Military & Veteran Non-Profit Event Calendar

If you're looking for events to get involved with or have an event you'd like help getting the word out for, check out this calendar and send events to me ashleykamrath@yahoo.com with a flyer and detailed description.

Military Non-Profit Event Calendar

Honor Flight Austin

Friday 10 April

 I woke up “stupid early” (as I call it) in Dallas after two days at the TTPOA (Texas Tactical Police Officer’s Association) Conference to catch a flight back to Austin.

Good thing I work for a company that makes really good backpacks (www.511tactical.com)! Landed in Austin just in time to walk out to my Jeep in the parking garage, drop off my Sandstone Rush 12 and pick up my Black Rush 12 I’d already packed before leaving for Dallas and walk back in.

The Honor Flight Austin crew is so well organized, and with this being their 22^nd flight, the check-in process is smooth as Irish Whiskey. Forty World War II Veterans will take part in this amazing 36-hour journey to DC & back.

Each veteran is assigned a Guardian (sometimes a family member and many times just a Patriot that wants to help take part in this incredible project) and wheelchair upon arrival. After a very quick shuffle thru Security at ABIA, the Veterans, guardians and any family that wants to be a part of the send-off will line up at one end of the long terminal.

Since my awesome crew from ATXN (Austin Texas Network) and I are going along on this trip to document it, I’d brought a great outfit to change into (very camera friendly)… but Allen Bergeron (one of the founders and leaders of Honor Flight Austin and an incredible Patriot that does SO much for our Vets) saw my outfit (5.11 Tactical camo, ripped jeans and cowboy boots) and told me I was not allowed to change. He said I looked very “Texas”. #Compliment! Now naturally I got all kinds of comments from the Veterans about my attire- “Where’s the rest of your jeans?” and  “Oh hon, looks like you got into some scrapes”, etc. But I decided to remain “Texas” for the rest of Friday’s trip……

A few weeks prior to our trip, we’d gone to the home of Mr. Jack Maroney, a WWII Veteran that served on the USS Enterprise (the “Big E”). He has many incredible stories I’m so thrilled to share in our piece. He is also quite a character so, as you can imagine, hilarious comments and conversations are a regular occurrence with him and my abs got a workout for an hour and a half.

Once everyone had arrived, we lined up the wheelchairs and slowly walked down the terminal following the Honor Guard and bagpipers. It is very much like a parade and the passengers at each gate line the hallway and clap and cheer for the Veterans. Some are so moved, they walk out to the Veterans and shake their hands. Needless to say, tears of gratitude are in abundance from both groups.

Mr. Maroney, who I’m following for our documentary, and I held hands and waved to the crowd along with his beautiful wife Joyce, daughter and son. He was very touched by the support of everyone.

Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler and Former Mayor Lee Leffingwell also joined us on this trip, which was a huge treat as they both have military roots. Prior to boarding, they said a few words and then Sport Clips presented a large check to Honor Flight Austin.

After the boarding process, which you can imagine took much longer than normal, we were all given sandwiches and snacks. Jonathan Uhl (good friend and Emmy Award winning Photographer of the Year) and I made a quick bet that Mr. Maroney would give me hell when he saw I hadn’t saved him a seat and was sitting between two other men… Well, we were both on the same side of the bet so we both won ;). Austin Fire Department was on the tarmac with two fire trucks & our Southwest Airlines plane was routed between them as they engaged the big hoses with the Shower of Gratitude crossing over us.


The flight was spent prepping for our segment and the crazy busy 36 hours that lie ahead. Although, I did pause to have the flight attendant “send Jack Maroney a drink from the blonde in the front of the plane” ;) Dan Sheffler (also Emmy Award winning photographer and friend) and Jonathan were rolling their eyes and laughing at me but later Mr. Maroney told me it saved him because none of “the boys in the back ordered a drink until you sent that one to me” ;)  Anytime, Jack!

Once we arrived in DC, we slowly de-planed and were met with a greeting as equally warm as our departure from ABIA. I got to walk with Mr. Maroney and again, he was very moved. At one point he leaned over to me and said, “Its so touching all these people would take the time out of their day to come greet us”.

After loading everyone up onto two large tour buses we headed off to the hotel for the evening. My little crew met a gentleman by the name of Eugene, from our DC affiliate. He is, hands down, one of the nicest gentleman I’ve met and fortunately came along with us on Saturday to help with camera, equipment, logistics and driving. He was awesome and did it with the best attitude and gratitude ever!

The veterans are met with an impressive dinner upon arrival at the hotel. There is a large group of volunteers that live in DC that come and volunteer to escort the veterans for the DC portion of the trip. I was so impressed with one young Marine who was actually on leave (vacation) and was spending his Friday night volunteering for Honor Flight Austin. There were young male and female Marines, a good mixture of civilian patriots and a group of beautiful ladies from DC (that our WWII Veterans just LOVED ;) all there to be guardians for this incredible experience.

After we ate, Mr. Bergeron got up to say a few words and thank many long-time volunteers in attendance and then he did something I was so grateful for- he asked the WWII Veterans to share stories if they like.

We spent the next 45 minutes or so listening to tales from seven decades ago, some hilarious and some heartbreaking.  The Veterans were humble, happy and so thankful for this experience, just like me!

Our crew headed to the hotel bar for another quick production meeting and quick hang out with a Marine friend that lives in DC and some of the Honor Flight team before adjourning to our rooms and getting a little shut eye before the early Reveille.

Alarm goes off, hit snooze, alarm goes off, snooze… and then the loud hotel phone rings (thankfully….) and it’s up and at ‘em. Get camera ready, guzzle three cups of coffee and head downstairs to meet the crew!

