The Crucible

      Enter Recruits. The first step to the what the Marines call, "The Crucible." According to many Drill Instructors, "Recruits are not Marines until they complete The Crucible." So, on the last weekend before graduation, starting at 2:00 a.m. the recruits have one last test to prove that they are the title, "United States Marine." The strenuous excursion consists of 54 hours of intense training while hiking 48 miles carrying 45 pounds of gear. While trying to complete this task recruits must finish 29 problem solving exercises, 36 different stations with only four MREs (Meals ready to eat) and six to eight hours of sleep. When the recruits finish the task they earn the title, "Marine."

     While I was counting down the days, weeks, hours, and minutes until Hunter's graduation I also had a feeling of fear for him. It was the week before the Crucible was going to start, I was on the internet reading about it when I saw that Drill Instructors encourage family members and friends to light a candle when the Crucible starts and turn it off when it was finished. I then decided I was going to make, "Crucible Candles." My mom, cousin, and I went to Walmart to get candles, ribbons, and colorful paper to decorate the candles. I gave one of the little white candles with a yellow bow wrapped around it to his friends and some of his family. I kept one that had a yellow piece of paper glued to it that told about the journey.

     The day came and I woke up at 2:00 to turn my candle on and to send a text to everyone that received a candle. I do not remember thinking of anything else that day. My mind was running constantly about what Hunter was going through until the 54 hours were up and I knew he had finished and was going to be done. He wrote a letter the day before he started explaining how scared he was and to pray that he finished and would be okay. He told me that this would be the last letter he would write, that gave me a feeling of excitement me but also of sadness. I sat in my car while reading the letter and I started to wonder how I was going to know if he made it, or how he was. Once again a tear rolled down my face.
     On a Saturday morning I woke up at 7:00 a.m. (The end of the 54 hours) and thought, "Well, I didn't get a call so I guess he finished." I was so proud of him! He accomplished something only 70% of the recruits can. That night instead of starting my last letter, "Dear Hunter" it started as "Dear Marine."