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[Marine Corps] Recruit
By Icebreaker
Icebreaker Fiction
...There is nothing Cooler...
The Rising Tyrant Series
Death Has No Regret
Once in a Blue Moon
A Shadow of Doubt
The Rebirth of a Dream
Jurassic Park: Tales of Evolution
[Book I] Origin
[Book III] Misconceptions
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
[Mission I]-Defection
[Feature Presentation]
INTRODUCTION to BOOT CAMP
Boot Camp: 3 months of Hell.
Marine Boot Camp:3 months of craptastic, kick-ass, muscle burning excitement.
To say it is hell is somewhat of a lie, it is the second closest thing to hell that you could possibly imagine. The first being: War. War is the closest thing you will ever see to hell on earth and having boot camp as the second closest only makes sense. You are trained to kill. Plain and Simple. If you want to go sit in a tree to save it, then boot camp is not the place for you, especially at a Marine boot camp. Marine’s are the sort of guys that would cut down the goddamn tree you were sitting in, and when you bust your ass after the long fall down they would tell you to suck it up…or suck a dick. They are the most arrogant infantry men in the world, and rightfully so.
At Marine Corps boot camp you will be pushed to the edge of your physical and mental limits…and perhaps even past them. But there is no giving up, not if you want to claim the title of a United States Marine. It isn’t summer camp, where you run around like a faggot trying to ‘name that bird’. This is hardcore, adrenaline training. Your Sergeant is your god. He controls your life. You are nothing to him, you are a maggot barely worthy of being recognized. You are stripped of a personal identity. You are no longer: Joe Smith—you are: Recruit. You’re the lowest form of life, not even a Private…you have to work to become a Private.
If your Sergeant tells you to jump off a cliff, you better fucking do it. Because if you don’t he will kick your sorry ass off the cliff and then make you give him 50 ups when you hit the bottom. Your opinion on any matter is not worthy of a response, nobody cares what you have to say. After all you are just a Recruit. For three months you drink, eat, sleep…even shit the Marine Corp. But despite all the hardships, it is the most fascinating time of your life. While your sweating and almost ready to faint from heat exhaustion, your not thinking of how great things are…but when you finally succeed, you realize that it was all worth it.
There are many things that are instilled into a Recruit, most involve the need for courage, sacrifice and love of your country, but the most important thing you learn when you graduate from boot camp…is to be arrogant. And why shouldn’t you be? You are the most kick-ass solider on earth. There should really only be two rules:
Rule One:
Arrogance is a key. You can’t be the best without thinking you’re the best. In the Marine Corps you are the best in the world, nobody can touch you. You kill. Semper Fi. Enemies who dare fight against you—die. There is no second place, but that doesn’t matter to you, because you have never been in second place, nor will you ever be in second place.
Rule Two:
The objective comes first over anything. You serve your country without question and if in the most horrific of circumstances you must lay your own life down for the good of your country, then I’ll be damned you will do it. But that’s only in the worst possible circumstance. You’re a Marine. You don’t fucking die, that’s the enemies job—to roll over and die when you bust down the door. You are their grim-reaper, you are the deliverer of judgment. Ooh-fucking-rah.
Welcome to Boot Camp Recruit.
INTRODUCTION to RECRUIT
Matthew Martin
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180
Date Of Birth: 5/20/84
[18 Years Old]
High School Graduate – Cedar Lake High
Sports – Basketball, Baseball
Hobbies – Cars, Racing
REASON FOR JOINING MARINE CORPS: 9/11/01
Patriotic teenager, eager to fight against the terrorists that killed 3,000 of his fellow countrymen in the September 11th attacks.
BOOT CAMP
[August 10th, 2002]
Matthew Martin stared outside the window of the bus as it hugged the Coast on its way down south to Camp Pendleton. The bright August sun glared off the window and hurt his eyes, but there wasn’t much else for him to look at, besides the ocean. He shifted slightly in the rubbery seat and looked back across the bus, 24 other young men were seated throughout the large bus, almost so that nobody had to sit next to anyone else. In fact the seat next to Matt was empty. Nobody spoke.
They were mostly in deep thought, trying to come to the realization that this was the last 20 minutes of their freedom for the next three months. They were on their way to boot camp and anyone of them that said they weren’t nervous about it were lying through their teeth. They had no luggage, they were told that everything they needed would be supplied to them once they reached the base.
Matthew looked back out the window just in time to see a surfer in the distance. He rode a small wave for about fifteen yards before he bailed off and paddled back out for another go around. The water looked cool and Matt would have given anything to be out in it. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes…
The bus came to a stop just outside the Marine Barracks for Recruits at Camp Pendleton 19 minutes later, Matt had dozed off for the remainder of the trip. Slowly he opened his right eye and saw a half dozen Drill Instructors standing at attention just outside his window. He cursed. This was it.
