Not sure what it is today but back then, a 50% dropout rate was not unusual in Marine Corps boot camp. So even among men, the bar was set quite high.
I remember the platoon of wash-outs. It would usually take a week or two to process them out so they had to have somewhere to go in the meantime. I think they spent most of the day picking up cigarette butts on the parade decks and such.
They also had PCP and CCP platoons. The PCP platoon was where you went if you failed a PFP (Physical Fitness Test) and you had 4-6 weeks to get in shape or you were washed out for good.
The CCP platoon was correctional custody for those who tried deserting or had discipline issues. You did not want to be there! I used to pull guard duty in those barracks (as they were not allowed to guard themselves) and they would have them completely disassemble their racks (beds) each morning and stack them up against a wall. They would then have to completely re-assemble them at night after a day of mostly hard labor.
Well its great to know Parris Island was still doing a top notch job 30 years later. Hate to mention this but you went through PI 30 years after me, imagine how old I am (and you thought you were getting old, lol)