Improve and Adapt
Come early, start later: it seems that the 14-day holdover now in effect for incoming recruits at Parris Island has had a very beneficial and heretofore unexpected result: the incoming recruits are better able to adapt and overcome the side effects of a long journey to a new destiny. This 14-day holdover was originally established to allow for any symptoms of Covid-19 and/or other bugs to show up and be dealt with. The unexpected benefit is that the 14-day holdover gave the incoming recruits time to recuperate from the trip, shake off any bugs they might have picked up on the plane or before reporting, and become fully rested, ready for duty.
From the article: And while COVID restrictions likely won’t last much longer, it’s possible a permanent pre-training acclimation period for recruits may gain support among Marine Corps brass. Leaders say recruits are performing better and dropping out of training less often when they start fully rested and having shaken off any bugs picked up on the plane. And, they add, sound recruits can be pushed to train even harder.
Col. Matt Palma, commander of San Diego’s Recruit Training Regiment, said he wholeheartedly supported such a proposal, and believed it wouldn’t compromise the legendary rigor of Marine Corps boot camp. – article.
Well, now, that makes some good sense. If they perform better after a brief respite, then see how well this works in the long term. Fine by me. It will also give them plenty of time to get used to the food. And besides, they should have plenty of chores to do while waiting for their first real muster.
Category: Marine Corps
If you don’t show up to boot camp tired, frazzled, and confused, you’re missing the best parts.
Has anyone ever showed up at MCRD when it wasn’t Zero Dark Thirty? There is a reason that AFEES/MEPS held recruits until the last flights departing that day, so they can arrive totally disoriented with no idea where they are or how to get out of there.
Hack Stone went to Electronics school with a guy from San Diego. Hack asked him ih arrived at Zero Dark Thirty, and he told Hack that the AFEES kept him in the building until about 01:00, put him in a car, and the car waited until a bus load of Recruits entered the gate. The car followed the bus to the disembarkation point, he was told to get out, then the fun started. As to (see what hack did there?) him being disoriented, he said that he could see his house on the hills of San Diego from the Parade Deck.
“And besides, they should have plenty of chores to do while waiting for their first real muster.”
That trash ain’t gonna pick itself up and those dandelions won’t pick themselves out of the grass!
“GET YOUR DANDELIONS OUT OF MY GRASS AND GET YOUR ASS OFF OF MY GRASS!!!”
Last flight out of Atlanta to Louisville Ky, then a long dark ride in a bus full of “What the hell am I in for teenagers” to the School of Hard Knox for wayward boys. Screamed at all the way thru the mess hall line for greasy cheese burgers, cold fried taters, and warm milk. Buzzcut then “Empty your pockets, place all items in your pockets in the box before you for shipment to your HoR. Now strip to the waist…from both ends”. Thank God the FIRST issue was the boxer britches, tho the ladies doing the initial clothing issue didn’t even bat an eye at our nekkidness. Good Times!
you know, when I went to the US Army center for misguided young men in 86, we spent 7 days in reception center before shipping to our our OSUT unit.
That was a well spent week learning some basic truths and we were able to hit the ground E-9-2 with some understanding that shit just got real…LOL
Howdy, neighbor. D/9/2. July to October 86.
Sounds like 30th AG.
I’m going to invest in crayon futures, worth a try.
The current 6 -12 week boot camp is based on WW 2 mass mobilization. It’s been kept that way due to budget requirements.
It would be worth an assessment to see if a “better” approach is gradually train the recruit up and extend BT and AIT.
The goal is not to shock the recruit. The goal is to turn the civilian into a viable military asset.
Given the quality of much of the current civilian stock, the shock is inevitable. And a good thing.
Granted, the majority of those who volunteer are open to the experience, also a good thing.
I’d be curious to see the drop out/early separation rate for say, 1980’s and today.
Mom, a good portion of my job entails electronic support for the Intel school. I spend quite a bit of time with the Drill Sergeants, and the quality of the raw material they receive from basic training isn’t good. Parents have failed them, schools have failed them, they’re not ready for life in general, let alone the military. It makes me truly cherish my DD-214.
Only Army Mom: Here’s a link to a study from 1979-2009 in the Marine Corps…
Attrition has gone down in this study. I’ve no data on whether or not that’s unique to the Marine Corps or not, but found the study interesting.
They do note that attrition at Parris Island is higher than San Diego which they attribute to PI’s more miserable weather making training events even more uncomfortable…
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a530688.pdf
I always heard that the weather at PI was either hot and shitty-humid with sand fleas or cold and shitty-humid!
“You got 30 seconds to get the f*ck off my bus and 29 are gone!”
The could use that downtime for some necessary military training, like how to fill out an allotment to Semper Fi Motors to make monthly payments for 96 months on a car loan at the low low rate of only 29.86% APR.
Don’t forget about the balloon payment at the end for that lovely 16 year old V6 Camaro with a new cheap aftermarket stereo and a fresh cheap paint job from Slick Sam’s Backyard Body Shop!
Last summer during the pandemic, they brought the recruits into Charleston SC and put them up in the barracks on the Citadel campus for this two week acclimation/quarantine.
But….but….but….I thought the initial shock was the start of the breakdown process then the buildup.
Dude, you would still get that when they leave receiving barracks, and get initially handed off to the DI’s. Nothing could soften that blow.