He got up and made his way into the line the was forming to exit the bus, but the driver had yet to open the exit. All the recruits stood silently awaiting orders, they had been warned before the trip. Do not do anything without being told to do anything. So they stood. Finally the door opened, but nobody dared to move. Matt felt his heart begin to pound. Suddenly the Sergeant closest to the door shouted at the first Recruit and the line of young men began to move out the door.
Each teenager was greeted by a pair of instructors as they moved to exited the door and each teenager was promptly screamed at for as long as the instructors felt necessary, before he was shoved toward a sign-in table, where you would find your name, verify that you were there and then move into alphabetical order.
Now his heart was screaming with anxiety. Slowly but surely he moved closer to the front, until he was finally greeted by the pair of Sergeants.
“What the hell is your name Recruit?!” shouted the one to his left, only an inch from his ear.
“Matthew Martin Sir!”
“Well from this day forth you are Recruit do you understand me? You are not Matthew, you are not Matt, you are not Martin, you are not ANYTHING, you are recruit!” came the response from the one on the right.
“Yes Sir!”
Now the one on his left grabbed his shoulder and turned him, “Martin!”
“Yes Sir?!”
Suddenly everything got quiet. Matt didn’t know what happened, did he do something wrong? He stood his ground. The sergeant on his right spun him around.
“Did you not hear a fucking word I said?! You are not MARTIN, you are not MATTHEW! Goddamn it, you are RECRUIT! Do you understand me Matt?” This time Matthew caught on, and didn’t respond. He stood at attention, until the instructor finally felt that he had gotten the message, “Good!” he said, “Sergeant Philips, do you think Mr. Martin here deserves a reward?”
“Yes I believe he does Sergeant,” He smiled, “Congratulations Recruit, you are awarded the first prize of boot camp.” He pointed to the ground, “Twenty. Now.”
“Yes Sir!” Matt fell to the ground and promptly began push-ups, “One, two, three, four…”
“Holy shit! Holy fucking shit, did you not hear me?! Are you stupid? Are you a fucking retard? Are you Recruit?”
“No Sir!”
“Then what the hell are you doing?” the Sergeant on his right, Sergeant Stone was on the ground now, right in Matt’s face, “This isn’t P.E. you little shit! 20 Marine ups…1,2,3 ONE! 1,2,3 TWO! You got me now Recruit?!”
“Yes Sir!”
Matt began his pushups once more, he made his way all the way up to 15 before his arms began to wobble. He took a deep breath and tried to continue, but he couldn’t. His left arm collapsed first and his face hit the scolding blacktop. Within an instant the two Sergeants were on top of him again, they had literately halted everything that was going on around Matt. Everybody was watching. He was being made an example of.
“Get up! Get the fuck up! Right now! Get up! You maggot! Up, Up, Up!”
He pushed up, trying to get back into position, but his hands were burning too now, his arms collapsed again and he felt his chin hit the ground. The impact almost cracked his teeth. He closed his eyes, and continued to try and struggle up, all the while preparing for more insults…but it never came. Instead the two Sergeants helped him onto his feet. Sergeant Stone, who was the stronger built of the two, looked at Matt and smiled. “Good....I like what I am seeing Recruit, you didn’t give up…and that’s what this is all about. Now get to the sign-in table. Now! Hurry!”
Matt shouted, “Yes Sir!” and ran off to the table. He wanted to quit right then and there, was he really ready for this? Quickly he pushed that thought out of his head, he knew this was what the Sergeants had wanted him to do…to question himself, this is how they weeded out the pansies from the group. He nodded inwardly…of course he was ready for this.
[August 11th, 2002]
Clank, Clank, Clank. One eye opened. Clank, Clank, Clank. Second eye opened…barely. Matt raised his left hand and rubbed his eyes. Where was he? He yawned and looked up towards the ceiling, small fans where turning but it was still humid. He looked to his right through an open window, it was still dark outside. Clank, Clank, Clank What in the hell was that sound?
“Good Morning Recruits!” came a deep sarcastic voice from across the large room. Matthew Martin lifted his head up from his bunk and saw a Sergeant standing along the far wall with a symbol in his hand, “Did you enjoy your four hours of sleep? Bet you feel refreshed….you feel refreshed don’t you recruits?”
In chorus, “Yes Sir!”
Matt laughed inwardly, that was the lamest response he had heard. People were still half a sleep and 80% of the responses sounded mumbled.
“Did you say something?” the Sergeant slammed the symbol again. “I’m not sure if I heard that. I asked you, do you feel refreshed recruits?”
This time louder, “Yes Sir!”
