NROTC MO OCS "Bulldog" Course

Thanks for all your kind responses and letting a Dad blubber on a little bit!

I'm heading off for my annual fishing trip Wednesday so it's probably my last update until after he graduates (I'll be back just in time for that). Undoubtedly I'll post something then! :biggrin:

Annual fishing trip? Sounds great. Have a wonderful time.

Glad to hear you will be at the graduation. Afterwards, I can picture the kinnem family dinner table with the two of you competing for the best story of this summer's adventures! :shake:
 
Thanks for all your kind responses and letting a Dad blubber on a little bit!

I'm heading off for my annual fishing trip Wednesday so it's probably my last update until after he graduates (I'll be back just in time for that). Undoubtedly I'll post something then! :biggrin:

Thanks for letting us follow your son's progress at camp. The pictures were great. I look forward to hearing about the graduation.

In the meantime, good luck on your fishing trip. As I recall, last year you were the first person in history not to catch a fish in Canada. This year, if you find yourself ice fishing, then you've probably drilled through the surface of the hockey rink and you need to leave before the rink manager calls the police.
 
@USMCGrunt - No. The kid will win that contest hands down. I don't expect any story I tell will be any different than the one's I've been telling after my annual fishing trip for the past 32 years. And I'll be hanging on his every word in any case and that's what makes a great story, right?

@EDelahanty - I'm not sure, but I think I detect some subtle smack talk in that post! :biggrin: Trust me. There have been years when no one caught any fish. All depends on the water temp and when the walleye spawn happened, weather, wave action, etc. etc. The ice hung around the lake until a few days prior to Memorial Day this year so I'm not too hopeful that the Walleye recovered from the spawn if it even happened yet. Nevertheless, the camaraderie, food, and adult beverages will more than compensate for any lack of our quarry. I am foregoing the cigars this year though.
 
Hopefully you don't experience the mosquitoes that we did while in Michigan's upper peninsula last week (hey, my cell phone thought I was in Canada!). Even the "natives" were commenting that they had never seen so many mosquitoes. The really special thing about Friday was that the temp was 36 degrees, it was very windy AND we were attacked by hundreds of mosquitoes:eek:
 
Hopefully you don't experience the mosquitoes that we did while in Michigan's upper peninsula last week (hey, my cell phone thought I was in Canada!). Even the "natives" were commenting that they had never seen so many mosquitoes. The really special thing about Friday was that the temp was 36 degrees, it was very windy AND we were attacked by hundreds of mosquitoes:eek:

Some of the mosquitoes where we go have been known to carry off small children!
 
Limited internet access at the fishing camp. My only connection to the outside world. Mom says the boy is still doing well and having a great time based on his letters and phone calls. He feels he's done well at SULE but he'll still be nervous about it until he hears the results. Can't wait to see him in a week and hear the sea tales.

Hope those in their final days of getting prepared for second increment are getting psyched and enjoy the experience.
 
In Harrisburg PA on the way back to good old NC. The boy left me a message as I was out of cell range at the time. The survivors received their EGA around 08:00 today. He was really ecstatic. It was special to him when the Gunny shook his hand and said "You really earned this." I assume his cell battery is dead as I can't reach him, but hope to hear from him tomorrow. Will see him Wed in any case. I'm not sure I'll be able to wait. Maybe he'll hear me scream his name as I pass Quantico on my way down I95 tomorrow.
 
In Harrisburg PA on the way back to good old NC. The boy left me a message as I was out of cell range at the time. The survivors received their EGA around 08:00 today. He was really ecstatic. It was special to him when the Gunny shook his hand and said "You really earned this." I assume his cell battery is dead as I can't reach him, but hope to hear from him tomorrow. Will see him Wed in any case. I'm not sure I'll be able to wait. Maybe he'll hear me scream his name as I pass Quantico on my way down I95 tomorrow.

Oh congrats to your son Kinnem! So proud of him, I know you must be bustin' your buttons!! :thumb:
 
congratulations

Kinnem. Hearing your son's voice earning his EGA is oh so special! Thanks for sharing that with us.

I recall my son's tears of joy when he told me about earning his. One of the proudest moments of my life.

And I recall, all too well, the dual mixture of sheer exhaustion and elation on earning mine on the back steps of the Squad Bay at Brown's Field in the heat/humidity of 1981.

Congratulations Kinnem!
 
Thanks all for your kind words.

Just got home from Canada about an hour ago. Got to see DS in Quantico for an hour today while he was on liberty while I was passing through. Actually he and his liberty buddy were staying at a friends in Fairfax VA so I hooked up with him there for about an hour and then drove them back to base. It was like drinking from a fire hose! I've never heard him talk so much. He said he learned soooo much. About 30% dropped or were dropped on request. I have no idea how that might have broke down between NROTC and PLC Seniors.

He is so happy and excited. It was great seeing him. Will see him again Wednesday for Family day and the graduation is Thursday.... then its off to DC for fire works and a weeks vacation in Williamsburg. I'm so thrilled for him. I'll pass along your kind words.

