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thedrifter
10-04-03, 09:05 AM
Vietnam war impacts Depot training in 60s
Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 2003103185631
Story by MCRD San Diego, Public Affairs Office



MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(October 3, 2003) -- The 1960s included the raging battles of the Vietnam War and the chants of peace at Woodstock, and an increase in the number of recruits entering Marine Corps recruit training.

When the Vietnam War required more Marines for battle in 1965, the Marine Corps was forced to train new Marines for combat in a much hastier fashion than normal.

"Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time," according to former President Lyndon B. Johnson. He also stated, "Our purpose in Vietnam is to prevent the success of aggression. It is not conquest, it is not empire, it is not foreign bases, it is not domination. It is, simply put, just to prevent the forceful conquest of South Vietnam by North Vietnam."

This increase in productivity required more Marines to train recruits, bringing the lance corporals into the picture who would normally not be afforded this opportunity.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps gave lance corporals permission to become drill instructors. Upon completion of the drill instructor course, those Marines were promoted meritoriously to corporal.

This kept noncommissioned officers in the position of drill instructors.

In addition to the exceptions made for Marines to become drill instructors, the school was accelerated to five weeks from eight weeks for certain parts of the war.

Recruits were also expected to decrease their training time with an accelerated eight-week course from the normal 12-week course.

The first civilians of the draft from Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles, began arriving on the Depot in November 1965.

An increase in the number of recruits being trained was not new for the Depot, who has previously adapted its training for World War II and the Korean War. The Depot had experienced increased capacity and acted on it accordingly.

The increased flow of recruits required a tent camp to be setup. Each tent housed 20 men and the quonset huts, already in place, were filled to maximum capacity. In one month, the Depot was training the same number of recruits they used to train in a year.

Messhalls 403 and 404 were reopened, which helped feed the increased body count.

Also during this decade one of the Depot's more prominent areas was renamed during the 1960s.

Sept. 12, 1965, the Recruit Marksmanship Training Facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. was dedicated as Edson Range Area in honor of deceased Maj. Gen. Merritt A. Edson.

As building names changed in honor of deceased Marines, more Marines continued to go into battle following the changes of time. One of the highlights of the Depot's history in the 1960s' was a visit by former President John F. Kennedy on June 6, 1963.

Kennedy was greeted with a 21-gun salute as soon as he arrived.

The president's schedule was filled with the viewing of receiving barracks, followed by close order drill, classroom instruction, pugil stick instruction, obstacle course, physical readiness test, strength test, inspection of living quarters, inspection of a graduating platoon. The visit ended with the President addressing approximately 5,000 Marines, as well as 3,500 sailors from neighboring Naval Training Center.

"I was very much impressed with the performance of the Marines at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. It was indeed gratifying to see the process through which a young man becomes a Marine. Your's is a fine base and one which makes a great contribution to the defense of our country," said Kennedy in a letter to Maj. Gen. Sidney S. Wade, commanding general, MCRD San Diego.

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future," said Kennedy.


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003103185839/$file/JFK-60s_lr.jpg

President John F. Kennedy inspects Marines, sailors and recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego June 6, 1963.
Photo by: Official USMC photo



http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003103185958/$file/Sea-School-60s_lr.jpg

Sea School students leave their berthing area and report to their morning inspection in the mid 1960s.
Photo by: Official USMC photo



http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200310319126/$file/PX-60s_lr.jpg

Recruits do some Christmas shopping at the Depot exchange in 1965.
Photo by: Official USMC photo

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/666718C748FEFEF485256DB4007E0679?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger

Sparrowhawk
10-04-03, 11:06 AM
Went in, MCRD San Diego, on new years eve 1966, and graduated in March 1967, but don't remember the date

Was I there for 12 weeks or shorter?

Humm with that accelerated trainign this story reveals, I may also have been wrong in what I posted before in biggest accomplishment.

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9825


Originally posted by Sparrowhawk

S hit, shower and shave in three minutes


Eat in seven......


It may have been 3 minutes to do all four...LOL