MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Eighteen unnaturally quiet individuals sit motionless as their clothes gather pools of nervous sweat, which echoes their unanimous belief that they made a terrible mistake. Questions such as, "What have you done?" and "When can we leave?" occupy their thoughts, while the driver smiles as if he enjoys their trepidation. The bus slices through the primal darkness and blinding fog like an osprey with a tail wind. The passengers sense that their conveyance thrives on fear and relishes haste. Thirteen weeks from now they will laugh, recalling their first hours on the island with a smile, but 13 weeks is 91 days and 91 days can seem like an eternity at 2 a.m.As the bus jerks to a halt, the four tires and 18 hearts stop. The front door folds open and the silence screams "run."Confident footsteps are heard approaching as the most intimidating person the young men have ever seen enters the bus like a statue on wheels. "Get off my bus," screams Mr. Strangehat. For a second no one moves, as if salvation lies within their dampened seats. Recruiting commercials and fire breathing monsters dance through their heads, as their new friend shows no signs of slowing down or shutting up. The confused passengers stumble into the moonlit street to find another statue directing them to stand on sets of yellow footprints that are worn from years of devil pups' first steps."Welcome to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island," grumbles Mr. Strangehat.America's future heroes are cold, tired, hungry and disheveled, but after thirteen weeks, they will reflect their drill instructors' high standards of excellence. They will be strong, confident and infused with a sense of pride not easily matched anywhere by anyone. With these first yellow steps, the transformation begins.