Recruit John P. Spencer
Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, San Diego
Our son John, who is 19 years old, is now a Recruit at MCRDSD! On this page, I will share some photos (not many, mind you... we won't see him for 3 months!), and try to keep family and friends up to date with his life at Boot Camp :-)
First, this photo is of the Recruiting Station in Tustin (ok they call it Santa Ana), where John has spent so much time since 31 Aug 2001, when he signed up, on the DEP (Delayed Entry Program). It is also where we dropped him off to be taken by his recruiter to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in Los Angeles.
Now a little background. John was first scheduled to leave for MEPS on 1 Jan 2002 (New Years Day!). 
Here's a photo I took of him and his recruiter, then SSGT Sandra Lopez (since promoted to Gunny!), the first time he left! Well, he got up there and spent the night and all the next day, too, then found out about 11:00 at night that he wouldn't be able to "ship". Seems that 4 months ago, someone dropped his urine sample, and due to military transfers the message for him to go take another one fell through the cracks, and didn't get to John or his recruiter. So... he had to come home, then go BACK to MEPS to take another urine test, then come home again and wait 2 weeks for the next group, and ship then! Whew!
He was dissapointed and bored, and considerably less motivated than when he left the first time. He also caught a stomach bug and spent the 2nd of those two weeks sick as a dog, in every direction :-( Not how you would ideally prepare for boot camp. Well, anyway, life moves on, and the time came for him to leave again. 
Sunday, 13 Jan 2002 we took him over to the Recruiting Station again, and again there were 3 guys shipping. You really need to click on this photo, so you can see it full-sized, and read John's t-shirt! This boy has always loved to push his luck!
For those of you interested in writing to John while he is in boot camp: At this point I don't have an address for him- that usually takes a couple weeks at least to get. If you'd like to e-mail me (address at the bottom of the page), I'll print out any e-mails for him that I get, and mail them as soon as I have an address. Digital photos would be great too! And if you let me know that you want his address, I'll send it along as soon as I have it! (I'm not going to post it on this page) 
Just to let everyone know- there are tons of rules about mail at boot camp... basically, just a letter in a plain white envelope, with nothing expect address, return address, and stamp (no stickers, no "I love you"'s, no "Good Luck"'s- NOTHING). And no packages unless and until they are specifically asked for. And nothing on a postcard that you wouldn't want read in front of the whole platoon of guys! John will make enough trouble for himself there, without our help!
CHECKIN WEEK: The first week is really just checking in- doing paperwork, getting yelled at, getting his head shaved, getting yelled at, getting clothes issued, and did I mention getting yelled at? Boot Camp doesn't even nominally begin until Friday, and the true training doesn't start 'til the next Monday. Still, it would be really nice if you were to keep him, and the other guys, of course, in your thoughts and prayers. And maybe include his poor mom in there once in a while too! Thanks!
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Never got the middle of the night "I'm here, and I'm alive" phone call, but- Friday, 4 days after he arrived at MCRDSD, I received the infamous form letter, with an address to use to write to him! That was more than a week earlier than I expected to get it! Most advice I get tells me to wait until I get a letter from him in his own handwriting, because so often that first address is wrong. The USMC also had been "kind" enough to put "PVT" before the blank for their name. They are NOT Pvt.'s till they graduate. It's a blatant set-up... don't fall for it! They will get "drilled"... see John's letter below! Hmmmm...
WEEK 1: The next week, they should have gotten their M-16's (this should have made John a very happy camper!), doing some Close Order Drills, and some runs, and getting lots of classes on basic jarhead stuff, like Core Values and History. Not to mention, getting yelled at, and "motivated"! Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Wednesday, 23 Jan, we got our first "letter" from John... mostly a form letter, but with an actual note from him written on the back:
"I am good, platoon seems strong. See you at graduation. P.S. I was selected for Whiskey Locker duty, so times are good. It's hard but has a lot of perks. I get my M-16 on Tuesday. I can't wait... In closing this is all easier than I'd thought. John P. Spencer"
It also had a different address on it than the first letter we got, so those that said the first one would be wrong, were right! Also, this one CORRECTLY had "RCT" printed before the blank for their name, courtesy of the USMC. Having asked Paul, and John's recruiter, I found out that the "Whiskey Locker" is a gear/supply locker. He would be in charge of keeping track of the stuff in there, and making sure none "goes missing". The only reason I can think of that it would be hard, is that it would be time-consuming on top of the other things you need to be doing in Boot Camp. But, the fact that he was given the responsibility is a good sign in itself :-)
WEEK 2: We are at the second full week of training. This seems to include at least five classes in History, and a LOT of Core Values and Ethics, something it seems to me their mamma's should have taught them! But there are also plenty of classes in bayonet techniques, strikes and counterstrikes, terrorism, and First Aid. And they will get lots of Close Order Drill, and some lovely runs in the fresh air and sunshine! By now they should be on their third haircut, not that there's much to cut ;-) They will also get up close and personal time with the Senior DI, and have a chance every Sunday to go to Chapel (I wonder if John will ever go, when given the choice?)
