Question #3

Question:  When during MOS school did you find out your first duty station? My fiance is currently at MCT in Pendleton,and I'm a bit axious to know when he will know where we will end up living! Thank you sooo much for your service, and God Bless. :)

Answer:  MCT lasts for a little less then a month and after that he will be going to his MOS school.  Depending on what his MOS is will determine where he goes and how long he is there for.  Typically during any type of training environment (boot camp, MCT, or MOS School), you are not authorized a vehicle or to move your spouse to that location.  If schooling is expected to last more then a year he may be authorized a vehicle only.  As far as finding out when he will receive orders for his first duty station, that usually happens the  last week or two of MOS school.  The instructors want to  be fairly confident that the students will pass that course before orders are issued.  Considering that you are married it is unlikely that he would be sent to an oversees duty station at first such as Okinawa, Japan or even Hawaii.  It will more then likely be in CONUS.  To get an idea of where he may be going you can:

1.  Find out his MOS #:  Four digit number (0651 in my case)
2.  Contact his recruiter and ask where the school house is for MOS XXXX.  Then you'll know where he's going after Pendleton.
 3.  After MOS school he could go any where, but more then likely will stay in the USA and once again will typically find out the last week or two while there.

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Question #2

Question:

My son is at MCT as I write this. When will he know where he is going next? 

Answer: 

MCT lasts for a little less then a month. After MCT is over he will probably be going to his MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) school. Depending on what his MOS is (0651 in my case) will determine where he goes to school. All Marines who are 0651's go to Twentynine Palms, CA. His recruiter might have a good idea on where the school house is if you wanted to find out ahead of time. Otherwise he will get orders probably the last few days that he is there that will specify exactly where he will be going next.

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Questions about Anything??

I have noticed through my log history that many people have found my page looking for information regarding MCT, boot camp, and MOS School.  Feel free to ask me anything @ http://formspring.me/josephcue and I'll be sure to answer!  You can also use the box under my profile picture to submit your questions.

Hiking

Hiking is my least favorite thing to do. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just a nice leisurely walk through the forest or something, but of course there's the added element of hills, mud, rocks, sand, sore muscles, heat, sweat, fatigue, and everything else. I noticed how sometimes when hiking the smallest little thing can become such an annoying nuisance. The sound of your trousers brushing up against each other as you walk, that left boot that's slightly tighter then the right, that strap from your pack that keeps hitting your arm as you walk; all of these make you wanna go...AHHHHHH!!! Yet, you keep silence and walk on.

On every single hike the words to the Hymn Each Step I Take motivated me to keep on going. Psalms 37:23-24 were also key in getting me through the hills, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.

I was thrilled to learn that MCT would include three hikes...ug...and the last one was a graduation requirement! The first Friday we were there we had a 5k hike up to the grenade range where we practiced throwing “blue bodies”, or practice grenades. Then we were ready for the real deal. The next hike was one week later and was a 10k hike. These first two hikes really wore me down, and although I completed both my body was really hurting.

The final hike was not going to be for another eleven days; it was a 15k hike and was one of the graduation requirements. There are scheduled breaks for these hikes. When the platoon you are in stops to take a break you have to be with the rest of the platoon within two minutes. If you don’t catch up to the platoon within the time given two times, then you failed the hike. If you failed the 15k hike then you had to redo the hike all over again the following Saturday while everyone else was on liberty! I did well starting off and stayed with my platoon until…we started going up…and up…and UP UP UP UP UP!!! If the land was flat I could hike all day, but the hills wear me out like no other. Well my platoon was way up ahead of me and I knew I wasn’t going to catch up so I mentally prepared myself for Strike 1 (Two Strikes and you’re out!). I caught up with my platoon and they marked my name showing I didn’t make it in time for the first break. I don’t remember what happened after we started hiking again, but somehow I had fallen back again. The hard part was over with the big long hill, we had rolling hills now which I used to my advantage. I would pace myself going up and on every downhill I would run. If had not been for me running (with 60lbs+ on my back), I would not have made that hike. The best part about it was that at the end of the hike I felt good! I could have kept going, but I’m glad we didn’t. Now after we rested for awhile I was as sore as ever.

