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Sgt Tom Cunnally
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Edited 8 y ago
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I even made the local newspaper when I graduated from Parris Island SC but wish I had been interviewed for this story and told about what Boot Camp "Field"Training was back then. ..
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Sgt Tom Cunnally
8 y
SSG Warren Swan - Hell Swanie those DIs were easy ..They probably had to attend "Charm School" so that they would be politically correct with their treatment of recruits.
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SSG Warren Swan
SSG Warren Swan
8 y
I usually give you Marines shit, but this is crazy. DS's yell at the top of their lungs, but they don't go horse the first day. I could not understand any of it. But the whole three DI's in the faces, looked familiar. Seems we have more in common than I thought as sister service.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Sgt Tom Cunnally
8 y
I think all that harassment is only for the first few weeks and then DIs begin to ease up somewhat. Usually after being on the rifle range and getting ready to go on some long hikes with full gear and weapons; the DIs are not in your face so much. By then the guys who can't keep up or make the grade have been sent home or sent back to another platoon for more initiations or whatever they call it now?? I don't know what the "Dropout Rate" is today at Parris Island but we lost about 10 guys in my Platoon who the DIs decided were not able to be Marines. And we had a few who were not promoted to Pfc when they graduated from Boot Camp and then had a rough time going through AIT for three months after Boot Camp. AIT Regiments wash out quite a few guys also.
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Sgt Ammunition Technician
Sgt (Join to see)
8 y
It eases up but its still on par with this until after the rifle range. Its still bad after that but eases up more after the crucible when you become a Marine are allowed to say "i", you are refered to as a Marine instead of a recruit and most of the yelling stops. The DI's turn much more into mentors and motivators the last week
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Capt Walter Miller
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Edited 8 y ago
Hasn't changed much.

I remember we had all our newly issued stuff in our sea bags.

"GO GET YOUR INK PENS, PRIVATES!"

Mad scramble for the ink pen buried in the bottom of the sea bag. Back on line.

"GO GET YOUR NOTE PADS!"

Mad scramble for the ink pad also buried among cushion sole socks, horrid boxer underwear, utility trousers and the rest. Back on line.

That went for a couple of hours. That was November 1973.

Walt
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Capt Walter Miller
Capt Walter Miller
8 y
SSG Warren Swan - No no! Four maniacs.

Senior Drill Instuctor Staff Sergeant Kincaid
Staff Sergeant Isenock
Staff Sergeant Stewart
Sergeant Robertson

Walt
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Capt Walter Miller
Capt Walter Miller
8 y
About 18 months after I went through PI there was a recruit there killed doing pugil sticks and a recruit killed about the same time at San Diego. He drowned. This happened about a week apart.

Congressional staffers were sent down to PI. They picked recruits off the street and took them back to testify before Congress. Really. Not one of the recruits took any kind of exception with the training.

Walt
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Capt Walter Miller
Capt Walter Miller
8 y
I wasn't going to mention this but I will.

Right at the end of training Staff Sergeant Kincaid was relieved. The previous summer some recruits (this is what he told us) gave a blanket party to a recruit and beat him so badly he couldn’t walk. The recruit begged to be allowed to continue. He did graduate according to Staff Sergeant Kincaid. But – he told his wife what had happened and by the following February, an investigation had been held and Staff Sergeant Kincaid was relieved. He gave the black belt to Staff Sergeant Isenock. He was reduced to E-3. Some of the guys saw him at graduation. I did not.

Walt
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
8 y
Capt Walter Miller Being a DI or DS is more difficult than commonly thought. Absolute power corrupts and is difficult to resist. I regret your SSgt Kincaid's misfortune.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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I would think that a silent DI is a dangerous and deadly DI since if they can't yell.......they come up with all kinds of hand signals for the physical pain that will soon happen.
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SSG Warren Swan
SSG Warren Swan
8 y
At the rate he was loosing his voice, shutting up and allowing the other two to pounce would've been a smart option. I bet he still had to show up the next day all hoarse as hell.
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