.
“They’re the best of the best,” said Townsend. “We wanted the biggest challenge we could get.”
Both new Marines say, “Semper Fidelis.” Since 1883, this has been the U.S. Marine Corps motto, which means “always faithful.”
Ellie
Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter
“Ladies and gentlemen I now introduce you to the newest United States Marines,” is what two young men of Live Oak were told by Lt. Col. McBreen at a boot camp ceremony last weekend.
It’s official, Trey Reeves and Robert Townsend are Marines. They recently completed 13 weeks of boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. The two enlisted under the buddy system, where the recruits paired up for training.
Both young men are 2006 Suwannee High School graduates where they served in NJROTC all four years of high school. And both agree they would probably not be in the Marine Corps today had it not been for that training.
“If it wasn’t for Msgt. Doug Aukerman, we wouldn’t be in the Marine Corps today,” said Townsend about his NJROTC instructor.
“He (Aukerman) has been our idol since we started the first day,” said Reeves.
“They were both very motivated to join the Marine Corps. That’s all they talked about during their senior year,” said Aukerman about Townsend, who was the commanding officer of the NJROTC unit and Reeves, who was a senior chief in the unit.
The training in high school was only a mild taste of things to come for these Marines.
During boot camp in South Carolina, the young recruits were pushed to the limit. The most difficult part of training was the crucible, which was the main test. The crucible is a test of everything taught in boot camp to see if recruits can actually apply it in the field. It’s a training that is unique to the Marines.
During the crucible recruits lived off of two MREs they had to ration over a period of 54 hours. They hiked a total of 48 miles during the period; never took a shower; and drank a solution of water and sodium for hydration.
“In the Marine Corps you take care of your rifle first, then you make sure all your gear is good and then you can worry about eating,” said Reeves, 18.
“It’s 54 hours of food deprivation and sleep deprivation,” said Townsend, 19, about the crucible. “It’s 110-115 heat index. We thought we were going to die. You push yourself to the limit.”
The two both agreed in the midst of such a test, drill instructors kept good care of recruits.
“During training it’s so hot out there and you see recruits fall flat on their backs foaming from the mouth. Their eyes roll back in their heads, and they’re shaking. Then you’d see the drill instructors run over, rip off their clothes and pour ice on them,” Townsend said.
“They take care of them,” said Reeves. “They make sure there’s always drill instructors with us to take care of us during boot camp, making sure we’re well-hydrated and healthy.”
The two new Marines gained great respect for their drill instructors.
“The drill instructors, they’re the meanest people you’ll ever meet in life,” said Townsend.
“But you fall in love with them,” said Reeves, finishing the sentence of his fellow Marine.
“They’re like your dad,” said Townsend. “They teach you everything you know and in the end when they shake your hand it brings tears to your eyes.”
The next stop for these new Marines is Camp Geiger, N.C. where they will undergo 22 more days of training.
“Basically we’re going to shoot bigger guns and throw hand grenades and live in the field for a few weeks,” Townsend said.
Next, they are headed to Pensacola for six weeks to enroll in a general aircraft training school. After that, they will prepare to specialize in a certain aircraft.
Reeves said he wants to retire from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant.
Townsend said if his first five years goes well, he will re-enlist and consider staying until retirement.
“Marines are always respected more and carry themselves better,” said Reeves about why he chose the Marines instead of another military branch.
“They’re the best of the best,” said Townsend. “We wanted the biggest challenge we could get.”
Both new Marines say, “Semper Fidelis.” Since 1883, this has been the U.S. Marine Corps motto, which means “always faithful.”
Ellie