April 29, 2009 
The day has finally come, you’re Marine is finally graduating! If you’re committed enough to stay together during boot camp, chances are you know each other well. Or at least, you used to. But get ready for a surprise, after boot camp, you may not recognize your recruit physically or mentally. “He was a lot smaller,” remembers Walls, “he’d lost so much weight, he looked different.” Steffani agrees, saying “He was a little high-strung when he first got out. He’d been so stressed for so long, it was kind of hard to turn it off.” Try to look at the changes in a positive light and embrace your new Marine. “There was also a sense of pride that I’d never seen before,” says Walls. “He was more confident, disciplined, stronger, physically and mentally.”
Semper Gumby
Graduation can be a wonderful, emotional and often overwhelming time for Marines and their families. But a little patience and flexibility can make for a great day. Prepare ahead of time for things not to go exactly how you plan. Schedules will change, family members will vy for attention, parades will run late, weather forecasts will be wrong.
Pack practical (as well as cute) clothes and remember that most ceremonies are outdoors, year-round, rain or shine, so be prepared and wear layers. Also, realize your Marine may have plans of his own for what to do after he graduates. Be flexible and try to follow his lead. “He slept a lot when he got home,” remembers Steffani. “I was kind of annoyed because all I wanted to do was spend time with him, but I also understood that he’d been sleep deprived and really needed to make it up.”
But after that initial period of adjustment, the real rewards of getting through such a challenging experience appear. “Our relationship changed a lot, in a good way,” says Steffani. “It made us realize how much we needed and loved each other. It deepened our relationship to a whole new level, and we grew in ways I never knew we could in such a short time.” Walls agrees, saying “There are no words to describe the sense of pride and respect I have for my husband,” explains Walls. “He made the decision to become a Marine, making sacrifices big and small, so that maybe, someday, our children won’t have to. In my eyes (and my son’s) he’s a Hero for not taking the easy road, but doing what he felt was right and his honor and duty.”
Boot camp will inevitably be one of the most difficult times in most Marine couples’ lives, but by staying positive and being prepared, it can also be one of the most defining and rewarding ones as well.
More Helpful Links
MCRD Parris Island
MCRD San Diego
For the specific training schedule at MCRD
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)
Military OneSource