Phase III

Hey everyone!

So Jason has been doing really well these last couple of weeks. I'm going to summarize the last two letters he sent me based on dates!

6.23.13

All they did was practice rifle positions and hike. For the people in the back of the group they were running the 3 or 5 miles with 90 pound packs. They had another 8 mile hike the next week and rifle quals. He was nervous since he had never shot before but like Dana said in the last post, he ended up doing really well!

7.4.13

This was was really crazy since it was a holiday and they had to start field week early and left on Sunday to go to camp out in a warehouse. He really liked shooting and it came really easy to him. FOr table 1, you shoot at the 100 yd, 200 yd, 300 yd and 500 yd and in various positions for 50 shots. He shot expert with a 22 and to get expert you need a 220. He said hes been switched around to different squads a lot. Camp Pendleton had been moving by so fast. He also said he's been craving everything since he's been in boot camp. All he wants is some ice cream, hot cheetohs, soda and BBQ. He said hes made a lot of good friends and a lot are form Orange County.
After doing Table 1 of shooting, they did table 2 and this was combat shooting and he scored 93 out of 100.

7.7.13

Something Jason was most excited about was that they had a bomb lunch of fried chicken and steak since it was fourth of July. They're back at MCRD now and are starting phase 3!! He ended up going to a Protestant service to get out of cleaning...typical but he said he actually enjoyed it. He said that he has heard our last name pronounced in the craziest ways in bootcamp and one of the DIs even calls him N-gina. But they're saying that he and they other Nguyen are the best Nguyens he has ever had.

7.8.13

This day he got ITed a lot because he got caught trying to put his letter writing gear away. So he got ITed for 15 minutes. They had their Company Commander Inspection this day also. Basically DIs from different platoons drill them on knowledge and insect them. They also had Interior Guard the night before and normally there are only 4 people on fire watch but with him there was 5 so he got to go to bed. he next day he was getting fitted for their service and dress uniforms. They also got to go to Hotel Company and teach them stuff and he said it was really cool to be referred to as a third phase recruit and having phase 1 recruits look up to them. Their platoon alone has 90 people because of summer and there are more high school graduates.

7.9.13

They got their uniforms and they fit! He said they look really good but they're wool so they're super hot and itchy. He said his Sergeant cracked jokes and smiled today in a study session and thats when you know they're in phase three is when their killhat smiles.

7.13.13

He said that a lot of people have been getting caught at night reading letters and writing letters so he has been staying low. Crazy how strict they are! He told me how they have to pay for EVERYTHING in bootcamp. From laundry to tailoring, food and haircuts! Crazy!! Jason is also learning how to sew. Yes. How to sew! Because they have to sew their names on their garment bags and their DIs keep ripping them off. He also did the obstacle course that week and climbed the rope. He slid down 15 ft at the end and almost burned off his hands. Jason is super lucy he hasn't gotten sick of gotten hurt because a lot of guys are getting pink eye and getting injured. THey have their final PFT and CFT test this week. Some guy from their platoon got caught eating ice cream though so he's pretty sure his platoon is screwed.



But he seems like he's doing really well! We're all so proud of him and can't believe its less than a month till we see him!! Keep writing and encouraging him!