My Daughter...She Made it!

[elkmtngear]

We arrived in the very early AM in Parris Island, S.C., to see our daughter graduate Marine Corps Boot Camp. For over 3 months, we have had only contact through letters (except for one brief phone call). Couldn't wait to wrap my arms around her!

We slept just a few hours, and got up early to see her platoon run by on the main street. Couldn't pick her out, they all looked like dudes! Then, a few hours later, we watched them march into the large indoor facility in formation, and after a short ceremony, they finally released her to us for a few hours. I swear she grew two inches (posture is everything)!


After hanging out with us for a few hours, we had to give her back. We watched them in formation as they did a rehearsal drill on the parade field. The snap and focus was quite impressive! Who's kid is that???


Next Day was the formal Graduation Ceremony. Just so impressive all the way around, every platoon was tight and snappy! Finally, we were able to get her for 10 days!


Instead of going straight home...we headed up into Northern SC to a buddy's hunting lease. The only rental car available when we got there was a Suburban...here's a pic of my Wife driving "the Beast"!


Got there just in time for a night pig hunt from some baited stands (I brought our bows/ arrows from California, and I had made some 200 lumen red lights for our stabilizers). It was all of 18 degrees... a miserable four hour sit with just a couple of corn stealing coons showing up the first night...but my daughter toughed it out with me.

The next day was my Wifes Birthday...so we drove her into Greenwood so she could spend the day with her daughter shopping, etc., a great Birthday Gift after not seeing her for so long!


Pigs were a no show the second night...but I got to see a herd of Whitetail come into bow range right before dusk, with two bucks in tow. An awesome experience for me, having only hunted out West!

We finished off our trip with the rifle range the next morning, my daughter got to show off her skills with my buddy's AR...she was like a kid in a candy store!


So we flew home with her, and we get to enjoy her for a few more days before she heads out for weapons training. Then, it's the Navy School of Music. So proud of this girl...she's gonna do great things!

[Swede]

Congratulation to you, your wife and especially your daughter. Apparently music runs in your family. It must be a special gift I really believe if you gave my wife three tin cans of different sizes, she could make music with them. All I can do is push a button or turn a knob. If music does not come out, I am on the wrong station.

[elkmtngear]

Congratulation to you, your wife and especially your daughter. Apparently music runs in your family. It must be a special gift I really believe if you gave my wife three tin cans of different sizes, she could make music with them. All I can do is push a button or turn a knob. If music does not come out, I am on the wrong station.

I feel for you and my Wife, Swede...she's a music lover, but not a music maker. She tries to sing, and my kids make sounds of torture!

But, she's the one that keeps all us crazy musicians in line!

[bnsafe]

congrats to your family

[elkmtngear]

congrats to your family

Thank You, Scott.

[WapitiTalk1]

That is plain awesome. Congrats to your family on the new patriot and Marine!

[cnelk]

You did good - dad & mom

[elkmtngear]

You did good - dad & mom

Thanks Brad!

Nothing more satisfying than having your kid thank you for being tough on her!

She watched them folding up and saw the tears flowing all around her, but she didn't break. Told me "those Drill Instructors in my face were nothing compared to Mom"!

[Indian Summer]

I told you the other day Jeff I'm proud of her even though she isn't even my daughter. Joining the Marines is a heck of a thing for anybody to do: But what an impressive commitment for a girl! Hoo rah!!!!!

[elkmtngear]

That is plain awesome. Congrats to your family on the new patriot and Marine!

Thanks RJ...we're all on cloud 9!

I told you the other day Jeff I'm proud of her even though she isn't even my daughter. Joining the Marines is a heck of a thing for anybody to do: But what an impressive commitment for a girl! Hoo rah!!!!!

Thanks Joe!

Backcountry hunting with me really helped her out on the Marches with the 60 pound pack. Most of those girls were in serious culture shock...she told me "it's all flat ground out here, Dad. I had plenty of energy to spare"

[>>>---WW---->]

HooRah! Nuff said. She'll understand.

[Buglemaster]

Congrats to all! That is a tremendous commitment for any young adult , more so for a young woman. I'm proud of her & all who serve our country. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[elkmtngear]

HooRah! Nuff said. She'll understand.

