See if you can get him one of these.
Posted on 05/15/2005 11:06:46 AM PDT by zeugma
I have a nephew that will be starting boot camp for the Marine Corps. My wife and I are interested in getting him something that might be useful to him at boot camp.
We would be interested in any insight that our fellow freepers might have into what a young man might need in his first months as a Marine.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
They need to be decent pics, though- otherwise the Marine gets in trouble!
Well, he couldn't take anything with him, but once he was started, I remember my ex asking for personal effects, including a new razor and tighty-whities (underwear) to wear instead of the standard issue. They also like a little bit of cash for some of the shopping they can do. If you really want to get him something memorable, wait until graduation.
Another thing... STAMPS. He was always asking me for stamps.
Thanks to everyone from me as well. Thanks for all of your input, experience, and good wishes for Matthew. We're very proud and are making plans to adopt his entire platoon after he graduates and receives his orders. Bless you, Freepers, zeugmasgirl
He can't take anything with him, but you can send him a package in the mail.
The only thing that I remember needing at Parris Island was Avon's Skin so Soft.
Get it to him right away. (The mail runs slow, IIRC).
Skin so Soft keeps away those most detestable creatures on Gods Earth: sand fleas.
* This is one of the best to do.
I took stamps and stationery to Air Force Basic in 1948. Smart thing to do.
See if you can get him one of these.
Think about this....
This is 1962, SOUTH CAROLINA...
EVERY D.I. was WHITE, with as much absolute power over your fate as the old slave masters.
We had one skinny little black kid show up at the same time we hit the train drop in Yemassee -- he ended up in my Platoon.. At that time - I doubt there there were more than a half dozen blacks in the whole Battalion.
For the first few weeks, they called that kid everything but a Christian, and busted his ass at every opportunity..
Once they saw he was serious about becoming a Marine - and the directed insults were having no effect -- they got off his back..
Even to these "redneck" D.I.s he had proven himself, and that was all they expected. Once they deterimined he wasn't a risk by having a chip on his shoulder....he became "one of us".
I would have to say he was the most courageous to have joined the Corps.... in that time at that place.
Semper Fi
That story was one for the ages.
I graduated MCRD San Diego Aug 20, 2004.
Here are some thoughts. NOTE: I am assuming the recruit is attending MCRD San Diego. If not, you will need to change point one substantially.
1- Mail is terribly slow. I would just send him mail before waiting for them. Here is how.
First, determine his company with this website:
http://www.mcrdsd.usmc.mil/RTR/2005_grad_sched.htm
Look only at shipping date.
Second, write him a long, detailed letter with this format in the send address:
Recruit John E. Doe
1st BN, Alpha Co. PLT _ _ _ _
36001 Midway Ave
San Diego, CA 92140 - (plus platoon #)
Of course, change the BN (batallion), the Co. (Company), leave teh PLT blank in both cases. Keep the formatting! I don't quite know how to determine the BN; one way is to look at the Chevron newspaper found at www.mcrdsd.usmc.mil, find the issue that featured your nephew's company and note the BN number.
2- Never send any cookies, snacks.
3- produce meaningful mails with many details. Send pictures.
4- try to send one email a day. I would also recommend that your recruit never gets more than one mail a day--more than 1 a day can get a good recruit on the "kill" list. I remember that well. The "kill" list is the quarterdeck list--very painful exersize.
5- make sure his girlfriend, if he has one, breaks up with him in third phase if ever. I kid you not, they should not receive a dear John letter in the first two phases. Once they reach third phase, the prospect of failure is low.
6- in your mail, I would mention the training he has or will encounter. You can find a training matrix at the MCRD San Diego Website.
Support your recruit. Never send him anything except a Bible. The recruits open packages in front of the DIs.
Semper Fi, in Christ,
LCpl Highness
**Note that I won't be able to respond to any further queries since I am going to MCT tomorrow (92-day Reserve program).
In boot camp, the guy in the rack next to me had a lobbyist father from Colorado.
The DI gave him much grief (like everyone else) until he (the DI) got a letter from a Senator from Colorado. Then he gave him cushy jobs and treated him nice.
The both were a couple of pukes. I still remember his name - Recruit Soash. (Sore A$$)
LOL...this past February when my youngest was at OCS, my other Marine son sent his little brother a package addressed to his platoon sergeant. In it was a box of care bear valentines and a note asking the sergeant to please have this candidate to distribute them to his squad.
It just happened that day the mail was distributed by the platoon commander. Big brother got lots of laughs when he found out what happened!
Other than that, not much.
I'll agree with everyone else on waiting till graduation. Then get him a boatload of goodies. I recommend:
A camelbak(but you might want to wait and see on his Unit SOP)
Camo Sticks and Camo Packs (lots)
A leatherman or Gerbal
A tactical knife
Good shooting gloves (i recommend hellstorm)
A riggers belt.
A pair of Wiley-X Shooting sunglasses.
A updated suspension system for his ballistic helmet (becaused issued ones are highly uncomfortable)
Lots of hundred mile an hour tape and a roll of 550 cord.
Under armor.
A weapons cleaning kit.
A small propane stove (though he shouldnt be needing this much as a private)
Then maybe throw in some Marine Corps t-shirts.
I could go, but just to some ideas..
Look around at Ranger Joes or Brigade QuaterMasters
My sister sent me cookies while in USCG basic and is was one of the worst days of my life. I can't imagine how a Marine boot camp DI would handle it.
If you do send a letter, make sure you mention the rude behavior of the DI and how you think he isn't a very proper "soldier".
Jack Daniels
rotalmao
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