fix
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Don't understand the Army folks going through twice either. But, USMC recruit training is "universally accepted"...for obvious reasons.
What rifle were you issued in basic training?
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Don't understand the Army folks going through twice either. But, USMC recruit training is "universally accepted"...for obvious reasons.
OEF_VET
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Houndawg,
There are several reasons why you didn't have to redo basic.
1) Even the Army recognizes the superiority of Marine Corps boot camp. They figure if you can survive that, then Army basic would be a joke. Although, they don't seem to think you can do their own basic once and it be sufficient. They want to make sure you can still march, shoot and do PT.
2) It's possible, but unlikely, that going into the Guard versus the Regular Army had something to do with it.
3) The Army regs changed just prior to my reenlisting in '96. Previous to that, you had to repeat basic if you'd been out 5 years or more. They changed it to 3 years right before I went back in. If they hadn't changed it, I wouldn't have had to repeat basic, as I'd been out 9 days shy of 5 years. They may have had a different standard at the time you reenlisted if it were even further back.
The whole repeating basic thing was good though. I hadn't forgotten how to march, shoot, use the phonetic alphabet or throw a grenade, but I hadn't done much running or road marching while I was out. Also, since I knew the games that the Drill Sergeants played, it was easier to get away with things the second time. I got out the first time as an E-1, thanks to a Field Grade Article 15 for fighting. When I went back to basic, it gave me a chance to earn my E-2 back, and put me well on the way to my next promotions.
Frank
There are several reasons why you didn't have to redo basic.
1) Even the Army recognizes the superiority of Marine Corps boot camp. They figure if you can survive that, then Army basic would be a joke. Although, they don't seem to think you can do their own basic once and it be sufficient. They want to make sure you can still march, shoot and do PT.
2) It's possible, but unlikely, that going into the Guard versus the Regular Army had something to do with it.
3) The Army regs changed just prior to my reenlisting in '96. Previous to that, you had to repeat basic if you'd been out 5 years or more. They changed it to 3 years right before I went back in. If they hadn't changed it, I wouldn't have had to repeat basic, as I'd been out 9 days shy of 5 years. They may have had a different standard at the time you reenlisted if it were even further back.
The whole repeating basic thing was good though. I hadn't forgotten how to march, shoot, use the phonetic alphabet or throw a grenade, but I hadn't done much running or road marching while I was out. Also, since I knew the games that the Drill Sergeants played, it was easier to get away with things the second time. I got out the first time as an E-1, thanks to a Field Grade Article 15 for fighting. When I went back to basic, it gave me a chance to earn my E-2 back, and put me well on the way to my next promotions.
Frank
I was issued an M14 in November 66. I qualified sharpshooter while laying in the snow. It was North Ft Lewis, Washington. We were told that we were going to a weird little country called Vietnam but we didn't believe it.
I was sent to the Jungle School at Ft Polk, LA. They issued me an M16 that jammed a lot. I qualified expert with M16, 45 pistol and 106 RR. They told us we were going to Vietnam but we didn't believe it.
In Vietnam, I was issued an M79 Grenade Launcher that never jammed, a 45 that seldom jammed, and a 106RR that left me hearing impaired. When I got to Vietnam they told us that we were being sent to I Corps near North Vietnam but we didn't believe it.
196th Light Infantry Brigade
l Corps May 67 to May 68
I was sent to the Jungle School at Ft Polk, LA. They issued me an M16 that jammed a lot. I qualified expert with M16, 45 pistol and 106 RR. They told us we were going to Vietnam but we didn't believe it.
In Vietnam, I was issued an M79 Grenade Launcher that never jammed, a 45 that seldom jammed, and a 106RR that left me hearing impaired. When I got to Vietnam they told us that we were being sent to I Corps near North Vietnam but we didn't believe it.
196th Light Infantry Brigade
l Corps May 67 to May 68
OEF_VET
Member
Griff,
Yeah, for some reason, the second time around, the Drill Sergeants made me platoon guide for 4 weeks. I would have stayed in the position, but I surrendered my stripes when one of my squad leaders' was busted for having dip. Since I not only knew about it and condoned it, but also borrowed some from him and other guys in the platoon, I felt the honorable thing to do was give 'em up with him. Most of the guys thought it was a pretty stand-up thing to do.
Frank
P.S. To keep this post on-topic, my A2 the second time around was named Nora Jean. My A2 the first time was Noelle. Of course, they were both named after young ladies I had been dating right before I left.
Yeah, for some reason, the second time around, the Drill Sergeants made me platoon guide for 4 weeks. I would have stayed in the position, but I surrendered my stripes when one of my squad leaders' was busted for having dip. Since I not only knew about it and condoned it, but also borrowed some from him and other guys in the platoon, I felt the honorable thing to do was give 'em up with him. Most of the guys thought it was a pretty stand-up thing to do.
