Mommy use to tell me to chew each bite at least ten times in order to slow me down. I sped up years later by not drinking anything during the meal....it drives the waiters crazy trying to 'top off' the glass.
Stay safe...particularly on this "Black Cat-13th" Day.
That's funny! The picture will give you nightmares but funny nonetheless!
My middle son (Da Grunt) had a problem even getting into the Corps due to weight/height. He's a little bitty feller and only stands about 5'6 or 7" but weighed 227#. He an his older brother got his Mom's short gene while my other son is my height around 6'2". Sounds like a roly-poly huh? Well, he benched about 450# and ran a 4.6/40. Played right back in soccer and had a vertical leap that was sky high. At the time the Corps wanted these marathon runner types and it was a major deal just to get him in. He got all the way down to 185# by losing muscle mass since his body fat was only 3% to begin with.
It was funny when he hit Boot. Nobody wanted him running lead 'cause the kid has no shut down in him. He can run the moon down and enjoys it. But when he left here he could hardly focus his eyes from being so dehydrated and malnourished. He made it in though and even ran the stick for a while in Boot. Plus he was one of three merit promotions and Bn champion in pugil sticks. Not to mention playing in the Commander's Cup in Okie at right back and making All Tournament on their first deployment.
So what I guess I'm saying is they need to take those charts and shove 'em in some instances. Plus if you have the willpower you can accomplish about anything. I know if I was laying wounded somewhere I'd much rather have a guy on my six that could pick me up with one hand and run a sprint with me to cover than a scawny little marathon type that needed help to carry me anywhere! But then I'm biased as all get-out! heh!
And there's a certain RS CO that owes a certain Grunt a bigtime apology considering all the ribbons and awards and battles and stuff that a certain Grunt has been through after being refused entry into the Corps three times! But I don't hold a grudge or nuthin'! :-o
HMMMM. Did they not tape test you son? that should have solved all problems. At least it would have with the Army.
that is a good story. guys like that are a big help.
Lol, I should have seen that coming. Nice picture! When I went to boot camp at Parris Island the first time I went to chow set my eating habits for life. I still eat fast to this day, 34 years later.
As we entered the mess hall, SSgt Westfall walked up and down the line yelling, "Move it, Move it Pvt!" I stuck out my tray at every spoon I saw and hurried down the line. I looked down and saw everything on my tray was in a single pile. Mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables,jello, meat, bread, was all plied up in what looked like a plate of garbage!
"Well aren't you a little jewell!" "You better eat everything you put on that tray." I looked up and I caught her looking at me. She got up in my face and yelled, "You better eat everything on your tray, Pvt., I'll be watching you!" "Do you understand me Pvt? No move it!"
SomewHere from deep inside me a defiant, internal voice said, "God I've gone to Heaven!" I am one of those people that makes everyone else sick, because I love to mix up my food in my mashed potatoes! I also cut all my meat up, I know, bad manners, and mix it up with whatever else I am eating. I love the taste and texture. The more variety, the better!
Anyway, back on topic! That insightful moment of silent rebellion got me through eight weeks of hell! I realized that this was all about what I could and could not handle. A mind game if you will. From that time on I realized I'd be ok if I remembered that. Of course the down side is once they figure out you have figured it out the stuff hits the fan.
But, fate was on my side. I have been a Marine at heart all my life. Can't tell you why, I just was!! I never knew any Marines. Maybe I watched too many John Wayne movies, I don't know. But in any event, nothiong was going to keep me from making it.
When I stood in formation and got my first set of emblems on graduation day, that was the happiest day of my life, except for the birth of my two children.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go on so. You just really hit a memory well for me. I enjoy your blog very much. You are such a good writer. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Thank you for your sacrifices. Be safe.
Yeah M23, they ran a tape on him but the RS CO was a buttmunch and didn't want him in. I learned a lot about my son during all of that. He refused to let me pull any strings and did it all on his own. The more the CO gave him grief the more his determination kicked in. When his eyes rolled back in his head when he was getting on the bus I could only stand there and shake my head.
Once the bus shipped out then and only then did the RS CO and I have a meeting of the minds. And he didn't like it much but he stood there and took it! And they say Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? Try pissing off a dad with a bunch of BS! 
His recruiter was awesome. They hooked up in the Sandbox last deployment and are still tight to this day even with the difference in rank and different Bns. Mutual respect I guess. I don't think that young SSgt ever gave up on him even for a minute. Literally ran ever step my son did. Sweated with him, encouraged him, pushed him. I admire the young gun greatly! It was an interesting situation that caused some serious hard feelings at the RS. All the recruiters worked with Da Grunt one time or another. Gotta' admire that kind of determination. Or set up an appointment at the shrink to find out why he's so demented!
Oh well, no one says a word nowadays. He's staying steady at about 195/200# with no kick from anywhere. Period! Funny how kickin' in a few doors in places like Fallujah can do that! heh!
Just like you and devildog, Da Grunt can eat a seven course meal in about three minutes. Standing up. Still. Never fails to amaze me but then we have plenty of time to visit while the REST of the family finishes their meal when he's home on leave. And we keep all the food on the opposite end of the table!! :-o
So what was tougher devildog, child birth or boot camp? heh! 
Oh my goodness that picture!
I'd sort of been wondering when this topic would come up. This is one catagory where Mustang 23 has me beat hands down. I never finished an MRE (Meals Rejected by Everybody) in anything near five minutes.
In today's military some of the worst examples of the "Frank Burns Disorder" are weight related. Too many senior people, who should know better, buy into the "perfect" body images touted by Calvin Kline and other Fashion Pimps. (Often these are the notorious "S.P.W.N.B.T.D. Desk Jockies" {Senior People With Nothing Better To Do})
When I recruited for the Missouri National Guard in the 80's our Adjutant General was totally flipped out over weight. He refused to let us bring in non-prior service people unless they could pass the weight requirements for staying in the service. (A 30 pound difference, in some cases.) Then he wondered why we were not enlisting people.
About 15 years ago a Congressional committee pubically slapped down the Secretary of the Air Force on inflexible wieght control. The prime example was the case of a captain who had been ordered to lose about 25 pounds or get kicked out. The man was a competitive body builder & held the "Mr. Washington, D.C." title. His body fat was under 5%.
Give me a break, Frank. Go paint some rocks, or something.
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So that's what an army company commander looks like. Who would have thunk it? I imagined that you were better looking than that. LOL
"Dad" in all sincerety, they were neck in neck. I consider the Corps and my two kids my two most rewarding accomplishments. Of course my kids get number one spot!
By the way, have you ever noticed that no matter how long you have been out of the Corps, if you are walking somewhere and they play some type of marching music, that you still catch yourself marching to the music? [lol]
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