“Good! Then you will be happy to know that because you were able to get such good sleep, we are going on a small morning jog. It will only be five miles, because I don’t want to exhaust you…and after that, we can do some P.T. before we shower, if your lucky we might even be done in time for some breakfast. That’s rare for first week recruits, your lucky I am one hell of a nice guy.” The man, which was approximately six feet four inches, with a shaved head and steel blue eyes stood for a moment, staring each of the twenty men in the eyes all at once—or at least that’s what it seemed like. “My name is Drill Sergeant Schaffer. Don’t worry we will get to know each other much better over the next few months.”
Sgt. Schaffer turned to exit the room when one of the recruits spoke out, “Sgt. Schaffer sir! Requesting permission to ask a question!”
The Sergeant stopped and turned slowly to face the recruit, “Cut the crap. What the fuck do you want to know?”
“Sir! I would like to know what time it is Sir!”
Schaffer laughed and turned away from the recruit shaking his head, “3:00 am. What time did you think it was recruit? Now…without any further interruptions…” he walked out the door, “Our jog starts in 10 minutes, don’t be late.”
Matt sighed and fell back on his bunk the recruit below him was already making his bunk, making sure all the sheets were folded correctly. He looked up at Matt, “Excited about our run Matt?” he laughed.
“Oh hell yeah,” came Matt’s sarcastic reply. “You ever run 5 miles at 3:00 am before David?”
David Arnold, a short guy, 5’8” blond hair, blue eyes, laughed and stopped for a moment from his work. He pretended to think things over. “Actually, I cant say that I ever have.”
Martin laughed and hopped down off his bunk. He landed with his bare feet on the warm concrete floor, if it was this warm, this early in the morning, then it was going to be one hell of a summer. He started to make his bunk, “You know though Dave, if I like the run I think I might do it from now on…you know? Maybe it will become my new recreational activity.”
Arnold laughed, “Actually Martin, I don’t think you have much of a choice but to like it.”
60 Minutes later, Matthew Martin was laying on the grass gasping for air, he had just run 5 miles in 57 minutes. He had never done anything like that before in his life. He looked over at his bunkmate, Dave and saw that he was out of breath too. Sergeant Schaffer stood at the front of the group, sweating, but no sign of being out of breath. He was breathing calm and steady.
“God damn it! You are all pieces of shit! 57 minutes? It took you 57 minutes to run only 5 goddamn miles?!” he cursed. “By the end of this Boot Camp, you will run 5 miles in no more then 45 minutes in the scorching heat with no water! Do you understand me?”
“Yes Sir!”
“You recruit? Did you enjoy your run this fine Tuesday morning? Did you?” he was talking to the recruit on his left hand side who was laying on the ground panting like a dog.
“Yes Sir…” he barely got the words out.
“Bullshit, even I didn’t like the goddamn run! Why did you like it recruit? Was it because you got to watch all the other recruits asses in front of you bounce while they ran? Did that turn you on recruit? Did that make you fuck-ass horny?”
“No Sir!”
“Don’t lie to me! That’s the second time you have lied to me recruit. You know you were hard enough to crack an egg with one swipe! I saw your sorry bulge from the front of the group…you were harder then a bar of gold.”
“Yes Sir!”
“So now your saying that you were hard recruit? Now your saying that you did want to bone the recruits ass in front of you? Is that what your saying? Are you going to try and stick your penis up my anal cavities tonight when I am sleeping in my quarters?! Are you?”
“No Sir!”
“Then what the fuck were you ‘Yes Sir!’ing about recruit? Did you change your mind just now, again…for the third time? Did you realize that your cover was blown. Just like your penis was the night before you left for boot camp, by your boyfriend? You know the military doesn’t like faggots don’t you recruit?”
The recruits eyes were starting to water. “Yes Sir!”
The Sergeant stopped and leaned closer towards the recruit, “Are you crying? Are you fucking crying like a little faggot who’s mother took his Popsicle away? Do you want me to shove my dick in your mouth like a pacifier? Would that make you stop crying?”
“No Sir!”
“Then maybe you want to do 50 ups for me? Would that make you happy? Would you pretend like you were entering your gay-lovers ass? Would you?”
“No Sir!”
“Well tough shit! By the way, do you like tough shit? Does shit turn you on? When you think of shit, do you want to grab the guy next to you and probe his ass?”
“NO SIR!” this time the recruit was almost breaking down, tears were running down his face.
“Good, now give me those 50 ups before you piss me off.”
Everything got quiet, the Sergeant stood and watched as the recruit did his 50 ups (which he would never be able to finish) and Matthew Martin sat up and stared horrified at what had just happened. 2 more days, maximum and that recruit would no longer be in the group. Matt knew it…and, he would turn out to be right.
[August 17th, 2002]
“Recruit Martin?”
“Yes Sir?”
“Recruit Martin, have you ever fast roped before?” Sergeant Schaffer stood at the top of a 200 foot wood wall that had metal support beams on either side.
