Posted on 05/17/2005 7:42:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON – The Marine Corps commandant casually acknowledged Tuesday something that would have been considered unthinkable only a few years ago – the Marines offered to close the San Diego Recruit Depot in this current base closure and realignment process.
But Gen. Michael Hagee told the independent closure commission that the proposal was dropped because the cost of moving the historic training post from its location next to Lindbergh Field outweighed the possible savings.
Hagee's comments were the first indication that the Marines had changed their previous strong opposition to losing the San Diego boot camp, which has been creating or supporting Marines since 1921.
The depot was looked at in previous base closure rounds because of its congested location, because much of the recruit training must be done at Camp Pendleton and because the Navy had consolidated all of its recruit training at one location.
It also was known that San Diego officials would like to have the property, which sits right alongside the main runway at Lindbergh, to expand the heavily used international airport.
But the Marines fought the proposal in the past, partly out of pride in the historic role of the base and because they argued they could not guarantee the ability to train all the recruits they might need in a rapid build-up of forces.
The past closure commissions accepted the Marines' judgment and kept the recruit depot open and the base was not on the closure list the Pentagon released Friday.
So Hagee's comments came as a surprise during the current commission's review of Navy and Marine proposal on the current list.
The issue was raised by retired Adm. Harold Gehman, who wondered if the Marines had considered closing the depot because of the encroachment from Lindbergh.
"Yes," Hagee replied. "The Marine Corps nominated the recruit depot for closure."
But, the top Marine added, "when it went through the analytical process, we found to have the same capacity elsewhere would cost us more."
Although the commission has the power to add bases to the proposed closure list, that would take the vote of seven of the nine commissioners, which is unlikely.
The quonset huts are long since gone, but that darn airfield next door where recruits almostweeped as they watched planes come and go for 3 months or so still remains.
God Bless all those who passed thru the portals of MCRD San Diego and Parris Island as raw recruits and emerged as United States Marines.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
http://www.mcrdsd.usmc.mil/
Mount Mother F*cker bump...
And, I toss out a MCRSS (7.5 hours, 27 miles 3/1 1991) and Radar Hill bump
"God Bless all those who passed thru the portals of MCRD San Diego and Parris Island as raw recruits and emerged as United States Marines."
I second that with a really really big HOOOOOORRRRRRAAAAHHHH.
I only vistied Parris Island for a three day stint on grad day of nephew a few years back, but I can only say I felt like a 20 year old again! It was simply fabulouse to walk all over the place, talking with Marines. Loved it!
When on Fridays final ceremonies where conducted and those new Marines passed in review........and they started to play Semper Fidelis..............the tears had no place to hide!
Yes...unfortunately Naval Training Center, San Diego, and Camp Nimitz, were closed in the last round. I attended Boot Camp there in 1978. Right next door to MCRD.
I have fond memories of folks like you on the other side of the fence at NTC, smoking cigs and eating HoHos while we double timed it on the PT course. ;-)
NTC San Diego finally closed on 30 April 1997 as a result of the 1995 BRAC, not the 2000 BRAC.
San Diego? MCRD, San Diego? Hey, isn't that where they make those new fangled Hollywood Marines??? Ya know the ones that get Navy issued Sunglasses???
I thought the girl scouts took that place over long ago! :-)
Semper Fi
MCRD, PARRIS ISLAND, S C, Grad: 7/3/'73 (Home of the indestructable sand flea!, a protected species!) :-)
I live a couple of miles from MCRD
Hollywood Marines
Tell that to my several relatives that went through MCRD
The 1st Marine Div. that took Bagdad, etc.
and won the pres. unit cit. Over 30,000 San Diego
Marines were doing the fighting in Iraq, many two tours
including my second cousin.
"MCRD, PARRIS ISLAND, S C, Grad: 7/3/'73 (Home of the indestructable sand flea!, a protected species!) :-)"
Ha ha easy for me to laugh not having to stand at attention for an hour while my face was ripped apart and bleeding.
I was told by a ex-Marine and Marine dad at Parris Is. that they "seed" areas with those little buggers, so the recruits are assured a sufficient number to be on hand. Or was it the red fire ants?
Thank you all in this thread that have served our country in uniform.
Proud uncle of LCpl Steve 2nd LAR currently in far northwest Iraq. I haven't asked him if Iraqi flies where anywhere as bad. Have to remember to ask him.
Parris Island sandflea bump.
Yea, I got a Marine nephew on his second tour to the pit.
His first Deploy was out of Lejeune with the 2/2 Warlords, and my nephew was in the SE cooridor of Fallujah during that first small attack. I continue to honor them all in my thoughts on a daily basis, and of course pray a lot!
Platoon 3110 - October 1970.
And later had the honor of working at Merrill Lynch with the former base commander, General William Joslyn.
Tell him we're pretty proud of him too!!:-)
It's an inside joke. No harm or insult intended.
Semper Fi
I see you are in Pa. A couple of my 5th great grandfathers
served in the Rev. War. from PA
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