If you’ve never been to DC, imagine your town’s city center and then quadruple it and add a lot of monuments scattered around. It’s a pain in the neck getting around that town and to add to the chaos, it was a Saturday and the Cherry Blossom Festival! Yikes. WELL, as I’ve already stated, Honor Flight Austin has their stuff together, so we were escorted around ALL day by police escort. Roll out the red carpet, our Veterans are here! It was so cool (and the Veterans thought so too!)





When we first arrived, we pulled up to the WWII Veterans Memorial. I saw a gentleman in vintage war uniform and asked if I could borrow his helmet. He obliged... and although I probably didn't look it, I felt cool and the Veterans got a laugh.

We snuck off to shoot some standups before meeting back up with the group in the middle of the monument for a quick ceremony. One of the great things about having the veterans in a large group is the impression it makes on passersby and children.

Jack shook hands and kissed babies all day long and it was fun to watch, especially because he so thoroughly enjoyed it.

We spent a good hour walking around the monument and taking pictures and many Veterans were telling stories. I walked over to my favorite quote on the monument that I’ve taken pics of half a dozen times and saw & captured a site I won’t ever forget….

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." -Harry S. Truman

We proceeded to the Vietnam wall and monument and shot a few more stand-ups, periodically running into Veterans from our group, all with huge grins on their faces, before meeting back up with the buses and heading over to Arlington Cemetery.

I remember being 16 years old, visiting Arlington for the first time and it was the coldest I had ever been. I remember my legs were so cold they burned.  I remembered seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Kennedy flame and I remember what an impact that made on me as a young teenager.

Well this day was all sunshine and beautiful. We ventured up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and got there just in time for the Changing of the Guard and the Wreath Laying ceremony, which, to our surprise included some WWII Veterans from Austin, Texas!

We pause this blog to mention a dear friend of mine that serves in the Old Guard currently and although I didn’t get to see him that day, please check out his amazing song- Fallen Soldier: (Nathan Fair Fallen Soldier)  #FreedomNation

After Arlington, we went over to the Marine Corps monument, which is a little set off by itself and is so impressive. The monument is large and is the Flag at Iwo Jima. I am thankful I saw this monument after my USMC Boot Camp experience last August (Ashley Kamrath USMC Real Heroes Blog) and hearing the full story of that day from a Retired Marine Colonel that is the historian at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Museum. I sat for a moment and thought of all of my good Marine friends and family, active-duty, veterans and those that never made it home. Semper Fidelis.

 Our crew got another stand-up in the can and on to the next stop! 

My grandfather was 25 years old when he was killed in a T-33 jet fighter plane crash in Fairbanks, Alaska while serving, so I got an overwhelming sense of pride and a little sad when our next stop was the USAF Monument. It is a beautiful sight and the view from the hill it rests on is great as well, overlooking DC and portions of Arlington. We walked around for a bit, spent a little more time reflecting and then interviewed both current and former Mayors of Austin. Former Mayor Leffingwell, a Vietnam Veteran himself, opened up about his cousin who served in WWII and was killed in action. He was proud and emotional and thankful. Sometimes I feel like I’m not cut out to cover military topics or stories because I’m “too close to the story”- needless to say this was the third time I got choked up on this trip. I usually only cry when Texas loses at Football…..

It was only 2pm and our flight wasn’t until 5:30pm but we were exhausted! When we got back on the road, our trip took a slight detour because we were supposed to go see a few more monuments but there was a lock down at the capitol. We later found out someone had committed suicide on the capitol steps :/, so we stopped by the Pentagon instead and toured the memorial there. I sat and talked to Mr. Maroney for a while outside the bus, and really enjoy his stories and the love he has for his beautiful wife Joyce, his family and his country. I am thankful this trip has allowed our paths to cross.

We headed back to the airport, shuffled thru security and I spent the next hour doing recon missions for beer for some of my new buddies. J We boarded and took off back for Austin.  I want to take a moment to say how instrumental Southwest Airlines is in this process. Getting 40 WWII Veterans on and off planes in a timely manner, etc is no small feat. They are a First Class organization.

Halfway thru the return flight home, the Honor Flight Austin team does "Mail Call" and each Veteran is given a large manila envelope full of letters from their loved ones. It was SO touching. One veteran sitting across the aisle from me shared a letter he got from his great grandson…. BOTH beaming with pride.

Another veteran kept pulling dollar bills out of his letters and he explained to me he always sends a few bucks to his grandkids, so now they’ve done the same for him. Mr. Alexander, sitting right in front of me received over 100 letters in his envelope! I also found out one of the young female Marine Guardians always writes her Veteran a letter too. I was kicking myself for not writing Jack a note but we’re gonna go grab dinner back in Austin so I’ll be sure to make that happen ;)

It was late by the time we landed in Austin (okay, okay, it was only 8pm but I was TIRED). Once everyone is off the plane, they are lined up and in typical Honor Flight Austin style and walked thru a parade of happy flag-waving Patriots, family members and friends. It was a very fun homecoming and I got to wheel Jack out this time. We were met right out of the gate by Ms. Joyce so I snuck her in the parade to walk with us (until I got in trouble- whoops ;) . A few words are spoken at a ceremony at the end and then our Veterans are reunited with their loved ones!

If you’re interested in getting involved with Honor Flight Austin to provide monetary support, want to volunteer as a Guardian, or even know a Veteran interested in going on a trip, visit HonorFlightAustin.org.  There will be Korea Veteran, Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart Veteran trips as well in the coming years.

When I was interviewing Mr. Maroney the first time, I referred to our World War II Veterans as “the Greatest Generation” and he very quickly stopped me. “Ashley, we aren’t the Greatest Generation,” he said, “Our Greatest Generation was our Founding Fathers.” I will never forget that.

