The Look of Pain

A couple of weeks ago I got to go to my daughters Marine PT (physical training). One Saturday a month all of the Poolee's (recruits waiting to go to boot camp) have a mandatory PT. Gunnery Sgt. Monroe leads this training. I was amazed at how well Jen did. She gave it her all and never gave up. She actually out did most of the guys that day. This photo was durring the circut training portion of the PT. After running as a group the Poolee's must run from station to station. They spend 2 min. at each station doing an excercise. Non stop. This was the crunch station. She did not give up no matter how much pain she was feeling.

At this station they had to jump down, feet go out, do a push up, feet come in, stand and punch. The look of pain on her face as she was doing this was amazing. Jen could not do a push up to save her life a couple months ago. She is pretty proud of herself that she can do them now. She will show any one that is willing to watch now.

Now this excersice amazed me beyond belief. They had to go from a laying down position into a crunch and then right into a standing position. Then they would have to go back down and do it all over again. Matt and I both looked at each other and said "there is no way she will be able to do that". Well, we were wrong. Not only did she do it she did not stop. My mouth was hanging open at the shear amount of pain in her face and determination.





Each time she started to stand a horrible grunt/yell would come out of her mouth. The guy she was paired up with was a real go getter. We got mad at himself because he could not do one more before they had to switch. He was amazing with Jen. We could hear him grunting along with her saying things like, "cmon show these guys up, your a bad a**, do it again, yea thats the way" and he was grunting right along with her. Each time her turn was done he would pat her legs and tell her how awesome she did. I was so proud of her.





This is when they were learning how to choke someone out in 8 seconds. Some of the guys were not paying attention and messing around laughing. Jen's recruiting Sgt. Brown got angry and yelled at them all. "you thing this is a joke moth*** effer, its not, you can kill someone, this is serious, now pay attention and quit effing around." Yep, he was mad as all get out.

This is the point where I really realized just how serious of a choice Jen has made. She will be learning how to kill someome with her bare hands. And, someone may be trying to kill her. Pretty serious stuff. Chances are she will not be in that position as women are not allowed in combat. But there is a chance. It was eye opening to realize these Poolee's will be taught to kill and not be afraid of that fact. They are all volunteering to dye for our country if they have too. That is beyond belief amazing. Don't you think?