A Visit to Parris Island: The Best 5 Days of My Life By YM/Cpl Michael Manley Atlantic Coast Young Marines Last March, some of the Atlantic Coast Young Marines went to Parris Island, SC, to train with the Drill Instructors there. I was lucky enough to have been selected to go. We were to staying there for four days. I didn’t know what to expect. When we ar- rived, Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Carty opened the van door and directed us to get in line behind another unit that was there with us. Sgt. Carty, was going to be our DI (Drill Instructor) for the week. Sgt. Carty took us inside the barracks, where he gave us instructions on how to make our rack (making our racks was a little difficult due to the fact that there were a lot of folds).After a few minutes he sent us off to make our own racks. It didn’t take us that long, because Sgt. Carty was urging us to move faster, and no one wanted to be the last one done. Luckily he did not have to make anyone redo their rack. Shortly after that he took us out to PT. At PT, we first we did push ups then we ran around a quarter-mile track. We ran around it so much that I lost count of how many laps I’d run. When the run was over, we went to the pull up bars. Once we were done with our pull ups, we returned to our barracks. After we got back to the barrack,s Sgt. Carty prepared us to go to the chow hall for dinner. If anyone thought there was going to be any communication at the tables, they were wrong! The chow was good and we were al- lowed one dessert each night. I selected a chocolate chip cookie, and it was delicious. We were also allowed 2 cups of sports drink (our choice of flavor) with each meal. After chow, we got ready to go do drill. At drill, Sgt. Carty went over some drill movements.Some of us knew them, some of us didn’t. Once we were done with drill we stood there and got bitten by the sand fleas. Finally when we were done we got to go back to the barracks to be able to shower and get our gear ready for the next day. We hit the rack at 9:30, and that was good because we were all very tired, but we knew we had an even longer day when we woke up. We were awakened by the sound of Sgt. Carty. We quickly put on our cammies and headed to drill. After drill, we went to chow. After chow, we did more drill and then did PT. We did lots of sit ups. We also planked and did a lot of core exercises. This kind of PT went on every day.In addition to drills and PT,we also got to do the confidence course. We got to do some of the same things that Marine Corps recruits get to do (which was so cool!) In this course we had to do things like jump from log to log (I’ll just say it is called by a peculiar name). We also ran through a course where we had to run, jump and swing over a pit. There was also a balancing obstacle which was just walking up one log and down another. The last obstacles were the bars. They were almost like monkey bars (but harder). They were very challenging, so thankfully that was the last obstacle on the confi- dence course. After chow this day, my Unit Commander (Ms. Gib- bons) took us to a pool to go swimming, since we worked hard all day. Our third day at Parris Island also started at 0500, as it did every morning. Over the course of the next few days we did so many exciting things. Every day we did Drill and PT, but there were a few surprises. Our DI was took us to try something called an Is- mat. Ismat is a gun that is modified to shoot lasers at a screen. It tells you where your target was hit. It was very fun! After that we got to actually go on the real range. We observed the Marines shooting, but we weren’t allowed to shoot real guns. We saw the Rappel Tower. We had a class on how to tie our own belt to rappel with. After waiting in line it was finally my turn and I couldn’t wait. It was a very fun experience and I loved it! We did lots of hard work the whole week, but it was worth it. We are lucky that we have our Unit Commander, Ms. Gibbons, our XO Gunnery Sgt. Michael Vicente, and one of the greatest staff and a former Marine, Mr. Spath. Besides the fact that they take us to be part of all of these amazing experiences, they always make sure to have fun with us, too. Besides taking us swimming, we also went for ice cream one night and bowling another. They all make it so much fun! Ms. Gibbons is serious when it’s time to teach us, but so much fun when it’s time to play. Gunny is always helpful and supportive to all of us and never asks us to do something that he won’t do. Gunny was a Parris Island DI, so it was so cool to see him go into DI mode. I am so glad that I got to see that. Mr. Spath is always there to help our unit and is so support- ive. He is always laughing! He also comes up with the greatest nick- names for us. I am so thankful to all three of them for giving me the opportunity to do this. Without them, this is something I would never have done in my life, or at least until I am 18 and en- list in the Marine Corps. Also, I am thankful to have met Sgt. Carty. I think he taught us a lot of things that we could use in our every day lives. He pushed us further mentally and physically than we even knew we were capable of do- ing. I think he is a great DI and I hope I get to train with him when I enter Marine Corps Boot Camp. Sgt. Carty inspired me, motivated me and made me love the Marine Corps more than I already did which I didn’t think was even possible. I will never forget him and I hope to see him again. This week of Parris Island was the best week of my life. My only complaint is that I wish I could have stayed longer. If any Young Marine has the opportunity to go, you should definitely do it. You will be so glad you did and you’ll be surprised at how much more that you are capable of, much greater than you think! OORAH!!! 42 • Vol.2 • 2017 • YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE EDITION