Posted on May 29, 2018
How would a boot camp drill instructor handle this situation?
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I've been wanting to ask this of a drill instructor for a long time. I went through USAF Officer Training School, so I bypassed the chance to see this in real life.
Recalling Hollywood's portrayal of the first couple of hours of boot camp, the drill instructor makes his points and position clear with a "welcome" speech - things like "your mother isn't here", "worst nightmare" etc. Included in the speech is also the line "When I say 'Jump!', ..."
Please take a moment to notice my name. Welcome back.
How should I act in this situation? As often as I screwed up in OTS, you would have a platoon of guys who looked like they were on pogo sticks for the number of times that my name was called. What does the drill instructor do (besides, getting a good laugh at the NCO club later)
Kidding about my name is not a big deal. I enjoy the humor. During a class on pay and allowances, my training captain had the guts to ask me, "what is jump pay". I responded with "every paycheck I get is jump pay, sir" - I got a zillion demerits and it was worth every one of them.
Recalling Hollywood's portrayal of the first couple of hours of boot camp, the drill instructor makes his points and position clear with a "welcome" speech - things like "your mother isn't here", "worst nightmare" etc. Included in the speech is also the line "When I say 'Jump!', ..."
Please take a moment to notice my name. Welcome back.
How should I act in this situation? As often as I screwed up in OTS, you would have a platoon of guys who looked like they were on pogo sticks for the number of times that my name was called. What does the drill instructor do (besides, getting a good laugh at the NCO club later)
Kidding about my name is not a big deal. I enjoy the humor. During a class on pay and allowances, my training captain had the guts to ask me, "what is jump pay". I responded with "every paycheck I get is jump pay, sir" - I got a zillion demerits and it was worth every one of them.
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Basic TrainingDrill Instructor
Basic TrainingDrill Instructor
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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I don’t recall myself or any SDI I worked for saying that. If anyone did, it was a throwaway phrase not foreshadowing any ‘jump -how high’ games to come.
Besides, apart from the very professional intro to your DI’s done in recent years by the Series Commander, Gunny Hartman style speeches in my days at PISC (73-76) were unnecessary. It was self evident from the first moment of pickup that we were their worst nightmare. Any speeches were focused on specific instructions like how to address a DI.
I knew Marines named Sergeant and one named Major. Those probably had some memorable incidents. BTW, a DI I served with at PI named his new daughter Marena Cora. No idea if she ever became a Marine. That would’ve been funny
Besides, apart from the very professional intro to your DI’s done in recent years by the Series Commander, Gunny Hartman style speeches in my days at PISC (73-76) were unnecessary. It was self evident from the first moment of pickup that we were their worst nightmare. Any speeches were focused on specific instructions like how to address a DI.
I knew Marines named Sergeant and one named Major. Those probably had some memorable incidents. BTW, a DI I served with at PI named his new daughter Marena Cora. No idea if she ever became a Marine. That would’ve been funny
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Capt Dennis Jump
I was just curious as to how an instructor would deal with a name which may have unintended consequences when called out among a bunch of scared recruits (who had also watched the same WWII movies and 1960's TV shows)
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MSgt George Cater
Sorry, got off on tangent down memory lane, didn’t I?
I’d probably say something along the lines of “You’d better Recon, Jump, so you can drive those doggie black hats at Benning nuts.
Then I’d forget about it.
I’d probably say something along the lines of “You’d better Recon, Jump, so you can drive those doggie black hats at Benning nuts.
Then I’d forget about it.
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I was afraid that you had gotten teased because of your name, Sir. I am so very sorry that you were teased because of your last name, Captain. Capt Dennis Jump
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Capt Dennis Jump
As a youth, I did. It became easier to deal with any teasing by turning it to humor. Actually, most of it was from adults trying to be cute. At the reception to meet the brass at the beginning of pilot training, we had our first taste of the formal introduction line. What fun. Every single one of the staff officers (of whom we held in high esteem and fright) in that line said the same thing to me "Lieutenant Jump, we try not to do that around here" Originality in making jokes helps :-)
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SPC Margaret Higgins
Capt Dennis Jump - I am so glad that you found humor; to help you with the teasing. And, to fear Staff Officers, and Then to be teased by them....oh my! :-)
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Not sure what you're asking to be honest. This question has earned it's own demerits. As a former DI I can say unequivocally whatever you were trying to say here missed the boat a half hour ago. Now push till I throw up!
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