[mdmathis6]

I was assigned to an all enlistee training company”

I wonder if enlistees were seen as more motivated, not that you got special treatment at boot, but I’ll bet there were fewer discipline issues than what the marines had to deal with, with the draftees!

[Mouton]

I think there is merit to your point. Our training sergeant the first day and told us we were all R/As and as such knew pretty much where we were going to end up. He said it was his job to train us as best he could. He added, work with us, we will work with you. Basic was not too bad in that unit, we worked hard but there were no problems.

I became ill after my sixth week. Ended up in hospital for a week with a weeks convalescence leave. Was recycled to a group in its second week when I returned. There were no more than a dozen R/As in it. It was misery. I was one of the oldest there at 23 so I was able to discern what was training and what today would be considered abuse.