“No Sir, I haven’t.”
After the first few days of the camp, and after several recruits had dropped out due to the emotional and physical pain they had gone through, the Sergeant seemed to think that he had weeded out the useless guys. Matt had noticed that he was no longer too concerned about making you break down. Instead he was beginning to build you up.
“Well then, today you will have your first experience. It’s not as good as your first fuck Martin, but I think you will enjoy it nonetheless.”
That was another thing, occasionally the Sergeant would use your last name. He still used ‘recruit’ 90% of the time, but every now and then he would slip your last name in there. It made him seem a little more personal and therefore you sort of wanted to respect him more, or at least that’s what Martin thought.
“Now then, Sergeant Stone here, will give you a demonstration as to how to fast rope. Stone? These ladies are all yours.”
“Thank you Sir,” Sergeant Stone stepped forward, he was the same instructor that had really laid into Matt on his first day of boot camp. Since that day Martin hadn’t seen him much, but he knew eventually he would meet up with him again. Today was the day. “The technique to fast roping is to keep your balance. Now I know that seems like common sense, but it’s the truth and many recruits fail to do this. I don’t want to scare the shit out of you but we have had many injuries during this portion of training, even a few deaths. If you want to get through this alright and really be good at it, pay attention. If you want to crack your head open or snap your spine, that’s fine with me, but I recommend the former choice.”
He stepped up to Matt. “Recruit. You will be the first to attempt the fast rope.”
Matt looked at him somewhat in aw. He wasn’t going to have someone experienced demonstrate first? “Sir, I’ve never roped before sir.”
“I know that recruit, I’m not going to push you off. We are going to go through this step by step so that everyone can see what I am talking about.” He handed Martin the rope he would use to repel down the side of the wall. It was attached to a safety mechanism. Matt grabbed it with his thick leather gloves. They were fast roping gloves made from 100% pure leather, they weren’t comfortable, but they would sure as hell stop your hands from burning on your way down.
“Once again…balance is the key to this. You need to keep your legs wrapped firmly around the rope. If you feel a burning sensation between your legs, your thighs to be exact, then you are doing this correctly.” He helped Matt get his legs around the rope. “Now, your only safety device is your hands. The harder you squeeze, the slower you will descend. This should not burn too much, that’s why we give you these goddamn gloves.”
The group of recruits all seemed very interested in what was being said. They watched intently as the Sergeant went through the rest of the instructions very quickly and then stepped aside, next to Drill Sergeant Schaffer. “You ready Recruit Martin?”
“Yes Sir.” Matthew gripped the rope and looked over the edge of the wall. Holy Shit he was high.
“Alright, then go!”
He jumped off, not even giving it a second thought. As he descended he screamed out; ‘OoooH-RaaaaaH!’ his heart pounded furiously as he plummeted towards the ground. He realized he was going in too fast, he squeezed the rope. Nothing happened, he was picking up speed…He squeezed hard this time and felt a slight burning on his hands. He began to slow, but he was still going to hit the ground pretty hard. In fact the ground met him with full force, his legs slammed hard onto the grass and he rolled away from the rope. Everything was quiet.
“You alright Recruit?!” someone shouted from high in the air.
Martin looked down at his legs, they weren’t broken, they didn’t seem sprained, and overall he felt fine. He stood up, “Fuck yeah!”
The laughs were heard from all the other recruits high on top of the wall, the sun was glaring but Matt thought he could see Sergeant Schaffer laughing as well. “Alright then, get your sorry ass up here and get ready to do it again!”
He smiled, Oh hell yeah.
[August 29th, 2002]
Matthew Martin stooped down alongside David Arnold and set his ammo pack on the ground near his knee. Today was their first day at the range. The sun was high in the afternoon sky and Martin could feel the sweat beading on his forehead, he was stationed in lane 6 alongside David. Over the course of the past few weeks the two had really gotten to know each other well. They were bunkmates, they were both ranked in the top of their ‘class’ and they were looked at as leaders by not only their peers, but by the Sergeants that were instructing them.
Matt leaned his rifle against a small rack and got down on his stomach, “Beautiful day eh Dave?”
Arnold laughed, “Like hell it is…what is it? 95-100 degrees? Its too hot for this shit.”
“So you’d rather be running?”
“I didn’t say that,” Matt saw a grin on Dave’s face, “Who am I kidding though? We’ve been looking forward to target practice from the very beginning of this camp and I’m happy we are finally here.”
Matt grabbed his rifle and set it on a small tripod. The barrel of the rifle lay gently on the metal rod and he raised the butt of it too his shoulder. He gazed down the sights towards the target 50 yards down range, extremely close for target practice, but after all this was their first day of it.
