teamwork

Wednesday, I planned what I think was a really good PT. It involved determination, motivation, endurance, strength, but most importantly, teamwork. I split the platoon of poolees into two teams. First, was a relay race where each team had one 30 lb ammo can. The first person of each team had to run with the ammo can 50 yards put the ammo can down and run back. The next person had to run 50 yards to the ammo can and bring it back with them handing it off to the person behind them and so forth until everyone ran. It was a close one, my team barely won. The ammo cans were left on the 50 yard line and we were by the goal post. Problem? No, just another part of the PT. Next, we had to "build a house" all the way to the ammo can pick it up and sprint back as a team. "Building a house" means to get on all fours and arch your back like a tunnel for someone to crawl through. Then, the person on the end crawls through to the end and builds another part of the house and it just keeps moving. We unfortunately lost. The next was kind of fun. We placed people 5 yards apart from each other until the 50 yard line. Then, the first person would crawl with the 30 lb ammo can and hand it to the teammate in front of them, but they didn't stop lowcrawling there. Everybody continued low crawling until everyone from the team was at the line. Then, sprint back as a team. That was a draw. No body really wanted to lose because I told them the losing team will have some type of punishment. The tie breaker was yet another relay race where two partners within the teams would fireman carry half way then switch. When the whole team was across the 50 yard line that's when they won. My team won so we won the whole field meet for the day which means the losing team had some type of punishment waiting for them. On the run to the field we ran in two columns, as we usually do, and each column had an ammo can being passed around as they run; however, on the run home, I made the losing team make one column. Then, I gave both ammo cans to that column. My team was exempt from carrying any ammo cans on the run home.

Meet Sergeant John

  Tuesday, like every other tuesday is PT at the office. I drove there and open the door and saw an unfamiliar face. Usually, an unfamiliar face is someone one of the recruiters brought to interview and begin the recruiting process, but this unfamiliar face was a Marine. He wore three stripes up with crossed rifles in the center, meaning he was a sergeant. He was not introverted whatsoever so he introduced himself as Sergeant John and I introduced myself. After a few minutes of speaking he revealed that his line of work was an infantry "grunt" and that he's only at the office to help for a few weeks. He told of one of his battle stories how he charged a machine gunner all by himself. He showed us pictures that he had from overseas on his phone.

From squadmember to squaderleader to finally.. GUIDE!

   Two saturdays ago, the guide was not at the monthly poolee function.  Obviously, the poolees needed some type of leadership so I stepped up, as usual. During the poolee function Sergeant Packard called all the poolees into formation and told them "since Ms. Atas is not here, Mr. Pinilla is now the guide. Give him the respect he deserves as the guide, he has earned it." It was really touching to see what my recruiter thinks of me; however, I was under the impression I was the guide for that day only. When I showed up to PT I was told I was the new guide and needed to make plans for PT that same day. It was bitter-sweet because I'm pretty close with the former guide, Atas, but in the end she was cool about it and agreed that I am better at making hard work outs and better leader than she is. I wouldn't agree with all of that, but it was quite flattering.

Not even aliens can defeat Marines!

   This afternoon I went with my family to see "Battle: Los Angeles." It was very good the entire movie is intense. Throughout the movie I was able to see the Marine Corps traditions and creed portrayed in the movie. For example, there is one scene where a little boy's father dies. Of course, the little boy, Hector, was afraid, but the commanding non-commissioned officer told him that he needs to be his little Marine. He needed him to be his little Marine because they still had things to do and Marines never quit. Also, Marines are really big on no man left behind. When they get ambushed and one Marine gets blinded and runs another way then the squad. Three Marines go back to retrieve their lost brother. Also, toward the end the Staff Sergeant tells the pilot to hover at 40 feet so he can rappel down and recon an area. He told a Corporal he was in charge, in other words he was prepared to go in alone. When he lands on the ground more rappel rope falls from the helicopter, the other Marines followed him. They were not going to let him go alone. They end up defeating this alien command center that allows the rest of the military to efficiently attack the enemy. The commanding officer at the operating base says great job now eat and rest. The staff sergeant replies, we already ate breakfast sir, and after getting more ammo they hop in another helicopter to continue the fight. Overall, it really is a great film.




