2ndLt Allen, USMC

This update is one I started writing in early May 2012 while on PTAD in Indianapolis. I had no time to ever finish it, but it's not in terrible state. I have no idea what else I was going to write before publishing it, so I'm just going to publish it as-is for you. -Posted 09 June 2012, while in Zero Week at TBS.

Here's an update on what life has been like over the last two weeks since I graduated Officer Candidate School and became a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. (Hint: Still busy!)

Friday, March 30, 2012

Family Day

Friday, March 30, 2012, was Family Day for OCC 209. It was great to see everybody again. I was actually surprised to see how many people made the trip out to see me! We took a few photos, then we headed off base to enjoy some really good food. And, oh man, was it good! The only problem was that, in all the excitement, I forgot to take my family to the place where my platoon staff was hanging out, making themselves available to meet the candidates' families. Oh well.

It seemed like it was the shortest liberty period we'd had (and, actually, I think it might really have been) because it was just so soon before I had to check back in. We spent the evening cleaning our squad bay, getting it ready for the next cycle, as well as cleaning out other squad bays on the other decks and even in another building. The staff admitted to us that if we didn't get it done, they'd have to do it themselves, so they were putting us to work while they could. They swore that if we didn't do it good enough, they'd come over to TBS--without regard to the fact that we'd outrank them by then--and drag us back over to finish the job.

Finally, we finished the chores assigned to us and began to shove all the few items remaining in our possession into whatever bag we had saved (a seabag, a duffel bag, a laundry bag, whatever). And as we looked forward to our last night in the squad bay, we thought to ourselves, "It's the last night and the last morning, so perhaps we won't be getting up at 0500." Well, we were right...

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Graduation

It seemed like a really long morning, full of what we now totally expect when something is about to happen: hurry up and wait. Thankfully, once we finally got the graduation ceremony started, it didn't seem to take too long. The speakers didn't get too long-winded. From graduation, though, we marched directly from the parade deck to Supply to return our canteens and cartridge belts, then to the armory to turn in our weapons (mine was 10460432).

We had the privilege of observing one of the priors in our platoon, GySgt J. Joint, receive a Navy Commendation Medal. Then we marched over to the annex, where our effects were staged, for us to change over to our service alphas for the commissioning ceremony.

Commissioning

All dressed up, we hopped the bus for the quick ride over to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. I'd been there many a time on liberty periods during the cycle, but needless to say, it was a lot more special this time. Packed with people, barely room for us to walk to the chairs set up for the soon-to-be second lieutenants. The applause that greeted us as we walked in... well, it's hard to describe how it feels.

We were ahead of schedule, so there was some time for us to meet our families, the first time we'd been able to talk to them since we graduated. A few more supporters who hadn't been there for Family Day were now there to greet me. It was really great to see them all.