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Back from boot camp
 |
| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Miles Steege, left, and Eric Salazar are now full-fledged Marines. They recently returned from boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. |
Two new Marines finish three months of training
By MEGAN DOYLE
H&N Staff Writer
U.S. Marine Corps Pvts. 1st Class Miles Steege and Eric Salazar hope they’ll fit into their uniforms after celebrating Thanksgiving early and eating at restaurants with family and friends since returning home from boot camp Saturday.
“People have been taking us out a lot,” Salazar said.
The pair finished three months of training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, where they stayed on base and only ate food provided at the base mess hall, which they said wasn’t too bad.
The Herald and News first reported on the young men, recent high school graduates, prior to their leaving for boot camp and followed them as they arrived in San Diego.
Both are home on leave until they head to 22 days of further basic combat training at Camp Pendleton and to their specialized schools, where Salazar will study to become a military police officer, and Steege will study to become an aviation mechanic.
They said the toughest part of boot camp was the first week because they were away from home and in a new environment where they knew few others.
“First phase, you miss your family the most,” Steege said.
Focused on the goal
But he learned to cope and focused on accomplishing the goal of becoming a Marine, he said.
Salazar spent an extra week in San Diego because he missed some training time when he discovered he had cellulitis on his ankle.
Lighter moments
Though the weeks were packed with drill, classes and physical exercise, they had some fun moments, too.
“We weren’t supposed to laugh, but you laughed inside,” Steege said.
He remembers his drill instructor tripping while marching with his company. The drill instructor then barked at the unit to ask why they didn’t warn him of the approaching curb.
Another drill instructor would mess with the recruits’ uniforms if they messed up, such as flipping the bill of a recruit’s hat up or buttoning his sleeves to his torso.
Steege and Salazar said they loved, hated and respected their drill instructors.
They are the toughest Marines, Salazar said.
“They do everything we do and they get a lot less sleep,” he said. “They try to make you think they’re machines.”
The Crucible
The drill instructors also join the recruits for The Crucible, the culmination of the training in San Diego.
The exercise is an intense three-day test for recruits to prove they’ve learned the lessons of the previous 12 weeks.
It includes physical exercises with hiking and running and obstacles, little sleep and limited food.
“You just try to stay motivated to get through,” Salazar said.
For many, The Crucible and emblem ceremony are the defining moments for a Marine, said Staff Sgt. John Heine, who recruited the newest Marines.
Salazar said he was so tired as he got into formation for the ceremony, it didn’t really hit him that he was a Marine.
Heine and Steege admitted they teared up when they were given their globe, eagle and anchor.
That same week, the recruits got to see their families again.
Salazar was told by his mom that he “didn’t diddy-bob like (his) dad anymore” when he walks.
Both have been told they look fit — not skinny, but fit.
New schedules
Another shock to their families was their schedules. Both are used to going to bed and waking up early. The latest they’ve been able to sleep-in so far has been 7:30 a.m.
Both say they’re trying to get in as much time with family and friends while they’re on leave as possible.
“People have been taking us out a lot,” Salazar said.
The pair finished three months of training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, where they stayed on base and only ate food provided at the base mess hall, which they said wasn’t too bad.
The Herald and News first reported on the young men, recent high school graduates, prior to their leaving for boot camp and followed them as they arrived in San Diego.
Both are home on leave until they head to 22 days of further basic combat training at Camp Pendleton and to their specialized schools, where Salazar will study to become a military police officer, and Steege will study to become an aviation mechanic.
They said the toughest part of boot camp was the first week because they were away from home and in a new environment where they knew few others.
“First phase, you miss your family the most,” Steege said.
Focused on the goal
But he learned to cope and focused on accomplishing the goal of becoming a Marine, he said.
Salazar spent an extra week in San Diego because he missed some training time when he discovered he had cellulitis on his ankle.
Lighter moments
Though the weeks were packed with drill, classes and physical exercise, they had some fun moments, too.
“We weren’t supposed to laugh, but you laughed inside,” Steege said.
He remembers his drill instructor tripping while marching with his company. The drill instructor then barked at the unit to ask why they didn’t warn him of the approaching curb.
Another drill instructor would mess with the recruits’ uniforms if they messed up, such as flipping the bill of a recruit’s hat up or buttoning his sleeves to his torso.
Steege and Salazar said they loved, hated and respected their drill instructors.
They are the toughest Marines, Salazar said.
“They do everything we do and they get a lot less sleep,” he said. “They try to make you think they’re machines.”
The Crucible
The drill instructors also join the recruits for The Crucible, the culmination of the training in San Diego.
The exercise is an intense three-day test for recruits to prove they’ve learned the lessons of the previous 12 weeks.
It includes physical exercises with hiking and running and obstacles, little sleep and limited food.
“You just try to stay motivated to get through,” Salazar said.
For many, The Crucible and emblem ceremony are the defining moments for a Marine, said Staff Sgt. John Heine, who recruited the newest Marines.
Salazar said he was so tired as he got into formation for the ceremony, it didn’t really hit him that he was a Marine.
Heine and Steege admitted they teared up when they were given their globe, eagle and anchor.
That same week, the recruits got to see their families again.
Salazar was told by his mom that he “didn’t diddy-bob like (his) dad anymore” when he walks.
Both have been told they look fit — not skinny, but fit.
New schedules
Another shock to their families was their schedules. Both are used to going to bed and waking up early. The latest they’ve been able to sleep-in so far has been 7:30 a.m.
Both say they’re trying to get in as much time with family and friends while they’re on leave as possible.
Reader Comments
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Devil Dogs wrote on Nov 7, 2008 4:38 PM:
" My cover is off to you! Dont forget those who have stood on those yellow foot prints before you...may are gone now..live a life that would make them proud! "
Sgt Beger wrote on Nov 7, 2008 11:07 AM:
" Oorah Marines and Congratulations!!!! A little over 3 years ago I was in your shoes. Fresh out of boot camp and ready to take on the world... I was born and raised in Klamath Falls and because of the Marines I have been places and done things I never dreamed I would do in my entire life. I lived in Okinawa,Japan for 2 years and while I was there I learned how to scuba dive, I did a combat deployment to Iraq and now I am in Africa working as a Marine Security Guard in an embassy. The opportunities you will have as a Marine are enldess. take advantage of those opportunities. Good luck and Semper Fidelis!!!! "
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Kevin wrote on Nov 7, 2008 5:07 PM: