Hunter is a Marine

This week we went to Beaufort, South Carolina to see Hunter graduate from Marine Corp Basis Training at Parris Island. It was a great time and most of Hunter's family was able to attend. We stayed in a nice house, that Bobby arranged, on Hunting Island with a beautiful view overlooking the marsh and sound. I took over 250 photos this week and I've uploaded 230 of them to this site. Click here to go directly to the web album.

Hunter's USMC Graduation

SCHEDULE FOR THOSE ATTENDING HUNTER'S GRADUATION

Family Day

Please register before noon at the Douglas Visitor Center.

• 6:30 am- Java Café open in Visitor Center
• 7 am - Moto Run on parade deck
  
• 8 am- Museum opens
• 10 am - 7 pm Marine Corps Exchange open
• 10 am Bus Tours depart Douglas Visitor Center (limited seating available)
• 11 am Q & A with company staff about recruit training in the All-Weather Training Facility
• 1 pm - Liberty Brief
• 1:30 pm - 6:30 pm Barracks Open House
• 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Observation of events at Leatherneck Square
• 1:30 pm - 5 pm Combat Water Survival training at indoor pool and static weapons display at Weapons and Field Training Battalion ISMT. (Rifle Range)
• 2:30 - 6:30 Buffet dinner available at Traditions and Brig-n-Brew
• 7 pm Family Day ends

Graduation Day

The Morning Colors Ceremony (flag raising) with musical accompaniment by the Parris Island Marine Band is held Friday at 7:45 a.m. in front of Barrow Hall.

Graduation is held Friday mornings at 9 a.m. on the Depot’s Peatross Parade Deck and lasts about an hour. In the event of inclement weather, graduation ceremonies will be held in two or three indoor locations, which will be announced on the morning of graduation at the Visitors Center.

Please call the Douglas Visitor’s Center at 843-228-3650 for last minute information.

Hunter is a Marine Now!

Hunter was able to call Chelsea yesterday and talk for two minutes. He is doing well and made it through the Crucible OK!!! The Crucible was his right of passage into the Marine Corps, and now is officially a United States Marine. Thank you for remembering him in your prayers over these past few months. Please also continue to pray for him throughout his entire military carrier.

Many of us will be traveling to see him for Family Day Thursday and Graduation on Friday at Parris Island, SC. If any other family members would like to attend, please contact bob@gilkenson.net to arrange for accommodations. All are welcome. Hunter said he wants to see a lot of "Gilkensons" there.

CRUCIBLE THIS WEEK

Hunter will be doing the Crucible this week beginning at 2:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. Please be in prayer for him as he goes through this 54 hour test. Below find a description of the Crucible. Even though it is going to be a very difficult time for him, he will be named a United States Marine on Saturday after the completion of the Crucible. So, it is a very exciting time for him as well. All the hard work of the past few months are starting to pay off.

The Crucible -

The Crucible is a test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. It tests every recruit physically, mentally and morally and is the defining moment in recruit training.

The Crucible takes place over 54-hours and includes food and sleep deprivation and over 45 miles of marching. The entire Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together to solve problems, overcome obstacles and help each other along the way.

The obstacles they face range from long marches, combat assault courses, the leadership reaction course, and the team-building warrior stations.

Each Warrior Station is named for a Marine hero whose actions epitomize the values we want recruits to adopt.

Bottom line -- The Crucible is a rite of passage that, through shared sacrifice, recruits will never forget. With that memory and their core values learned in recruit training, they can draw upon the experience to face any challenge in their path.