Ready to go

So I'm on my way to spend a week with trainees at the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. I have a partner in crime, if you will, a teacher from Harrison High School on the westside, Mrs. Jaime Johnson. She is taking part in the educator summit that I'm traveling with this week. She's my roommate too, so expect to see and hear a lot about her!!!

The reason I'm going on this trip is two-fold. First, what better way to tell a Cincinnati-area military story than to go to where the training happens. I'm going to meet area trainees, see what it takes to be a Marine from their eyes. Also get to watch a graduation, hit the firing range and maybe even take a "jog" with them! Among other really awesome things I'll be sharing on this blog and of course video and stories when I return to Fox 19.

The second reason is the USMC sends teachers (like Jaime) from all over the east coast/midwest to Parris Island so they can see how Marines become Marines... they take that information and their experience back to the classroom. So if a teen is looking to the Corps that teacher has an experience to share.

Pretty awesome I think.

On this "full metal" blog, I have to give you "full disclosure" I had a couple of selfish reasons why this trip was something I wanted to do.

When my news director asked me in December if I wanted to take this trip to South Carolina I didn't hesitate, she even pointed that out. I just said yes. In my mind I'm thinking, oh a week away from "work", Parris Island is a hope skip and a jump from Georgia, its almost spring... by St. Pattys day its nice there... its marshy island... yes ... no question.

Who wouldn't want to spend a week in the south in March???

I didn't anticipate this wacky winter we've had... its 40 degrees and raining there now. Of course it is.

The other reason I immediately said yes, my college best friend. He is a USMC Capt. and served several tours of duty in Iraq from 2000-2009 ... in Oct. 2009 he was sent to Afghanistan. He will be there until this fall.

Even though he didn't train at Parris Island, I still think it will be cool to see a side of his life and a totally different world of his and all the other military men and women I know.

Now, time for bed... wake up is at 3:45 a.m. which is a side of life and the clock that I'm not use to either!!!!