Only minutes early they had been briefed and were given a demonstration on how to handle their weapons, by Sergeant Philips. Matt was ready to actually start firing. He closed his left eye and centered his sights on the target.
The sights of an M-16 are interesting, the rear sight is adjustable for short distance and long distance and is built into the ‘handle’ that runs across the top of the weapon. Despite its look, it is actually a fairly simple design.
Martin squeezed the trigger and felt a small recoil from his weapon. An instant later he could see a small hole appear just about 4 inches left of the bulls eye. Not bad. He turned his head slightly to the left and watched his friend fire off a round on lane 5.
“Bulls eye.” Arnold flashed a toothy smile. “You know Martin, if there was one thing I could really kick your ass in…its target practice.”
“Really?” Matt looked hard at him. “You care to put some money where that big mouth of yours is?”
“Fuck yes,” He looked back through his sights and fired off another round, “Two inches right…”
“Alright you son-of-a-bitch. This shits serious now,” Martin looked through his sights and squeezed off another round. Dead Center, “OoH-RaH.”
David laughed, “So what? I got it my first shot! Here…bet you can’t top this.” Suddenly he fired a double tap shot down range and scored two bulls eyes. He was about to gloat, when suddenly he heard the voice of the Sergeant screaming.
“Who the fuck did that?! I know that wasn’t two separate shots. Who the fuck double tapped?!”
Dave lowered his head, “Shit…”
Matt laughed as the Sergeant came up behind him. “Was that you Recruit Martin?” the Sergeant question.
“No Sir, Drill Instructor Schaffer Sir!”
The Sergeant rolled his eyes, “Shut your goddamn, smart ass trap Martin. If I didn’t like you, I’d have you giving me ups until dusk. Now who the fuck double tapped?”
“I did sir,” Dave replied coolly.
“So, Recruit Arnold decides to step up and take the blame.” Sergeant Schaffer crouched down beside him, “Why did you double tap Recruit? Did you not hear me at the beginning of my demonstration, I specifically said we were taking only single shots today.”
“Sir, the target is too close. It’s too easy. I wanted more of a challenge.”
“You wanted more of a challenge?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Well, I will give you more of a challenge if that’s what your really want,” he stood up and spoke out to everyone, “Seize fire!” immediately the thumping of rounds going off stopped, “Recruit Arnold here says this is too fucking easy. So I am going to make an example of him for all of you.”
Matt sat up and propped himself against his rifle rack and shook his head at Dave. He could see him trying to hold back an arrogant grin.
“Sergeant Philips!” Schaffer shouted.
Sergeant Philips was at his side immediately, “Yes Sir?”
“Have Recruit Arnold’s target moved back 50 yards more.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Now,” he was addressing all of the recruits again, “Recruit Arnold here, will have 5 shots. For every shot he makes into the bulls eye, the target will be moved back another 50 yards. For every shot he misses, you ladies will owe me 3 miles.” There was a collective moan from the recruits. “So, Mr. Smartass. We will start whenever your ready.”
“Yes Sir!” Arnold laid back on the ground and focused on the task at hand.
Martin was watching him intently, 100 yards wasn’t bad and if Dave took his time he should have no problem hitting the target. Crack! The sound of a round was heard. Dead center. He was right.
“Another 50 yards!” shouted the Sergeant, “That’s one down Recruit, four more to go.”
Arnold, paused only for a second and fired off his second shot. Bulls eye.
“Move it to 200!”
Now things were going to get difficult, Marine’s should be able to hit 200 yards with their eyes closed, but this was different. This was only their first day at the range! Most of these guys had never even touched a gun before, let alone shot one. Martin could see sweat forming on Arnold’s brow. Crack! Another perfect shot!
The Sergeant looked somewhat impressed. “250!”
Arnold adjusted his sight for longer range. He wiped his brow and took nearly a whole minute before he fired. Perfect once more. Martin heard the recruits around him mumbling, they were impressed, he looked at the Sergeant, it seemed like he was impressed as well.
“300”
This time, David took nearly two minutes before he fired. The round barely made it in the black, it was about three quarters black, one quarter white. “Ah, getting a little shit pants are we Recruit? You almost missed that one and you still got one more! 350!”
Everything was dead silent, the only sound was the slight breeze that swept across the range. Martin felt his own heart pounding. Come on Dave, he thought. He could see he was really sweating now as his finger began to squeeze the soft trigger. What happened next happened in a matter of milliseconds.
Just before Arnold could get off his shot, a round was fired only a foot from his head. Causing him to jerk up on the barrel of the gun, sending his round way off into the blue sky, nowhere near his target.
“What the fuck?!” he shouted as he looked over his shoulder at Sergeant Schaffer, who was holding a Beretta. He had fired off the round. “Why did you do that sir?”