I really pushed myself hard on that hike and prayed to God that He would give me the strength to complete it strong. He answered my prayer. It still boggles my mind that God would care enough to listen to me, and not only that, but to help me. No matter what our needs, no matter what our concern or burden take it to the Lord and He can help you. It’s really easy to pray when we know things are hard and tough, but just now I realize I need God’s help every moment of every day!

As we hike the roads of life let us remember first of all not to get annoyed at all the little things that may be bugging us. Hold your peace and keep on trudgin'! Second, realize we can't make it apart from God, and finally...don't give up!

Marine Combat Training - Camp Pendleton

Marine Combat training has come and gone. And if I would have had it my way, I would have posted these pictures of Camp Pendleton a while ago, but time and resources aren’t always available. It’s amazing how much you can cram into a day of training when you wake up at 4:30 am!

The first week there it was a little rough getting back into the swing of things after being home for about three weeks, but it doesn’t take long to adjust especially when you have no choice. Being new Marines fresh out of boot camp we didn’t

quite know what to expect. We were all hoping and praying that it was NOT like boot camp, and thankfully it wasn’t. The living conditions were better, the instructors were more relaxed, the food was better, what more could you ask for!

Training was varied from day to day and there was a lot of it. We learned everything from how to throw a live grenade, operate a communications radio, work in a FOB (Forward Operating Base),

dig a fighting hole (I lived in it for two days…I would look up at the vast dark sky and see all the beautiful stars and think to myself, “Self…You’re sitting in a dirt hole!”), and the operation of the AT4 rocket launcher and several automatic weapons.

MCT was actually quite fun apart from the hikes and I learned a

lot of new things. It's amazing

how much you really learn without even knowing that you learned it. To all the instructors thank you and to all reading.... OooRah!!

Here's Whats Goin' on Now!!

Well, boot camp is now over, and after taking a break for ten days, I was given the opportunity to help my recruiter (while staying home!) for an additional seven days. A lot of the time was spent not doing to much, and outside of that we would visit "hot spots" for new potential Marines. It was great being home for an extra week, and it would have been better if I was able to do more for my recruiters.

Now that my leave and Recruiters Assistance is over I am back in California at Camp Pendleton for MCT or Marine Combat Training, (not Mortal Combat Training as some people have confused it). Since being here for only four days we have learned how to use a Field Radio, thrown live hand grenades, hiked for 5K, ran for 5 miles, performed several tactical carries (carrying a wounded comrade in a combat environment), and refreshed ourselves on field first aid...and we're barely getting started!

The days are long and make for sore bodies, but all in all its not bad. We are treated with a lot more respect, and are able to see more and more what military life is really going to be like. We are able to get liberty or free time on the weekends where we can do basically anything we want. I'm in 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company which seems a little different after being in Hotel Company for the past three months, but I assume it will change every time I get a new duty station, I'm not sure though.

When I arrived off the bus on base, we were dropped off in the middle of two squad bays so I didn't really have a chance to see my surroundings. When I first stepped out and saw the scenery my jaw dropped! The scenery on this portion of the base is amazing. There are rolling hills all around us. Covered in green grass, bushes, and trees it looks amazing. Coming from Michigan (which is flat and bland) to this place makes it hard to not stare and think, 'Wow!" I plan on taking some pictures of the area tomorrow and hopefully will post them next week.

After seeing this beautiful terrain and listening to our instructors talk about how amazing the human body is during our first aid classes, you can't help but think how awesome our God is. Such beauty and magnificence in the hills and mountains and the complexity of the human body should point us all to Him. One of our instructors commented that the bodies healing capabilities was, "pretty awesome." I thought to myself, "He's (God) pretty awesome!" I challenge you all to read Isaiah chapter 40 and see for yourself how big and great our God is!

Marine Combat Training is only 29 days long, and I have a graduation date of May 19. If you happen to be near Camp Pendleton on that date, consider this your personal Invitation! After graduation I will be attending my MOS school (Military Occupational Speciality) in 29 Palms, Ca. I'm not exactly sure how long school will be, but from what I hear it is L-O-N-G!

Feel free to email me joecusmc@gmail.com and I will be glad to respond on the weekends when we have liberty. It's a lot easier then snail mail! As always remain, Semper Fidelis!