Thank you to all of the men and women who have so courageously raised their hands and been called to serve our great country. And thank you to both of our Greatest Generations. Freedom isn’t Free. Let’s continue to thank, honor and remember our Veterans, including those who never came home.

THE DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnexlfGWYc0

Military Appreciation Night at the Dell Diamond!

Each year, the Triple A affiliate for the Texas Rangers Baseball Team, the Round Rock Express, dedicates one full night of baseball to our men and women in uniform that have served our great country. 

This year is no exception and we're doing a very special Military Appreciation Night at the Dell Diamond this year- on Memorial Day. 

May 25th at 7:05pm will kick off a great evening of baseball and a program full of Military honorees including Military heroes, families and moments to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

Join us for this great evening, bring your entire family and let's spend Memorial Day as it was intended- Honoring our nation's military heroes that have given it all. 

A Christmas Wish for an Airman in need.

Yesterday I was contacted by a social worker in San Antonio about a 21-year-old active duty Airman First Class who is battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia & has undergone an unrelated stem cell transplant. This young man is currently in ICU and needs our help this Christmas.

Imagine being 21 years old and fighting for your life at Christmas time. This Airman could really use something uplifting in his life right now and I want to help give it to him.

Please write a card, letter or note to Christopher this week, put it in an envelope
and mail it by Dec 17th to:

Ashley Kamrath
c/o Christmas for Christopher
101 Colorado, #2007
Austin, TX 78748

I will see to it that this young man receives your messages (please share with your teacher friends as well to get their classes to write a quick note) this Christmas and his mother will read them to him. A simple act of kindness can go a long way and this one doesn't take but a few minutes and a stamp. Thanks for your help, Support Our Troops & Merry Christmas, ya'll!

God Bless,
Ashley

A New Tradition for Veteran's Day. Reveille Call

Veteran's Day, November 11th, is a day to honor those that have served this country in the United States Armed Forces.The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 marked the end of World War I, Armistice Day.

This year in Central Texas, a new event launched that truly celebrated  and honor what this day is all about. Reveille Call was created to bring civilians and veterans/active duty military and law enforcement (our protectors of the homeland) together as one.

The day started off with a church service bringing Pastor Rodney McGee & a large Hill Country Fellowship congregation together. During this patriotic-themed service, Pastor McGee had a special guest speaker, LTC Eric Strong from the 3d Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Hood. LTC Strong is home on a rehab assignment, as he was wounded in battle just a few months ago. His words were moving to say the least...

 "I want you to really know who defends us every day. It is the young Soldier who intervened to stop an attempted sexual assault.  It is the Soldier with a law degree who would rather lead our Nation’s treasure- it's sons and daughters, than practice law...  ...It is the mother of two, who selflessly ensures the human resource needs of the Squadron are met, all the while worrying about her husband who is deployed.  It is the Harvard graduate who joined the Army after 9/11 because he wanted to give something back.  It is the Soldier who immigrated here with his family and now, because of his service, is sworn in as a citizen.  It is the boy you always saw riding their bike in the road and wondered, “When will he learn.”  Now that young man carries a rifle and stands at the very edge of freedom trying to make his little piece of the world better and accomplish his mission. All the while praying he doesn’t let his buddy down."

The pavilion was crowded with 800 plus, who sat focused, and listening intently. It was a celebration of the American Solider but also of the American veteran.

The Tradition Games kicked off following the 11:11 ceremony, where over 200 lined up to kick off the first part of the competition. Half military/law enforcement and half civilians matched into teams
and while some knew each other for years, some just met "on the battlefield". A very competitive 5k race, in which the leader's time was averaged with the final teammate's time across the finish line.

Following the 5K Race, the teams headed to compete on the 5.11 obstacle course. This is a tough course that requires a steady pace and a lot of teamwork. Some completed the course quickly & some took time to strategize, but all teams finished the course.

Team Holbert is a group of 10 made up of former West Point grads, Special Forces Veterans, Active duty military and even Texas DPS leaders. One very special competitor on this team is Mark Holbert. Mark grew up in a military family and in 1996 joined the Armed Forces himself. In 2004, he graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course and continued serving his country in this capacity and thru four tours in Afghanistan. On a hot & sunny day,10 August 2010, in the Hemland Province, Mark was assisting two Marines when he stepped on an IED. This incident resulted in Mark losing two fingers, his right leg below the knee and left leg to his hip (following complications while healing). Mark is no stranger to daunting tasks but has worked tirelessly in his rehabilitation and he came to compete!

After completing the obstacle course, each team heads over to the "Tradition Games". Participants walk over to "the hill" which in my mind resembled the Scottish Highlands (ok, so not so steep and sans snow) complete with sounds of bagpipes and drums and classic wooden targets. The games consisted of: a tomahawk throw, tug-of-war, spear toss, mag load relay, dummy grenade toss, door breach/dummy drag and a knife toss. There was a lot of laughter, as most competitors were attempting these tasks for the first time, and some were throwback to childhood... when's the last time you competed in tug-of-war? Over a soap and water coated tarp? Some games were challenging and participants handled them with ease. Some required teamwork and strategy... breach the 5.11 Tactical door and carry a dummy thru the course- The Burnet Fire Department did pretty well on this one! 

Simultaneous to the Tradition Games, an 11-Mile March began shortly and was designed for anyone that wanted to come together to walk o run (as much or little as they like) to honor those that have served.

Reveille Call is a fun day of competition and camaraderie but it serves a greater purpose. With over 22 veterans a day committing suicide, it's OUR duty to come together as Patriots and bridge the gap or fill this void. Reveille Call is a once-a-year event centered around Veteran's Day but the funds raised will be used to host events throughout the year to KEEP this blended community coming together. Bonds were established and friendships formed at this year's inaugural event and the purpose of Reveille Call is to continue to grow this network. Next year, Reveille Call will be held in more than a dozen locations nationwide.