“Because in battle you won’t have five fucking minutes to take your shot! Rounds will be zooming by your head every second! It was a lesson Recruit Arnold and a necessary one. You thought you were hot shit uh? You thought you would show me up! Didn’t you?” he leaned down and picked the M-16 straight from Arnolds hands and raised it to his head. Without taking time to aim he fired six shots in succession down range…and all six shots hit the black.
“Now that’s hot shit Recruit!” he turned towards the other recruits, “You bastards got lucky, you only owe me three miles! Now get the fuck up and head to the track!”
Everyone cursed and did as they were told. Martin walked over and helped Arnold up and both began to jog towards the track about a quarter mile away but the Sergeant stopped them.
“Recruit Arnold!” he shouted.
“Yes Sir?”
The Sergeant tossed the M-16 back to David. “Good job. That was one hell of a performance.” And with that he turned and walked past the two men towards the track to oversee the run.
[September 15th, 2002]
“You recruits are nothing but homosexuals, you are maggots, but I want your soft nuts anyway!” The ‘class clown’ Todd Hamilton paced back and forth imitating his sergeant as the other recruits laughed.
Matthew Martin looked up from cleaning his rifle and smiled. He had gotten use to the daily skits that Hamilton would put on for the group of men. He would usually use events that had taken place earlier that day and add them into his ‘skit’ for maximum humor. Martin shook his head and went back to cleaning his rifle as Todd continued to goof around.
“Dave?” Martin leapt down from his bunk and landed next to Arnold as he cleaned his rifle too.
“What?” he didn’t look up from his gun.
“I’m starting to get tired of this shit,” he sighed. “I mean…we do the same crap over, and over.”
“They warned you of that when you signed the dotted line Marty. That’s your tough shit.” He laughed.
“Dave?”
“What?”
“Don’t ever call me Marty again.”
Meanwhile, Todd Hamilton continued to put on his skit. He hadn’t finished cleaning his rifle, but he figured the Sergeant wouldn’t check in on them tonight. It had been a long day and they had all done pretty well, so normally the Sergeant would leave them alone for the rest of the evening, “You Recruit!” he pointed to one of the recruits, “Are you aware that you are just the sort of man that I, Drill Sergeant Schaffer, would love to have hot sex with?”
He paused, expecting laughs, but everybody was silent. What the hell? Then he caught on to what had happened. “…fuck…” he said as he turned slowly around. Drill Sergeant Schaffer stood staring at him through steel blue eyes.
“Sergeant Schaffer Sir! I was just…ah…inspiring the troops…” he cursed, what a stupid comment! Now he was really screwed.
“Inspiring the troops, Recruit Hamilton?” his mouth barely moved.
“Yes Sir.”
“So you like giving our troops a moral boost? Is that it?”
“Yes Sir.”
The Sergeant shrugged, “There is nothing wrong with that I guess…” he turned and began to walk out the door. Holy Shit, Hamilton thought, he had just gotten damn lucky! “Oh, uh…Recruit Hamilton?”
“Yes Sir?”
“Meet me at our assembly area tomorrow morning at 05:00 hours, your going to do some ‘inspiring’ for your buddies.”
[September 16th, 2002]
It was cold. In fact, one of the few cold days the recruits had experienced during their stay at Boot Camp. Normally the weather was hot and humid, but most of the time they had a good breeze coming from the San Onofre shore just a mile west. Today, however, was rainy, damp and just all around cold.
Todd Hamilton stood naked in front of a couple hundred recruits as they ate their breakfast outside. He was wearing a sign around his neck that said: ‘I love Cucumbers and Bananas.’
Sergeant Schaffer stood at the back of the group with Sergeant Stone. They were leaning against the wall as the men ate, all the while pointing and laughing at Recruit Hamilton. It was a good punishment.
“You know Sergeant Stone, I’m puzzled by just one thing.”
“What’s that Sergeant Schaffer?”
“For a Recruit with such a big mouth…” he paused and grinned sadistically, “he sure as hell has a small package.”
Both men laughed.
[October 2nd, 2002]
Everybody had looked forward to today, for quite some time. Today was the day they would get to fire their weapons at night with tracer rounds. The sun had set completely an hour earlier and immediately after they began to shoot. It was an awesome sight, red, white and blue tracer rounds tore through the sky like lasers. It looked like the fourth of July.
Sergeant Schaffer had surprised the troops by giving them a choice of which colored rounds they wanted to use. Basically all a ‘tracer’ is, is colored gun powder that burns on the back of the bullet so that you can see it in the night sky. Matthew Martin had gotten blue tracers.
What made this awesome, was that they weren’t doing their standard target practice. Where they would fire single shots, evaluate their accuracy and then try to improve. Tonight it was completely different, they were just unloading clip after clip into multiple targets down range, which ever one they felt like shooting at. It really was amazing to hear the cracks of gunfire and see the bolts of light flying in all directions.
