Marine Corps boot camp

                  Oscar Machuca

           

            June 2002, High school graduation. I was very excited that I had finally finished high school and was about to start something more exciting. While that exciting part would be becoming a Marine. Since it was the summer I did not want to waste it by going to boot camp right away so instead I traveled a little which my final destination was in San Jose, Ca. to visit my father and other family and to say my good byes to them as well. While my vacation drew to an end I had to return back to Moreno Valley, Ca. to finish my final preparations before I leave to boot camp. The August 26 was upon us and my mother had to take me to the recruiter’s office so I can load a bus to take us to San Diego. When we got to San Diego we go to a cheap motel of which we had to stay the night because the next day we had to do our final swearing in. While in the hotel there were a lot of people who had to swear in the next day. That night a group of us gathered and decided to go to the strip club down the street; as we walk down the street we reached the strip club. While there we noticed that it was 2am and that the buses were going to pick up us at 4am so we headed back to the motel and we were very tired. When we finally reached our room we went to sleep but were rudely weaken up at 3:30 am to eat breakfast we were so tired but we could do nothing about it; we had to suck it up. When we loaded on the bus we fell asleep, but it did not last long while at the center waiting to be sworn in I started to do anything to keep me awake like putting water on my face to pacing around and various other methods. Once we were sworn in we loaded a van; the van took us to Marine Corps recruit depot in San Diego. Once there we were being yelled at to get off the van and get on the yellow footprints.

            Once at M.C.R.D. We proceeded on getting our head shaved and having our gear issued; in the process getting yelled at. Then they made 30-50 recruit including myself take a shower this made me feel a little uncomfortable. Then I asked myself “what have I gotten myself into”. After awhile I had adjusted to the life of a Marine recruit; with the constant physical demand and being yelled out and having a Drill instructor watching you and making you do everything they tell you. Some time had passed and now we had loaded buses to head up north to Camp Pendeltion to do our field and rifle training. The first two week in Camp Pendeltion was very easy because all they were doing was teaching us about our rifles. I had lots of experience with the rifle and weapons in general so this made it twice as easy for me. After the shooting portion I had qualified as a rifle expert, of which came as no surprise to myself. The most physical part of boot camp was about to begin which involved long hikes up and down mountains and on sand and pavement even on the beach. These hikes were very hard because we had to carry a pack with about 75-90 lbs and everyone had to stay in formation and keep up with everyone else. This meant that most of the short people who were at the back of the formation because that's the way we were formed everyone step that the taller people would take would equal to 3-4 of ours so we had to jog sometimes. Our final week we had to stay out in the field for 5 days with only 3 M.R.E. (meals ready to eat) of which I had 2 stolen from me. During these 5 days we had to do various tasks that would range from carrying a simulated injured Marine over our shoulder for 200 meters, to find way to pass an obstacle and various other things of which we had to run to each obstacle and challenge. On the final day we had to get up extra early, at 4am to start our finale challenge which was a 10 mile hike of which ended on a steep mountain of which we had to hike. Most of the hike was okay till be got to the base of the mountain and started to climb it, it hurt and it also sucked. Once on top of the mountain we had a small gathering and congratulating us on completing that final challenge. Once we go out of the field we proceeded to the chow hall (cafeteria) for our warriors breakfast which they had lot of food to choose from and we were given no time limit and food limit which most like because we were starving especially me. But all was not good because someone in our platoon got in trouble, that made our drill instructors mad and made us leave, I only had only sat down no more than 5 minutes. When we got back to our sleeping quarters we were giving time to shower and clean up and they even let us take a 2 hour nap which was awesome. We were heading back down to M.C.R.D. In San Diego to finish our last month there. Once back in San Diego we finished out final part of boot camp and would graduated. I liked the fact that we graduated on November 24, a few day before thanksgiving and my 19^th birthday. All my families were at my graduation and this made me feel very proud of what I had accomplished.

