LCpl Stone

1) you’re either drenched from a downpour or in sweat. Forget wearing mascara. It’ll just get ruined.

2) you have to take multiple showers every day. One in the morning before work, one after pt (duh), one after field drill, one after a change of command or concert, one after work.

3) you have to wash your cammies every day. Every other place you only have to wash your cammies once or twice a week.

4) black flag all day every day

5) that white pt shirt though bc you’re still acclimating to the island humidity. No it’s not a white flag signaling that I surrender.

6) being treated like a kindergartner. Yes you need a buddy on base while you’re at the Joint Reception Center. No you can’t leave base... you have to sign out with the duty before you go off base or out of the barracks.

7) hydration is continuous. Hydrate or you’ll definitely die.

8) always having laundry to do bc your clothes are always soaked after walking anywhere.

9) your hair doing weird stuff because of the humidity

10) pt at 0430 bc any other time is just unbearable

11) typhoon season. That tccor stuff is not something to be taken lightly

12) 100% humidity. Makes Parris Island feel like heaven.

13) always being windy bc you’re on an island

14) the sun rises early and sets early

15) the sunsets are epic especially over the beach.

16) the food off base is delicious. Sushi, ice cream... yum, yum!😋

17) American Village is always lit. It’s the only place to blast loud music on a Saturday night.

18) being able to travel to Thailand, Malaysia, mainland Japan, or China during a 96

19) everything on base is pretty. So many hibiscus flowers!🌺

20) scuba diving is life

21) the blue Pacific Ocean is always a great sight to see

22) the Japanese cashiers on base are always so happy and friendly.

23) the on/off base taxis make bank here all day every day

24) having to live in the barracks until you’re married or a staff Sgt.

25) not being allowed to drive until you’re an NCO.

26) being able to drink at 20 instead of 21.

1) the motivated one-he’s the one who’s super boot. He loves pt and going the extra mile. He can be annoying at times. Stand tall lean back!💪🏼

2) the angry annoyed one-he’s always getting ticked off about the littliest things and he’s always talking smack about his coworkers. Most likely he has a college degree and thinks that 18 yr olds are annoying.😡

3) the one who got njp’d or is a shitbag. Yes there’s always one or two in your unit. They’re always late to work, always hungover, doesn’t shave, has never passed a field day inspection, the command and the unit dislikes them, has to be constantly babysat, cheats behind their significant other’s back, is a player, hooks up with a gal every night, never is in his room when it’s time to sleep, breaks curfew, and their roommate hates their guts (but can’t do anything about it bc their command doesn’t want to play musical chairs with roommates). Basically they don’t have their shit together and you have no idea how they made it through boot camp.🙃

4) the nice one. She’s always willing to help others square their uniforms for gigs etc and let you tag along with her friends. She’s always got something nice to say to you. She is serving as a Marine musician because she wants to serve God.☺️

You’re Going To North Carolina State For Two Years but I’m Part of the Gun Club That Wears Dress Blues For The Rest of My Life 

An Open Letter To My Ex:

As I look back on my past relationship with you, I cannot help but laugh.  All those tears that were shed were for nothing.  That breakup was just a little bump on the road in my life.  Nothing but a minute pebble.  But I made it seem like such a big deal.  

That was my sophomore year in a nutshell at TCU.  I was insecure and immature.   I thought I NEEDED a boyfriend to be happy when in reality all I needed was Jesus.  I am glad I was not good enough for you (But let’s be honest, I was definitely prettier than your fat, ugly girlfriend in college).  In fact, I have no idea how I even fell for you: you’re NOT even that handsome (You’re like a 3 out of 10).  Honestly, I don’t have time to deal with insecure cheating cowards.  I had big dreams and there was no way you would prevent me from accomplishing them.

I became interested in the US Marines when I was a junior at TCU.  A recruiter came and talked to me about my goals after college.  I just knew that becoming a Devil Dog was the way to go.  

Becoming a United States Marine was not easy for me.  I had to lose weight before I shipped out and I became known to my Drill Instructors on the very first day they met my platoon.  Recruit training and Marine Combat Training were hell but I survived.  In the end it was worth it when my favorite Drill Instructor placed the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor in my hand on October 13, 2017. 

I laugh at you right now.  You can only dream of such victories.  You can wear Air Force T-shirts and Army All-American Marching Band track suits and the occasional expensive suit from Joseph A Bank, but I get to wear dress blues.  While adventure is definitely out there for me in Okinawa, you will be stuck in North Carolina.  I will get to do what I love (tooting my trumpet, working out, traveling, and being part of a sisterhood/brotherhood) and you’ll be stuck indoors doing engineering and physics stuff.  You might be paid 6 digits and I will be paid less than minimum wage, but I am doing this for my country and my family.  

In a couple years, I will hopefully be married to the love of my life and you’ll be chasing after every gal that catches your eye.  You might be married for a short time but you’ll get bored of her eventually.  Even if I don’t get married or get a divorce, I can at least say that I am a United States Marine and you can NEVER take the Jarhead out of this girl!

-Semper Fi!

The school shooting that left 17 young men and women dead at Parkland High School taught me that some people are cowards while many others are courageous.  During this shooting, 4 courageous men who didn’t have bulletproof vests or weapons did all they could to disarm the shooter.  One of these individuals was a kid called Peter Wang who was involved in his high school’s JROTC.  Meanwhile, 4 cowards from the sheriff’s department who had the ammo, the protection, and the training hid in their vehicles and did nothing.  The FBI knew about this sicko and failed to do their job to protect those who could not defend themselves.  Instead officers from another police department (Coral Springs) had to take over.  One of these Coral Springs officers is my brother.  He is a US Marine vet.  But he will always be a US Marine.  He’s not talked about by CNN, but he inspires me to be the best Marine out there every single day.

These 17 young men and women had dreams.  Some were musicians, some were athletes, some mathematicians.  But all of them had goals to change the world.  They did NOT deserve this to happen to them.  Just like the children at Sandy Hook and Columbine and every school that a shooting has occurred at.

Our President is trying to stop these senseless shootings from happening.  He’s trying to arm our teachers so that they don’t have to wait for the police to arrive.  While CNN and MSNBC are calling him crazy and delusional, President Trump is right: guns don’t kill people.  

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A year ago, one of my greatest mentors was senselessly killed in a head-on car crash.  He attended West Point and served as an officer in the Army for over 20 years.  For 2 decades, he was a math teacher at Chisholm High School.  

The drunk driver was a 23-year old immigrant who was filled with hatred and contempt for the entire world.  On that Saturday night, this guy had a little too much to drink.  He was driving 100+ mph on the wrong side of the road.  My teacher tried to get out of his way by driving on the shoulder of the road, but even that did not deter the drunk driver.  

Even today, I find it difficult to forgive Bajo for what he did to this amazing man.  

These experiences have taught me:

1) There is still good in this world.  Evil did NOT win in either of those cases.

2) It always seems that good people will die, but karma and justice will do their part on those evil people who kill innocent, unarmed individuals.