Brian Meyette's USMC Boot Camp Diary
To read the entire story in one file, go to main BOOT CAMP DIARY
PROCESSING
THU 10/3
I'm sneaking a quick note in the line at the dentist. I got in here last night around 5PM. I expected the shit to hit the fan as soon as the bus pulled up, like in the movies, but they just told us calmly to sit on some benches. I guess they were waiting for the rest of this day's recruits to come in. We all just sat quietly, not talking, expecting the shit to hit the fan any second. The DIs were rather mild, but it gradually got worse and worse ALL NIGHT LONG. We received lectures on how to make our rack and on material needed to graduate from processing into the actual training. We had a lousy breakfast and then SGLI paperwork, then dental X-rays. They gave us a class on how to brush and floss our teeth. The brother platoon has an especially mean DI. Then we had more financial paperwork, then blood testing. The atmosphere now is much calmer than the terrorist conditions that existed earlier. Around dawn, the DIs were constantly screaming viciously and throwing tantrums. Since then, the recruits have gotten better at doing everything quickly. All of their terminology is of Navy things like bulkheads, hatches, portholes, passageways, and decks. The Navy nurses at the blood test area were real vicious bitches. After lunch, we had yet ANOTHER major "moment of truth" session with a couple different speakers. The gist of it all is to entice suckers to "come clean" about any info they have concealed or misrepresented up to now, especially in the area of drugs. We also had one at the MEPS station before we left. They claimed there they had tests that could tell if you smoked 1 joint of pot 6 months ago, and how much you smoked. I'm surprised they didn't claim to be able to tell you where the shit was grown, and maybe who grew it. The idea is that by volunteering the info "they're going to find out anyway", a person won't be kicked out; it'll just be noted in his records. They say if they find out later by the urinalysis test coming back positive, it's out the door. We got our haircuts and uniforms in our marathon processing session last night. They had us put on our sweatshirts, even though it was uncomfortably warm. I would have liked to ask to take mine off, but I knew better. We got taught a few more basic drill movements. We went to bed shortly after dinner, after a 7 minute shower and shave.
FRI 10/4
We spent all morning taking reading comprehension, foreign language aptitude, and EDP aptitude tests. After lunch, the Red Cross gave us a briefing. It took about half an hour to go through filling out a small postcard. The rest of the recruits talk and chatter incessantly, with everyone constantly screaming at them to shut up. We retook parts of the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test after lunch. The idea was to look for any discrepancies between the results achieved from taking the test at a civilian site versus the more tightly controlled atmosphere of boot camp, to see if anyone had cheated on the entrance ASVAB somehow. Then we took a Morse Code aptitude test. I can't remember what I did yesterday between the moment of truth session and dinner. It's been extremely hectic. We filled out GI Bill paperwork. The new GI bill isn't all that great, but it's better than nothing. We made up our name stamps and stamped our name on some of our clothing. The DIs gave us a long lecture about discipline. Everyone seemed much better disciplined after that.
SAT 10/5
Today, we got to sleep in. Until 0530! There was a beautiful sunrise. I haven't seen more than a handful of sunrises before coming here. The DIs told us we were going to have a "field day" after breakfast. It sounded good to me; maybe some sports outside somewhere. Well, it turned out that a "field day" is the Marine Corps term for "major cleanup". As part of teaching us teamwork, we made human mops, consisting of one recruit getting down on his forearms on a towel while a second recruit grabbed his ankles and pulled him around the squadbay to wipe the floors down. It was all done in frantic madhouse style, while being screamed at to HURRY UP!, as usual. We got formed into squads by size after lunch. It was a pretty casual day. We studied our knowledge and learned a few new drill movements. "Knowledge" is the term for all the military classes we receive and carry around in little cammie notebooks. We're supposed to be studying our knowledge anytime we're not doing something else. We had a very brief supper. We had hardly sat down when we were told we were DONE. It was a rather casual evening, too. We had a question and answer period with the DIs, and we were given relatively long showers.
