Great post. My son is currently in TBS at Quantico. I hope I have given him enough foundation to deal with all the bullshit.
He did a term in the Reserves - only one deployment. Was Field Radio Operator.
Ah, TBS...The Basic School.
“Two weeks of intensive study crammed into 6 months.”
Actually, I appreciated TBS. I was part of the group headed to Pensacola after TBS, but after having been an enlisted grunt in Vietnam, TBS meant something.
Especially after Mrs BN & I made our formal “social call” to the XO and his lady. He had flown the RF-8 Crusader photo missions over Cuba during the Missile Crisis. He gave me the “benevolent Dutch uncle” lecture about paying attention in TBS, even though I would be heading to Flight School.
He told of his tour on Vietnam as the Operations Officer (G-3) for the 3rd Marine Division, in combat, and how he had two regimental G-3s working under him who were pilots, plus two rifle company commanders, in the bush, who were also pilots.
“Pay attention! Every Marine is a Rifleman and every Marine lieutenant is a Rifle Platoon commander.”
Ooooh Rah!, and Semper Fi!
BTW, I checked your “About Me” page. It looks like you have given your son an excellent foundation. We NEED men like him in the Corps!