Martin was taking scattered shots. He was standing and picking off targets with three-round bursts. Crack, Crack, Crack. Move to the next target. Crack, Crack, Crack. Next. And he kept that pace up until time was called and you were suppose to lock the chamber of your weapon and place it on the ground facing down range. The red, white and blue spectacle ended and everything got quiet.
Sergeant Schaffer got over the loud speaker, “Now that was a kick-ass show uh ladies?”
“OoH-RaH!”
Matt took out his small ear plugs and laid down on the grass. He was tired. His adrenaline had been pumping the entire time (an hour), but now that things had calmed down he realized just how much shooting for an hour could fatigue you. His shoulders hurt, his hands hurt, his back hurt and so did his neck. He closed his eyes.
There was only a few more weeks left of Boot Camp and he knew he was going to graduate near the top of his class. It was exciting to know that he was about to accomplish something that originally, he had doubts about. He knew it wasn’t right when he had questioned himself on the first day of Boot Camp, and he sort of regretted it. But it felt good now that it was coming to an end and he knew that soon, he would be able to call himself a U.S. Marine.
CLOSURE to BOOT CAMP
[Final weeks heading into ‘The Crucible’]
The final weeks heading into ‘The Crucible’ are suppose to be a little bit easier mentally and physically. It is preparation for your final 54 hour test of devotion and talent. Recruits spend these weeks getting closer to each other. They become closer to their Sergeants and even start to feel less like a ‘Recruit’ and more like a ‘Private’. Its not a huge climb up the ladder of rank, but it feels like a leap for them.
In the final weeks of Boot Camp, Matthew Martin stayed at the top of his class. The events that took place were ‘un-eventful’ thus explaining why they are not elaborated upon in this book. Martin along with his good friend, David Arnold continued to lead the other Recruits in all aspects of their training and were considered for promotion immediately after Boot Camp, from Private to PFC (Private First Class).
INTRODUCTION to THE CRUCIBLE
[November 9th, 2002]
[2:15 am]
Matthew Martin tried to get a few more minutes of honest sleep, but his heart was pounding uncontrollably. He knew that at any minute the Sergeant would burst into the barracks and wake everybody. This morning was the beginning of the toughest and most brutal portion of Boot Camp. A 54 hour endurance test, that challenges you on everything you have learned the past three months. It was ‘The Crucible’ the most feared test of any basic training camp in the world.
Martin rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and waited…Suddenly there came a crash at the far end of the room and the lights came on. Drill Sergeant Schaffer stood dressed in full uniform with Sergeant Stone and Philips on either side of him.
“Good morning men,” he said, it was the first time in the three months of camp that he had spoken with dignity and respect towards the recruits. “Today, you will begin on the most grueling journey you have experienced to this point. Today, you will be tested and pushed the edge of your physical and mental boundaries. Today, is the Crucible. This is what every Recruit lives for…the ultimate test, and if you succeed you will be able to claim the title of a United States Marine.”
There was a collective shout, “OoH-RaH”, it wasn’t really planned but it seemed the right thing to say at the time. The Sergeant smiled, a rarity when he was around his recruits. “Now, get showered and dressed…oh and enjoy that shower, it’s the last warm one you will have for a couple days.” His face turned dead serious, “We’re going on a little hike to start things off. A Nine mile one to be exact. So pack some water.”
Matthew Martin climbed down from his cot and grabbed a towel, preparing to shower. This was it, the moment he had waited so long for…Everything else was a memory now, this was the present and all his focus and concentration needed to be on what was about to happen. His heart continued to pound furiously, adrenaline was poured into his blood system. He looked down at the ground for a moment.
“I was thinking just a second ago,” Dave’s voice came from behind him, “I was thinking…what if I can’t get through this. You know? After three moths of hell, what if I choke and can’t handle the stress…will this have been all for nothing?” He paused and then decided not to continue.
Matt turned and faced him, “Don’t think about it Dave. You just have to focus on what’s in front of you, Fuck the Past. Its History. We have to look at what is ahead of us, otherwise we will stumble.”
Both young men stood for a moment staring ahead towards showers and then at the Marine Corps flag that was pinned to the wall, “Come on Dave, lets get showered up. You heard the Sergeant…it’s the last warm shower we will have for a couple days. Might as well enjoy it.”
