USMC 1992-1996, 0311.
I’m a little guy, 5’1, which made me a DI magnet. Fortunately I was tough, could run, PT, no problem. Short, not weak. We did, however, have a recruit who would break down crying at least once a week. Everyone gave him crap. Myself included. It was a survival technique. The SWOs have a saying “heat on thee is heat of me.” Social pecking orders always find solace in at least being one rung up from the bottom. Anyway, we were standing outside in formation in front of the chow hall at Edson Range Camp Pendleton when this kid just takes off for the woods. I think he would’ve hit I-5 then the ocean. The DIs all ran after him. We never saw him again. He just disappeared, processed out and sent home. To us it was like he was erased.
First off...never, EVER underestimate the small guy.
Second, i wish i could ping my dad for the Pendleton reference. God i love that man.
Having said all that...visualizing a bunch of instructors chasing that recruit through it; i’d pay to see it. XD
~W
I had Mess and Maintenance week at the Edson Range chow hall. I was in the pot shack with the guide from our sister platoon in the series. One of their prives had jumped the fence and was standing there quite visibly on I-5 dressed like a boot thumbing for a ride. One of their platoon’s other recruits jumped the fence and brought the hitch-hiking escapee down in a flying tackle and manhandled him back over the fence.