Frank
P.S. To keep this post on-topic, my A2 the second time around was named Nora Jean. My A2 the first time was Noelle. Of course, they were both named after young ladies I had been dating right before I left.
VG
Member
We had two former Marines and one former Coast Guardsman in my Infantry OSUT class in 1981. perhaps because Infantry AIT was included as part of the program. I think E5's and above get more consideration. I
Basic at Fort Benning and Fort Knox is, "rigorous." The coed training at Fort Jackson was pretty casual by comparison.
ChairborneRanger
Member
Basic @ Ft. Ord, Calif., 1969-M14. I wasn't all that impressed with it then, and not now, either. I prefer the M1 to the M14---the M14 seems to have all kind of sharp projections on it to bump into you and poke you----not the M1, though. For that matter, I'd take an M16A2 over both an M1 and an M14----lugging a cannon around is not my idea of fun.
Redlg155
Member
Basic at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Issued the M16A1. We also had steel pots! 
First duty station at Ft Stewart GA we still had M16A1s. We didn't get A2s until about 1989 or so. Officers were also still carrying the old 1911s, even when we went to Iraq.
Good Shooting
Red
First duty station at Ft Stewart GA we still had M16A1s. We didn't get A2s until about 1989 or so. Officers were also still carrying the old 1911s, even when we went to Iraq.
Good Shooting
Red
Kernel
Member
Harrison & Richardson M16A1 with maybe 30% of the finish still showing. Cavalry Scout (19D) OSUT, Ft. Knox Fall/Winter '82. -- Kernel
duckfoot
member
1990 a very worn out Colt M16A2
aryfrosty
Member
Boot Camp Weapons
That subject takes me back. We were given 03-A3s at first. Then we went to the range and were qualified with Garands; 1911s; M-1 Thompsons and the BAR. Once I reached my first ship I was assigned to the ship's landing party,( Now that's an old concept), and was assigned as the BAR operator. I liked every one of them, but didn't learn to appreciate the 03-A3s until years later. When I had one I just resented it because it was old and grey. I can still do the manual of arms with an 03-A3. I think the rifle knows the manual as long as I put my hands in the right places at the right times to catch it.
That subject takes me back. We were given 03-A3s at first. Then we went to the range and were qualified with Garands; 1911s; M-1 Thompsons and the BAR. Once I reached my first ship I was assigned to the ship's landing party,( Now that's an old concept), and was assigned as the BAR operator. I liked every one of them, but didn't learn to appreciate the 03-A3s until years later. When I had one I just resented it because it was old and grey. I can still do the manual of arms with an 03-A3. I think the rifle knows the manual as long as I put my hands in the right places at the right times to catch it.
Ed Straker
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Parris Island, 1989: Colt M16A2, serial number 6137326.
OEF_VET
Member
aryfrosty,
Welcome to THR. In case no one has told you, the new guy buys the beer and the ammo. I like Heineken and .45 ACP, please.
Frank
Welcome to THR. In case no one has told you, the new guy buys the beer and the ammo. I like Heineken and .45 ACP, please.
Frank
aryfrosty
Member
New guy's response...
I am always ready to continue tradition. The docs don't allow me beer any longer, but I would have to say I can lay my hands on a few hundred rounds of .45ACP fairly quickly. A few spins of the dial and....
I am always ready to continue tradition. The docs don't allow me beer any longer, but I would have to say I can lay my hands on a few hundred rounds of .45ACP fairly quickly. A few spins of the dial and....
RTC San Diego in the summer of 1971.
We drilled with a 1903 Springfield.
Fam fired a 1911 .45.
Qualified with an M1 Garand chambered in 7.62.
I remember sitting with my company (204) under some trees at Camp Pendelton (sp) de-linking 7.62 and stuffing clips. They wouldn't let us use the tracers...
We drilled with a 1903 Springfield.
Fam fired a 1911 .45.
Qualified with an M1 Garand chambered in 7.62.
I remember sitting with my company (204) under some trees at Camp Pendelton (sp) de-linking 7.62 and stuffing clips. They wouldn't let us use the tracers...
Thunderstick
Member
Glad they didn't cosmoline. I wouldn't have an M1 if they did!
Abominable No-Man
Member
M16A2. Very good rifle. Shot Expert with it on first qualification(13 years ago...lol, damn, I'm getting old....), have shot expert (even gone "Hawkeye" four years in a row!) every time since.
ANM
ANM
fallingblock
Member
Ft. Campbell, Ky.......
July 1967.
I met an M-14.
Springfield Armory 532808
We seemed to get along well together.
I qualified expert and did well with bayonet & dummies with black pajamas.
On the 'live fire' assault toward the end of basic, where we crawled under the 1919-A4 fire, I pushed old 532808 ahead of me the whole way...when I got to the end of the lane, she wouldn't open .