About 10 minutes later, Matthew Martin and David Arnold were completely dressed in there fatigues and were pulling on their backpacks. As they stepped outside into the darkness, Matt stopped and listened to the quiet night. He looked behind him at the barracks and smiled, the next time he saw them he would be a Private. Not a Recruit, not a trainee, but an actual enlisted man…The next time he saw them he would be a United States Marine…
[THE END]
Continued in ‘Marine Corps: The Crucible’
Fall 2003
[Special Sneak Peek]
The Following Preview Has Been APPROVED For
ALL AUDIENCES
By the Fan Fiction Association of America
A Chavez Storyline
Written by Icebreaker
[Blackness]
ONE YEAR AFTER THE EVENTS OF ‘JURASSIC PARK’…
[Flashes]
* We see a familiar studio, it is the set of ‘Larry King Live’ and the filming of an interview is taking place. Larry King is talking to one of his guests in person and is interviewing another over a satellite connection
Larry King (LK): Now let me get you straight sir…your saying that the accidents that are the cause of these impending civil and criminal lawsuits, were not caused by malfunctions within the parks security systems…but rather by…something…else?
[Camera Pans to Reveal]
* Ian Malcolm…slightly more aged then we saw him in ‘Jurassic Park’ but nonetheless an intriguing speaker. He is wearing his trademark leather jacket and dark rimmed glasses
Ian Malcolm (IM): No…that’s not what I am saying Mr. King. (pauses) Well in one sense it is…I am not saying that security malfunctions your speaking of weren’t partially the cause of those injuries and deaths. All I am saying, is that they uh…well…they were not the only cause. And more importantly, I must stress that the uh…injuries and deaths that were sustained were not directly because of security failures. It’s not like a crane broke and hit some workers on the head…its much more serious then that.
[A Voice is heard over a speaker and the camera cuts to a satellite image of the man speaking]
* The man is none other then Peter Ludlow. The Nephew of John Hammond. He as a man of average height and is wearing a well tailored suit. He squints through his oval glasses
Peter Ludlow (PL): May I get in on this Mr. King?
(LK): Certainly Mr. Ludlow
(PL): Thank you. I would just like to say here, that Dr. Malcolm is being quite absurd. It has been obvious for years that he has some sort of bone to pick with InGen and my Uncle, John Hammond. What he is trying to do is help fuel the rumors of mysterious animals on the islands grounds…thus trying to seek an even greater investigation into what occurred on Isla Nublar last year. He is trying cause this company bankruptcy, by forcing us to engage in further legal battles. And furthermore-
(IM-Interjecting): I resent that statement Mr. Ludlow…You weren’t on that damn island, though I know that you know exactly what occurred. Trying to hide it from the public is not going to work, it will only lead to further deaths and tragedies. I know what I saw…and you can’t-
(LK): What exactly did you see Dr. Malcolm? Frankly I would have to agree with Mr. Ludlow on his evaluations of your motives here…you have presented no facts or evidence, or even any insight into your claims…
(IM-Pauses): You want to know what I saw? I uh…I saw death Mr. King…lots of death.
[Flashes]
…SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED…
(LK): And what was the cause of the death?
(PL-Nervously): You signed secrecy contracts Dr. Malcolm…it wouldn’t be wise to go beyond what you have already stated. You know my Uncle takes these matters very seriously-
(IM): To hell with your uncle Ludlow…you want to know what I saw Mr. King? I saw dinosaurs…John Hammond has used his cloning company to resurrect ancient DNA from fossilized amber, and then used that DNA to harvest his own dinosaurs…the creatures that are rumored have-
(PL-Furiously): That is absolutely ABSURD! Mr. King, I am sorry. But this man is completely out of his mind…if he is referring to the bite marks on several of the victims of this tragedy then InGen has already released a full statement on the cause of death and if you have not read it, I have it right here (holds up a piece of paper) the cause of those bites were from a full grown male Lion that we have on the island. As you know my Uncle has a zoo in Kenya…
(IM-Stands up shouting): You can try and sweet talk your way out of this Ludlow, but the world is on to you…they know what is going on! You cant hide it any longer! (guards come up from behind him and have to restrain him)
[Flashes]
…BUT THE LIES and DECEIT WILL CONTINUE…
[Flashes]
* Larry King looking obviously shaken…
(LK): Christ…get this lunatic out of here!
(IM-being dragged out): There were dinosaurs Ludlow and you know it!
[Fades]
* A beautiful scene of the shoreline of Isla Nublar. The sun is shining and waves are crashing against the beach…Birds chirp in the background…Suddenly, we feel a great impact and the foliage shakes. Everything becomes quiet. A distant ROAR is heard. Silence.
[Flashes]
Jurassic Park: Tales of Evolution
BOOK VI
[Flashes]
* A giant foot slams down onto muddy ground, leaving the imprint of a giant creature…a T-Rex. Words slowly form in the puddle…
…COMING SOON…
As always…the only way I know you have read and enjoyed (or possibly NOT enjoyed) this story is by your Comments. So please take the time to leave your input so that I know what you guys think. Hope you have enjoyed the story and I hope that you are eagerly anticipating [JP:TE] Book VI
~Thanks
ICeBReaKeR
7/22/2003 12:44:02 PM
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