Recruit Depot

[futuremarine]

What is the difference between Parris Island and The San Diego Recruit Depot? Do they train a little differently or do they just have two different stations for more convenience?

Futuremarine

[NamGrunt68]

One issues Sand Fleas and the other issues sunglasses !!! Just kiddin bro's......."Its Just a Nam Thing".....LMAO !!!!

Don't worry bout whur ya go lad...they both turn you into a Marine if ya can hack it !!!!

[USMC0311]

U R goin 2 Diego Future Marine..get ready 4 The Beach and Beautiful Mountian terrain, Sunshine and plesent Drill Instructors.

I've never been to Parris Island, but U R lucky 2 B going 2 a Boot Camp where The DIs speak English. Can U imagine a DI sayin, " I can't hear Ya'all ?

same same grunt68 !! its ALL Good !!

[wrbones]

You learn what orifices are really for.( packing sand! LOL) Plus watching civilian jets take off fro, the local international airport. Just kidding, Namgrunts right. Either one will make you a Marine, if you're able to complete boot. Not everyone makes it.

[thedrifter]

Go thru Boot Camp in San Diego, you become a "Hollywood Marine"..............HE HE HE HE HE
Go thru Boot Camp in Parris Island and you become a True Marine with sand fleas..........HE HE HE HE

All kidding aside, no matter which MCRD you go thru and do graduate, you will have earned the Title: 'UNITED STATES MARINE"

Just as USMC0311, NamGrunt68, wrbones and myself are Marines, we have and will always joke with each other where we went to Boot Camp............HE HE HE HE

Sempers,

Roger

[wrbones]

and I'm ONLY a winger....Blah, blah ,blah....... LMAO. Brothers can raise hell with each other, God help the man that tries to make 'em stop!

[mpwildes]

I went to boot camp in Sand diego and I worked 8 miles from Parris Island. Here are so of the difference I have seen first hand.


San Diego the fricken long hikes and huge mountains.
Parris Island the infinate amount of Sand Fleas.

San Diego you hardly see civilians
Parris Island all you see is civilians

San Diego there doesn't have to be nice aournd civilian because there aren't many.

Parris Island is very political

Sand Diego has good weather all year long mostly.
Parris Island can get freezing in the winter and so hot and humid in the summer yo feel like you're gonna die.

San Diego's crucible is 54 miles through mountains
Parris Island is on 48 miles of old flight line.


I know there are more but I can't think of them now

[USMC0311]

Thank You Very Much Sgt Wildes..
OK U PI Marines I NEVER want 2 hear U talkin no BS about how tough yer Boot was..No wonder they train girls there !
bet they get cookies and milk B4 hittin the rack.

Semper Fi, Marines

PS don't make no Difference 2 A Grunt It's ALL Good Clean FUN.

U San Diego Marines REMEMBER the Sand Pits and the switch pits routine.

[Sixguns]

Both MCRDs have the exact training schedule. Neither one is any harder than the other. There are some unique differences when it comes to training and training sites, but no matter which MCRD you train at, you still become a Marine.

You are not offered a choice of where you attend training. It is determined for you based on the geographic location you come from or in the case of women, your gender.

A Marines should be proud, regardless of which MCRD they attended training at. But, Parris Island is the better site and has the better image, history and mystique associated with it.


Sixguns

[wrbones]

They was goose down mattresses and air conditioned gymnasiums....OOPS...I gave it all away didn't I.

[Shaffer]

Of course I am biased as I am a PROUD graduate of 2nd BN Echo Co., Parris Island, however I will enlighten you folks on a couple things things.

1. Parris Island came first.

2. Comparing PI with SD is like comparing Harvard to Stanford. Not as prestigious and never will be.

3. SD is thought so highly of that they may move it. If they do, it really wouldn't be a big deal. That would be the same as moving the Rams to St. Louis. However try to move PI and see how many DOGS bark. That would be like moving the Yankees out to New Jersey...Never Happen!

In defense of the Hollywood Marines...95% of the ones I have met said they believed PI was tougher. AND their hair is still a little shorter than the sailors

No matter which bootcamp you went to...you still walked that parade deck and you are still Marines...Nothing to be ashamed. Just some good ole razzing!

SF

Jerry

[mpwildes]

Well We both know that training is suppose to be ran the same way. They are suppose to match step for step, but really we know that looks good on paper. I have been to both depots. I think I have spent about equal time on both. The differences I have seen is what I believe. I can also go by what my old SNCO who was a DI on both and see's some of the same views. Though not starting a which depot is better contest. Not the case. I do believe it is in the individual product itself, the individual recruit and how they act as a Marine.

