Trip to Camp Pendleton

SBO MAGAZINE

San Diego California

On April 14th, I left for Camp Pendleton in San Diego to observe Marine boot camp leadership training. I spent a week with teachers from all over the Midwest learning how Marines are made, and how the Corps can benefit students.

Stephen McClard
steve@pianodesk.com

April 14th

We departed for Kansas City at 8:00AM and proceeded to the National Oceanianic and Atmospheric Administration Training Center for our orders. Pictured here with me are Cara and Travis from KYTV.

Captain Shearon briefs us on the week’s activities.

LUNCH!

On to KCI and our first flight.

Marines base transport to the resort.

View from my front door.

View from my window.

DAY 2 – April 15th

We started the day off with breakfast at the hotel.

Morning shot of the bay.

When we arrived at the base, we were greeted by a drill instructor, giving us a taste of what Marine recruits go through on their first day. There were yellow feet painted on the concrete for us to stand on.

Turn to the left and read the rules dirtbag!

More terror from the Dr. Death.

More rules.

More terror.

Our first briefing. Not very brief at all.

How come my band can’t march in step like this?

THE TANK!

No, they’re not having fun. “Swim or die rookie!”

The tower.

Lunar Rover Golf Cart thingy.

Demo of endurance task.

What a chump.

We had lunch with this fine young man named Curtis. This was the first time he has been able to talk at a meal since he arrived. It was a real treat for him. I took the picture and posted it here for his mother to see. I’m going to call his mom tomorrow. She hasn’t seen or talked with him for 6 weeks.

Hotel Devil Dog.

That’s one big bass boat!

The first day is over. I’ve seen many things that inspire thoughts for next years marching band. Here are some quotes that I carried away from a meeting with the base commander.

“Positive Motivation. Negative Reinforcement.”

Esprit De Corps – Spirit in the group. Pride!

Discipline
Physical Fitness
Character Development
Teamwork through Close Order Drill

Sounds a lot like marching band.

Day 3 – April 16^th

Today was a great day. We went to the Weapons and Field Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton to observe weapons training. The Marines were very proud of the fact that they are the only branch that trains at 500 yards.

We got to fire the toy guns. I worked the rocket launcher.

The next part of the day was spent at the Assault Amphibian School Battalion where we watched a water demonstration of the Assault Amphibian Vehicle that can travel in water or land.

After this, we headed back to the hotel for some free time. I left the hotel at around 3:15pm and headed for the Gas Lamp District where I got a hair cut from a big Mexican guy named Rocco. After that I checked out a publication on music performances in San Diego where I found out that the San Diego Wind Ensemble was performing at the Art Museum. I took a cab to the park and bought my ticket for the concert.

Concert Ticket….$12…Cab Ride….$10….Hair cut from a big Mexican man….Priceless

The performance included a little known song written by John Philip Sousa called Willow Blossoms. Oddly enough, it’s not a march. It’s a clever little rag that was used as incidental music for Sousa performances in Philadelphia’s Willow Grove Park. We’ll do this one for contest next year.

The Ensemble also featured a guest conductor named Steve Trzcinski who is the Navy Conductor for the Navy Band Southwest. I met with the conductor, Richard Lorenzen, and Lieutenant Trzcinski after the concert. Lieutenant Trzcinski gave me the name and number for the Marine Band Conductor at Camp Pendleton. Tomorrow I plan on watching a rehearsal if possible. Friday is Marine graduation.

After the concert I went to a restaurant called The Parado to call a cab back to the hotel. The cab driver was from the Ivory Coast and was working his way through college as a driver. He was really funny – funny HAHA.

Day 4 – April 17^th

Today was the best day of the week for me. We started the day at MCAS Miramar, which is the Marine Aircraft Unit. We visited an F 18 Hornet garage where we viewed several aircraft in the process of maintenance. They expressly told us not to take pictures so I snapped these.

Blow-drying my hair.

The nose of the aircraft was held on with one drywall looking screw. The dark spots around the nose are JB Weld.

The next part of the day was spent watching combat training and martial arts training. That’s me taking down the big guy.

Then I finally got a chance to see the marine band under the command of Mike Laird.

Then, under the command of Steve McClard, we rehearsed God Bless America by Irving Berlin. Tomorrow, I will lead them in the colors ceremony before graduation as a guest conductor. Next week I plan on taking over the world.