I passed all swimming portions like it was a kitty pool! We swam with camies, rifle, packs, war gear, and cevlar helmets. 10 including me and other recruits out of 78 passed.

We have a new senior DI and DI's. It is difficult and not common to switch out senior DI and regular DI's. Right now I am on fire watch and really tired. But I will live. :)

While I was running I started singing hymns and primary songs and I felt better and able to run faster (I am not a runner)

I pray every night and thank Heavenly Father that I can do this. I will be a United States Marine!

I love you all. Keep writing letters. It helps.

Hey Everyone! I can't answer all the questions, but a normal day is... go to the bathroom 1-2 times a night, wake up at 5:30am. The alarm clock is a DI at "Lights! Lights! Lights!" We jump out of bed and have 5 min to go the the Head, make our racks, sweep the deck and get dressed. March to chow, eat in 5 mins and we get healthy food... no candy, sweets, or fatty food. OK, yes there is cookies or cakes but 2 cookies and 1 slice of cake(small). - eat fast, march back to house, go to the head, get dressed in PT gear which is tight shirt and shorts with crappy running shoes. (running shoes are just fine :)) Today, the 20th, we ran an initial pft. Pull ups and crunches. I was smoked! (DI told me to stop early both times) I ran a 3 mile run in 25 min. ...side note - I barfed-... I am striving for a faster time. After pft we shower and dress for drill. We had shots and I got into trouble for drawing and my platoon thought that my drawings were awesome. (can you mail up some blank paper?) I was released from squad leader and put on witch doctor because my mom is an RT. I know a little so they put me on the job. Not one recruit is hurt without me knowing. I NEED DOCTOR HOY'S!! IT IS ALLOWED ! SEND SOME .. SEND ALOT!!!  Thanks

August 10 letter

Hey Family and Friends I miss you all. Just for saying, Boot Camp for the Marine Corps is not easy. I am tired all the time, food isn't an issue because of all the DI's (drill instructors).  I love this, don't worry, I am fine. The strictness is what I was looking for.

I am learning how to drill all over again - how to talk (now, I don't have a voice right now because we yell so much) - how walk - how to sleep - drink- eat (meal times 5 min to eat all 3 meals) - head calls (bathroom breaks)  - and how to look at Drill Instructors. I LOVE THE MARINE CORPS!

July 27th was the day we started MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) It was hard but the DI was impressed because when I hit the practice mat my knuckles indented it and moved it a foot.

I am going to church every Sunday and it is so spiritual. If it wasn't for going to church I would break down. Keep me in your prayers and see you at Graduation! Ask Grandpas to come to Graduation... both of them.

Love you all soo much, Tyler West

Letter 1

Day 1:

I left the MEPS building, on the way to California for boot camp. My mom, Heather, Shae, Laura, and Aabri were all waving me goodbye. Shae was sad to watch me leave because she is very emotional. The van turned the corner and I was on to three months of hell. I get to the airport with three other recruits we were on the plane to boot camp. The plane lands and the four of us go to a building with food, games, and a pool.

Now the first day I woke up at three in the morning. I ate very little that day but had a lot of water. I was nervous a little, but excited a lot. At 17:00 (5 pm) 4 Marine Corps buses pulled up and one big black Marine came off and said one word…NOW!!!!!!! That’s all we needed to hear. Now when the DI came, there were about 50 of us. We did paper work and we stripped down to only our pants. Yes pants, not underwear, but pants in front of the building. After he collected everything worth taking and was just loud he said “GET ON THE BUS, PUT YOUR HEADS DOWN, AND ARMS FOLDED.” I fell asleep on the bus. It was an hour and a half drive. It was late when we made it to the yellow shoe prints. Yes, yellow shoe prints are there and are an inch thick from all the years they paint them. I was buzz cut and had all my gear, but it wasn’t over.

We stayed up all night, morning, noon, till the next night getting ready like paper work and medical and dental stuff.

Day 2:

Non stop sleep and falling asleep when ever we sat down. I was put into Platoon 2108 with 132 other recruits that I didn’t know. All we had to eat was juice, one sandwich, 2 eggs, and crackers. Drill instructors barking left and right at recruits falling asleep. Soon toward the end of the day we went to the receiving barracks for a few days.

Day 3-4:

Paper work and speeches from lieutenants and officers.

Day 5:

We meet our personal drill instructors. It was the worst and best day of my life. Sr. Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Galvon is the oldest (as DI) and coolest Marine here. Now the DI’s are the worst. Loud-in your face- making boot camp miserable. I found out we are not at Camp Pendleton, but at the MCRD. The MCRD is the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Camp Pendleton is half an hour north. We have all our stuff like clothes, bathroom supplies and special fit uniforms, but the first day which is called “Black Friday” all of our stuff was thrown on the floor deck and mixed together and put into different foot lockers. We didn’t take a shower till Wednesday and we didn’t brush our teeth till Monday (GROSS he left on a Monday, so they didn’t brush there teeth for a whole week).

Fast Forward

Week 2 Day 1:

Nothing much, but work out, run, drill, and scream every night. My voice is out. I am sleep deprived and I try to stay clean, but that is not in my vocab any more. Its Friday of week 2. . . I lost count. I haven’t had time to write in a while. Classes are hard and the recruits around me-more like brothers- keep me awake and motivate me. I had fire watch last night so less sleep and drained. I got IT, Initial Training, which is more like a punishment a few times (5) for being squad leader, being in the way, and many more things.

The best part is I love it. I am having the time of my life. Tomorrow is Sunday so good night.

Love Tyler