# sad state of marine corp boot camp **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458 "2013-04-23T01:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/61 "2014-11-08T17:25:50Z")
The reason I’ve avoided the VFW and other watering holes for military vets and retirees since I left the service is that the people who frequent those places are often like the OP: people who can’t seem to let the past just ride and who do nothing but sit, drink, and piss and moan about either a) how bad they had it, b) how piss-poor the military is now compared to how it was back in the day, or c) how the government is fucking everybody over. Living in the past and revising history is of no interest to me. The OP needs to move on. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/62 "2014-11-08T18:21:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The reason I’ve avoided the VFW and other watering holes for military vets and retirees since I left the service is that the people who frequent those places are often like the OP: people who can’t seem to let the past just ride and who do nothing but sit, drink, and piss and moan about either a) how bad they had it, b) how piss-poor the military is now compared to how it was back in the day, or c) how the government is fucking everybody over. Living in the past and revising history is of no interest to me. The OP needs to move on. It’s funny you mention that, as there was just a press release from the [VFW national commander](http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2014-Articles/VFW-NATIONAL-COMMANDER-PUTS-POSTS-ON-NOTICE/) who said the VFW needs to make a concentrated effort to make the organization more appealing for younger vets. Personally: I never had any interest in joining the VFW despite being interested in veteran’s affairs. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/63 "2014-11-08T20:20:33Z")
> [@stavechoker](#): > > No one wants to be a di anymore from what I hear .The training or pt is not taken to the limit we were tested to our limits .Iremember an 8 mile run around camp mathewes in 64 its a college campus today then it was a rifle range.It was hot we were told no breakfast .we ran in formation .1 recruit got cramps and we dragged and carried him for 2 miles in formation today a flag would go up warning no pt too hot .We would run along the fence at mcrd at 2 in the morning no way is bootcamp hard anymore. Why does this matter to you so very much right now? Just a general feeling of being hard done-by? When you were doing your boot camp thing, did you by any chance have an ancient grandfather or uncle who liked to tell you what a soft time you were having compared to his experience? 😃 I suppose, really, you ought to write expressing your concerns to the authorities in charge of Marine training: I’m sure they would be delighted to hear from you.😃 Actually, joking apart, you might want to consider, either alone or with some old friends, putting together a memoir of your experiences. It would be interesting to do, and having written it all down, or produced an audio version, you’d have contributed a bit to records of 20th century social history. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/64 "2014-11-09T00:46:07Z")
> [@stavechoker](#): > > No one wants to be a di anymore from what I hear .The training or pt is not taken to the limit we were tested to our limits .Iremember an 8 mile run around camp mathewes in 64 its a college campus today then it was a rifle range.It was hot we were told no breakfast .we ran in formation .1 recruit got cramps and we dragged and carried him for 2 miles in formation today a flag would go up warning no pt too hot .We would run along the fence at mcrd at 2 in the morning no way is bootcamp hard anymore. Who said that? Who the fuck said that?! Who’s the slimy little Communist shit twinkle-toed cocksucker down here who just signed his own death warrant?! Nobody, huh? The fairy fucking godmother said it! Out-fucking-standing! I will P.T. you all until you fucking die! I’ll P.T. you until your assholes are sucking buttermilk. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/65 "2014-11-09T01:10:52Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > … I will P.T. you all until you fucking die! … That’s not going to be tough enough though, is it? There needs to be pain and misery until death AND BEYOND. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/66 "2014-11-09T01:45:24Z")
But the Marine Corps lives forever, and that means you live forever… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/67 "2014-11-09T01:49:06Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Apparently the marines do a piss poor job of teaching basic English. I’m going to put you in Golf Company. It’s full of retards and fuck-ups. Maybe you can elevate them sons of bitches a little…or maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/68 "2014-11-09T02:21:02Z")
If God would have wanted you up there he would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/69 "2014-11-09T03:11:32Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > He may _be_ the reference. -\_- ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/70 "2014-11-09T06:33:03Z")
For most high school sports the student athletes work out year around and are pushed around by coaches and personal trainers already, even in the summer So I’d have to go with the people going into the marine corps are now more often conditioned athletes and are used to taking orders so why abuse them? Why waste time on pt and learning how to march when you can spend more time on advanced things like weapons training? Also since most positions in the military nowadays are non combat I wonder if such hardness is needed for someone who’s going to be behind a desk anyways? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/71 "2014-11-09T07:42:53Z")
