Few, Proud, Remarkable

National Review ^ | April 23 2004 | Richard Lowry

[sean327]

This is the reason we don't need to bring back the draft. These kids will keep comming to Parris Island and San Diego,and the Drill Instructors will keep turning them into Marines, just as they have for 228 years.

Semper Fi

[cripplecreek]

I support the draft but feel that service overseas should be volentary. I have a feeling that many draftees would choose service overseas with a pay increase and a chance to learn new skills.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

I remember being in Marine Combat Training, a sort of fourth phase after boot camp when Saddam invaded Kuwait in '90. Training took on a much more serious nature after that.

Remember some of these guys that are actually doing the training are reservists now since the regulars have gone to war already.

I can imagine it's much more intense these days.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Has the USMC ever taken draftees ?

[m1-lightning]

Bump

[Toespi]

"From Chicago-born US Marine, Lance Corporal Ryan Christiansen, when asked if he was concerned that a ceasefire would allow Saddamite forces to regroup said: "I really don't care; they're all gonna die."

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

From what I'm told the Marines always resisted draftees (even during Vietnam). The USMC is very small, only 198,000 when I was in. They don't want any slackers in the ranks. They don't enhance the Esprit De Corps, or add to the mission.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Yep, during Vietnam. The Corps couldn't meet its recruitment quotas and a certain percentage of draftees were assigned to the USMC.
I was a draftee myself. It turned out to be a great experience and left me with a very positive appreciation of the military, and grateful for the opportunity to serve my country.

[sargunner]

I am sure the Corp may have resisted taking draftess, but the truth is that during VietNam the Marines were forced to accept draftees to fill out the ranks due to insufficient volunteers. This process usually took place at the induction center.

"Army,Army,Army,Marine,Army,Army,Army,Marine..etc"

[A.A. Cunningham]

"Who is the father of Marine Corps aviation?" The answer comes back, "A. A. Cunningham, sir." "Who is the father of Marine Corps aviation?" "A. A. Cunningham, sir."

That's true.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Yes, that's true. When ordered, the Commandant must do as he is told. Fortunately, the USMC is a lot better at weeding out the non-hackers than most.

[kellynla]

Marine Bump!

Semper Fi, do or die!
Kelly

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

You're pretty old... how'd you do it? :)

[A.A. Cunningham]

Yes.

[A.A. Cunningham]

By the seat of my trousers.

[sargunner]

You're right. It was my experience that once a draftee had proven himself to be a fit Marine recruit he was, under most circumstances accepted and the draftee distinction was lost. Whereas in the Army, the volunteer maintained an RA (regular army) designation to distinguish between those on a full term enlistment and those that were drafted. I don't think the same existed in the Corp.

[RJS1950]

Yes, they stopped drafting in Feb of 70. Of the last recruits to be drafted who were in boot camp at that time a number were in tears when they heard the news (but they made it and graduated). The rest of us volunteers just inwardly smiled (God forbid the drill instructor would have seen us smiling).

[Gunner Mike]

For all the hardship they deal out, the drill instructors are working as hard as the recruits. They have signed up for brutal hours and physically taxing days. One drill instructor says he tells recruits convinced that their instructor hates them, "If that's so, how come you see him more than his children see him?"
[IMG]http://img54.photobucket.com/albums/v165/GunnerMike/DI_and_Daughter.jpg[/IMG]

[RJS1950]

Heh, heh - I remember that at the induction center. A group of us were already committed to the Corps, but it was priceless to watch a couple of truly long-haired hippie types swoon away when the sergeant said: "all of you odd-numbered maggots, welcome to the Marines".

[sargunner]

Ah, the memories....