SUN 10/6
We were woken up at 0600. I was up at 0500. I went into the head to piss and see if my skivvy shirt was on inside out. I had put the skivvy shirt on in my rack in the dark. A DI was in there taking a shower and he screamed at me to get the hell out. The rule here is we can't get out the rack one hour after taps or one hour before reveille. I didn't recall having been told that before, so it took me a minute to figure out what the hell he was screaming about. It was a beautiful sunrise again. It looked more like a great sunset. The sky was red and pink all over. We did marching practice. I made a phone call after lunch. We went to church and studied knowledge before lunch. After lunch, we sat around and cut our belts to size - after a class on it, of course. The DIs are SSgt Armstrong, SSgt Vasey, and Sgt Bobo. I was given some mild harrassment about the Mickey Mouse tattoo on my forearm. I was also given some friendly advice about pushing harder to be a squad leader or guide. The guide is the #1 recruit leader. I spoke to SSgt Armstrong about it. He agreed, but said it's not his platoon.
MON 10/7
It was raining this morning. We had medical processing all morning. Then we had lunch, then dental processing and exams, then more studying. After the platoon's dismal marching this morning, I told SSgt Bobo I wanted to be up front as a squad leader, but he didn't seem to get it. After Tue. night, I plan to push hard for it. There's lots of talking and incredibly stupid moves by the other recruits. Even in USAF basic, I was always annoyed by the stupidity of the others. Some of these guys take stupidity to new levels. It was another poor marching performance to and from dinner. Dinner was GREAT! - sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, ham steak, and chocolate cake. On the way back from dinner, SSgt Bobo told the 1st squad leader to smarten up. He didn't, so SSgt Bobo pulled me from the formation and made me the 1st squad leader. Later on, back in the barracks, a DI came in and wanted someone to make him a sign. I volunteered, and he ended up questioning me for about 15 minutes in front of the platoon. It was friendly questioning. I got lots of "hoo rahs" for that and for making squad leader. Also lots of congratulations, handshakes, and pats on the back. All right! We had a hygiene inspection after the showers. Even though I had a poor shave on, I passed. Also, another DI called me in his office for about 10 minutes of questions about me, my past, and why I was there.
TUE 10/8
This is the big day! We graduate from processing, and go to our regular DIs. So far, it's just been babysitting us while we get the major part of our administrative processing out of the way. First, we have to pass written, verbal, and drill tests about the stuff we've been taught so far, though. We packed our seabags and folded our bedding. I got 100 on the written test, even though 2 of the questions had not been covered by classes. The DI told the platoon last night that I had a lot of guts to be doing this, with my background and “advanced” age. He was rather blown away by me, as were a couple other DIs listening. SSgt Vesey gave us a lecture today on getting our act together, discipline, self-awareness, image, etc. He also mentioned a couple times how much guts I have. We marched to a warehouse and left the civilian clothes we had boxed up. We marched to the incoming area and got stamps, PX chits, and soap. Then we went to supply and got our boots and more uniforms. The Marines at the warehouse and supply were rude dicks doing a lot of unnecessary yelling. We inventoried all our gear, then we were marched to B Company. The CO there gave a little speech and introduced his people in a little ceremony. There's one Senior DI and 2 juniors. Then the Senior DI said "Drill Instructors, take charge!", and all hell broke loose! The DIs started screaming like maniacs to get out, and were throwing things around and screaming threats. We ran out and ran to chow. The DIs like to gang up on someone and scream into both ears. They made a couple guys cry. One guy, Jackson, came to me in tears, asking why they were picking on him so badly. I patted him on the back, and tried to reassure him. I told him to just ignore it; it meant nothing, and it would pass. They have no effect on me. I just go along with the program without panicking. I can see how it's easy to panic, though. I just try to keep everything in perspective.
GO TO PHASE I
USMC DIARY TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PROCESSING
3. PHASE I
4. RANGE
5. RFTD
6. PHASE III
7. EPILOGUE
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