View Full Version : Church in Boot Camp
Otto the Otter
03-07-10, 04:38 AM
The other day I was speaking with a woman who said her nephew was currently going through (or had just been through) boot camp. She told me that the recruits are now required to go to church every Sunday.
When I went through boot camp in 1992, we were required to go to church the first weekend, but after that it was the option of the recruit. If the recruits decided not to go to church, they had a sort of "Free Time" where they could do their laundry, shine their boots, etc for a couple hours.
Are the recruits required to go to church while in boot camp?
I know there are Marines out there that are Athiest or Pagan or other religions who would probably feel uncomfortable having to go to church every Sunday.
No you are not required to attend services following the first weekend.
Brian1215
03-07-10, 07:44 AM
the drill instructors try to get you to go by, making you rip your markings off your gear then saying it has to be fix by the end of free time, (only to the recruits who stay) but after a while they give up and most recruts would stay
Garyius
03-07-10, 07:50 AM
I stayed. My church does not allow worship with those of different flavors of Christanity.
This was years ago, but back then they sold newspapers outside the chow hall at San Diego on Sundays. I would buy a few, read them during the free time, and then give the papers to the whiskey locker recruit for cleaning and for the foot powder tray.
Zulu 36
03-07-10, 08:51 AM
I stayed too just for the extra time it gave me to do my personal chores. I was the platoon scribe and I needed the time for myself. It just made for a more "relaxing" day.
Those of us who stayed behind soon realized that the duty DI would leave us mostly alone as long as we were doing useful things quietly (naps not allowed). My laundry was hanging on the lines drying by the time church detail got back, other stuff squared away for the day, and I was reading the paper or writing letters.
We got newspapers too (everyone was required to buy one), but they were saved for buffing the wax on the decks every morning (no electric buffers in boot camp in those days).
TJR1070
03-07-10, 08:59 AM
I always went, it was a good release to get away from the squadbay for an hour or so.
I also sent evey Sunday. They gave out weekly new letters, I used them to write home, during the Mass. It was one hour of peace and quiet.
Old Marine
03-07-10, 09:32 PM
I do not know how it is these day's, but when I was there my dinks were either fish eaters or prostitutes and all attended either Catholic or Protestant(SP) services.
I told them that I did not care if they slept through services, but every swinging dink would attend and I attended both services.
sdk87to91
03-09-10, 12:04 PM
I got saved in boot camp and am grateful to God that I was forced to go to one of the two services.
Our only other option was more of the same training as from the rest of the week.
It is too bad they are going easy on them now. A true aetheist or pagan will probably enjoy the torment so they can compalin about it later in life.
but the lost sheep can be found there during that period of lifeand personal developement.
Church was such a contrast to the rest of the week that I really felt the peace and relief that only God can give.
HOWARDROARK3043
03-09-10, 02:55 PM
the best church service is Buddhist----you can sleep the whole time,,,,, they turned off the lights--it was pretty cool...................
USMCM38A1
03-09-10, 02:57 PM
We were happy to go to church when i was in in the 80's we couldn't talk so at least in church you could sing.We never saw a news paper the whole time I was in boot camp.I have always heard there are no atheists during war time ,when it gets really bad every body is praying to make it through.
AAV Crewchief
03-09-10, 03:52 PM
The other day I was speaking with a woman who said her nephew was currently going through (or had just been through) boot camp. She told me that the recruits are now required to go to church every Sunday.
When I went through boot camp in 1992, we were required to go to church the first weekend, but after that it was the option of the recruit. If the recruits decided not to go to church, they had a sort of "Free Time" where they could do their laundry, shine their boots, etc for a couple hours.
Are the recruits required to go to church while in boot camp?
I know there are Marines out there that are Athiest or Pagan or other religions who would probably feel uncomfortable having to go to church every Sunday.
Free time? WTF? The two guys in my platoon who were atheists had FIRE WATCH while everyone else went to church.
Supersquishy
03-09-10, 03:56 PM
Free time? WTF? The two guys in my platoon who were atheists had FIRE WATCH while everyone else went to church.
That or they did Linin detail.
fastback190
03-09-10, 04:56 PM
i don't know went threw boot camp 1990 church was only place di did not mess with u, u stayed behind u got mess with the whole day, free time do not know what thar was.
FistFu68
03-09-10, 05:04 PM
:evilgrin: My 3 D.I'S were like Satan You know Dam well I was going too Church so did the Rest of my Plt.S/F :scared: :iwo:
SmithAdrian
03-09-10, 05:43 PM
I went to boot 20090330 and we weren't forced to go to service. Hell our SDI told everyone going to church they were btches, and should be using THAT free time to write our letters, and squaring away our sh*t so we could work out on nightly free time. Staying back meant free time until almost Afternoon chow, because services started at all sorts of times. I went to church on easter, and thats it...(I'm an Atheist, but what mom says goes...even when you're on the island) Most people went...but after a while, we only had a few people still going.
FistFu68
03-09-10, 07:39 PM
:evilgrin: You got Discharged without earning Your Eagle Globe @ Anchor Smith Adrian? :confused::iwo:
SmithAdrian
03-09-10, 08:01 PM
Yes, Marine. I was sent home for multiple knee injuries. Discharged was the technical term and sounded a lot better than, I failed because my knee got destroyed
FistFu68
03-09-10, 08:09 PM
:evilgrin: They gonna help You fix it? :confused: :iwo:
SmithAdrian
03-09-10, 08:20 PM
All fixed up now. I left PI back in late july, long story that I'd rather not clog the thread with I'll send you a PM further explain the situation and where my path is goign from here.
micarr57
03-09-10, 08:45 PM
o yes went every sunday only place didn't get farked with by di needed that hour
I went every Sunday.Only way to get some peace/quiet and sit on something soft.