thedrifter
02-26-04, 08:11 AM
It's A Long Journey From Recruit To Marine
By Shannon Davidson
(PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., February 25th, 2004, 3 p.m.) -- Recruiting the world's finest is no easy job, but that responsibility falls on the shoulders of marines who are looking for the "best of the best." In 12 weeks' time, recruits endure countless mental and physical challenges that in the end prepare them for combat. WAVE 3's Shannon Davidson followed some local recruits at Parris Island, where marines are made.
The life of a marine corps recruit begins abruptly in the cover of darkness, with a light at the end of a very long 12-week tunnel.
A drill sergeant yells at a new batch of recruits, letting them know they've left their individuality behind to become part of something greater. "The word 'I,' 'me,' 'mine' -- or any other third person word is no longer in your vocabulary!"
Another drill sergeant yells: "Let's go! Double time! You're walking fast, you're not running!"
The time it takes to strip all signs of former identity away? Twenty seconds per head.
By the 14th day, recruits are working on several different training exercises, like the Pugil Sticks. It's a hand-to-hand combat exercise on a bridge that calls for strength, balance, and determination.
From the bridge to the water -- if a recruit can't swim, his dream of becoming a Marine is over, as one Marine tells a group of recruits. "If nobody's ever said it before, the Marines are an amphibious force, and if you can't swim, then there's no reason to be around."
Lesson number one at boot camp: Every Marine is a rifleman.
"In the things we do as Marines, we have to know how to shoot, it's important," says Warrant Officer Mario Heikell.
Trained Marines are literally looking over the recruits' shoulders...like big brothers, watching their every move and correcting every mistake.
For their part, most recruits seemed to get the message. "If you want to come to Parris Island and be a Marine, you have to be mentally prepared," says recruit Leamon Cameron from Lincoln Co., Kentucky.
"If you don't have a positive mental attitude toward everything, it would be very hard for you to make it through Boot Camp," says recruit Robert Cardwell of Louisville.
"It reminds me of home because of the cold weather, and this recruit, he loves it," says Justin Collett of Hyden, Kentucky.
Recruits can't let the weather...or the fear of being sent to war, affect their training. "If they need me on the front lines, this recruit will be there, no hesitations, to serve my country," says recruit Jason Collett of Hyden, Kentucky.
And when graduation day finally arrives, the reality of what may lie ahead sets in.
"I feel more disciplined and more confident, having succeeded," says Levi Brisco, U.S. Marine.
And to the new Marines, the previous 12 weeks now seem worth it. "If you want to join the fighting services of America, be a Marine -- the Army, the Navy, they don't have anything on us," says U.S. Marine Cardwell.
To these young men and women, being a Marine means being the best of the best.
"Why does this recruit want to be a Marine? Respect," says James Wallace of Florence, Kentucky.
"There ain't nothing no better than a Marine," says recruit Jason Collett.
Last year, about 18,000 men and women went to boot camp at Parris Island to become Marines. Of those, nearly 2,000 didn't make it to graduation day.
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG1.jpg
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG3.jpg
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG5.jpg
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=1666407&nav=0RZFL5Ww
The Drifter
By Shannon Davidson
(PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., February 25th, 2004, 3 p.m.) -- Recruiting the world's finest is no easy job, but that responsibility falls on the shoulders of marines who are looking for the "best of the best." In 12 weeks' time, recruits endure countless mental and physical challenges that in the end prepare them for combat. WAVE 3's Shannon Davidson followed some local recruits at Parris Island, where marines are made.
The life of a marine corps recruit begins abruptly in the cover of darkness, with a light at the end of a very long 12-week tunnel.
A drill sergeant yells at a new batch of recruits, letting them know they've left their individuality behind to become part of something greater. "The word 'I,' 'me,' 'mine' -- or any other third person word is no longer in your vocabulary!"
Another drill sergeant yells: "Let's go! Double time! You're walking fast, you're not running!"
The time it takes to strip all signs of former identity away? Twenty seconds per head.
By the 14th day, recruits are working on several different training exercises, like the Pugil Sticks. It's a hand-to-hand combat exercise on a bridge that calls for strength, balance, and determination.
From the bridge to the water -- if a recruit can't swim, his dream of becoming a Marine is over, as one Marine tells a group of recruits. "If nobody's ever said it before, the Marines are an amphibious force, and if you can't swim, then there's no reason to be around."
Lesson number one at boot camp: Every Marine is a rifleman.
"In the things we do as Marines, we have to know how to shoot, it's important," says Warrant Officer Mario Heikell.
Trained Marines are literally looking over the recruits' shoulders...like big brothers, watching their every move and correcting every mistake.
For their part, most recruits seemed to get the message. "If you want to come to Parris Island and be a Marine, you have to be mentally prepared," says recruit Leamon Cameron from Lincoln Co., Kentucky.
"If you don't have a positive mental attitude toward everything, it would be very hard for you to make it through Boot Camp," says recruit Robert Cardwell of Louisville.
"It reminds me of home because of the cold weather, and this recruit, he loves it," says Justin Collett of Hyden, Kentucky.
Recruits can't let the weather...or the fear of being sent to war, affect their training. "If they need me on the front lines, this recruit will be there, no hesitations, to serve my country," says recruit Jason Collett of Hyden, Kentucky.
And when graduation day finally arrives, the reality of what may lie ahead sets in.
"I feel more disciplined and more confident, having succeeded," says Levi Brisco, U.S. Marine.
And to the new Marines, the previous 12 weeks now seem worth it. "If you want to join the fighting services of America, be a Marine -- the Army, the Navy, they don't have anything on us," says U.S. Marine Cardwell.
To these young men and women, being a Marine means being the best of the best.
"Why does this recruit want to be a Marine? Respect," says James Wallace of Florence, Kentucky.
"There ain't nothing no better than a Marine," says recruit Jason Collett.
Last year, about 18,000 men and women went to boot camp at Parris Island to become Marines. Of those, nearly 2,000 didn't make it to graduation day.
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG1.jpg
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG3.jpg
http://wave.static.worldnow.com/images/1666407_BG5.jpg
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=1666407&nav=0RZFL5Ww
The Drifter