> [@stavechoker](#): > > No one wants to be a di anymore from what I hear .The training or pt is not taken to the limit we were tested to our limits .Iremember an 8 mile run around camp mathewes in 64 its a college campus today then it was a rifle range.It was hot we were told no breakfast .we ran in formation .1 recruit got cramps and we dragged and carried him for 2 miles in formation today a flag would go up warning no pt too hot .We would run along the fence at mcrd at 2 in the morning no way is bootcamp hard anymore. Doesnt that have more to do with the job schedule? I mean arent DI’s “on-duty” 24-7 for all 9 weeks of basic? It doesnt seem to me like an 8-5 job where one can be home with their families every night. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/72 "2014-11-09T08:07:41Z")
When I was active in 1990 there was a Senior DI and 3 Junior DI’s. There were three there during most days while we were in the rear and only one on duty at night. When we were in the field it was all hands on deck to make sure nobody went sightseeing. It’s been a few decades so I don’t know how the schedule is currently. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/73 "2014-11-09T10:06:37Z")
Some people just aren’t suited for the military, you don’t want them there and they should move on. A skilled trainer doesn’t need abuse, seeing how people react to stress isn’t abuse. Seeing these old fashioned Emery style trainers, my first reaction even as a kid was what happens if I just ignore everything he screams? Will he hit me, do a little more dirty flirt talk? What? ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/74 "2014-11-09T13:12:42Z")
It is difficult to judge past generations by what we know today. Marine Corps Boot Camp was operated in that fashion because it worked, but times change. People do get dropped for performance reasons, not often but it happens. Your reason is most of the reason we have an all volunteer force. However, I don’t know what your post has to do with the differences in MCRD between the 1960’s and today. Personal nitpick; his name is Ermey…Gunny Ermey. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/75 "2014-11-09T13:58:07Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > It is difficult to judge past generations by what we know today. Marine Corps Boot Camp was operated in that fashion because it worked, but times change. People do get dropped for performance reasons, not often but it happens. Your reason is most of the reason we have an all volunteer force. > > However, I don’t know what your post has to do with the differences in MCRD between the 1960’s and today. > > Personal nitpick; his name is Ermey…Gunny Ermey. Oops, thanks I keep saying in my head R Lee Emery for some reason.:smack: I guess I was saying to the OP and others I’m not sure how screaming at someone they are a pinko faggot accomplishes, it is just a waste of time. I mean hell did the OP watch FMJ? I guess if someone sat down or refused to do an exercise it should be noted and tallied, I’m not sure screaming at them does any good. I get that it is different times. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/76 "2014-11-09T23:35:18Z")
> [@grude](#): > > A skilled trainer doesn’t need abuse, seeing how people react to stress isn’t abuse. > > Seeing these old fashioned Emery style trainers, my first reaction even as a kid was what happens if I just ignore everything he screams? Will he hit me, do a little more dirty flirt talk? What? Um…did you happen to notice the scene where Private “Pyle” received a wake up call from the rest of the platoon beating him with bars of soap wrapped in a towel? Or perhaps you are familiar with the case of U.S. v Col. Nathan R. Jessup which occurred directly after the events of the documentary “A Few Good Men”? Now obviously these are fictitious accounts. I’m sure actual Marine Corp vets can provide some details, but the Marines have been around a long time as an organization and I’m quite positive they know how to motivate some kid who doesn’t want to be there. If the yelling and screaming doesn’t work and a heart to heart with the DI doesn’t work there’s taking away leave, forcing you to redo boot camp, some sort of unpleasant punitive duty, even the brig or a dishonorable discharge (which will follow you in civilian life). Or you might just find it easier to just run those obstacles rather than have the DI in your face and the rest of the platoon treat you like a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/77 "2014-11-10T04:10:54Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Um…did you happen to notice the scene where Private “Pyle” received a wake up call from the rest of the platoon beating him with bars of soap wrapped in a towel? 😕 I’m pretty sure I’ve seen most of the episodes of _Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C._ multiple times (and all of them at least once), but I can’t remember that _ever_ happening. A little help? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/78 "2014-11-10T04:14:15Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 😕 > > I’m pretty sure I’ve seen most of the episodes of _Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C._ multiple times (and all of them at least once), but I can’t remember that _ever_ happening. > > A little help? Scene from Full Metal Jacket where a struggling trainee with that nickname gets hurt by other trainees. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/79 "2014-11-10T08:10:31Z")
You candy assed civilians don’t get it. There was a retired Roman Centurion who was griping about how easy boot Centurions have it in 20 AD compared to how he had it in 30 BC when he went through boot camp. It’s a tradition. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458/80 "2014-11-10T15:52:46Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Scene from Full Metal Jacket where a struggling trainee with that nickname gets hurt by other trainees. [Because he is a DISGUSTING FATBODY!!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjifMGvqres) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sad-state-of-marine-corp-boot-camp/656458.md?page=5)