America is strong and it's time we all answer the call.

Get involved- follow us on Facebook & Twitter: Facebook.com/ReveilleCall, @ReveilleCall

Military/LE that competed in the Reveille Call Tradition Games 2014 included:
Leander HS JROTC
Texas Army ROTC
1st Cavalry Regiment, Ft Hood, TX
3d Cavalry Regiment, Ft Hood, TX
C-Company 2-227th, Witchdoctors, Ft Hood, TX
Williamson County Medics
Round Rock SWAT
Burnet Fire Department
Marine Veterans
Team Holbert (West Point, SF Vets, TXANG)
Texas DPS
Office of Attorney General
Team RWB
MOPH 1919

A WEEK WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINES!

4 August 2014
(DISCLAIMER... This was written just as I'd tell it. Forgive the punctuation and grammar mistakes and please just enjoy!)

Well, I’m off on another adventure…. A week with the United States Marine Corps at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) San Diego, CA.

It won’t be my first visit to the Depot… I may or may not have gone there before to say hi to some old friends, play a quick joke on the Brigadier General, and do some off-shore fishin... but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

I very often get opportunities for troops (sporting events, concert tickets, hunting trips, etc) and truly do my best to share the wealth with all military branches in my network. It seems here lately, my Marine Corps contacts have been extremely eager and accessible for these events! So about 6 months ago, I was approached with an opportunity FROM them!

Come spend a week at our Marine Corps Recruiting Depot with our recruits and drill sergeants and see how we roll.

Where do I sign up?!

Naturally, I had to fill out an application and it was a military-length process before getting approved and accepted but I was thrilled, nonetheless, when I received the “You’re In” call.

It didn’t occur to me to be nervous until my first official brief a week ago. I consider myself a fairly tough Texas gal who very often heard “Put on your big girl panties and deal with it” while growing up. #GoodParenting

However, this isn’t some Summer Camp in the mountains… This is the United States Marine Corps. The Few, The Proud. The “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” crowd. The group that is immediately recognized the moment they walk in the room… the perfect uniform, the perfect haircut, the perfect posture and the aura that surrounds them.  My brother-in-law was/is (however that goes) a Marine, and while he’s been out of the Corps for years, he still carries himself as such. 

Needless to say, I didn’t feel as confident putting my boots (cowboy, not combat) on this morning as I normally do, but here we go!

Upon arriving and checking in (no, we didn't stay in the Squad Bay/Barracks), we had a reception dinner. Not a bad start... "Welcome to Marine Corps 101, would you like chocolate or red velvet cake with dinner?"! A quick introduction and brief on the week followed by meeting our Drill Instructors (no, they are not called Drill Sergeants in the Marine Corps and don't make the mistake of calling them that in a room full of them, Trust Me).

After this, myself and the other two media attendees were taken over to MCRD (Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) to witness about 90 new recruits arriving at Boot Camp.

Have you ever watched a Go-Pro video from a skydiver's point of view and felt butterflies in your stomach? This is what it's like to be an observer at the "Yellow Footprints". I'd never heard of these infamous footprints before but they're certainly not something I'll soon forget. Perfectly placed bright yellow footprints waiting to greet nervous young men starting out on perhaps the most significant journey of their young lives. 

The buses pull up, screech to a halt and a Drill Instructor boards. After 30 seconds of very specific instructions in a very loud, clear and deep voice, he yells- "NOW GET OFF MY BUS!" The recruits, stumbling all over themselves, are then greeted by more DI's as soon as they get off the bus... "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! LINE UP. LINE UP. LINE UP!"

Sure, some of it is what you've seen in the movies. But nothing can describe the feeling I had standing there watching it from a few feet away. Nervousness, tension, shaky hands, shifting eyes. Pure and utter fright. And that was just me! ;) 

 After their instruction on the Yellow Footprints, the recruits are sent to a nearby room with personal cubes. The DI yells "YOU WILL PICK UP THE WHITE BAG, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" and is answered by a loud "AYE AYE SIR". Not satisfied with the response, he asks again, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?" and a louder "AYE AYE SIR!" returns.

While the lead DI is up instructing the recruits, the other DI's are walking in and out of the lines briskly, yelling at the fumblers taking too long.

One young recruit was put to the test early. 

The older recruit across from him picked his bag up in such a hurry his wallet went flying and landed on the floor next to the young man. The DI came by and yelled, "PICK IT UP, PICK IT UP! YOU DON'T DROP YOUR WALLET, PICK ITTTTT UUUUUP". 

Part of me wanted to intervene- "Um, excuse me Mr. Drill Instructor, sir...that's not his wallet! It actually belongs to the guys across from him who's currently freaking out because his wallet went flying across the room." 

Naturally I wouldn't have but there's no stopping, there's no explaining. In Marine Corps boot camp, there's DI's, their recruits and one greater mission. They have to break these young men to build them up again. 

Just like watching a video from the skydiver's point of view, I was nervous while in the contraband room. My heart was pounding, I caught myself holding my breath and at times, even I had sweaty palms. The young men were SO young, and even the few who were closer to my age (who are still very young... naturally ;) were just as cautious and quick to react. 

"PLACE EVERYTHING IN YOUR POCKETS INTO THE GREEN BAG AND HOLD IT UP, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" (yes, everything typed in bold caps lock is a DI yelling...)
"AYE AYE SIR" 90 recruits respond.

"GOOD, YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS! FIFTEEN, FOURTEEN, THIR, TWEL, ELE, TEN, FIVE, FOUR, THRTWONE. DONE!"

