What is the cruciable?
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  1. #1
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    What is the cruciable?

    I have heard mention of this event that happens I beleive the last week of the recurits training. We went to a marine corp dinner before my son left and they had a film on but honestly I wasn't paying much attention. Can anyone tell me what exactly the cruciable is?


  2. #2
    I believe it is a 48 hour test/field exercise where the recruits put all of the knowledge they have learned to use. They don't get much sleep or food and have to use teamwork, brains, and muscle to overcome challenges put forth in front of them.

    When I was in boot camp they didn't have the Crucible yet, so I can only tell you what I have heard/read about it. You can google it or yahoo it, you'll get lots of info on that.


  3. #3
    I went through the Crucible in 1998. It was a 54 hour field exercise to test a recruits ability to think under stress; deal with little sleep, little food and still get the job done. It starts with a road march, can't remember how long. Then you break up into Squads and Fire Teams. Most of the tasks are done as Squads, but we watched each others backs as Fire Teams, and reported from there.

    The tasks aren't that hard, you just have to not out think yourself. A lot of it is leadership ability, taking charge and following commands, which is no sweat after 11.5 weeks of Boot! When you do have some down time, there is knowledge training. The Drill instructors are now Gunnery Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant, etc. They hold small group classes, mostly about Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipients and why they earned them. You finish up with a 9-mile morning march back home to the depot Iwo Jima monument, the EGA ceremony and the Warriors Breakfast.

    It is a motivating, exhausting, thrilling time, because you know you are that much closer to getting you Eagle, Globe and Anchor and becoming a Marine.

    The only thing I ask is that you not pass this information on to your son, let him learn on his own what he will have to go through and he will be thrilled to tell you all about it, don't steal his thunder.

    Just a request, but I know I can't stop you.


  4. #4
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    I will not tell him a thing. Thanks for the info


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    Quote Originally Posted by OB MSG View Post
    I went through the Crucible in 1998. It was a 54 hour field exercise to test a recruits ability to think under stress; deal with little sleep, little food and still get the job done. It starts with a road march, can't remember how long. Then you break up into Squads and Fire Teams. Most of the tasks are done as Squads, but we watched each others backs as Fire Teams, and reported from there.

    The tasks aren't that hard, you just have to not out think yourself. A lot of it is leadership ability, taking charge and following commands, which is no sweat after 11.5 weeks of Boot! When you do have some down time, there is knowledge training. The Drill instructors are now Gunnery Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant, etc. They hold small group classes, mostly about Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipients and why they earned them. You finish up with a 9-mile morning march back home to the depot Iwo Jima monument, the EGA ceremony and the Warriors Breakfast.

    It is a motivating, exhausting, thrilling time, because you know you are that much closer to getting you Eagle, Globe and Anchor and becoming a Marine.

    The only thing I ask is that you not pass this information on to your son, let him learn on his own what he will have to go through and he will be thrilled to tell you all about it, don't steal his thunder.

    Just a request, but I know I can't stop you.
    Excellent post, OB MSG!!!

    Too many parents seem to think they have to know EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of what there child will be experiencing BEFORE THEIR NEW MARINE has a chance to experience it and excitedly tell them all about it!!!

    Talk about "stealing their thunder!"


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    Quote Originally Posted by MotoDad View Post
    Excellent post, OB MSG!!!

    Too many parents seem to think they have to know EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of what there child will be experiencing BEFORE THEIR NEW MARINE has a chance to experience it and excitedly tell them all about it!!!

    Talk about "stealing their thunder!"
    MotoDad,
    Your Son has been in Boot Camp for 11 days now I think???
    Let us know when you get your first letter if you would.
    Semper Fi,
    Rocky


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    Quote Originally Posted by RhodeIsland View Post
    MotoDad,
    Your Son has been in Boot Camp for 11 days now I think???
    Let us know when you get your first letter if you would.
    Semper Fi,
    Rocky
    Hi Rocky,

    Yes, he has been at Boot for 11 days.....his Mom just got her first letter from him..... (we've been divorced for many years)....she will be fax'ing it to me so I can read it....all is well so far!

    I remember back in my Boot Camp days (1978-1982, Air Force active duty), I had very little time at night to write home....so I don't want him to think he has to write separate letters to BOTH of us!

    Take care,

    MotoDad


  8. #8
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    Thank you MotoDad,
    I am interested in following up since your other thread on your Sons Quest to become A Recon Marine.
    Semper Fi,
    Rocky Out.


  9. #9
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    Rocky,

    That is very kind of you to show interest in my son's progress to becoming an 0321......

    I'll be sure to update as time goes on....

    Unfortunately, I failed to "fill-out my profile" adequately before I began posting yesterday (I just joined leatherneck.com a day or two ago).....

    As a result, ALL of my prior posts from yesterday were deleted by the moderator.....very disappointing....I had put a lot of time into writing that particular post that you mentioned.....

    Oh well.....live and learn, I guess!

    MotoDad


  10. #10
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    motodad guess i was one of those parents.still am. cant see it as stealing their thunder though the only imfo you get is what they write to you.
    as far as recon goes thats what they all want,(take a look at the poolee section)and i truly hope your son makes it. to me its kinda like going to the nfl from high school.
    hope everything goes well for your son

    damnproud

    ps. one of the hardest things for me ,when my son was in boot.we got a letter saying he was as sick as he had everbeen in his life but wouldnt go see the doc.a week went by before the next letter nothing was mentioned about being sick in that one.lol still was a long week though


  11. #11
    It sucked, we got up at 2 am or 5 , humped I can't remember how many miles in the cold rain, set up in the dark, did I mention the cold rain. Performed several low crawls through mud and 1/4 inch ice breaking on top of the ice cold water(2 feet). Changed over in two old junk helicopter fuselages(are those still there?) Some moron ate all his MRE(1) in one sitting and was starving the rest of the time...LOL..low crawled again with my rifle shooting blanks at the fake enemy...can't remember the rest....Good stuff though, I'd do it agian. Earned my EGA, Ohh the warriors breakfast was excellent.


  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by DAMNPROUD View Post
    motodad guess i was one of those parents.still am. cant see it as stealing their thunder though the only imfo you get is what they write to you.
    as far as recon goes thats what they all want,(take a look at the poolee section)and i truly hope your son makes it. to me its kinda like going to the nfl from high school.
    hope everything goes well for your son

    damnproud

    ps. one of the hardest things for me ,when my son was in boot.we got a letter saying he was as sick as he had everbeen in his life but wouldnt go see the doc.a week went by before the next letter nothing was mentioned about being sick in that one.lol still was a long week though
    damnproud,

    Well, you have a good point there, my friend.....I must admit I researched every piece of internet info available about Reconnaissance there was!

    I know exactly what you mean about "every poolee in the world wants Recon" or Scout/Sniper! Heck, you would almost think they were the only (2) jobs in the Marine Corps!

    I even called and spoke directly with one of the NCO's at the Recon Course at Camp Pendleton to get the REAL skinny on what it takes to make it through.....when I told him my son's PFT scores and swimming times/ability, he saw no reason why he shoudn't be able to make it IF he was mentally tough, also.....time will tell!!!!

    Dang, having a sick son in Boot Camp would worry me big-time, also!

    Take care, bud....

    MotoDad


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