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Practice Field Meet

Sometime soon, either April or May, we have a field meet against all other recruiting sub stations. Saturday, we were preparing for some of the events we will see in the competition. Since we won last year, our recruiters are really pushing victory again this year. I have no doubt we will come up on top because we have great recruiters and a bunch of studs in our pool. we went over everything from relay races to push up competetion. I must say, I'm pretty excited. Also, I was "promoted" to say the least. I went from squad leader to guide. It feels great to know hard work pays off in the end.

avionics with SSGT Roberts

  Saturday, I was able to speak with one of the Marines at the office about my MOS. He went in with the same contract as I did so I figured that if anybody would know anything about it, it would be him. So I asked him several questions such as what type of jobs fall into that BA contract and where I would be stationed. What kind of work it is that I would actually be doing. He gave me great answers and I was able to learn A LOT about avionics. It sounds very complicated, but I assume once I learn everything he did I will do just fine.

sweat dries, blood clots, bones heal, get over it

Wednesday was Private Llambes' last day at PT as he is shipping out to the next phase of his training. After a long month of strenuous and challenging training he decided that we all earned a recreational day. Everyone elected to play football so that's what we did. I assumed the quarterback and captain position as so did he. The game started off nice and fun, but then I get hurt. I have no idea how to explain it. I tried running faster by striding and I suppose I hyperextended my knee and felt my knee pop. It hurt really bad, but after a few seconds I got back on my feet and my knee gave way so Private Llambes caught me. I walked it off even though I still felt stiffness and pain in every step I took. After two laps I was back in the game. As soon as I got back I was thrown the ball and out ran everyone with my busted knee. It hurt so badly after that, but whatever. The run to the office was really painful and long. My knee wouldn't be a problem, except there's a field meet sometime this month. Its against all the sub-stations and last year our sub-station won. I feel that every poolee has big shoes to fill and step up, but me especially being a squad leader. I'm pretty sure my knee is sprained and despite the fact I can't bend it as much or straighten it as much I will be at the field meet giving nothing by my best. That's what Marines do. Adapt and overcome and lead by example.

mind versus body... me versus DLAB

Monday was a bad bad day for everyone. I have no idea what it was if it were something in the air or what but no body was motivated. Everyone was realy sluggish including myself. Needless to say, monday was mentally challenging and Private Llambes, not in SOI, still went on like a normal regular tough PT. Although on monday some man had the audacity to come up to Private Llambes and complain saying that his poolees were yelling and screaming obscure things to civilians. When, in reality, we were screaming to each other to be be cautious of the civilians. Private Llambes knew we would never do such a thing mostly because what we were doing. But it really bugs me that some people have absolutely no respect. Here we are busting out rears to get better to protect THEIR freedom and they complain about it.


On thursday, I needed to go take a DLAB to get the job I wanted. The DLAB is an language aptitude test to see how well he testtaker can learn a new language. I needed a 100 to get the job, and I got an 85. I was really angry, I woke up at 4:30 am to wait until about 7 to take the test and fail. It was rather difficult though. The test basically taught you a made up language then was like here, translate this for me.

Forever young..

October 5th, 2010- there was a car accident in Miramar, Florida at about 2am. The accident included two teenage boys a honda civic and a home. The accident was fatal for those in the car. The driver, Ian Guckian, was a pretty good friend of mine. Now, this may seem absolutely unrelated to my project, but it isn't. Ian had thoughts of joining the Marine Corps, at least, that's what his brother told me. Although this is not what prompted me to join, it is motivating. I am, in about 4 months, do something my friend is now not able to do. Its just something worth writing about.