Ha, 15 seconds doesn't mean 15 seconds. It means you had better complete the task as quickly as humanly possible... with sweaty palms and shaky hands and a DI in your face.

Once all contraband is taken away, the recruits are ushered into a room with phone bays, each of which also contains a script the recruits are to stick to word for word and phone home (in typical USMC Boot Camp fashion...Yelling).

"HELLO, THIS IS RECRUIT (LAST NAME). I HAVE ARRIVED SAFELY AT MCRD SAN DIEGO. THE NEXT TIME I CONTACT YOU WILL BE BY POSTAL MAIL SO EXPECT A LETTER IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS. I LOVE YOU, GOODBYE!"

That's all she wrote. When I first read the script, I thought WOW! That's it?!?
 But of COURSE that's it. Outside world no longer exists for a Marine Recruit. They can't call and complain to momma or ask how things are going at home. Frankly, it doesn't matter! Like I said before. They are in the VERY early stages of being broken so they can be built, a Marine. 

The next stops are the haircuts and uniform issue. The buzz cuts ARE just like the movies, sit, head back, "do you have any scars or moles?" bzzzzzzzzzzzz. Following that, the recruits stay up all night and their 13-week adventure has begun. 

I asked one of the DI's how he avoids headaches... he laughed. 

A few of the active duty Marines that were there with us asked me what I thought. (Truthfully, I don't think they were used to seeing me that quiet for so long) My response was two-fold: There were times during the hour and a half we were there that I felt nervous for some of them and would have loved to tell them to just hang in there and tough it out- but I realized I didn't have to do that. Their recruiters have already prepared them AND their Drill Instructors, while very intense and demanding, have the same intentions- to break them AND then give them the greatest gift ever... to make these kids into men and more importantly Marines. 

My other thought was that I was standing in the room with greatness. There were 90 young brave souls writing that blank check that unfortunately so many have had to cash. I've talked about it on my radio show and in many different speeches but to actually get to observe it was so special, I can't put it into words. 

This isn't a group of individuals that think, I'll go have an easy four years in the military and get out and go to college... This is already a group of warriors that raised their right hand in a time of war to be the best of the best in defense of our country. 

I will never forget that night. The sunset, the yelling but most importantly the faces of those recruits. 

DAY #2-

Breakfast was at 0600 on Tuesday morning (so we got to sleep in until 0500!!).

Capt McLean, a very well-put together Marine was to be our guide for the week. He boasted over a decade of service, a good haircut, a perfect uniform, a ridiculously loud voice and horrible taste in football (quack quack). 

We loaded up on the Marine School Bus and Mr. Bill took us over to MCRD to the Yellow Footprints. Yes, they gave our crew the same treatment as the recruits I'd seen the night before. Some of our team were nonchalant at first, for about 5 whole seconds. The DI's didn't let up. One young lady had a phone in her hand after being instructed to stand with her arms across her chest (I really don't think she even realized it) and got something else handed to her in the mean time.....

On to the Contraband room and more yelling. "LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT MY SIGN. LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT MY SIGN" It becomes a routine, a pattern, eventually a habit. Makes perfect sense, right? No, not at first when you're not used to perfect standards. 

Following the 15-minute "presentation" from the DI's, our group of 30 were escorted into the "Moment of Truth" room (where the DI's have the whole "okay, are you SURE there's nothing else you haven't filled us in on" conversation #FUN! ;). Fortunately, we were just given some Marine Corps history and statistics by the Chief of Staff & CO- The Purpose, Core Values, Benefits & Qualifications. "We are the Most ready when the Nation is least ready and we make sure our recruits are medically, physically & morally fit." I was really impressed to find the attrition rate of recruits is approximately 5% thru boot camp. Proof that not only are the recruiters doing an outstanding job, but also that the support staff and program is top-notch. They WANT you to succeed but they have to make sure you earn the right.

My favorite quote of the day- "We make Marines, win battles and return better citizens to the nation". 

After a few hours in briefs (which apparently is a large portion of training AND military life), we went outside to the obstacle course. There were recruits everywhere, DI's yelling and a few Marines to show us the obstacle course. It was intense but they completed it with ease. We asked some questions about qualifying times and such. I probably could have completed it in the time allotted (times twenty-seven) but for liability purposes we did not participate. 

On to the Swim Demonstration which, as a former lifeguard, I found interesting. 

It was EXACTLY like my guard training but much more difficult, completed with full gear on and a they carried a gun...

They DID show us how to blow up pants in the water to make a floating device so at least I've got that in case a situation should ever arise! 

Can you imagine? They informed us some recruits have never spent any time in the water and there is actually a VERY small percentage that don't make it because they can't pass the water confidence test. While we were there, a young recruit was getting trained by himself for this very reason. His DI's were so patient and encouraging. (not adjectives you'd think to hear when referring to DI's, huh?) 

After the swim demo, we went to an Education brief at the Museum. I was starving (time change) at this point so didn't retain as much as I'd hoped but I will tell you this... the USMC has thought of EVERYTHING and the opportunities as and Enlisted Marine or Officer are endless when it comes to higher education. So much is provided for our Marines, it would be a pity that one not take advantage of it. 

We went over to the Chow Hall to have lunch (finally!) and I had the privilege of sitting with a Marine Recruit in Phase 3 (getting close to the end) from Luling, TX! I used to Emcee the Tom Webb Benefit in Luling every year so we immediately hit it off and found common ground. 

One of the things about Marine Corps Boot Camp is that the recruits have to refer to themselves in third person. "This recruit would prefer not to answer that question, ma'am, because this recruit got in trouble early on in boot camp for answering that question wrong and his Drill Instructor found out about it, ma'am." Stay where you are, translator, I'm getting the hang of this!

