This is criminally long. It will probably leave no space on the internet for anything else. It was published in the magazine of Army Times in 1979. It describes a Parris Island that no longer exists.
In fact it describes a world that no longer exists. The thought of some effeminate Sanowflake telling a Marine DI that he needed a Safe Space so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, poor darling–well, it just charms me. He would develop a whole new understanding of “uncomfortable.”
Anyway, the piece will resonate with a few Marine old-timers now long in the tooth. Semper fi.
More @ LRC
Good memories. He intermixed recruit training at Parris Island and infantry training (Infantry Training Regiment - ITR) at Camp Lejeune (technically Camp Geiger). Once a recruit graduates from Parris Island he's a Marine, no longer a recruit. He may still be a dumbass private, but he is a Marine Private. There was no liberty while at Parris Island. After graduation Marines can walk around for the afternoon. Nowadays the physical and verbal abuse is gone. Are the Russians and Chinese worried about recruit abuse? I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteinfantry training (Infantry Training Regiment - ITR
DeleteYes and it was called ITS but no more.
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Nowadays the physical and verbal abuse is gone. Are the Russians and Chinese worried about recruit abuse? I doubt it.
They're happy instead.
I'd be interested in reading a book, assuming one exists, on constructive "abuse" for the marines.
DeleteI'm not being sarcastic. That is interesting and likely important. The Spartans weren't easy on their children either.
Hawk, if you have time, you might could write some sort of booklet. It needn't include the things one simply cannot write about. You could also explain the potential risks: abuse gone too far, for example.
That'd make one heck of a "self help" book, just to explain to people how difficulty can strengthen a person, though of course some difficulty can be harmful also.
The Spartans weren't easy on their children either.
DeleteGood point.