Posted on 10/20/2004 4:11:09 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Parris Island closing rumored
BEAUFORT: According to newspaper reports, some believe training could be handled at Fort Jackson.
By Lolita Huckaby
Carolina Morning News
A media report that Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot could be closed and training operations consolidated at the Army's Fort Jackson in Columbia should be viewed as a red flag, said Beaufort County Council Vice Chairman W.R. "Skeet" Von Harten.
Von Harten, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, made his remarks Monday during a meeting of the county's Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
He was responding to a story in Sunday's The State newspaper which said the idea had been "offered by a senior (Department of Defense) official," according to a spokesman with a Washington study group, the Lexington Institute.
Relocating Marine Corps recruit training to Fort Jackson was presented as a possible cost savings in the upcoming congressional Base Realignment and Closure talks.
While it's conceivable the two branches could train together, Von Harten said he thinks the different traditions represented by the Marine Corps and Army might pose some problems.
"The bottom line is, this shows anything can happen. Right now, this apparently is only an idea being floated but we must focus our attention on telling the story of our bases in Washington and make sure this is one idea that doesn't get off the ground," Von Harten said.
Von Harten said he'd contacted members of the county's Military Enhancement Committee to reinforce the county's support for their efforts to protect the bases. The council recently allocated $217,000 to the committee for hiring a Washington, D.C.,-based lobbying firm to represent the county's interests in BRAC discussions.
"This is indicative of the new era we're experiencing, without the senior leadership of (the late U.S. Rep.) Floyd Spence or (the late U.S. Sen.) Strom Thurmond," said Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch, who attended the committee meeting. "Things like this didn't even get discussed when we had their seniority."
In other news, Dick Stewart, chairman of the committee, outlined the idea for a cooperative agreement between the county, the city of Beaufort and the Historic Beaufort Foundation in which the city would begin collecting library impact fees from developers.
Money from the fees would be used to purchase the current city hall on Carteret Street, which the city hopes to eventually replace with a new structure, and the Carnegie Building, at the corner of Carteret and Craven streets for use by the library administrative staff.
Stewart said after the meeting the proposal is still in the discussion stages.
Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston gave the committee an update on the town's efforts to develop a technology park which is dependent on the availability of federal grants.
Reporter Lolita Huckaby can be reached at 524-5448 or lolita.huckaby@lowcountrynow.com
Visit any Marine Corps base and then visit any Army Base. There is a huge, visible, difference between young Marines' and young soldiers' proffesionalism and courtesy.
I've been to Parris Island and my son has been to Ft. Jackson. They are world's apart. No way can the Army train Marine recruits to be Marines.
My son just finished Marine Corps OCS at Quantico and he agrees, the Marine Corps is much more professional and much less PC than the army.
Also, this has been discussed a number of times over the years and HQMC has not let it happen yet and I don't foresee them letting it happen now.
Semper Fi
It should be required reading for every American.
I still have dreams about that place and I've never been back. Though I would like to go back someday.
Never!!! I have many fond (?) memories of Parris Island. Sand fleas, Ribbon Creek, and on and on. Parris Island gets credit for getting me back from Korea in one piece.
Yeah, it's 'conceiveable' that 'might pose some problems'...
Yeah, and West Point will start a goat farm. Ain't gonna happen.
I can't imagine this happening.
FROM MY MOUTH TO CHESTY PULLERS EARS.
SEMPER FI AND GODSPEED!
I went through Basic and AIT at Fort Jackson(11B, Class of '87), and I have to agree with everything you guys have said. This is a very bad idea. Jackson specializes in a little of everything, while Parris Island specializes in turning out one thing: Marines.
NEVER! The summer of 1965 I was in Parris Island. Even then I knew it was doing me a great deal of good.
This Jarhead will fight this and I invite all others to do the same. Join your local Marine Corps League detachment and get on this.
Semper Fi
AUGUST 1975-NOVEMBER 1975
THE LAST RESORT VACATION I HAVE HAD.
SEMPER FI AND GODSPEED!
Who can ever forget the rifle range, Elliott's Beach, the sand fleas, etc. I was held back because the DI's in our series were court-martialed for bribery, brutality and cheating. On qualification day I was on my way to high expert when my DI had me shoot for another recruit and messed up my concentration. We had two 2nd Lt's from CID, posing as transferred recruits in our platoon and they blew the whistle on our DI's.
I'm not knocking the Army, but big and slow does not cut it in todays world.
Socialists have targeted the Marines for quite a while. Identifying the real threats from within is the best reason to study the fog of war.
I hope not! My Dad trained there. Its a beautiful place.
West Point Goat Farm? naw, That's the Navy'S place at Annapolis!
SEMPER FI!
Parris Island Graduate 1973
May that's also the best reason to Use the fog of war......,
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