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re: Question for OT Marines
Posted on 1/7/22 at 2:14 am to SaintlyTiger88
Posted on 1/7/22 at 2:14 am to SaintlyTiger88
Just for historical perspective, my father went through Army Basic Training in the early sixties, just before Vietnam started revving up to full speed. His Drill SGT was a WWII/Korea Lieutenant Colonel who had been RIF'd back down to NCO and was just putting in his time to retirement, when he would retire at his former LTC rank. He gave zero fricks. It wasn't always harder back in the day.
1
Posted on 1/7/22 at 3:29 am to SaintlyTiger88
In 1994 I arrived in PI on the same day the DI said "eye balls" at the swimming pool and blew his brains out in front of a bunch of recruits.
1st and 2nd Battalion was near the brass so DIs had to watch their six always but 3rd Battalion out in the sticks seemed to have a lot of rumors of shenanigans.
Seen a recruit scratch his nose for sand fleas in formation and the DI made him keep scratching until he bled.
Seen a recruit get thrashed daily at the rifle range. DI made him takes his boots off and bury them in the sand. Spent more time in the sand pit than actual snapping in. Rifle qual day came and the guy shot well below passing score and he gets up, hits our shooting instructor with the rifle, then points the weapon at our DI and the company commander. Series Gunny walks up to him and rips the rifle right out his hands. A few Marines tackle him and he was arrested. Pretty sure I left PI before that recruit did.
1st and 2nd Battalion was near the brass so DIs had to watch their six always but 3rd Battalion out in the sticks seemed to have a lot of rumors of shenanigans.
Seen a recruit scratch his nose for sand fleas in formation and the DI made him keep scratching until he bled.
Seen a recruit get thrashed daily at the rifle range. DI made him takes his boots off and bury them in the sand. Spent more time in the sand pit than actual snapping in. Rifle qual day came and the guy shot well below passing score and he gets up, hits our shooting instructor with the rifle, then points the weapon at our DI and the company commander. Series Gunny walks up to him and rips the rifle right out his hands. A few Marines tackle him and he was arrested. Pretty sure I left PI before that recruit did.
This post was edited on 1/7/22 at 3:32 am
Posted on 1/7/22 at 7:00 am to SaintlyTiger88
The basic training was somewhat realistic. RVN not so much. Most of our training was done by the Junior Drill Instructors as opposed to the Platoon Commander. The Private Pyles were gone about the the first week. One recruit was mustered out a few weeks later at the rifle range because he was a bed wetter. We were not privy to that information until he was gone.
I was on active duty from 1967>1971. "McNamara's Folly" was touted as a "Great Society" program because President Johnson did not want to activate the Reserves or nullify student deferments. USMC recruiters typically gave up on their visits to college and high school campuses so they could go to the urban ghettos and rural farmlands in the Southern states and sign up those who had previously failed to meet basic requirements.
I was on active duty from 1967>1971. "McNamara's Folly" was touted as a "Great Society" program because President Johnson did not want to activate the Reserves or nullify student deferments. USMC recruiters typically gave up on their visits to college and high school campuses so they could go to the urban ghettos and rural farmlands in the Southern states and sign up those who had previously failed to meet basic requirements.
Posted on 1/7/22 at 9:47 am to SaintlyTiger88
the only thing ive learned from being around marines is that they love to tell people they were in the marines.
Posted on 1/7/22 at 3:46 pm to SaintlyTiger88
quote:
Full Metal Jacket…how close to real life was that movie?
It was pretty close to boot camp. However, when I went through (2013) they had long since outlawed DIs being able to put their hands on recruits. Not that it didn't happen, just not as much by any stretch of the imagination.
quote:
Was there a “Private Pyle” in your unit?
Yeah, and I can still see that piece of shite's face. Recruit fricking Poole, goddamn worthless human being.
quote:
Was your drill sergeant anything close to Gunnery Sgt. Hartman?
Yeah pretty much.
The biggest difference was that even in those days there was not just one DI attached to a platoon. There was pretty much always 2 or 3. One guy would be the Senior Drill Instructor (usually a SSgt or GySgt) the others would be technically under him throughout training and he was kind of like the father figure. One would typically be a SSgt who was in charge of teaching you close order drill and the other would be like a junior Drill instructor fresh out of school whose job it was to frick you up pretty much.
Those were some of the funniest motherfrickers I have ever been around. Hard to explain.
This post was edited on 1/7/22 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 1/7/22 at 4:12 pm to SaintlyTiger88
We currently have a "Private Pyle" type as POTUS.
Posted on 1/7/22 at 5:39 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Hit Paris Island in ‘65, so my perspective may be a little different from the board. Boot was a bitch till the last few weeks. It was still 14 weeks at the time. The DIs were mean ole vets that career Marines. They really did not appreciate any reserve recruits.
As planned, they pretty much broke down & peeled away the bs form every single recruit & built it back to the invincible level. Of course they never tell you the other side has the same great weaponry :-)
I really do not watch the Nam era movies, but the bits & pieces of FMJ are close in most cases. There were the mental cases that had no business in the Corp that were washed out, one way or the other. The Pork Chop Platoon actually saved a handful, but most were gone.
They do a hell of a job, but no one can really prepare you for the real thing. Many of the star recruits fold when really under fire, while others rise to the top.
The discipline instilled from boot camp & the time in the Corp have served me well in my journey, professionally & personally. The VA is the only reason I am here to post this. All have heard it, but I attest to the old adage, once a Marine, always a Marine.
Semper Fi !
As planned, they pretty much broke down & peeled away the bs form every single recruit & built it back to the invincible level. Of course they never tell you the other side has the same great weaponry :-)
I really do not watch the Nam era movies, but the bits & pieces of FMJ are close in most cases. There were the mental cases that had no business in the Corp that were washed out, one way or the other. The Pork Chop Platoon actually saved a handful, but most were gone.
They do a hell of a job, but no one can really prepare you for the real thing. Many of the star recruits fold when really under fire, while others rise to the top.
The discipline instilled from boot camp & the time in the Corp have served me well in my journey, professionally & personally. The VA is the only reason I am here to post this. All have heard it, but I attest to the old adage, once a Marine, always a Marine.
Semper Fi !
Posted on 1/8/22 at 6:52 pm to SaintlyTiger88
quote:
Full Metal Jacket…how close to real life was that movie?
I was Army, but my dad went thru the Island in ‘63. He said the movie was spot on. In fact, there were things they DIDN’T show.
Posted on 1/8/22 at 7:04 pm to SaintlyTiger88
There’s at least one Pyle in every basic entry/combat/boot camp training platoon.
Ours appeared to be frail, hairline fractures, wanted to be a combat engineer and had a weird obsession/fetish with ied’s.
I was 28 when I enlisted so I got fricked with by being an “old man” it was fricking fun
Ours appeared to be frail, hairline fractures, wanted to be a combat engineer and had a weird obsession/fetish with ied’s.
I was 28 when I enlisted so I got fricked with by being an “old man” it was fricking fun
This post was edited on 1/8/22 at 7:05 pm
Posted on 1/8/22 at 7:21 pm to SaintlyTiger88
I wasn’t a Marine, but how FMJ portrayed basic training was very similar to basic training in the Army in the 80s. My Drill Sgt. acted very much like Gunnery Sgt. Hartman except he was black, well over 6’ tall, as skinny as a flag pole, and he had a very pronounced lisp. His name for me was “biscuit head” except when he said it, it came out “bithcut head”. And the absolute worst mistake you could make was showing anything that could remotely be viewed as amusement at the way he talked.
Posted on 1/8/22 at 9:19 pm to SaintlyTiger88
The boot camp portrayal was quite accurate. The Vietnam portion was ridiculously inaccurate.
Did my boot camp at MCRD in San Diego in fall 1968 only one year after R Lee Ermey was a DI there. He nailed the delivery.
Boot camp had been reduced to 8 weeks so they could better focus on subsequent infantry training at nearby Camp Pendleton. So boot camp was a sorta crash course. Very violent, teaching to kill was a priority. No time to mess around. We all got the crap beat out of us — lot of shots to the solar plexus, eye slaps, back of head slaps and kicks to the ribs while on “elbows and toes” — excruciating. Some guys got all out beaten by the two junior DIs. My senior DI could pass for Ving Rhames and was uber fit and funny.
I think the violent nature of boot camp from about 1967-72 was the reason why so many remedial measures were taken later.
Blanket parties? Hell yeah. I was among the beaters and the beaten. It went both ways. Our DIs were not good role models.
I went into boot camp kinda chubby and was treated like a “hog” but after they brought us by to see the “Fat Farm” platoon I successfully vowed to get into shape and did. Left there as fit as most and having to almost double-up my web belt to keep my pants up. In fact my DI gave me a big smile at end of camp.
The conditioning and discipline served me well as an 0311 grunt in Vietnam. I survived with only two Purple Hearts. No doubt boot camp trials saved my butt.
Vietnam in the bush was the only thing harder than boot camp and both surpass anything I’ve ever encountered since over the last 52 years.
Am I proud to be a former Marine? Yes. Would I do boot camp and the Nam again? frick no. Once in a lifetime was enough.
Semper Fi my brothers.
Did my boot camp at MCRD in San Diego in fall 1968 only one year after R Lee Ermey was a DI there. He nailed the delivery.
Boot camp had been reduced to 8 weeks so they could better focus on subsequent infantry training at nearby Camp Pendleton. So boot camp was a sorta crash course. Very violent, teaching to kill was a priority. No time to mess around. We all got the crap beat out of us — lot of shots to the solar plexus, eye slaps, back of head slaps and kicks to the ribs while on “elbows and toes” — excruciating. Some guys got all out beaten by the two junior DIs. My senior DI could pass for Ving Rhames and was uber fit and funny.
