Posted on 11/07/2004 7:23:37 AM PST by Dubya
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., Nov. 8, 2004 – Marine recruits headed for Parris know they won't be seeing the Eiffel Tower or experience romantic strolls along the Seine River.
Instead, those young men and women will challenge themselves as never before during 12 weeks of grueling, gut-check Marine training at Parris Island.
Tucked away near the Atlantic coast in southeastern South Carolina, Parris Island is just that: an island surrounded by waterways and marshland. A recruit training facility since 1915, the base used a ferry system to transport troops and supplies until 1929, when a bridge was built to connect it to the mainland.
That history is part of the mystique of the Corps, which celebrates its 229th birthday on Nov. 10. And Marine Corps history and traditions motivate Staff Sgt. Matthew M. James, who at age 30 is one of the 500 or so drill instructors who introduce about 18,000 recruits a year to their new lives at Parris Island. Recruits from west of the Mississippi River go to San Diego for boot camp; those who enlist east of the Mississippi go to Parris Island.
James, a Riverside, Calif., native, joined the Marines at age 17, he said, "to get a new way of life." James quickly learned of the Marines' tradition of teamwork when he first spoke with a recruiter.
James recalled that he'd asked the recruiter what the Marine Corps could do for him. The recruiter, he said, was taken aback, and then asked James what he could do for the Marine Corps.
At that moment, James said, he realized the Marine Corps offered something special. The Marine Corps, he said, "made me realize to be responsible for my actions."
Now, after 13 years in the Corps, James is, in his words, "a maker of Marines" at Parris Island's 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. After having served a year and a half as a drill instructor, he observed that many recruits seem to "need somebody to mentor them, somebody they can look up to as a positive role model."
Becoming a successful Marine, James explained, requires "a deep sense of pride in what you're doing" and "in just being a Marine."
James said drill instructors work up to 120 hours a week teaching recruits marching drills, rifle marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat moves, and myriad other military skills during the 12 weeks of training. The job of teaching recruits, he noted, takes patience and professionalism.
The most difficult challenges of his job occur during the first few weeks of boot camp, James said, when he strives "to get recruits to grab the concept of teamwork" and to convince them "to accept responsibility for their actions."
The payoff for his labors, James pointed out, occurs on graduation day, when he sees his recruits become Marines.
James believes his former charges greatly benefit from their Marine training, even if they just spend a few years in the Corps.
"You're going to come out better," James asserted, "because of the discipline and because of the title of 'Marine' itself."
The Marines are the only armed service that still trains its female recruits separately from the men. At Parris Island, the women are trained at the 4th Recruit Training Battalion.
Sgt. Walquiria Tamm, 26, said she joined the Marines eight and a half years ago "to do something different" with her life. The Paterson, N.J., native said she volunteered for drill instructor duty to have a hand in molding new Marines.
Women are prohibited from serving as infantry, but, Tamm noted, "there are many other ways that females can serve and help the mission of the Marine Corps."
Tamm said some recruits arrive at Parris Island with a positive attitude. Others, she noted, require more work to instill a "passion and love for the Marine Corps."
Injuries are the major cause for recruits not to graduate with their group, Tamm said, noting most injured recruits will recover and graduate later on.
Successful recruits, she observed, exhibit self-discipline and are "committed" to complete the training.
However, not everyone is cut out to become a Marine, Tamm pointed out. Most female recruits who don't complete training because of reasons other than injury "lack maturity" and "aren't ready for the big change" in becoming a Marine.
Tamm said she strives to show recruits "that being a Marine is not only about wearing a uniform, it's about beliefs (and) a way of life."
Simply put, "there's a difference," she asserted, "in being a Marine and being a civilian."
Drill Instructor Walquiria Tamm asks recruits to recite their general orders Nov. 3 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Tamm said some recruits arrive at Parris Island with a positive attitude. Others, she noted, require more work to instill a "passion and love for the Marine Corps." Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore
I am working on getting my daughter to enlist in the Marines. I taped the show on the History Channel that follows a group of Marines as they go through basic training.
Our daughter married a Marine, which is the next best thing. We took him under our wing, and he voted for the first time this year. For his CIC, of course.
"Our daughter married a Marine"
One of my selling points to her is that there are more male Marines than females.
and one that never leaves ya....Praise the Lord!
Well, that explains how they separate out the Democrats...
May God Bless all of our Military Members and their families abundantly for all that they selflessly sacrifice to ensure our freedom.
Thank you for a great article ((((((Dubya))))))
Your welcome. All of Troops are great. Thanks for your prayers.
As a Hollywood Marine, I remember polishing my sunglasses daily. Was it the same in P.I.? Our motto was 194 years of tradition, unhampered by not once ounce of progress. Relax its a joke only Marines are allowed to joke about the Corps...got it!
Oh yes I almost forgot...Happy Birthday brothers, Semper Fi.
happy birthday, USMC. Semper Fi.
Parris Island is right next to Beaufort, SC. Beaufort is a beautiful town with large sprawling oaks and the Beaufort river which joins the atlantic just a couple of miles to the south. I spent the last 3 years of my Navy career there at Naval Hospital, Beaufort. This hospital is there to support the marine corps recruit depot at Parris Island and the Marine Corps Air Station just North of Beaufort.
I had a good friend there who was a retired marine corps "mustang officer". He had served 3 tours as a drill instructor, very tough duty and he was tough as nails. I watched him fight a nest of bumble bees once and it was amazing. the more they stung him, the madder he got and the more he kicked their nest. a group of us finally went and grabbed him and drug him away from the nest as we were afraid he was going to get stung to death. He had huge knots on his head for several days afterwards. as tough as he was , he was also very compassionate. he was always the first to identify and help anyone in need.
Although the town of Beaufort is beautiful, it is a horrible place to undergo boot camp. they have 6 different species of gnats "sand fleas" there that hatch in the salt water marshes. these grats are so small that they can go thru the average window screen but they have huge mouths and their bite stings much worse than a mosquito and leaves a welt. about the time one species dies out, another hatches and so just about anytime you go outside these little rascals will be up your nose and in your eyes and ears and will make your life miserable. the most effective means for fighting them is with a lotion like Skin So Soft. It doesn't repel them but it does gum up their jaws so they can't bite. It has to be very tough to stand on the drill field at attention or parade rest for long periods and not be allowed to swat at these things that are biting the hell out of you.
Semper Fi. Watch out for those @#$%^&* sand fleas.
Look at those mattresses, this must be Pleasure Island not the real BOOT CAMP.
*Very* moving, very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing.
When I was a kid around 1960, living on Camp Pendleton, one of my Dad's buddies was a guy named Rocky Acosta.
I know your callsign has nothing to do with that, but dammit, THE birthday is around the corner and I remember all Marines, young and old.
Semper Fidelis
OAMAAM
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