Every person is late at least a few times in his or her live time. Things happen where circumstance interferes with original plans. On Monday, December 16, 2008, I, Lance Corporal Yang, Tun N., arrived at Pendleton drastically late, three hours past the instructed formation time. This occurred because of horrible weather conditions and terrible traffic conditions. I left with ample time from my place of residence in Arcadia, California to Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, San Clemente, California; however, being as my stereo system is not functioning, I could not check the traffic condition on the freeways at the time. It was my misfortune in taking the Interstate 60 East freeway only to be stuck there for hours, due to an overturned eighteen-wheel semi truck that I later learned of. The overturned eighteen-wheel semi truck caused all four lanes of the Interstate 60 East freeway to be shut down, by the time I able to exit the Interstate 60 East freeway and turn around onto the Interstate 60 West, there was heavy traffic on all the freeways in Southern California. Following my transfer to Interstate 60 West freeway, I made my way down to Camp Pendleton onto the Interstate 605 South and the Interstate 5 South freeways which it was a bumper to bumper scene the entire way. Through out my trip down to Camp Pendleton, I had maintained contact with Sgt Rodgers; upon my arrival at Camp Horno at approximately 0930 I placed a call to Sgt Rodgers to notify him of my arrival. With any ordinary occupation, on any ordinary day, this incident would be excusable considering it was the first time it had ever happened; however, this being the Marine Corps., it is not an excusable action or incident because it affects the whole platoon. Being late affects more than one person in the Marine Corps and every person should reflect on how this is so. Tardiness affects combat readiness in three ways. In the following essay, I will explain how being late affect combat readiness in the present,...