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ESPRITSummer201323FunataColoradoLock-InASpecialKindofCloseness2ndMidwestBattalionThispastMarchthe2ndMidwestBattalionheldaLock-IninDenverCOattheNationalGuardbuild-ing.YoungMarinescamefromallaroundColoradotoparticipateincludingYoungMarinesfromthePuebloPikesPeakMountainViewDouglasCountyandFlatironsunits.Themainpurposeofthelock-inwastohelptheYoungMarinesmakenewfriendsandbuildteamspirit.Manyofthemmetothersintheprogramwhomtheymightnothaveotherwisemet.AsoneofthemputitItwasanincrediblefeelingtoreallyseethatthereisavastnum-berofyoungpeoplejustlikeme.Classesweremixedinwithpurefun.SubjectscoveredintheclassesincludedCPRBasicFirst-AidAdvancedFirst-Aidlandnavigationandusingso-cialmediasafely.TheYoungMarineswholateradmittedtheydeprivedthemselvesofsleepbecausetheyreallyjustdidnotwanttogotosleepgavetheclassesexcellentreviews.Theteambuildingexerciseswereabighit.TheseincludedCapturetheFlagandanight-timescavengerhuntcarriedoutbyteamsarmedwithcompassesandashlights.TherewasalsoaDrugDemandReduc-tionJeopardygameinwhichthewinningteamgottoeattheirchowrst.Anotherteambuilderwasagamewhereeveryonepairedupintoteamsoftwoandonepersonwouldsitdownwhiletheotherwouldsprayshavingcreamallovertheothersfaceandthenfromaxeddis-tancethrowCheetosattheirpartnerthewinningteamhadthemostCheetosstuckontheirfacesAtsomepointinthenightseveralYoungMarinesdecidedtochallengeeachothertoagameof300toseewhocouldcomplete300push-upsinsideof30min-utes.Eventuallytheyalljoinedinandaf-terencouragingeachotherthroughalotofgroansandgruntsmorethanadozenofthemmanagedtoreachthegoal.ItwasreportedthatPogeybaitwastheonlythingthatallowedthemtostayawakethroughallofthis.Spendingallthosehourssoclosetogeth-erundertakingchallengeswithpeoplewhomatrsttheyhardlyknewledtoonebigrewardforallmakingallegiancesandlearninghowtoworktogetherasonegi-antteam.ThefollowingYoungMarinesallcontributedtothisarticleYMPVTDakotaCordovaandYMPVTDanMatthewsPuebloYMCPLAlecHernandezandYMPFCKodyJohnsonMoun-tainViewYMPFCJosephFloresandYMPFCChelseaSihpolDouglasCountyYMSGTHaileyLopezPikesPeakandYMLCPLJasonMcNultyandYMCPLJohnMcKennaMountainViewThemajorityofYoungMarinesmanagedtonishtheir300push-upsthoughtheymightnotbeabletousetheirarmsforawhile--YMCplAlecHernandezMountainViewCOItwasnicetoreallylearnwhoourpeersareashumanbeings.Notjusttherankswewearonouruniformsbuttheheartbeneathourtoughskins.--PFCChelseaSihpolDouglasCountyCODoingaLock-IngivesyouaninvigoratingsensationthatbringsyouthatmuchclosertoyourfellowYoungMarines.--YMPvtDanMatthewsPuebloCO