            Now it was time for me to go to school of infantry. I choose to become a grunt because that's what’s the Marines are known for and I wanted to be part of that. Once at S.O.I. I thought that it was going to be like boot camp waiting to be yelled at, but is was nothing like that. The second day there we had our gear issued to us. The first few weeks we were taught how to be an infantry rifleman. After the initial training we were asked to pick which specialty infantry we wanted to be it was only a wish list, so we had five different jobs to choose from and our wish list would only include 3. The five job were riflemen of which had no specialized weapons training. The next one was machine gunner which was taught everything about a machine gun on the use and emplacement. The next one was assault man they specialized in anti-armor and demolitions. Mortar men were the ones that would provide close in support with explosive rounds. The last one was tow gunner which was a larger anti-tank and other guided missile. Since I had to choose 3 for my wish list I choose assault man as my first and mortar men as my second and tow gunner as my last one. I was chosen to become mortar men, at first I had very little knowledge as to what they do but during school we were taught and fired both mortars that the Marine Corps use the 61mm and the 80mm. While training we would also train on various other tactics such as land navigation of which I became the best in my class. But we would also to some physical training and during this period I ran my fastest 3 mile run in 20 min and 30 sec. Once we finished our school we were assigned our units and since most of our assigned units were overseas and Kuwait awaiting the invasion of Iraq. We were sent to a camp to have our new gear and rifle issued to use because we were going to go to Kuwait to group with our assigned unit. The night before we got on a plane to head overseas my mother came to see me and began to beg me not to go and even asked me that she would break my legs if I wanted to stay but I wanted to go and this caused my mother to cry a lot.

Andres Rosales

              Well let me tell you about Andres Rosales. He’s a Mexican American, Getting a better job and a better life is what motivates him to attend college. Andres balances school and family very easily since he has an uncomplicated schedule. Andres likes to mentor his younger cousin but even a mentor needs some mentoring. His mentor is his older brother. His long term plan involves attaining a PHD. Andres describes himself as a very determine and fun but also quiet. He lives his life with a simple motto of “living life to the fullest”. He likes Oxnard College because it has flexible schedules and that he has no class on Fridays, but he also thinks that the library needs some improvement. His culture has influence him to strive to go to school and do better since both his parent has little schooling. Andres describes OC as a “vast crucible of culture”.

My opinion article

http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/opinion/corruption-in-oxnard-70-000-reasons-to-be-angry-1.2324978

Texterbating

Texting, well you will see that I hate people who text all the time especially during class. A teacher once told a student to stop “texterbating” even thought we laughed at that word she used she  to was frustrated by students texting in her class  While most people text now a days I really hate doing it if I have to I will but it’s just not me. The law that’s in effect in this state, about texting and driving dose little to deter those chronic texters. What they need to do is make it a more serious crime to do it. Instead of a hundred dollar fine there should be a bigger fine and driver’s education course and even community service. This will have many effects on the drivers and our state economy because not only are people texting less while driving but the people that do get caught will pay that hefty fine and in turn become revenue. While my ideological view on how to curb this might seem a little harsh; that’s what needed to prevent further accidents from happening.

Reality TV sucks

I personally dislike most reality TV shows. Most show now a days seem to be the same, like who can sing or dance better, or who can do the most idiotic thing. I'm all about having fun but making shows out of them come on. I hate that most of these people become famous because they drink a lot and sleep around a lot. But there are few shows nowadays that might be considers reality; that transcends more then just people singing and dancing and plane ole acting stupid. Most of those shows tend to make the people more famous and popular, but in turn give nothing back besides entertainment. Most “reality” shows on “The History Channel” and “Discovery” etc seems to bring lots more to the table, they really teach people.


The “reality” shows that I watch tend to be from a group of channels stated above I really think that its a waste of time to watch shows like “ Dancing with the stars” and “American idol” people can watch and do more productive things. I do think that reality shows are ruining our society and many way. Go back 12 to 15 years and the only major reality shows were “Real World” and “Road rules” I remember watching then and wasting my time now there are so many reality shows to choose from. It's becoming sort of a drug that people become addicted to it and can't stop watching it. I believe that reality shows can be factored in lots of mental and physiological problems. But I believe that another problems can arise from reality shows; such as young girls wanting to be just like a protagonist and mimic just about every thing. Such as sexual behaviors and drug and alcohol abuse because they see them doing it on TV so it okay to do it in real life. But it not only the child fault it's the parents one as well.

While I seem to be overly conservative and want to end these show, but I also strongly believe in the 1st Amendment and all the rights its grants us. Instead of making show about how the rich and famous live how about how you average American live and depict family from different parts of the U.S. But nobody wants to see poor people struggling through get by week by week. We all know that wont sell. Instead force people into a reality that is all but unreachable to most. Reality shows make their viewers go into a reality and wish and dream about how it would be if he was part of the show instead with that time wasted he could have done something more productive and not waste his time. I strongly believe that some people do become addicted and need medical care. Their even been stalkers that arise from the darkness because they become overly infatuated with a reality star. Since reality TV is what people want to see then there will always be large supply of shows to support their addiction.