Film’s Most Intimidating Drill Instructor Visits Nimitz (R. Lee Ermey)

Navy Newsstand ^ | 06/04/03 | Carla Morton

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[AlaninSA]

Get off the couch, PRIVATE!

Put some effort into cutting and pasting - IS THAT A JELLY DOUGHNUT?!?!?!?!?

[AlaninSA]

Not even close. A Lieutenant Colonel is an O-5, an officer. A master gunny is an E-8. R. Lee was promoted (as an 'honorary') to E-7 or simply a gunny.

All three ranks are respectable and represent accomplishment. BUT...an E-7 is well below an O-5 on the food chain. An O-5 commanding a battalion will have around 20 E-7s reporting to him or her (at least in the Army).

For reference, the ranks start at E-1 and run through E-9. Next on the food chain are warrant officers (W-1 through W-5 in the Army) and then commissioned officers who start at 2LT "butterbars" and run through four-stars.

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Thanks, there was extended discussion about this on one of the other threads..

[river rat]

"“I still go to the graduations, and I see that the Soldiers are just as motivated and strong as when I was a drill instructor."

I have NEVER, EVER heard a Marine D.I. refer to Marines as "soldiers"!

It must be a West coast -- Hollywood Marine term...

Semper Fi

[Pharmboy]

[battlegearboat]

Lee would agree with you.

He visits so many branches of the service, some with graduating "soldiers".

He would like you so much that he would let you meet his sister.

[Tahoe3002]

No equiv. to LtCol. Enlisted and officer ranks stand on their own merit, each with their own responsiblities and privileges.. According to Ermey's web site, he was medically discharged, due to injuries received in Viet Nam. He was a Staff Sergeant with 10 years active duty, and had time as a Drill Instructor. The "gunny" was honorably promoted to that rank long after this active service. He is a former Marine, who does great things for the Corps.

Semper Fi, USMC 1974 to 1981

[Jonx6]

Outstanding!

[mewzilla]

He even found watermelons on his trip to Iraq. I didn't even know Iraq had watermelons :)

[RoughDobermann]

I don't know if this is his "actor" uniform, or not, but the top two medals on this uniform are the silver star and the purple heart

Here's a quick bio

Ronald Ermey's real life USMC career is not at all on the same level as his famous character Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. In real life, Ermey was a Staff Sergeant and, although a Vietnam veteran, was never awarded the Purple Heart or a combat decoration (Bronze Star, Silver Star, etc).

Although he retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1971, Ermey was later awarded the Honorary rank of Gunnery Sergeant.

U.S. Marine Corps awards and decorations include: Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (w/bronze service star), Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/60 Device), Vietnam Gallentry Cross (w/Palm), Good Conduct Medal (w/2 bronze service stars), Marksman Badge (w/Rifle Bar) and Sharpshooter Badge (w/Pistol Bar).

[RoughDobermann]

A little intel on Full Metal Jacket...

Former US Marines Drill Instructor R. Lee Ermey was hired as a consultant on how to drill USMC style. He performed a demonstration on videotape in which he yelled obscene insults and abuse for fifteen minutes without stopping, repeating himself, or even flinching - despite being continuously pelted with tennis balls and oranges. Director Stanley Kubrick was so impressed that he cast Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann.