Making Marines - From Recruit to Soldier

Daily Record ^ | 02/21/02 | Matthew Katz

[SAMWolf]

The recruits are tired.

They will only get eight hours of sleep over 54 hours. They are hungry

[SAMWolf]

[astounded]

The Crucible is a great thing. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of how Parris Island basic compares to BUD/S and Hell Week? Sounds like there was some cross-pollination going on within the USN.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Calling a Marine a "soldier" is a good way to start a fight.

[DWSUWF]

Compare these young men to our enemy's youth...

The turd world produces cowardly, perverse human trash, barely clever enough to strap on a bandoleer of dynamite to be used to murder a busload of children and elderly.

If our critics, who whine that we 'rule' the world, are correct it's merely an observation of a state of affairs that is the logical outcome of our profound superiority as a people.

[PokeyJoe]

Uhm, note to Editor's who titled this story from Mattew Katz (author of the story).

I am a U.S. Marine, NOT a U.S. Soldier.

If you want to talk to a U.S. Soldier, go to Fort Hood.

hint: Never piss off U.S. Soldier's by calling them Marines, or vice versa. (Let the Iraqi press do that - and they'll find out what it does to the troops in combat)

[PokeyJoe]

Email that I wrote to Matt. The article was posted in February 2002. Old stuff.

Matt,

I recently read a news article posted from February 2002 "From recruit to U.S. Soldier".

I didn't want to make too much out of it, but I hope that you've been advised that it's not wise to label U.S. Soldiers as Marines, or vice versa. It tends to have an adverse reaction on their military bearing.

Other than that, great article.

Semper Fi

[johnny7]

But asked if he would jump on a grenade to save another Marine, Soltysik hesitated.

There's no way you know untill it happens. It's like when someone threatens you with a knife or firearm.

It's an automatic response that just happens... kind of like blinking or sneezing.

[SAMWolf]

I just knew that title would start trouble!

I sometimes wonder about the Press, when it comes to the Military they are sooooo clueless.

[Junior]

Marines ain't soldiers, as they'll be the first to tell ya.

[FreedomPoster]

You'd think they'd vet their work with someone bearing a clue about the military. It's the same with firearms, though -- articles about "semi-automatic revolvers" and such.

[Soaring Feather]

GOOD MORNING SAM


Wonderful graphic!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning, Bentfeather.

[NormsRevenge]

The ultimate lessons, however, all return to the Marine Corps. The conversation Wednesday was held following the recruits’ participation in an event named for a Marine who died when he leapt on a grenade in the Korean War to save a comrade. The recruits gazed at the mug shot of Pfc. Fernando Luis Garcia, which was posted in the sand.

Thanks for the ultimate sacrifice, Marine Garcia.

Semper Fi

[gitmogrunt]

Mr. Katz, Marines ain't soldiers, you can now get your scuzzy civlian ass off my goddamn island .....move you turd! and quit eyeballin' me!

[MP5]

Calling a Marine a "soldier" is a good way to start a fight.

That's the first thing I thought of when I read the headline.

[MistyCA]

Thanks, Sam. I have a lot of respect and regard for the young Marines who hang in there and reach their goal. It sets them apart, and I hope they never lower their standards as we see with so many other things today.

[Victoria Delsoul]

The Crucible features 29 problem-solving exercises and 36 checkpoints. Recruits help each other scale walls and climb across moving parallel bars while hauling their equipment. Food and sleep deprivation are intentional, and not all events are successfully completed, Marines said.

Wow, these guys have my respect and sympathy. I workout every day for 20 minutes and I love to play sports every time I have a chance, but I couldn't possibly imagine doing something like that. I'd probably drop dead on the first attempt, LOL!

[SAMWolf]

Does that mean you don't think you'd make a good Marine?

[Jarhead_22]

Great article!

Semper Bump.