AM: 10 mile hike around Sugar House Park with a 35 lb. pack. That was hard! Back in my Army days we would do the standard 12 mile road march with a total load of 50-60 lbs. I remember the first time I did it I was really cocky thinking it was an event I would dominate but in my officer basic school class I was just slightly above average. Guys I would easily beat in the 5 mile run would destroy me. Turns out there's an art and technique to it that the prior service active duty guys had mastered. They also knew what boots to wear instead of the basic Army issue boots.
I did this in support of Andy who officially becomes a Marine at 0600 Pacific Time Wednesday. Tomorrow morning at 0200 begins The Crucible which is the culminating event of their boot camp training and encompases everything they have learned. It takes place over 54 hours between Monday and Wednesday and requires them to march between 45 and 48 miles with a 60 lb. load. They get a total of 4 hours sleep in short stretches and less than 4,000 calories. Lots of other fun stuff as well. It finishes Wednesday morning with a final 9 mile march that ends at the top of a 700 ft. hill called "the reaper". At the top they are awarded their eagle, globe, and anchor pins and can then be addressed by their name and rank and "Marine" instead of simple "recruit". It's a big day and I'll definitely be thinking about him at work Monday and Tuesday.
This will all happen unless he breaks a leg or something which is not unheard of.
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