Day one

June 10th, 2001

17 years old.

"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" The loud beeping of my electric alarm clock woke me with a start.

Groggily, I smack the stop button and look over at the red numbers displayed.

"4:15" it read.

Sitting in my bed I Let out a yawn and stretched out my legs and arms.

Slowly I sit up and stretch the rest of my body and muscles.

Once done with that, I stand up, and turn on my room's light.

Closing my eyes for a moment, to avoid the bright lights, I slowly open my eyes again and look around my room.

On the far wall of my room was my trophy wall.

It took almost the whole side of my room.

I had trophies for multiple martial arts practices.

From my judo that I started with, to arnis, krav maga, and other hand-to-hand martial arts.

After winning my first competition, I went on to win the judo competition 3 more times before moving on to other martial arts.

After judo, I went on to learn krav maga.

Around my 10th birthday, I went on to learn Arnis, also known as Eskrima.

Eskrima was a new experience for me, I was used to using my hands to grab onto my opponent and throw them around, but with Eskrima, you used a weapon.

Eskrima got me interested in other martial arts that involved weapons.

So I also learned a number of other martial arts that involved knives or staff.

Living in California helped me do that, California has a large amount of dojos for different martial arts. Although they might be a little away from my home, my parents would rent out a cheap apartment for me to stay in over the summer months.

Dropping to the floor I started my morning workout.

I did 100 pushups then sit-ups, and squats.

It only took me a little over thirty minutes to finish my workout.

After taking a quick shower I get dressed in some comfortable clothes and then go to the kitchen.

Already in the kitchen was my dad, making himself a cup of coffee.

"Morning Dad," I say to him as I grab a coffee cup from the cupboard and make myself a cup.

"Morning" he mumbles back.

He had gotten a promotion almost 4 years ago now, and the shiny star that he wore showed it.

And ever since then, he has worked long hours.

Leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night.

As we sat and drank our coffee, I looked over at him as I tapped the rim of my coffee cup.

"Dad, I have something to tell you," I say looking him in the eye.

He raises an eyebrow at the seriousness in my voice.

"What is it?" he asked.

Taking a breath I spoke.

"I got my GED last month, and now with that, I want to join the Marines," I said in a rush.

my dad stared at me for a moment before a wide smile grew on his face.

"ha ha ha that's my boy," he said in his happy voice.

"me and your mother thought you would want to continue with your martial arts, and not join up."

"I still want to continue with my training, but I've always wanted to join the military. I only plan on staying in the military for only one enlistment instead of going up the ranks like you did."

My dad chuckled at that.

"I don't blame you, son. Once you get to where I'm at it's all paperwork and pencil pushing."

Later that day my mom brought me down to the recruitment center where I signed up.

2 weeks later.

"GET OFF MY FUCKING BUS YOU SMELLY WORTHLESS PIECES OF SHIT, I SAID MOOOOVE IIIITTTT." yelled a short buff man wearing his drill instructor's uniform.

Grabbing my yellow envelope and other documents I step into the ial and step off the bus with the other men and women who came to join the military.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't in a bit of shock from all the yelling and fast-paced movement that the drill instructions caused.

Getting off the bus I saw that other drill instructors were yelling at us to step onto the yellow-painted feet on the ground.

My dad had told me about what would happen when I got to Parris Island, and how the instructors would try and shock us with all the yelling and their tough demeanor.

But I could only smile at all of this.

My journey has finally begun, and here is where it starts.

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A short chapter.

I wrote it during my lunch break, but don't worry I'm going to post another chapter today