I think the violent nature of boot camp from about 1967-72 was the reason why so many remedial measures were taken later.
Blanket parties? Hell yeah. I was among the beaters and the beaten. It went both ways. Our DIs were not good role models.
I went into boot camp kinda chubby and was treated like a “hog” but after they brought us by to see the “Fat Farm” platoon I successfully vowed to get into shape and did. Left there as fit as most and having to almost double-up my web belt to keep my pants up. In fact my DI gave me a big smile at end of camp.
The conditioning and discipline served me well as an 0311 grunt in Vietnam. I survived with only two Purple Hearts. No doubt boot camp trials saved my butt.
Vietnam in the bush was the only thing harder than boot camp and both surpass anything I’ve ever encountered since over the last 52 years.
Am I proud to be a former Marine? Yes. Would I do boot camp and the Nam again? frick no. Once in a lifetime was enough.
Semper Fi my brothers.
Posted on 1/8/22 at 10:22 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Worst thing I had done was up at Pendleton, during boot camp. My rack mate had his shite all over. DI told me to go fill my water bowl (canteen). I remember grinning in the mirror filling that sucker up. Got back on line and DI told me to drink. I got water bowl ITd and threw up all over. Had the canteen shoved in my face a few times with the DI assisting me.
Didn’t see that coming and boy did I want to beat that kids arse.
I don’t snitch and enjoy hazing. But found this LINK
Didn’t see that coming and boy did I want to beat that kids arse.
I don’t snitch and enjoy hazing. But found this LINK
This post was edited on 1/8/22 at 10:29 pm
Posted on 1/8/22 at 11:26 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Was on the Island in 96.
The bootcamp you see in FMJ mirrors my experience in many ways.
1. My senior drill instructor was 90% Gunny Hartman. His demeanor, word choice, and body language reminded so much of Gunny. I was in awe to be living this part of one of my favorite films.
2. Blanket parties: We had two. The first one didn't do much damage. 5 or 6 recruits decided to basically scare the shite-bad recruit. That was all. Each hit him once, I heard. I was in the head but heard the commotion. The 2nd time went overboard. Same recruits; same shite-bag. They beat the hell out of him! We were all punished the next day.
3. Private Pyle: Pyle was a special case. We were also not allowed to have live rounds in bootcamp, outside of the rifle range and other specific trainings. However, there was one recruit who f'n lost it. Attacked two different recruits to the point where he might gave blown someone away if he had live ammo at the time. He was court-martialed. We had a couple recruited who were simply below standard, and the drill instructors were always up their asses. In this way, these two were also Pvt Pyle. Complete shite-heads who couldn't seem to do anything at times. It was hard to watch. They were dropped from our platoon around the middle of training (week 5,6,or 7).
The bootcamp you see in FMJ mirrors my experience in many ways.
1. My senior drill instructor was 90% Gunny Hartman. His demeanor, word choice, and body language reminded so much of Gunny. I was in awe to be living this part of one of my favorite films.
2. Blanket parties: We had two. The first one didn't do much damage. 5 or 6 recruits decided to basically scare the shite-bad recruit. That was all. Each hit him once, I heard. I was in the head but heard the commotion. The 2nd time went overboard. Same recruits; same shite-bag. They beat the hell out of him! We were all punished the next day.
3. Private Pyle: Pyle was a special case. We were also not allowed to have live rounds in bootcamp, outside of the rifle range and other specific trainings. However, there was one recruit who f'n lost it. Attacked two different recruits to the point where he might gave blown someone away if he had live ammo at the time. He was court-martialed. We had a couple recruited who were simply below standard, and the drill instructors were always up their asses. In this way, these two were also Pvt Pyle. Complete shite-heads who couldn't seem to do anything at times. It was hard to watch. They were dropped from our platoon around the middle of training (week 5,6,or 7).
Posted on 1/9/22 at 12:07 am to SaintlyTiger88
This is a captivating account from a Marine grunt from basic to Vietnam War experience. It's long but you can't turn it off once you start. Truly horrific stuff in here.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 1/9/22 at 7:33 am to SaintlyTiger88
Your answers are going to vary from
Poster to poster depending on when they attended boot camp.
I went to MCRD San Diego in 1997 and we did have a "Private Pyle" in our platoon. His name was Rodgers and he was from Hope,
Arkansas. The drill instructors weren't allowed to do a lot of the things that you saw The Gunny doing in FMJ but make no mistake, there were plenty of games being played and Rodgers most definitely got his a few times.
Poster to poster depending on when they attended boot camp.
I went to MCRD San Diego in 1997 and we did have a "Private Pyle" in our platoon. His name was Rodgers and he was from Hope,
Arkansas. The drill instructors weren't allowed to do a lot of the things that you saw The Gunny doing in FMJ but make no mistake, there were plenty of games being played and Rodgers most definitely got his a few times.
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