WEEK 3: At the beginning of this third week we got our first "real" letter from John, on MCRD stationary! I will share some excerpts:
Hello Family It took long enough, I know, but finally I write. Well so far things are going well enough.... Thanks Mom for writing so often, and putting Rec. Spencer instead of Pvt. Spencer. A lot of people got drilled because of the whole Pvt/Rec thing... ...the Drill Instructors passed out a list for us to write the name, rank, and relation of any family members E-8 or above. That brought a bit of unwanted attention.... As hard as I tried to avoid it, I got recruit-crud. It's just like Iwakuni, gunked up throat, nose, and an all around feeling nasty... Our Initial drill is on the 9th.... I've seen the other platoons, and we're better than them. We can definitely improve though, that's for sure... Well, I'll write again, soon. Love you all, Recruit Spencer
Anyway, the third week looks like a continuation of many of the classes, such as Core Values and First Aid. They get their debit cards, and start charging uniforms and everything else to their own accounts. They get their Yearbook photos done, and they should be on at least their fourth haircut! Big fun this week is the Confidence Course and Obstacle Course :-) Also pugil sticks, and as John's letter said, their Initial Drill at the end of the week. Whew... that should keep them busy! But the worst is almost over!
WEEK 4: Oh no! The Recruit Crud was more than the crud! John has pnuemonia! We got another letter this week, but it wasn't the good news I was hoping for :-(
"Hello again, It seems that on Sunday I had more than just the crud. I have (am getting over now) pneumonia. It explains the several days before last Sunday. I've had two days bed-rest, and am still on light-duty status. Since I haven't been drilling with the platoon the last week, I won't be a part of Initial Drill as I hoped. After this bed-rest stuff my legs are noticably weaker. Time and PT cures all I guess. Don't be misled, I'm getting back to good health, and am still fully motivated. I got removed as Whiskey Locker too. Positions come and go so fast here. Have a good one, and stay safe. I'll do the same. Love y'all John (Recruit Spencer) "
Not sure what all he's missing, and what, if anything, he'll be able to catch up on! I just hope he gets well before next week, which is swim week!!! I know, I know... I sound like a mom... surprise, surprise... I am one!
WEEK 5: A phone call!!! John got a 10 minute phone call... to be used to arrange transportation home after graduation, if needed, or for whatever :-) Transportation is a simple drive home, so we got to yak! He sounds great... really motivated and good-to-go! He's apparently over the pnuemonia, but get this- then he got food poisoning from the salad dressing in the chow hall! Dang, what are they doin' to my boy there?!? Anyway, he's past that too, and still drilling with his platoon, and working hard. Sounds like he really enjoyed the museum, and meeting some old veteran Marines there, including at least one former Korean War POW!
John said that part of his company is going to do Swim Week this coming week, and part is going to do Team Week, then the next week they'll switch. John is (fortunately) going to do Team Week first, which with any luck will give him a chance to finish getting well, before being in and out of a pool all week. Team Week is a time when they are divided into teams and set to different duties on base, such as chow hall or trash pick up or whatever needs done (painting rocks?).
WEEK 6: Which for John, was Swim Week. They are in the pool most of the days, in their uniform, learning survival swimming skills, and qualifying at various levels... not having heard from John, I don't know what level he ended up qualifying at, but he had to have passed at LEAST the basic level, or he couldn't move on in training.
WEEK 7: The recruits move to Edson Range on Camp Pendelton, so close and yet so far from home! The first week there is Grass Week, where they sit on the grass (hence the term Grass Week) in circles and learn to use their rifle. Up til now they've had to carry it around, clean it, learn to love it, etc., but they haven't used it! They learn to sight at various distances, by aiming at a white metal drum in the center of their circle, on which are painted targets. Those targets are, I am told, scaled so as to appear just like the ones they will see the next week on the real range! Amazing!
WEEK 8: Live Fire Week... they spend their days on the real ranges, shooting at targets from known distances. Just before John went to Edson Range, I was able to visit there and take a couple photos, which gave me a better idea of where he would spend 5 weeks of his training! And, on the last day of range qualifications, Paul was able to sneak a peek at him, and take some photos! The boy ended up qualifying as Expert :-)
Links to other sites on the Web
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego CA Where John is going to Boot Camp
School of Infantry Camp Pendelton CA Which John will attend after Boot Camp Graduation
Boot Camp Schedule for San Diego This is a large .jpg image... may take quite a while to load.
Mountain Warfare Training Camp, Bridgeport, CA The dream duty for the boy...
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