Why I served a Mormon Mission Part XI

I got up early the next morning and got up to catch the Bus that was to pick all of the future recruits up and take us to MEPS. When I arrived at MEPS it seemed like I was quickly processed from one place to another and withing a few hours after arriving at MEPS I was sitting at the Salt Lake City airport awaiting my plane to arrive so it could take us to MCRD San Diego. I remember sitting on the floor next to where our plane should arrive and reading through the accounts in the Book of Mormon detailing the exploits of the Army of Helaman and wondering how I would ever become like those young men without having had the upbringing that they had. However once our plane arrived and we all boarded I found myself remembering the words of wisdom I had heard earlier that day to get as much sleep as I possibly could because I wouldn't be getting very much of it for a long time. I tried to fall asleep on the plane ride there but sleep never came. My mind was thinking about what was about to happen. I wondered how hard was it really going to be and if I would be up to the challenge. I spent most of the plane ride silently reading my little red book of Mormon President Clark had given me. I had most of my really close friends like Jeff Spears, Michelle, Sheena, Brother Cardon, Bishop Donaldson, and President Clark write their testimonies in military scriptures on the blank pages because I wanted them to be there in case my faith ever wavered that I would have some anchors securing my testimony if I fell. I also had my mother and Nana write short little messages as well. All of these ended up being a strength and a comfort to me during some of the darkest days of boot camp. We had a layover in Las Vegas and several of the guys bought some pornographic magazines they planned on taking with them to boot camp. I strove to maintain some kind of grasp on the Holy Ghost as my fellow recruits mentioned the various attributes of the women and other things that I would rather not repeat. On the plane ride from Las Vegas to San Diego I felt a deep, dark cloud hanging over me. I almost felt like a prisoner awaiting execution. At the same time I also was looking forward to earning the title of US Marine.

Eventually our plane landed in San Diego and as we landed I didn't even realize that MCRD San Diego is right next to the airport. I made my way to the USO and checked in there and they gave us a five minute phone card to call home and inform our family that we had arrived safely in Sand Diego. I tried to find a phone to call home but they were all busy with other people talking on them. I found a spot on the wall next to the door and tried to get a little sleep since we had three or four hours before we were due at MCRD. I was to excited and scared to catch any sleep. All of the sudden it seemed like everyone was moving and there was yelling from the sliding glass door. A man who seemed like he was ten feet tall and bullet proof suddenly appeared an their was no question that he was to be obeyed or the very wrath of hell would soon be unleashed upon us. He yelled for us to assemble ourselves outside in alphabetical order and we moved outside and did as he ordered us to. He then read through the manila folders he had that contained our orders and he took a roll call. A bus shortly arrived thereafter. When he was done making sure everyone was present and accounted for me told us to get on the bus. Once we were all crammed on the bus with people sitting on the floor he instructed us to put our heads between our knees and kiss our butts goodbye because we belonged to him now. He instructed us to keep our heads between our knees and not look up until he told us to. I was trembling with both excitement and fear as I felt the bus start to move toward MCRD San Diego. I dared not look up to see where we were going. I envisioned that Drill Instructor standing with his smokey the bear, arms crossed over his chest just waiting for the first person who would be stupid enough to look up and I didn't want that person to be me. I already felt that the safest course of action for me was to blend in during boot camp and just be a nameless face. It felt like we were traveling forever as the bus rolled down the road. My mind was trying to imagine what kind of place boot camp would be but nothing had prepared me for what I was about to experience. The bus suddenly came to an abrupt halt and once again I heard a voice that scared me and compelled me to obey at the same time. That voice said, "You, have 60 seconds to get off my bus! I promise you, Don't be the last one off the bus." The effect of that statement on a bus full of over a hundred people was worse then if someone shouted fire in a crowded theater. None of us dared to be the last person off that bus. As we got off the bus we were greeted by a plethora of Drill Instructors who were yelling and pointing and screaming.