MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Training Day 50 - The days have begun to drag on...they never seem to end. Today they made us march all around this island, but now I guess the best thing to do is keep our heads up and our eyes open.
The flares fill the night sky with light so bright, I thought it would never fade, but then suddenly it was gone.
There is darkness again, and I am waiting, searching for my next shot. I can see my targets just on the horizon, but at what range? Are they as close as they appear, or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Suddenly, someone sets ablaze a flare. As it lit up half of the field in front of me, I was careful to allow time for my eyes to adjust.
I took a deep breath and let it out. I found my target, closed my eyes and when I opened them, it was directly in my sights. I squeezed the trigger and found that the round propelled from my rifle screamed brilliantly, and was followed by a trace of light.
The momentary excitement passed, and I focused on my next target. With the subsequent pull of the trigger, I had only seconds to expel the rest of my rounds.
"On your feet," a voice cried out. We were on our way to engage the targets at a closer proximity and see for ourselves what we had done.
Suddenly, another flare illuminated the darkness. We dropped to the prone position and, once more, we engaged our silhouetted targets.
As the flare's glow settled, so had our muzzles, and we took our positions at the ready.
After an about face, we pulled back to the rear and reflected on what we had done. Each one of us had a different idea as to what we had learned.
Nevertheless, our instructors made sure that we did not forget it, and with a stiff bark we got into a formation and began to make our way back to our barracks. We had succeeded in completing another day of recruit training.
Nightfire is behind us now. The Crucible lies ahead and it will be one of the biggest challenges we will have faced, but hopefully we will be able to apply all that we have learned.