Moto Run - Photos (October 1)

Company C – Motivational Run – 10/1/15

Prior to graduating from recruit training, new Marines from Charlie Company participate in one last physical fitness session known as the Motivational Run. During this formation run, friends and family witness the transformation their loved ones underwent during the 13 weeks of recruit training. Congratulations, Marines.

Photos by: Sgt. Benjamin E. Woodle

Brigadier Gen. James W. Bierman, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region, leads Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, on their motivational run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. The run marks the last physical exercise Marines participate in during recruit training. 

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. After the run, the Marines were reunited with their family members for six hours of liberty.

Brigadier Gen. James W. Bierman, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region, leads Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, on their motivational run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. The run marks the last physical exercise Marines participate in during recruit training. 

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation as their drill instructors call cadence during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. After the Marines graduate recruit training, they are granted 10 days of leave before reporting to the School of Infantry for basic combat training.

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. After these Marines complete the run, they will spend the rest of their afternoon with their families, friends and loved ones during on-base liberty.

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation as their drill instructors call cadence during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. After the Marines graduate recruit training, they are granted 10 days of leave before reporting to the School of Infantry for basic combat training.

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation as their drill instructors call cadence during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. The run marks the last physical exercise Marines participate in during recruit training

Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation as their drill instructors call cadence during a motivation run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 1. After the Marines graduate recruit training, they are granted 10 days of leave before reporting to the School of Infantry for basic combat training. Today, all males recruited from west of the Mississippi are trained at MCRD San Diego. The depot is responsible for training more than 16,000 recruits annually. Charlie Company is scheduled to graduate Oct. 2.

M-6 (October 1)

It's FAMILY DAY!  Yea!  First the Moto (Motivational) Run and some orientations for the families, then the day was spent together as family.  I think I was the only one to find Jeremiah during the run since I was the only one NOT trying to photograph everything.

Mascot at MCRD San Diego.

Platoons of Charlie Company right before Liberty Call

Joe got a shot of Platoon 1054, and we can see Jeremiah!

Lunch at a Playground on MCRD.
Gave Hope and Sam a chance to play!

Two Marines, our friend, 1st Lt. Shane Kennelly, our Marine, PFC Behling.

Joe and Rob

At a cake cutting ceremony by a former Marine, and LDS missionary at MCRD San Diego.
These Marines are members and likely prayer leaders in their platoons.

Jeremiah at the cake cutting ceremony.

Family photo after Jeremiah was ordained an Elder.

The next pictures were taken just outside the gift shop at the museum at MCRD San Diego.  Jeremiah got to pretend to be a DI, and his siblings became the recruits.  They had fun goofing around.

Matthew and Jeremiah

Jacob and Jeremiah

Samuel (LOVE that face!) and Jeremiah

Hope and Jeremiah

Matthew and Jacob

Family Day was nice, but graduation tomorrow will be better!  We get to take him off base then!  :-)

PFC Behling and his very happy mother.

PFC Behling and his proud father.

We couldn't be prouder of our handsome Marine!

M-5 (September 30)

Today the Matrix shows that the Marines have a Liberty Brief and "Sharing the Legacy."  From what I understand, these past few days the new Marines listen to speeches by former or current Marines that have really made a mark during their careers with the USMC.  They learn all about what it really means to be a Marine.  They learn about how to dress and act in public, how their hair should be cut, and to take pride in their new title of United States Marine.

We made it to San Diego and got checked into our hotel early.  Although I had wanted to go to a national monument, we were all so exhausted, we decided not to.  We did go to the Navy base in San Diego and met Shane Kennelly there.  It was good to see him again!  We had lunch and went to the commissary to purchase groceries for a picnic at Family Day tomorrow.  The kids went for a swim in the pool, while Joe rested since his back is out for yet another family function.

Oh, while I was at the pool, I ran into two other families that have Marines graduating on October 2nd.  Their Marines are in different platoons, but it was nice to meet them.  We also went to the Meet and Greet set up by the Facebook group, but really didn't meet many people there.  The rooms were so crowded we ended up in the regular part of the restaurant.  By then we had met up with Heather and Rob, so our family was nearly complete.  The only one missing was Jeremiah, and we'll see him tomorrow.

M-4 (September 29)

Battalion Commander's Inspection.  Hopefully all the new Marines have their uniforms ironed, ribbons on straight, and shoes polished to a high sheen.  Supposedly the Marines need to measure each pin with a ruler to make sure it's in the correct place...down to the millimeter!  Must be why they look so good in their uniforms.

We are en route.  We did make it to Payson last night and today got to Beaumont.  There was a bit of apprehension while driving since we had a "check engine" light come on.  Thank heavens for OnStar since they were able to run a diagnostic on the Suburban and find that it wasn't getting the air intake expected.  Joe and the OnStar rep determined we needed a new air filter, so we stopped in Victorville and bought one.  It took care of the problem.  Tomorrow on to San Diego!

M-3 (September 28)

Parade Practice today.  I think this will happen every day from now until Graduation.  I imagine cleaning and packing are part of the schedule, along with turning in items they'd been issued, like their rifles.

Many of the families of the new Marines are starting off on their trips to San Diego.  Some are already there!  We head out tonight to Payson.  Then we're off to Beaumont to stay with our nephew, Ty, and his family.  Wednesday we will be in San Diego!

Of course, first we have to get the Suburban fixed.  Took it in for an inspection to make sure it is travel worthy, and the mechanic found some leaks.  About a $600 repair, but we should get there.

S-11 (September 27)

Sunday!  The Marines get to go to church today.  It will be Jeremiah's last Sunday as a Priest.  Thursday he will be ordained an Elder.

Not only do the Marines get to go to church, but they are going to the San Diego Padres baseball game today as well.  Some of the MoMs (Mother's of Marines) went to San Diego early so they could try and see their sons.  Lots of pictures came out of that.  Here are a few:

Here at home, we were getting the Suburban cleaned out and ready to be loaded.  Tomorrow we head off for San Diego!

M-2 (September 26)

The new Marines were transferred back to MCRD today from Camp Pendleton.  Meanwhile, back home we're frantically doing laundry and making sure we have what we need to travel to San Diego.  Getting excited to see our new Marine!  Now...if Matthew will get better.  He's got bronchitis.  Starting on antibiotics since Jeremiah doesn't need to get sick on his 10-day leave.