Oh yeah Bill...she gets "HooRah"! And she gives it right back

[elkmtngear]

Congrats to all! That is a tremendous commitment for any young adult , more so for a young woman. I'm proud of her & all who serve our country. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thank You, Dave!

[JJ Overkill]

good job mom and dad and congrats to her. you must be very proud ho her.

[elkmtngear]

good job mom and dad and congrats to her. you must be very proud ho her.

Thanks Jeremy.

[itsnlkthing]

Congrats and please thank her for her service!

[elkmtngear]

Congrats and please thank her for her service!

Much appreciated, Steve...will do!

[ElkNut1]

Jeff, good for her & you! I'm sure you never had a doubt! (grin) Great photos!

ElkNut1

[elkmtngear]

Jeff, good for her & you! I'm sure you never had a doubt! (grin) Great photos!

ElkNut1

Thanks Paul !

It was no cake walk...they went from 88 girls down to about 55. Typically, about 1/3 of Women recruits are unable to complete the training. But of course, when it's your kid, you always believe in them

[otcWill]

That's great! I can only imagine the pride you must feel. Congrats to her and her parents!

[elkmtngear]

That's great! I can only imagine the pride you must feel. Congrats to her and her parents!

Thanks Will...it really is a great feeling.

She has grown up so much over the last 3 months; truly from child to adult. It was a good fit for her.

[UtPreacher]

Congrats to you and your daughter! I did just under 10 active years in the Corps and know what she has just accomplished. Semper Fidelis

[elkmtngear]

Congrats to you and your daughter! I did just under 10 active years in the Corps and know what she has just accomplished. Semper Fidelis

Semper Fi, Chris...and thank You for your Service!

[elkmtngear]

Just a couple of updates...

We flew her home to Redding, and she was able to cross a few more things off her bucket list on the remainder of her 10 day leave:

a quick trip to LA to see family.

a drop in soccer game on Super Bowl Sunday


And of course...music! She was able to sit in on a performance with the Shasta College Jazz Band

[elkmtngear]

She flew back Yesterday to Camp Geiger, North Carolina. She called me soon after she arrived. This is the really amazing part of the story!

She not only got through Marine Basic...she beasted it!

She qualified for an experimental program, where girls are attempting to complete Infantry Training. So far, 88 girls have tried, and only 18 have successfully made it through.

No Women Officers have been able to completed this training...they are making no concessions...they will train as men for the next 59 days (see link for the story): http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131219/NEWS/312190031/10-more-women-graduate-from-Marine-Corps-enlisted-infantry-training

We initially tried to talk her out of this, because we feared it would interfere with her Music School. But, it appears to have been run up the chain, and the music school is backing her 100%. She will be the first Marine Musician to attempt this training (male or female)

She volunteered for this because she truly believes Women should be allowed to fight. I told her "never volunteer for anything"...you can see how well she listens to me

[Swede]

Jeff: I am pleased for your daughter. Have you converted her bedroom into an hunting cave yet?

[elkmtngear]

Jeff: I am pleased for your daughter. Have you converted her bedroom into an hunting cave yet?

Hah, I wish!

It's my Wife's "junk cave" now!

My hunting/music gear storage/Elk Mountain Stuff is confined to the unfinished basement!

[zpd307]

congrats! did she ever make it through infantry training? I would also like to share...

my lil bro also graduated mid December last year. we flew into phoenix and discovered the southwest via rental car on the way to san diego. flagstaff and the grand canyon were beautiful! the little ones are my boys, btw. and my brother is 19 younger than I am.

[elkmtngear]

Congrats to your Bro, Gary...that's quite a span between you guys!

Holli failed the pullups and went into holding for 3 weeks. So now she just started again with Charlie Company. She passed the pullups, we found out this Morning...but Charlie Company dropped 9 girls today.

Her only real roadblock now is the road march (12 miles with a 90 pound pack at 3 mph). She only weighs 120. We'll be praying for her every day now. She is scheduled to finish up in Early May.

