Message from 1st Oboe

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

This in the mailbox today:

(letter dated 10/7/03)

Hello, BBB

Don't have time for any stories right now. Just a quick note to let you all know that I'm doing pretty good. I am not too far from the music building, so I hear the band when practicing outside.

Boot camp is physically very hard for an oboist who has never done any physical training, but I'm trying my hardest to keep my mind strong. I encourage any and all of you that have the slightest desire to write to me to do so. I need all the positive encouragement I can get

I will try to reply to all letters received.

Cheers!

Aaron Rynearson
(1st Oboe)

His address (and I hope I'm reading this right)

Rec Rynearson, AL
1st RTBN, "C" Co., plt. 1039
40002 Midway Ave
San Diego, CA 92140-1039

For what it's worth, 1st has had pretty good weather. The recent hot spell broke about the time he'd have gotten to the recruit depot, and the weather has continued mild and dry.

<small>[ 10-11-2003, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: Selma in San Diego ]</small>

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Posting a fairly empty reply so that 1st's message will show up on the "current" list.

[piqaboo]

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT - Message from 1st OBOE, the newest marine!!!

Selma, thats kind and thoughtful, so I copied you. (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery).

[bignaf]

Selma, it is traditional to call these posts (for bumping up a thread) "bump" posts. and you can save yourself the trouble of all those words just writing "bump". it's traditional!!!! (and it's also pretty cryptic to those who aren't aware of the tradition).
I guess you know this....

[BenMurphy6]

or if you really want to show how hip you are:

"bttt"

(bump to the top)

[OperaTenor]

Thus spake Big, master of bulletin board lore and customs! :p

[bignaf]

low unison C please!
(not so obscure reference to the begining of Thus Spake Zarathustra. (yes, also 2001: Space Odyssey).

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Update from 1st Oboe:

dated 10/15/03
Dear BBB,

Without getting into details right now (save those for later), I am writing to tell you that I will be home and back on the board within a couple of weeks.

I just couldn't handle the extreme stress of training. I had an emotional/mental (whichever you prefer to call it) breakdown. Was taken to Balboa Naval Medical Cnter for an emergency psychological evaluation. That Dr. told me that I have an underlying case of depression, along with a couple of other fancy emotional problems with big long names. It was also determined that I am not able to complete training.

I was evaluated the next day by the Depot psychologist, who came to the same conclusion.

With the two doctors saying that I cannot be trained, I am being Entry Level Separated.

This means that I will never again be able to serve in the military and will probably not be able to work for the federal government, but I should be able to do just fine as a musician in he private sector of the economy.

I am kind of bummed that I am being sent home, but as bad as I was doing in my training, it was highly likely I would have been dropped back to the next Company, which does not graduate until after the first of the year.

I'm extremely happy that I get to be home for Christmas. I won't have my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor in hand, but I won't be here trying to struggle my way through boot camp while my family sits down to Christmas dinner without me.

I have been transferred to a routing platoon, basically a small barracks across the parade deck from the training area. I'm just kind of hanging out here while my separation paperwork gets done. No more DI's running my life. The only time I ever see a DI anymore is the three times a day I go to the chow hall.

I will fill you in on more details when I get back. Have lots of good stories, too.

Looking forward to being back on the board.

No more letters please, they take quite a while to get processed when they get here, so it's not likely I will get anything not already on its way.

See you soon(er than expected)

Aaron
***********************************
End of letter.

1st's handwriting looks less stressed with this second letter; it was pretty straggly in the first one.

We might crossthread this letter to the "better living through chemistry" discussion. Anybody know how?

[barfle]

Well, I'm sorry it didn't work out, but I'm sure you know you're not the first and you won't be the last.

I've had jobs where it was a mistake to hire me (enthusiasm doesn't always make up for skill and knowledge) but recovered nicely. I hope you can get back in school without having missed too much.

And, of course, we want to hear just how they go about training clarinet players...

[bignaf]

I think it is all for the better.

[shostakovich]

Yes, Candeedy.

[piqaboo]

Candidelee, Shos,
Love that reply!

[OperaTenor]

Hi 1st,

Sorry you had to go through that small slice of Hell. Try not to let what happened there have any influence on how you gauge your personal abilities and success. To me, the boot camp world is extremely artificial and full of superficial head games. Sometimes it seemed to me the only purpose served by those games was to inflate the ego of the DI's/individuals in charge. When you go home, try to remember you're going home to family and friends who love you and appreciate you.

