The first thing I saw was a flag that was covered with several different colored ribbons of several sizes and shapes; the flag had bright yellow strings around it, a bright crimson red back ground and the anchor, globe and eagle of the Marine Corp.
When we got to MEEPs, I entered a huge room painted in white that had desk older than the White House. On each desk was a big yellow pencil sharpened to a sharp point and forms that were needed to fill out. I saw about twenty different people of different backgrounds and ethic culture. I was very nervous and scared of the test. When we got started I saw that it was nothing but a basic test of skills in math, English, mechanics, shapes, language. I ripped through the test faster then I thought I would. Getting a good job was my goal and make the grade was my objective at hand.
I went back the next day and was told to strip down to my shorts, when I was done I entered a white room that had gray rusted desk and medical tables and cabinets all over and three gray-haired doctors with bright white lab coats on. There were nurses going about their business not paying attention to the different types of dark and light skinned and half naked men. As I advanced in the line I could see that we were being given a physical that required us to prove our bodies are worth putting through hell by bending our knees, lifting, jumping, take an eye test, spread our cheeks, coughing and testing our hearing. After passing the test we were allowed to get dress and go into a room that was small and painted a light peach color and had each of the brightly covered flags of the services and the stars and stripes of the American flag. A Marine captain with a shirt filled with colorful ribbons on a tan shirt and green slacks. We took our oath of office and jumped for joy knowing that we have join a select group of elite people, the smallest of all services and the most widely known, the United States Marine Corp.