[zpd307]

I hope she keeps it up and passes. that would be one hell of a thing to be proud of! yeah as far as my lil bro, he came from my mothers failed 3rd marriage. its been kind of a rocky road with him up until now, its amazing how hard a douche of a mother can screw with kid's head..... i should know, i went through the same thing. I am glad to he chose a good road to start his path to manhood.

[rudyc]

Semper Fi!!! and please thank your daughter for her service.

[elkmtngear]

Thanks Rudy...Semper Fi !

I am glad to he chose a good road to start his path to manhood.

The stuff he's learning will serve him well for the rest of his life. That's a great success story against the odds!

[zpd307]

X2!!! and he wants to follow in my foot steps

[BarW]

HooRah, Marine!
Thank her for her service.

[elkmtngear]

HooRah, Marine!
Thank her for her service.

Thanks Mark...will do!

She blew through the PFT, which is like an obstacle course that includes a dead man's carry for several hundred yards. She lead the Platoon on the 5K road march yesterday with the 90 pound pack. She said it was the hardest thing she has done so far, but once the endorphins kicked in, she was good to go!

They will be in the field all week...shooting! This is where she really shines (expert rifle in basic)

[Lefty]

Its all been said what I would say

Thanks and congratulations

[zpd307]

glad she passed the march!!!

[Deafirishman]

That's awesome !! Congrats to you and your family and a big THANK YOU for her service....my nephew just graduated from Marine boot camp a few months ago and is stationed in North Carolina. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those that have and are serving in the military...

[elkmtngear]

Congrats to your Nephew ...that's awesome! Such a great way to start your adult life...and with a sense of pride and appreciation for our freedom that is lost with most young people these days.

[zpd307]

X2!!!

[baddaddy]

Congrats to all. Semper Fi. Keep us updated. Infantry training is a blast.

[SoDakElk]

Congrats and tell her thanks for her service to the country. Cant thank our service men and women for all they do for us!!

[pointysticks]

Badass! Cool thread. Congrats

[elkmtngear]

Thanks everyone.

Here's one of the lighter side texts she sent me when she was in the holding platoon:
"LOL, so the guys and I were "cleaning"...and they bet me 10 bucks I couldn't fit...they said "no f###ing way"...I won"!

[Olydog09]

That is really great Jeff. Tell your daughter that I appreciate her service to our country and she is doing civilians like me a great service by putting herself out there. I have niece who is a junior in high school and has spent a few years in ROTC. The girl can shoot, be it bows or guns. (She had a great teacher) I would love to see her go in the military. It can be a great life decision and is an admirable way to start out a young life.

[zpd307]

[elkmtngear]

I got this text yesterday...seems she has been "promoted":

"Lol so I guess I'm guide >.< but of ITB ,holy crap lol. Everyone makes fun of me.
Oh. Sgt Carow, when I did the first night shoot and I finially got my rifle to stop malfunctioning, and sh** it was just rattling off shots it felt so great! He called me a badass bitch... And with the grenade launcher today he said he was "seriously impressed with my ingenuity and speed" lol
I love it so much here, hurts so bad but it's all worth it. You got me through the march that night though and I was in the most pain I've ever been in so thanks anyways! Ugh! So motivated. Have fun! Can't wait to talk to you daddy! 10 k tomorrow, fml so nervous!"

She called me this morning...she made the 10K !

[zpd307]

a badass bitch huh!

[mds]

Awesome thread, keep the updates coming! Hope to see pics of her graduating, but however it goes she had already earned my respect! Mad props (or whatever the kids are saying these days. )

[elkmtngear]

Another update:

Just got a phone call this AM...Holli finished the 15K!

She said it was tough, there were three different times when she was ready to break down, but she was able to mentally slap herself, and breathe through it.

3 1/2 weeks left to go. She said she thinks the 20K might be as early as next week. Then it's all live fire drills and such, all the stuff she absolutely loves.

I'm starting to think she's got this in the bag!

[zpd307]

keep up the good work!

[elkmtngear]

Thanks Gary.

She is heading out to the field, gets to shoot the M27...she's really excited about it. She LOVES to shoot, and she is deadly accurate. Top female shooter in ITB so far.

20K is MONDAY!!!

[zpd307]

my lil bro is back home on recruiter assignment until the 16th. his mos school got delayed..... they sent him home as he was just sitting doing nothing in 29 palms...

