Update: All Things Marines

This blog will be different from my usual. As Clay and I have finished a scheduled portion of the Marine Corps, I want to share what we completed & the direction we are headed next.

Upon moving to Quantico, Clay started The Basic School (TBS) for officers. This 6-month school is a continuation of the prior training and schooling he completed for his officer title. Every marine officer must complete TBS before going into their military occupational specialty (MOS) (or, their job). For the 6 months, he spent 1 month in the fields overnight. Field exercises are all day/overnight tactical applications of what the marine learns in the classroom. They apply their book knowledge and turn it into physical, hands-on practice. Example of applications are: day and night land navigation, live fire range shooting, weighted backpack navigation hiking, martial arts program. (Side note: we wives of course loved when our husbands came home from the field, but we also had to fall asleep to the sound of a tractor plow on steroids because...marine-men-lack-of-sleep-snoring. It is not to be reckoned with).

The 5 months that were not spent sleeping outside, were early wake ups and late bedtimes. They averaged starting their days at 4:00am & finishing at 7:00pm. There is a plethora of learning they have to fit into a 6-month time frame, so the long days were only to be expected. The marine's "off" hours from 7pm to 4am were spent studying for their weekly tests, with the remaining time left for shut-eye.

On March 28th, 2018, Fox Company marines graduated TBS! After TBS, each marine starts yet another school, but this time for their specific MOS (their job) school. This MOS school solely pertains to whatever job the marine has been assigned for their time in the Marine Corps. The majority of these schools are not here in Quantico, as to why people do such short moves in the military on such a frequent basis.

Clay's MOS for the Marine Corps is a Ground Intelligence Officer. With this MOS, there are actually 3 more schools to attend to fully be trained in ground intelligence. The first school in this three-school step process is Infantry Officer Course (IOC). (I will hold off talking about the other two schools until he completes IOC). This 3-month course starts April 3rd and is meant to mimic a 3-month deployment. He will spend this course majority in the fields, some in the classroom, and in California.

IOC is tough. Scratch that, brutal. No sugar coating this course. He starts the course with a consecutive 13-hour physical fitness test that starts at midnight. A nice way to set the tone for the next 3 months. Probably enough said for this.

For Clay and me, since he will be traveling for his first MOS school in the 3 months and I won't be going with him, we do not have a house packed full of moving boxes right now like almost everyone else here does. We do not have to look around for one last time in Virginia or establish new stomping grounds in another state just yet. But, we did have to hug our friend's goodbye for maybe the last time in life. That is one of the hardest aspects of the military; the friends you make truly become family at an abnormally fast rate.

For the husband side, Clay's friendships built from what they had to endure together day in and day out, physically & mentally. For the wife side, my friendships built from what we endured together day in and day out, mentally & emotionally. The thought of knowing we may very well never see our tight-knit friends again because "you go where the Marine Corps sends you," makes it all the more difficult to say the last goodbye.

There is a first time for everything. There is also a last time for everything. The Marine Corps gives you a bitter-sweet taste of both. You will also notice I have said "we" for almost everything completed so far & what is ahead. I say "we" and not just "Clay" because in our marriage, there is only a "we." We go through every step together, even though the steps look different for him versus me. His dreams have already become mine, his successes are also my successes, and his life is my life and vice versa. And that, is the art of marriage to us.

My mom bought my sister, Ashley and my brother-in-law, Michael a picture that spells "TEAM" & they have it hung in their dining room. It is ironic that their initials scrambled spell team "Ashley Elaine/Michael Thomas." My mom thought of this on her own when noticing the picture & wanted them to have it for their home. She told them, "together you are a team, even with your own names, you make a great TEAM."

Like that picture hanging in my sisters dining room, Clay & I are that team. Together, we rock that United States Marine Corps.