Clear full of mud . They should have let us keep a magazine .
July 1967.
I met an M-14.
Springfield Armory 532808
We seemed to get along well together.
I qualified expert and did well with bayonet & dummies with black pajamas.
On the 'live fire' assault toward the end of basic, where we crawled under the 1919-A4 fire, I pushed old 532808 ahead of me the whole way...when I got to the end of the lane, she wouldn't open
.Clear full of mud
. They should have let us keep a magazine .bogie
Member
When I did basic at Ft. Meadowmuffin, I was quite surprised when they handed me an H&R...
Dang thing shot pretty good tho...
Dang thing shot pretty good tho...
CarlS
Member
M1. I was in long enough to have been issued the M1, M14, M14 A2, M16A1, and M16A2. The M14 was my favorite of American tactical weapons.
aryfrosty
Member
Boot camp issue...
I read some of the recent posts and really feel like an antique now. I was a squid, like many of you. I went to San Diego for boot camp because I had seldom been more than a hundred miles from home. I was issued an 03-A3, then on the KD range I shot a Garand to qualify...then a 1911 for pistol quals...then an M1 Thompson to see how the other guys lived. When I got out of "A" school and on board my first sea duty billet I joined the ship's landing party and was issued a BAR, which I shot many rounds off the fantail with. How in heck can a government expect you to go to war if you don't get friendly with what you might have to use? When my youngest told me he was enlisted and headed for Parris Island I took him to the range several days running and let him shoot everything he might possibly get issued.
I read some of the recent posts and really feel like an antique now. I was a squid, like many of you. I went to San Diego for boot camp because I had seldom been more than a hundred miles from home. I was issued an 03-A3, then on the KD range I shot a Garand to qualify...then a 1911 for pistol quals...then an M1 Thompson to see how the other guys lived. When I got out of "A" school and on board my first sea duty billet I joined the ship's landing party and was issued a BAR, which I shot many rounds off the fantail with.
How in heck can a government expect you to go to war if you don't get friendly with what you might have to use? When my youngest told me he was enlisted and headed for Parris Island I took him to the range several days running and let him shoot everything he might possibly get issued.Medusa
Member
Got AK-4 (Swedish clone of HK G3), got to shoot from M-14 also, and first encounter with them resulted in 88% score @100m (hardly get to shoot at longer distance )
)
Gordon
Member
In U 0f Ga ROTC in 1963-64 we used M-1 Garands including the summer drill. However when I enlisted in 1965 I went thru Basic at Fort Benning with an M-14, which I qualified expert. I did AIT with familarization with 1911a1, m-3 sub gun,m-60 GPM,.50m2 , 60mm mortar and 90mm recoiless. I remember 3.5" rocket launcher too somewhere.
I carried an M-14 and a 1911a1 when I first hit Nam in Jan 68 as a buck Sgt. in Intell. deployed with the 101st abn in I corp.I got there just in time to celebrate Tet 68 in Hue
When I came back in 1970 as an e-6 97B with a 1911a1 I was handed an M-16, which I disliked instantly and was not trained on. I managed to find me an Ithaca 37 riot gun and a goodly supply of brass shells which I carried to many firebases and LRRPs.
When I came back for 6mo TDY as a WO1 in 1972 I was in plain clothes and carried an issue S&W Model 10 2"uhoh: ) in a G-d awful issue shoulder holster and promptly 'acquired' a Carl Gustav 9mm sub gun and 6 mags of ammo, neither of which I had to fire before being evacuated to China beach(then home) for moderate wounds I got while riding in a Loach
I ended my Army Career as a plain clothes WO-2 at Ft. Holobird with an issue S&W Model 12 snub in 1974 . In 1975 I joined the DEA and was qualified on the S&W Mod 19 2.5", I lasted 2 years and went back to college
I carried an M-14 and a 1911a1 when I first hit Nam in Jan 68 as a buck Sgt. in Intell. deployed with the 101st abn in I corp.I got there just in time to celebrate Tet 68 in Hue
When I came back in 1970 as an e-6 97B with a 1911a1 I was handed an M-16, which I disliked instantly and was not trained on. I managed to find me an Ithaca 37 riot gun and a goodly supply of brass shells which I carried to many firebases and LRRPs.
When I came back for 6mo TDY as a WO1 in 1972 I was in plain clothes and carried an issue S&W Model 10 2"
uhoh: ) in a G-d awful issue shoulder holster and promptly 'acquired' a Carl Gustav 9mm sub gun and 6 mags of ammo, neither of which I had to fire before being evacuated to China beach(then home) for moderate wounds I got while riding in a Loach I ended my Army Career as a plain clothes WO-2 at Ft. Holobird with an issue S&W Model 12 snub in 1974 . In 1975 I joined the DEA and was qualified on the S&W Mod 19 2.5", I lasted 2 years and went back to college
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