[elkmtngear]

my lil bro is back home on recruiter assignment until the 16th. his mos school got delayed..... they sent him home as he was just sitting doing nothing in 29 palms...

Yeah apparently there is a lot of down time like that in the Marines due to delays in training schedules.

Still gets paid though

[zpd307]

yep!

[elkmtngear]

Update:

Holli called me this morning (in tears)...she didn't make the 20K.

She has been nursing a groin injury for the last 5 weeks. Didn't want to tell them about it.
They kept trying to get her to quit, she refused. The Sgt behind her told her "If I pass you, I'm going to rip that pack off you"! She tried to stay ahead of him as long as she could, but the pain was too great and wore her down. She made 15K out of the 20K before they took her pack.

She refused to get into the ambulance, and limped her way to the end without the pack, encouraging others all the way. So she finished with class, she just failed the requirement to get the Infantry bars.

Up side is...she gets to come home on Recruiter Assistance until May 20th when she ships out to the Navy School of Music. This will give her time to hone down her chops, and get treatment for her broken body.

I want to thank all of you for your support in following Holli on this thread. Her adventures are just beginning, couldn't be more proud as a parent!

Best Wishes,
Jeff

[Elkduds]

She is made of tough stuff! Such a motivated and strong young woman has to very disappointed, but she must remenber all that she has accomplished. You must be the proudest dad right now. Hope her injuries resolve and don't bother her further. Onward, upward!

[zpd307]

jeff, i am sorry. we have been rooting for her the whole time. she definately showed herself and should be proud. it still sucks to fail, especially trying to prove herself above and beyond. i enjoy the updates.

[elkmtngear]

Thanks Guys.
Here is the story as she told me by text:

"The other girls that fell out of the hike fell out before 10K, and they're walking fine now, and they rode in the van. They took my pack @15K but left me my weapon and flack jacket. They kept trying to get me to get in the van but I couldn't...I had to keep the rest of my platoon mates going. The Captain told me he was extremely impressed with me, and that I shouldn't feel down or sad at all, 'cause I made it. He said he couldn't believe how I was dragging my leg behind me.

I guess I can't do everything! But I'll be damned if I don't try..."

[otcWill]

Soak it up, Jeff! You've obviously done a great job with her!

[zpd307]

jeff, any new news?

[elkmtngear]

Thanks for asking Gary.

Holli is at the Navy School of Music...on crutches. Possible stress fracture, she has an MRI at 2AM Tomorrow. She's been on light duty but still doing upper body stuff at the gym.

They pretty much tore her apart on her entry audition (as expected). She's been working really hard to improve her scales and sight reading, and hone down her chops on her solo piece. Clarinet students are number one when it comes to being dropped from the music program...it is one of the most difficult instruments to play.

Most of her classmates are a lot older, and hold music degrees; she got there as a 19 year old with just a semester of college, out of just dedication to the idea of becoming a Marine, and a lot of hard work. As far as we can tell, the auditioners must have seen something special when she plays...a lot of emotion and passion there.

The formal training will begin on May 20th.

Everyone has been great to her at the School of music; the outgoing students from the prior class, the instructors, etc. are all working with her to get her up to speed. This music school is going to be every bit as tough mentally as Infantry Training was physically. Everyone sees her potential, her intelligence, and her drive. She is so grateful for the help she is getting.

More news as the situation progresses...

[zpd307]

good to hear! I will be listening...

[AZ Vince]

"it's all flat ground out here, Dad. I had plenty of energy to spare"

Spoken like a Marine.
You, and her, have a right to be proud.
Best of luck at the school of music to your daughter. I have no doubt she will persevere.

[elkmtngear]

Update...

No fracture! But, a bad muscle tear. Fluid around the knee/ thigh area and hip.

She had two options, drain the fluid and physical therapy, or just the PT to see if it resolves.

I told her to let them drain it...more flexibility and less pain when rehabbing. She starts formal music training in 9 days.

She played for us on Skype this AM...her scales are very impressive. Sight reading is going well.

She received her promotion to Lance Corporal in front of her peers on Thursday (on crutches)!