Recruit Sayles was a joy to talk to. I asked him why he joined the Marine Corps and he said to prove to himself he could do it. He told me he knew it would be one of the toughest challenges he'd ever face and he was actually looking forward to the Crucible (more on that later). 

Cool, calm, collected. I could tell he was in the later stages of training because he knew he was in control. Maybe not of his schedule, his attire, his teammates, or even his choices but he was definitely in control.

That impressed me this week, the Marine Corps doesn't train young men and women to be followers but to become leaders, problem-solvers and teammates. 

We walked over to the living quarters after lunch and I started taking in all of the sounds of the Depot. Planes- tons of planes flying right overhead. MCRD San Diego is located right in the heart of the city... RIGHT next to the Airport. The Marines and recruits are used to it, we weren't. 

There were also sounds of DI's and recruits marching, boots hitting the pavement in perfect rhythm. But then there was a beautiful sound I'd never heard before. DI's singing the marching cadence. It's not what you're thinking. This wasn't an annoying- "I don't know but I've been toooold" or even a high pitched singsongy tune. 

The sound of the DI's singing cadence is deep, meaningful, perfectly pitched and right on time. 

I couldn't tell you what they were saying but it was magical. It made me wonder how many young men have found peace in those sounds. A grueling schedule and exhausting tasks with constant loud noise (even if just your heartbeat in your ears) and then... peace... the low pitch and rhythm with slight inflections and march, march, march. It was very special. 

The Squad Bay is what most of us think of when we see or hear "barracks". This is where the recruits stay during their 13-week camp. Upon entry, they're greeted, just as we were, by their new DIs. Imagine the yellow footprints scenario but inside your new "residence". It's pretty much just like that. It prepares the recruits for life in "the bay." They are ALWAYS in charge. When the DIs say "lights out"... guess what?

Guided Discussion was one aspect of Boot Camp that caught me off guard. You see, over 30% of the training that goes on at MCBC is ethics-based training. There are multiple classes the recruits go to and courses they go through pertaining to their finances, relationships, family and education. When a DI takes his campaign cover (DI hat) off, it signifies he's ready to be a mentor instead of an instructor. We were allowed into a guided discussion (with the topic "Marriage"- eek) and it was really reassuring to see a DI (cover off) just talking to and with the recruits. "Let's talk about living on base as opposed to off base. Why do you think some Marines would rather live off base?" the DI asks the group of recruits sitting quietly. A young man raises his hand, stands up and replies, "Sir, this recruit believes some Marines would like to live off base to collect BAH (basic allowance for housing)."
 It was very raw discussion and it was great to see a DI in the role of mentor while still challenging the young recruits.

Next, we went over to the football field (with a fresh coat of red and black paint, naturally). The CFT is the Combat Fitness Test that all recruits and Marines must pass. Run half a mile, do Ammo Can lifts for 2 minutes and then do a run/crawl/buddy carry/ammo can carry course. While I didn't participate in the last course (due to a ridiculous foot injury by Ipad...), I did do the ammo can lifts. My shoulder muscles were screaming! I came no where NEAR the requirement to be a Marine but I kept going until my time was up. Veeeerrrrryyyyy slowly. The requirements for passing the CFT vary for male and female Marines. Female Marines, which only make up about 6% of the Marine Corps, attend boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina where they have female squad bays and female DI's.

Once the crew finished on the field, they took us over to check out a Martial Arts Demo. There are so many MOS's (jobs) in the Marine Corps and so many opportunities for furthering education and skills. Martial Arts is one of these opportunities! Four Marines gave us a great demo with fake guns and knives. 

Segue to the Bayonet Assault Course... Guns & Knives. 

This course is designed to not only train a Marine to strategically plan their next move while being fully aware and cautious of their surroundings, but also teamwork. We were divided into groups of four and had to complete multiple tasks from running, crawling, walking across a rope, killing a "bad guy" in a pit and then more running, crawling and different bayonet strikes to more "bad guys" (tires).
It. Was. So. Much. Fun.

To add to the experience, we were in full gear and they had the speakers blaring sound of shooting (plus, I had a throbbing left foot! Felt like a warrior ;), Although, I did have a cheesy grin on my face the entire course because I was having so much fun and apparently you're not supposed to smile (or leave your long hair down) when doing a Bayonet Assault Course. Whoops. What a great day. Learned so much, experienced so much and really having a great time. 

Day #3-

Today wasn't such an early call and we headed to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where we had the unique opportunity to speak to six active-duty marines in a panel. A ton of questions were asked and many of the answers were informative, many just downright hilarious. "Did any of you participate in ROTC?" a gal from our group asked. Each Marine answered but one said, "Yes, but only for a year because I wanted to grow out my mohawk". Guess he got it out of his system because the kid is quite bald. 

I know I've said it once before but I'll reiterate...  The Marine Corps has thought of Everything for their recruits, active-duty and veterans. We were taken to the Library, where we learned about the programs available for language advancement and even more opportunities "further education". We also got to hang out at the Enlisted Marine Recreation facility and hear about the programs for single Marines, events & contests they host for those that live on base and I rode a really big tricycle- See?! Something for everyone!

I was really excited to go to the flight line at Miramar for many reasons, the first being that my grandfather was a pilot in the Air Force so any chance to be around planes is fun for me. The second being that I'm working towards my pilot's license as well. 

I had the absolute privilege of observing the Osprey Aircraft in flight just a few days before arriving at Miramar (at the Oshkosh AirVenture Fly In). The aircraft is huge, awkward (is it a chopper or a plane?!) and impressive. The pilot on board was also very informative and you could tell, passionate about being a pilot, the aircraft and the Marine Corps. 

