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When I arrived at MCRD San Diego in June of 1969, I was paid at the rate of an E-1. However, my rank was "Recruit". When I graduated from Boot Camp in August of 1969, I went from "Recruit" to "Private First Class". I was thinking on this the other day and realized that I never held the "rank" of "Private". Anybody else out there? I'm not sure how the Army does it.
Posted in these groups: 
Marine Corps
Marine Corps
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 54
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
In 1968, when I went through Boot Camp at Parris Island, we were called all kinds of names including Recruits but we were also called Privates. I wrote a book called "UNIFORMS" and it tells all about going through Marine Corps Boot Camp. Check out the book at http://www.uniformsthebook.com. The book is also featured on the US Marine Corps Section of Military Writer's website. I do have copies of the book if anyone is interested. It is a good read. UNIFORMS is a true life story of discipline, commitment, dedication and survival. Uniforms captures the mood of an era. History of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a Marine Combat Veteran in 1969-70.
Uniforms speaks from the heart and mind of everyone who has ever had the experience of attending a Catholic school with nuns, all those who were ever so fortunate to be a member of a drum and bugle corps, and all those combat veterans who served in Vietnam and experienced the rigors and sorrows of that war.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Hell, I'm still a Private at home! Five kids and ten grand-children. Yep, I am the Private for sure! Hell, today I took my eldest grand-daughter to get fish for her fish tank and ended up rescuing a kitten from the Shelter. That's some fish that this Private got.
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Yes I was a USMC Private from 12/27/1953 - 03/20/1954. I think my pay as a Pvt was $98.00 per month
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SSgt Jeffrey Andrews
I was only a private while in boot camp. I was meritoriously promoted to PFC, then promoted 3 months later to LCPL due to my college I was in.
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Capt Phil Williams
Coming out of Parris Island in Nov. 1965 I was a Private. I was not promoted to PFC until I had completed my OJT and been designated a 1345 - Heavy Equipment Operator but before we sailed to Vietnam.
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When I graduated from Parris Island on 9 November 1965 I graduated as a Private. I did not make Private First Class until I was at Camp Pendleton. You must have been at the top of your Platoon at San Diego. I believe at Parris Island each Platoon in a graduating series had one Recruit (selected by the DIs) receive both Dress Blues and a promotion to PFC. Semper Fi
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
When I was a Pvt at Parris Island we had to take a Pfc written exam.. If you got a passing grade, qualified at the Rifle Range, and received your DI's approval you got your Pfc stripe.. I think most guys received a promotion to Pfc and received a Pfc warrant from the Battalion XO at graduation day..
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Yes, from when I graduated boot camp in September 05 until I was promoted to PFC in December of that same year.
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Sarge, I went to MCRD San Diego in 1978, treated as a recruit (until graduation day), but was paid as an E2 (I did some work for and with my recruiter to earn that). On graduation day I was allowed to wear my rank for the first time. Like you, I've never held the rank of private either. As for the Army, my daughter is a PFC with the South Dakota Army National Guard. Through basic she was a private (E1), and while at advanced training for her MOS she was promoted to PFC (E2). She says at Basic they were all called Private.
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It was the same for me but also since I was in the Quality Enlistment program I was only a PFC for three months. Then promoted to Lcpl.
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