@USMCGrunt... he got your second letter. Thanks again for doing that.

And once again, good luck to all the candidates in second increment.

EDIT: Oh yeah, his squad broke the all time OCS record for the Montford Point Challenge! Woo Hoo!
 
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Kinnem: what a treat. Getting some "advance" time with your DS ahead of graduation. You are truly lucky! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall!

Sounds like your DS did fantastic. Props on the course record - I am sure that was a motivating event.

I was beaming reading about earning the EGA! It will be a memory he will carry for a lifetime.

Can't wait to hear about graduation!
 
up at 0400 to eat breakfast, walk the dog and make it to the start line for the Motivational Run by 0550. That many Marines can certainly belt out a cadence. The Commander's briefing was interesting. Nothing I didn't already know but it was certainly great to hear it from him. I'd follow that guy anywhere. My wife had to hold me back to keep me from enlisting. Came back to the hotel room to chill for a couple hours and then back to a tour of TBS and chow there. I would recommend the TBS tour if they offer it. It made it all much more real for me to get a look at what comes next. There was also supposed to be a commander's briefing there at dinner but since only a pitiful few turned out they canceled it. Too bad.
 
Thanks for the update. Sounds awesome.

Sorry to hear more didn't take the TBS tour. Why wouldn't you??

How many folks came out to cheer on the candidates on the run?
 
Thanks for the update. Sounds awesome.

Sorry to hear more didn't take the TBS tour. Why wouldn't you??

How many folks came out to cheer on the candidates on the run?

There were a couple dozen of us at the start line. Don't know how many night have been scattered along the route. The Colonel's briefing was well attended. Not jam packed but pretty full.
 
Graduation went without a hitch today. Pretty hot on the back of your neck in the bleachers even at 0900. The speeches were short and sweet. One of them included something about smelling like The Quigley for the rest of their lives.

All the candidates looked sharp and stepped out even more sharply on the Parade Deck. Even the "Texas A&M Awards Ceremony" was pretty good! :biggrin: OK, there were 3 candidates from other schools (Auburn, VA Tech, and Clemson) who also won awards. When I thought about it, it only makes sense that the SMCs would dominate there.

The commander's speech included some "funny" interaction with the candidates regarding parenting skills. Won't ruin that for you folks in the second increment. Portions were pretty moving, but no more so for me than when the candidates sung the last two lines of the Marine Hymn a capella. Should have brought some tissues.

DS took us by 'My Deli' in Quantico for lunch. Best bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef) and kimchi I ever had. It may possibly become a regular stop when traveling Interstate 95.

DS' girlfriend left Raleigh at 4 AM in order to make it in time for the ceremony. She gave him the longest hug on the Parade Deck I've ever seen. Guess she missed him a little. :rolleyes:

Definitely plan on being parked and seated by 8:30 if not earlier. Earlier would be better as even at 8:30 the selection was limited. Be sure to grab a program for the scrap book. There were some "coin" and Platoon T Shirt sales beforehand, but it's best to handle that at the motivational run. Bring water. Even if you don't want it, your DS or DD will after spending a hot hour out on the parade deck. DS was sweating heavily and it wasn't really all that hot this AM in the breeze they had (no breeze in the bleachers though). The back of the Parade Deck has the flags of each state. We took a pic in front of NC (home) and SC (school). As I recall though, that's pretty common so it's probably not new news for most of you. If you can get onto the Parade Deck quickly after dismissal you can probably get more "buddy" pics than we were able to. A lot of the guys seemed anxious to leave with their family and I know some had flights to catch.

I would also add that everyone we met, and I mean everyone: enlisted, officer, parent, sibling.... everyone was so cordial and friendly the whole time we've been here. Says a lot about our nation's service men and women and their families as well.

Never saw a finer and happier bunch of men in my life than those on the Parade Deck today! :thumb:
 
Congrats!

Congratulations to your family and especially your DS!

We are getting everything prepped for our son to head to Quantico on Sunday. He is nervous and excited. He is anxious to get this underway already! It is all he has thought about for 3 years. He's been studying like crazy and hitting the gym every chance he gets.

One of the midshipmen from his battalion DOR'ed in the first increment and that was very disconcerting for DS. The poor kid was on scholarship, too. That is going to be an expensive decision. I'm sure it was for the best, and his heart obviously wasn't in it, but still a shame.

As a mother I am so worried and sad right now. Also, very excited for DS. I know he will do his best and that he is following his dream. I just keep thinking of him as a little boy, and wondering where the time went!

I have really appreciated your posts, Kinnem. We will be there for the ceremony, and your tips will come in very handy. Once again, congrats to your DS. He will be a great leader of Marines :)
 
enived2: our son's will be enjoying a summer vacation in Quantico at the same time. We will be taking him to the airport within the hour.

The second session ought to bring out the finest in Quantico's weather (heat and humidity). I trust the physical preparation our DS' have been doing will help deal with that.

Congrat's to the first increment's successful completion of OCS. Best wishes to all those in the second increment.

kinnem: thanks from all of us for the graduation tips!
 
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