One Marine's Mission to Prepare Recruits

MSNBC.Com ^ | 12-28-2004 | MSNBC.Com

[BoBToMatoE]

“Turn ’em on, Fire Watch. Turn the lights on,” he shouted, as he and the other drill instructors stormed between the bunks, yelling at the young recruits to get up and face another grueling day. And they had better move fast, fast, fast!

For the next several minutes, the recruits counted off, put on their fatigues, boots and caps — performing each task on command, always being yelled at, constantly shouting back at the top of their lungs, "Aye, sir!"

Next, they would make their bunks — exactly right — and sweep the squad room, crawling along the floor like crabs, one hand behind their back, the other pushing a small brush. "Any day, any day," shouted Cuadro to an errant recruit, who wisely stepped up the pace. All this, and it's not even 5 a.m. yet.

"You try to get them used to working in a stressful environment, being able to perform simple tasks while someone is yelling at them," said Cuadro, as the never-ending shouts of drill instructors and recruits reverberated through the building.

[BoBToMatoE]

My brother graduated from Paris Island a couple of years ago. I think this article is an interesting read for those who do not know what boot camp is like.

I know my brother values his boot camp experience like none other. I know that just watching him march in formation during his graduation made the back of my hair stand on end.

Good read, although I do not think it shows the intensity of Marine boot camp or truly how valuable it is. I do think that a line by SSgt rings so true.

-----

"It takes courage for them to come down here," he said. "There's a war going on, they know there's a war going on, and they came down here anyway. You gotta admire that. Everybody back home stayed there, and they came here."

[pfflier]

For the next several hours, the recruits would march in sub-freezing temperatures to the mess hall for a breakfast of eggs, pancakes and bacon; return to the barracks for more clean-up —looking again like crabs holding brushes; then do two hours of vigorous physical training led by Cuadro himself, their senior drill instructor.

In Gitmo the IRC and ACLU consider this "torture".

[chudogg]

The article doesnt tell you about Hydration Formations.

[Turbo Pig]

I think this article is an interesting read for those who do not know what boot camp is like.

This analogy may be a bit crude for some. It is the best way to explain Marine Corps Boot Camp, though.

Marine Corps Boot Camp is sort of like sex. Others can tell you about it. You can watch movies and read books. Shoot, you can even do close approximations of the act itself. When you get down to it, though, nothing is remotely close to the real thing, and never will be.

[SVTCobra03]

It's utilities and covers not "fatigues and caps."

[Recon Dad]

This was a good and true representation of PI. Parris Island has two R's. The rest of the services should take lessons from the Marines. All Marines get the same training and everyone is a rifleman even officers. The first thing they teach is Marine history so they develop a common ethos.
There are a couple of truisms you can say about the Marines; they are the best fighting force in the world today. Marines are a cheap date when compared to other services and lastly if you mess with one you mess with them all.

[Joe Marine 76]

"Marines are a cheap date when compared to other services..."

How true Recon Dad! The phrase that was popular when I was serving was:

"The Marines have done so much with so little for so long that they can do anything with nothing forever!"

Semper Fi!

Joe Marine

[NYCop]

[topher]

It's utilities and covers not "fatigues and caps."

The Lame Stream Media may have actually been supporting our troops and not taking pictures with the terrorists.

I'll overlook this one -- in the vain hope that the lame stream media really starts supporting our troops.

[Retain Mike]

The other services really miss out by having politically correct and user friendly basic, because those few weeks are a once in a lifetime opportiunity to subject these recruits, fresh from civilian life, to an experience which might remotely resemble combat.

[ibtheman]

I had served in the corp, and requested to go to Parris Island, it was an experience. Hey if anybody is interestred, on PBS they shot a video if what a marine recruit goes thru. Check it out, it brought back memories to me. I was in the Corp 83-87!

[Mr. Lucky]

Your memory is obviously better than mine. Weren't the squad "rooms" really squad "bays"?

[RaceBannon]

Squad bay when I was there.

[sergeantdave]

Do the DIs still call recruits "maggots?"

[connectthedots]

Was that a 'typo'?

[Recon Dad]

My Marine is home from LeJeune for the holidays. Another truism I left off from my original message is that a Marine can drink more beer than I thought humanly possible. He goes back on the 2nd and anytime from then until March he'll be off with the 26th MEU for Iraq. We went shooting today and he groups his shots like a .......Marine!

[Recon Dad]

My Marine is home from LeJeune for the holidays. Another truism I left off from my orginal message is that a Marine can drink more beer than I thought humanlly possible. He goes back on the 2nd and anytime from then until March he'll be off with the 26th MEU for Iraq. We went shooting today and he groups his shots like a .......Marine!

[sergeantdave]

Typo? Which word?

[ed ict]

bunk = rack
floor = deck
cap/hat = cover
door = hatch
floor = deck
drinking fountain = scuttlebut
stair = ladder
parade ground = grinder

[SVTCobra03]

Here is a pop quiz: Define pogey bait. What is the difference between port and starboard. Finish this phrase: This is my rifle.........