There is not as much Civilan activity on SD as on PI look at the PX, and all the housing facilities on PI. there is only what 5 housing units on SD compared to PI's 500 units. Plus the golf course on PI brings all sorts of people. Plus yearly concerts and fireworks show on Parris Island. You don't have that at San Diego.

The other difference I have seen is that recruits get to go to the PX the last sunday they are there and buy what they want. SD doesn't until family day. The biggest and worst thing I have seen yet is that while on liberty and even some at graduation, the new marines at PI dont have the proper creases in their uniforms. San diego does. But why are we allowing Marines to walk around in Charlies without creases and wrinkle bombs. Now maybe that is just a discretion thing among drill instructors or they run out of time on the training schedule, but still it does not make it right and I am sure you have seen it since you were there as well. Don't get me wrong I have had some stellar Marines from both depots and some bags from both. My best Marines on my watch came from PI.

Another thing is that PI you say there is more history and mystque on Parris Island. Yeah you think of Parris island a little more cause of the backgorund on it and it does indeed have history. But I know almost all the buildings on SD are national historic landmarks, Parris Island they are always tearing down buildings and putting up new ones. I believe you it might have a psychological affect on their training, but don't you think that is just the same as going up to Pendleton? There are differences and some are good and some are bad. I will say I would not change my traing for the world at SD, I would of hated to of gone to PI. The mountains and ceremony on the Grim Reaper for the end of the crucible was alot tougher and better than walking across flightline four or five times and through housing areas. But I know I would of delt better with SD weather and enviorment than PI's weather and Sand Fleas. And trust me the Airport was annoying to deal with all day and night. Either way both deserve respect they get. All in all they Porduced Basically trained Marines.

[wrbones]

Just kidding. Shaffer, you be careful boy, or I'll go on a rant! LMAO I've said it several times before, but I'll say it again, just for the recordon the "new" site. I grew up in a small community that had a majority of males who were veterans. It was a bit of a tradition. When folks found out that my brother and I were joining the Marines, the first thing I heard was, you'll never make it. Being a thick- headed stubborn type, I determined that I was. !25 wannabes in the recieving barracks the end of July 1976. 13 weeks later, only 36 of us were left. It is tough, it can be brutal, your head is crammed with things a country boy would never think of. Numbers are similiar from PI. My brother and I "attenede" San Diego. Psyclogical game hearing and sometimes watching those jet airliners take off. From the yellow footprints to final parade and graduation, There is nothing like it on earth. Physical preparation, general knowledge and skills, and attitude that says, "Never give up. I WILL NOT GIVE UP". can only begin to begin to prepare you. anything at all that you can do, will be of some service to you. But you now know nothing. When you step on those footprints for the first time, your life will be changed forever. You cannot now comprehend this, but it is true. When you here the final " PLATOON... DISSS-MISSED!" You will be joining a legend. One that will last til the end of days. You cannot now comprehend this. You will be joining a limited and unique brotherhood aand fraternity. One that even years after they last served, will drop everything to help a brother in distress. Your family, though important, becomes secondary, your career, though important, becomes secondary. Look at the citations for Marines who've earned the Medal of Honor. The mission, and their Marine Brothers are why they earned tham. Not for glory's sake , but for their brothers. You cannot now comprhend this. It is rough, Marines are necessarily a rough lot, but they care deeply for their nation, for their flag, and for their own. When you graduate bootcamp, anyone of us will say," Good job, Marine, and welcome home"

[Shaffer]

Now that I know you are a "Hollywood" Marine, I will treat you different.

Just kidding! Great post old salt! Sounds like you have many years and lots of wisdom to pass along. Great to have you aboard!

Semper Fi,

Jerry

[Sixguns]

Not as many civilians? Get real!

Before I state my case, let me ask a few questions. How many PI recruits ever saw the golf course?? How many times was your platoon marched through Mainside and the PX??

I was in 2ndRTBn., the closest to the PX, and I can tell you we were never passing by the exchange or offered a chance to notice the people who use the golf course. Oh yeah, we ran through base housing, but do you think the folks there came out to greet us with coffee and donuts as we ran by? They are all Marines anyway, not civilians!!

Now, if you want to compare facilities, which one has a civilian airport right next door? Which exchange facility is bigger and gets more patronage? How many bus trips do you think PI recruits get off the Depot to conduct training? MCRD SD is the more civilian installation. And Jerry you are exactly right about the PI legacy and tradition. PI is a national landmark that will never be moved. Besides, Gomer Pile is MCRD SD's claim to fame!!! Enough said.


Sixguns