Marines Weigh Closing Parris Island and San Diego to Open New Coed Boot Camp

I agree with SSG Paul Headlee. I was never a Marine so I don't have a dog in that race. I also hate to make things about costs, but let's be real. The cost associated with decommissioning two installations AND creating another? You'd think they'd just put the money into retrofitting both existing bases to achieve the desired outcome. And throw the left over money towards other things. Idk however, I hope whatever path chosen results in a win for the Marines.

I don't have a dog in this fight having never been a Marine. However, I would be sorry to see this happen as these are two icons to the Marine experience. There are families whose service members would not consider anything but being a Marine; from Great, Great Grandpa right down to who is serving now. I can't imagine how somebody's bright idea could be better than what has been working for so long.

I can see this being a positive. I think we in the military can get too wrapped up in tradition. Building fresh would allow them to build the facility's up to the newest standards for training instead of what someone in the 40s thought made for a good training environment. Also building new can sometimes be cheaper than tearing down old stuff and rebuilding. Certainly the old facility's can be repurposed so it's not like the bases are going away.