The Famous Marine Corps band played for us during a really great lunch at the Bay View Restaurant on MCRD. Beautiful view of the bay and great music followed by a quick Q&A session with the band members. It's said they are sometimes considered unicorns- a musician with the highest skill set in their instrument AND the ability to be a Marine. They are ALL (from the tech to the infantryman to the band member) trained as Marines First. This was a very talented group indeed.

The rest of our afternoon included a Chaplain Brief, Mock Contact to Contract and Female Marine Panel. All were extremely interesting and impressive but what truly stood out to me was the latter. First Sargent, Ronda Porter was a little late to the female Marine panel, as she had prior engagement, so our discussion was in full-swing by the time she walked in.
Have you ever been in a room when someone simply walks in and commands the room without saying a word? That's First Sgt Porter. She carries herself so well, wears the uniform with great pride. Once she was asked a few questions and began to share with the group her experience, we listened. She comes from a very different place than myself, she's served 19 years, earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees and is currently working on her PHD. I truly didn’t know what to think about female Marines until this panel. My final question to the group was, "What has been the highlight of your career as a Marine?" to which First Sgt Porter replied, "Being able to turn a civilians into a Marines. No one can ever take that away from me". It was an honor to shake her hand. 

The beautiful thing about being from a Military family is that you’re pretty much free and clear when it comes to purchasing souvenirs at a particular branch’s gift shop. My brother might like a Marine shirt but I’m pretty sure he has plenty. Poppa is Retired Army so I’d hate to waste money there. Cousin just got out of the Navy........So I just got myself some swag instead ;)

The MCRD Museum does have a great gift shop complete with a great selection of magnets (my choice souvenir when traveling because it’s cheap, compact and lightweight).  The greatest treasure you'll find in this building, however, is a tour by one of the proudest Retired Marines I've met.
Had LT Leonard Howard, USMC (Ret) been my History teacher, I'd have really learned it. He spoke with such passion, animation and enthusiasm. He spoke of World War 1, World War 2, Korea and then we ran out of time. I could have stayed there and listened to his stories all week! He spoke of his own experiences in combat, of unsung heroes and the pure honor of serving as a United States Marine. Do yourself a favor, if you're ever in SD, GO BY THE MUSEUM at MCRD San Diego. 

Day #4

Ever had a 0300 wake up call? I don't suggest them BUT I would have stayed up all night to experience the Crucible ceremony. Five of us departed for Camp Pendleton at 0400 on Thursday morning (sans coffee...). The Crucible is a test that every Marine Corps Boot Camp Recruit has to pass to become a Marine. It is full of physical, mental and I'm going to say emotional (because when I'm sleep and food deprived I'm pretty emotional...) challenges that test a recruit's strength. This challenge lasts 54 hours and includes sleep & food depravation as well as 45 miles of marching and
team building obstacles. The final leg of The Crucible is a hill called "The Reaper" (no explanation needed) and our dear escort who didn't know the back way to the ceremony site took us straight up the hill in his 4x4 pickup. The thing about the Reaper isn't just that it's steep and rocky... FOUR different times while climbing to the top of your viewing area, you think you're done and when you crest the hill, it keeps going.... Four times that happens. Physical AND mental strength necessary here. Only four hours of sleep each night and 3 MRE's (yuck) to last the entire 54-hour time period.

So what was this event that I was so thrilled to wake up at oh'dark thirty for?? We had the very unique opportunity to be on the other side of the very top of the Reaper as the recruits completed it AND The Crucible. What's even better- this is the moment they are given their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and are called "Marine" for the very first time.
They marched, group by group over that hill with their DI's, who were with them every step of the way signing their cadence in low, hoarse voices. Dawn was breaking, the ocean coming into site and the fog lifting. It was surreal and brings me to tears to even think about it. This was their moment and they'd done it!  Once they dropped their packs and lined up in formation, the commander said a few words, speaking mostly of Iwo Jima and the Marines that stopped fighting just long enough to raise the American Flag.
Then this next generation of Marines was presented with a symbol that will forever change their life. I was humbled to see that the Marines doing the presenting took time to actually talk to every new Marine. They didn't just hand them the pin and move down the line. The commander called the group back to the center and asked one favor...
You've never seen emotion until you've seen 300 young men singing the Marine Corps Hymn for the
first time as new Marines. It was a pretty awful but beautiful sound! 

At the Warrior's Breakfast, I broke away from my group and sat at a table full of new Marines. This is the meal right after the Crucible (so the first "real meal" in 54 hours) and these boys absolutely pile food on their trays! They were still very much in "recruit mode" but all so relieved and energetic (considering they'd just completed 12.5 weeks of boot camp, the Crucible and a 5-mile hike back to the Squad Bay after "the Reaper"). One new Marine stayed to eat with me after the rest of his group left and he was quite chatty. 
As we were departing, I told him I was going to sneak a banana in my bag for when I got hungry at the range. He smiled and replied, "we had a guy try to sneak peanut butter out of chow hall our second week of boot camp," to which I replied, "Did he get caught? In trouble?"
PVT Ross replies with a somewhat sad look in his eyes, "Yes ma'am, but what's worse, his nickname is now 'peanut butter'."

We left the chow hall and were taken up the hill a little ways to the "stalls". There are various life-size "puzzles" for the recruits to solve during the 54-hour Crucible. Rules include not touching the wood that's been painted red (all of it) or the mulch (pretty much the entire ground). Some proved to be more difficult than others, some involving getting a piece of equipment into a red box in the middle of the stall and others recovering a body from the back end platform, through the tunnel to the "safe ground". It was nothing short of amusing to watch a bunch of A-type personalities struggle to solve the puzzle and compete to lead. What was even more hilarious was hearing how quickly the recruits are able to solve these puzzles. They crushed us! Oh! And if you "died" (touched red or mulch), guess what your task was?! Carry two Ammo Cans down to the Mexican Border (ok, maybe just 200 yards out in the field) and back. I won't miss those Ammo Cans. 

