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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.
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Marine Corps
Marine Corps
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 54
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I stood on the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego January 1971. We were called recruits. The night before our graduation our senior drill instructor addressed us as Marines even though he said he wasn't supposed to. I then went to ITR at Camp Pendleton as a private. I recall we were just addressed as Marines. Of course, I was an E-1 all along. I was promoted to PFC after ITR, but never got the word until my next duty station.
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In 1963 I was a private. Only ones who got PFC were two recruits who were outstanding. Did not become PFC until I was in for 6 months. This was automatic.
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Cpl Elizabeth Koeneman
I was the same way. Only, we had more people get PFC. Some had college experience and others got it because they got two others to join while they were in the DEP. IIRC, our guide graduated as a LCpl because she had the recruiting and got a meritorious promotion for being the guide.
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I entered as a Private E-2 in 1981, under the Buddy System. One of my friends joined with me, but we were never stationed together.
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I'm not sure how we did it in 1969, but during my tenure at Fort Benning for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training I was a Private. Some of the others I was with held higher ranks for holding a degree, or completing some pre-basic training requirements to earn a promotion.
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I'm not sure if I did either, was paid as E-1 through boot at PI but graduated boot as a lance coolly.
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GySgt Jim Bishop
Never called private either, was recruit, maggot, worm, or other colorful catch phrase. But you are correct, technically I held neither rank.
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Yeah same here. Went in under quality enlistment program and graduated pfc. Lol
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I went in as PFC (E2) on contract. The very few people who left MCRD as E1 made E2 within about 2 months after assignment to first regular duty station / fleet. Other than that, if anyone was an E1, its because they got busted down for something, while they were an E2 Im guessing. I dunno of any E3s who got busted all the way down to E1.
I was never busted down, so I don't know those details. Of course the funny thing is Chesty Puller's quote about "Let me see the Marines who got busted down...those are the REAL Marines."
I was never busted down, so I don't know those details. Of course the funny thing is Chesty Puller's quote about "Let me see the Marines who got busted down...those are the REAL Marines."
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Trainees generally enter BCT as privates, although there are exceptions -- me being one of them. I was promoted to PFC before I left the MEPS, based on the recommendation of my Professor of Military Science (Army ROTC had been the bright spot in my year at UVA, and the A's I received in ROTC were critical in keeping my GPA just high enough that I was encouraged to leave and not kicked out).
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