Take care.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Update from 1st oboe

****************************
dated 10/18/03

Hello, BBB

I got transferred to the Removal From Service platoon yesterday. 10-15 days I'll be home. Unlike the past 4 days (in routing), we have books and newspapers to read. No more buffing the wax off the floor of the batallion office. I was working on that all 4 days I was there and still didn't get it done.

comment from Selma: sounds like busywork. Probably not supposed to get it done. Don't worry about it. Back to the letter.

RSP is pretty relaxed. A lot of sit and relax. I find it ironic that RSP is in the receiving barracks. My first and last days of boot camp are in the same building.

During my meeting with the batallion executive officer, I found out that I'm not "screwed for life" (as my SDI put it.)

My separation is officially considered a "convenience of the government". My service and training record will be here at the Depot for 2 years. After that, there will be no record of me ever being in the military. This will have no negative impact on my FBI background check.

I was advised by the BIV XO to get some "intestinal fortitude". He said I am too easy to convince, and should have never even talked to the recruiter.

I have no loss of respect or appreciation for the Marine Corps. I simply am not capable of becoming a Marine. I don't blame anyone. I had a tremendous opportunity to better my life, and took it.

I have no regrets about coming here. I have learned a lot over the last month. I have been through quite a bit of close combat training. Have had classes on first aid, Marine Corps history, and various miscellaneous topics.

Another bonus is that I have had the experience of drill. I am looking forward to getting back home and helping the HS marching band. Look out, OHS, here comes drill instructor Rynearson. It's getting late in the marching season, but if I get there soon enough, the last few shows should be amazing.

I'm looking forward to meeting some BBB members if my time waiting for my flight home permits. I'll be calling Selma and/or OT. If anyone else would like to get in on our little meet'n'greet (or whatever) I would say contact them. Maybe set uopa phone tree or something. (Ahh, optimism... don't think there's that many people wanting to meet me.)

I'll drop you another note when/if I find ou more details on when I'm actually getting out of here. I'm thinking it will be around the 27th-28th or so.

I miss my oboe!

Cheers!
Aaron
Your friendly neighborhood English hornist
(Can't wait to get that back too!)

***********************************

I think if Aaron actually finds the opportunity to escape and be social, we should take him out to someplace fantastically ethnic. Rubio's or Fat Ivor's (if they're open) should be ideal...

If he gets loose on Halloween, it'll be my (very pregnant) daughter's house, as my son-in-law has the Pirates of the Carribbean Yard Display, Show, And Cannonade ready to go. Escondido has no idea what's in store. Garrett is really INTO Halloween.

[barfle]

Aaron, I was pretty sure your brief foray into military life wasn't going to prevent you from having a government job. A dishonorable discharge would have done that, but it sounds like yours is more in line with a medical discharge, which don't indicate a propensity for antisocial behavior (like some Marines I've known).

"Intestinal fortitude," huh? When I was in, they would have referred to other body parts (masculine only) when referring to one's ability to take a stand and defend it.

Although I was never in harm's way, I still have a few "war stories" that are part of my life, and that I enjoy embellishing during the occasional lying sessions with the guys and a few six packs. I'm sure you have a few as well.

Welcome back to the real world.

[OperaTenor]

Hi Selma, I'm in for getting together with Aaron if possible.

[Serenity]

Aaron, welcome back to the real world!

The military does not like their authority questioned. They don't like to be asked "why?". People who keep getting asked the same question but don't know the answer tend to lose their composure. So they go about doing "drills" based on faith that they're doing the right thing. Even the officers don't really know why they received an order from above.

Personally, I like knowing what I'm doing and why when someone asks me to do something. Always question authority!

[OperaTenor]

Originally posted by Serenity:
Always question authority!

Yeah, what she said.

I advanced as far as I could very rapidly while I was in the USN, but could never make chief because I always questioned authority. It didn't matter how affiliative I tried to be, or how good my intentions were, they simply did not like getting another perspective from below.

Aaron, don't let this have a negative impact on you. Like I said before, that isn't the real world.

[Jeff Dutton]

Aaron - The only other person I know who went to Marine Corps boot camp didn't complete it either. I think it is designed to be more difficult than the other branches of the military.

Jeff

[bignaf]

I think you're to (Ethan, hehehe) good for it.