ALRIGHT. Now to my favorite part... The guns! 

I have enjoyed shooting and hunting for a long time so I was very excited to go to the range. After they taught me the "prone position", shooting sitting indian-style and shooting while standing, I taught them "shooting while hanging out the window of an F-150", "shooting while your rifle is carefully balanced on your knee because it's your second shot and your deer jumped up and started to run off", and "shooting over the top of a truck from the truck bed" (not really, but that would have been funny seeing as how I've mastered those three...). 

Unfortunately the range was completely booked so instead, we used a simulator, which I've never done. My first attempt wasn't the best, scored a 79 and had a few bullets with "personality". However, I was happy with my second and third, rounding out the day with a best of 86. Thankfully, because I heard about seven "I'm watching you, Texas" comments as we were walking in ;) Whew. #TexasForever

Probably one of the largest support capabilities the Navy provides the Marine Corps is with the AAV's (Amphibious Assault Vehicles). These tracked, mobile armored amphibious vehicles can assault any shoreline after being deployed from the well decks of Navy assault ships.

We climbed in and on the AAV's which are really interesting vehicles, although I imagine I'd get highly claustrophobic if assigned to one. I walked up to the front of one of the vehicles and looked out of the open turret and saw Old Glory waving away! It was a beautiful site and another one of the moments that made me smile and feel so grateful for this opportunity and for the service and sacrifice of this incredible, elite group of heroes.


We were given a water demonstration and pass and review. It was a little humorous because there were some stand-up paddle boarders that didn't know what the heck was going on when the vehicles entered the water and headed in their direction. Never seen three paddle boarders move so quickly!

After this, we were treated to another opportunity to speak to a panel, this time consisting of Marines with a few more years experience in service. Again, very useful information and again, I was pleasantly surprised with how much education had been a part of each Marine Corps experience. It was refreshing to not only see that so many opportunities are available to our Marines, but also that so many service members are taking advantage of them. 

Day #5

Woke up at 0530 and packed up my suitcase. I am usually extremely exhausted at the end of busy travel weeks but I was strangely sad it was Friday. Not to say I’d want to keep up this schedule for weeks at a time but I will definitely miss the ambience of MCRD San Diego.

At 0700 we loaded the charter bus and headed over to the Depot. A Friday morning Colors Ceremony for the families and our group was to last about 45 minutes.

I hit the head (yes, it IS ladylike to say that… I asked) before it began and ran into an older gentleman on the way. We began talking about his grandson who was graduating in a few hours and how proud he was. He told me his son had been in the Navy and so he’d been right here 35 years prior for his son’s boot camp graduation. A Corps steeped rich in tradition.

I sat on the front row and got to witness the precision and perfection of the Marine Corps band who played Grand Ole Flag, the Banner, Anchors Away (tribute to their Navy partnership) and of course, the Marine Corps Hymn (but not as well as those new Marines sang it yesterday morning!!!).
Then BGen Bierman spoke to the crowd which included our crew and family members of some of the Marines graduating later in the day. His final words to the families really touched me. "I wish I could stand here in front of you and tell you your son will always be safe and never in harms way. I can't." He went on to assure them that he can promise them their son is now part of the most elite service in the best military in the world and that their son will never be sent anywhere without a brother to his right, and a brother to his left. 

Our group was then treated to breakfast at the Bay View restaurant (if you're ever in SD around MCRD, check out this really cool spot!) with a word from the General Bierman and SgtMaj James Porterfield. Not gonna lie, I missed it because I was catching up with some friends at HQ but I didn't play any jokes on anyone this time and DID get to meet the two Marines in charge right before they left. 

This was the second time I've been to a Boot Camp Graduation at MCRD San Diego but this one was so special, having spent the week leading up to it with Marines and recruits. Every detail was perfect- from the pass and review, to the band performance, even the 50 state flags were organized in the order they joined the union. If you've never been to a military ceremony on base or post, go. It's really an incredible event and truly makes you appreciate the hard work and determination and practice that goes into this life. I have been to hundreds but each one is unique and this was no exception. The founder of "The Crucible," Col. Michael D. Becker, conducted the Pass and Review. So much pride, so much tradition and so much patriotism. Each of these young men come from different backgrounds and will likely have very different military experiences but they all share one common bond- they are brothers and Marines. 

When I arrived at my gate at the airport a few hours later, I congratulated a new Marine standing in line. He was beaming.

I went and lined up to board and then it occurred to me, this young man doesn't even realize he can board early because he is now Active Duty Military! I went and filled him in and, while he boarded after me, I did sneak a note to the pilot who congratulated him over the PA once everyone was seated.

This young Irish/American lad, PFC Roe sat next to me on the plane and we talked most of the trip home- about both of our experiences. This is a very bright young man. He also shares a love of flying and is also hoping to get his pilot's license. But it was his comments about boot camp that impressed me the most...

"How was the reaper?" I asked him. "It wasn't easy," he grinned, "I had a fellow recruit that needed some help, so we did it together. He had more heart than me though!" which I questioned. He explained, "I was more physically fit than some of them but they kept pushing and kept going, never stopped... It simply means they had to push harder. I look up to them!"

He then went on about the perseverance and heart of a Marine. "We have the most mission accomplishment of any service because we never give up. No matter what. Never Give Up." (and then I politely told him he's still speaking very loudly - Boot Camp side effect ;)

I asked him if he made any "friends"... "No ma'am, I didn't make many good friends. I made a lot of brothers and a lot of teammates that I know will do anything for me. And visa versa."

Brothers indeed. What an experience. Thank you, Marines. Semper Fidelis!