PRIDE COMES BEFORE THE FALL...Wed. Feb. 11

Hi, Y'all.
Well, this week has been a complete roller coaster. First, I had an awesome day because I was one of only 8 girls chosen to eat with the "education tourists" (teachers from NC and VA). It was cool because I just got to sit there, taking my time eating a boy's chow box, and talking to a couple of men and women about boot camp, my home life, my education, etc., and who would walk into the room but SSgt. G. !(her recruiter) He ate with me and we talked for a good while.
I also got to shoot 15 rounds on my M16 and got the best score in the platoon:)
Sounds good so far, right? Well, then the crud hit the fan. 2nd and 3rd squad were in the ISMIT (a big room with a giant rifle video game, pretty much) and some of the girls got caught laughing at one of the male instructor's jokes by the series Gunnery Sgt. , who happens to be kinda witchy. She went and told SDI M. that her platoon was acting stupid and joking with the males and she should be ashamed of us, etc.
Senior went insane. She threw her black SDI belt on the ground, HANDED our guide on over to 4009, furled our flag and made us unblouse our boots. All of which should NEVER happen at boot camp. It's the ultimate humiliation, To top that off, when we got back to the squad bay, the other DIs gave us the cussing out of our lives, forced us to take off our uniforms and throw them on the floor, where she proceeded to stomp on all of them. K. picked hers up, and when DI SSgt. L. tried to pull them out of her hands, she fought over them in a kind of tug-of-war. It was a BAD night. AND following day, no thanks to some stupid recruit who snuck out into the trash and stole food THAT SAME NIGHT! Some people just can't learn. She won't confess, either.
I know I told you guys how cocky we were getting, right? Well, a funny thing happened after we got jacked up last night. During free time, Rct. D (the Christian) came up and asked if I wanted to do her Bible study with her. Confidence at an all time low, I was like, 'fine, whatever', I can use it because things can't be any worse for me right now. Well, she opened her little book, and apologized cuz she'd gotten the dates mixed up and we were on Feb. 14th. So she had me look up the scripture assigned for that date and read it aloud. Amazing enough, it was 2nd Cor. 12:7-11. The timing couldn't have been better!
So although things are kinda rough right now, I'm hanging on, kinda waiting out the storm, and keeping a humble head on my shoulders. Because like it says, it's in our weakness that His strength shines through. I need to let that happen.
I love you all, and I'm half way to seeing you!
xoxox Ruby
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12 7-10

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

This is a condensed version of her VERY long letter.

Hi, everyone!

A lot has been going on this past week. First off, we had our initial drill competition and not only beat Plt. 4009 and won the trophy, but we set the record for the 4th battalion, and got the highest scores of any female platoon in 3 years! We were pretty darn excited. That's 1 trophy down, 4 more to go. Right now we're at the rifle range hoping for the second. It was a 6 mile hike up here, and every one's hurting. Especially our arms. We all got 3 more shots yesterday, which makes that 10 shots altogether that I've received here. (Hep. B, Yellow Fever, and a long one)

We also had initial testing, and our average Plt. score was 94.7, again beating Plt. 4009.

On Thursday we bought our bus tickets to MCT (Marine Combat Training) from Raleigh (to Jacksonville, NC) and I got Recruiters' Assistance! I don't have to report to Jacksonville till April 14th. :)

We also got 2 new girls, pick ups, with our platoon, who were dropped from N. Company for injuries. I can't tolerate them. They're slow and lazy, out of shape, and although I know they're no worse than other recruits from other platoons, they're still not O company material. I don't mean to sound all snotty or anything, but we ARE arrogant. We have the best DI's, the strictest diets, the toughest standards in everything, so we've earned the right to be kinda selective and cocky. It's that whole, "if you don't like it or can't deal with it, join the Army" kind of attitude that we probably picked up from DI SSgt R.

OK. DI SSgt R. is my icon for women's Marines. You've gotta hate her, but you've gotta love her at the same time. She's like 5'7", 26, blond hair/blue eyed Barbie, and tough as nails. She knows everything there is to know about USMC history, she's a martial arts instructor, a Marksmanship instructor, and she can run like the wind. She's always reminding us that we are still ladies, ("because you can still be a lady, even if you are an enemy killin', don't give a darn, warrior!") as she says. She makes me laugh, inside. She takes great pride in wearing her ribbons and medals, as well as the skirt of the uniform. She goes into other details about this woman, and her views on unfeminine haircuts, and immodest clothes, (both negative), and about her scorn for female Marines who do not wear the skirt uniform.

We got a new DI last week, DI K. and everybody hates her. Here she goes into detail of this woman's inability to control her temper, her abusive punishments, and the hope she'll be gone by the end of this month. The senior DI doesn't seem to care for her at all, as the others, and when you can tell a DI's annoyed, that's pretty bad.

To Mom: Pictures are coming up and I need mascara and my eyebrow pencil as well as a hair bun to attach to my own shorter hair, as we need to look feminine. (details about that) I am paid $1.600 a month while in boot camp, but we have so many expenses, a lot more than I expected. We have to buy stuff for the whole platoon, and that alone has cost me about $500 already. Our shoes are $100, our uniforms are free, but we have to have them tailored and pay for that. My dress Blues are beautiful.

Mom, your instruction while at home is paying off. When we have PT, or a hike, or overweight and sick recruits, they all come to me for advice on their diets. I didn't think I remembered everything you said about food, but I remember a lot more than I thought. I was so amazed when the overweight recruits didn't know that dairy, starch, fried foods and all that affected them!

When it comes to the barracks, you wouldn't believe how many girls don't know how to properly clean, iron or even make their beds right. It's frustrating, cuz I've got to teach them to do all the things their mothers should have taught them a long time ago. (Most of them are in their 20s.) But I'm so thankful I learned all that before now. :)

Dad: When it comes to PT and money, I've got it made thanks to you. The recruits come to me to learn the proper techniques for running, improving their times, stretching, breathing, etc. I'm also doing well with my money. Other girls blow a lot of what they earn on things they don't need, because they don't know how to decide what's necessary and what isn't. I buy a lot of cleaning supplies for all of us, but other than that, I don't spend much on personal items. Instead of buying shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotions, etc., I learned to use this gel soap as a 3 in 1, and use oil instead of lotion, lip balm and the like. (I also mix my food like you and I like it!)

I owe you my good MCMAP scores too. Some recruits can't punch worth dookie. (Tim taught Ruby how to kick-box)

I think all the initiative you all tried to get in me at home is coming out as well. I get the Rifle Watch to wake me at 4:20am, (25 mins early) so I can brush my teeth, fix my gear, etc. before anyone gets up. It saves me a lot of time.

Georgia: Happy Birthday! I hope you didn't feel too sick , that would suck. But it would all be worth the present, right? Are you showing yet? You know, it's funny, but since I've been here, I've grown more fond of the feminine side of life. Not saying I wasn't girly before, a little tougher now, but I think I'm more "proud" to be a girl now. I can't wait to wear skirts again, and grow my hair back out. I've also definitely decided that I am going to have a load of kids someday. (this is a real change) I don't know why, but it never really appealed to me much before.

Lilly, Winston: I am sorry I have not had time to send you "personal" letters, but I love you both VERY much, I think your rooms look awesome, and I love you guys more than anything:) That goes for Michael and Gramma too.

Thanks for all your prayers and letters. I know that they're what's getting me through this. I've already received countless cards from church members and each one has been a pleasant surprise. Please thank them all for me.

xoxoxo Ruby