I enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1977, and after completing my boot camp I was promoted to Lance Corporal because I had completed my R.O.T.C training of 3 years in High School. While enlisted in the Marine Corps, What a wake up call, DI’s hitting the trash cans to wake Us up, that will make your day, then run for 5 miles before breakfast, People say how was your breakfast, I’d reply, I don’t know, I just ate it really fast, and we’re outside running again, crazy stuff, but a lot has changed in the Marine Corps, I’m now viewed as a old Marine, Time Flies, I viewed my life in a whole new way, it was do as You’re told, wearing dark green satines uniforms, the first thing, that I had to do, after I graduated was to purchase the newer version Camouflage Uniforms out of my own money. My path through the Marine Corps changed my outlook on Life, and how to properly address Someone. People think ? of Me as strange, but I treat all people the same way that I would like to be treated, and it has a tremendous impact on people that I meet and become friends with. They always say, no one has ever spoken to Me like that, and I reply, if You show Respect, it will be honored by those people and They will Respect You too. I’m older, but still a Marine, little greyer & thicker, but still as mean. I believe in the value of a person not the color of their skin. Which is why, so many Marines are such a tight knit group, that Respect, goes a long way , Semper Fidelis Marines OooRah!!
Hey Gunny – Interesting letter, especially the part about promotion to LCpl upon graduation of Recruit Training. Hell, I didn’t make Pfc until I had six months active duty, and it was damn near another year before I made LCpl, but did make Cpl and Sgt meritoriously. I don’t remember covering a HS-ROTC plan in Recruiters School in ’78, but then there’s a lot I don’t remember now. The one thing that I do remember is that the only constant thing in life is constant change. Get used to it! Semper Fi!! Top Pro
Hey M/Sgt Prothro, The reason that you were not schooled on it is because it was not implemented until probably the 90’s or 2000’s some time. Nick
Top Pro,
I went to Parris Island, Plt 2063, in July 1981. I always wondered how the DIs graded the recruits out of boot camp to see who was promoted meritoriously and what the requirements were for early promotion. I was not the honor man, not the platoon Guide, nor the Series or even Platoon High Shooter (only shot 212, Sharpshooter), but I was a squad leader for about half of my time in book camp off and on depending on the DI (that’s another story, Lol), but I was promoted to PFC meritoriously at graduation. I did well in all phases of drill, PT and knowledge (did flub my General Orders for the Battalion Commander’s Inspection though ) but I always figured I was in the top third overall, however, I never expected to be promoted to PFC meritoriously. I was proud as hell to be selected as the Guide for one of the DIs as they broke us into separate two-squad sections to march onto the grinder for graduation, but I was a bit surprised. I figured it would have been several other recruits aside from me who were selected for that honor and definitely for promotion to PFC meritoriously. Still proud of that, all these years later.
Cpl Mike Kunkel. 0331, Lima 3/8 1981-1985
Meant to say I shot 216
Mike, I’m certain that you were well entitled to meritorious promotion. As a SNCO in charge of everything from a Quonset hut (Hut 7F3 MCRD SD, south east of the Grinder) to Comm Chief & acting 1st Sgt of H&S 8th Engr Bn, I was often faced with recognizing many Marines but with few assets to do so. Often times a simple “Job well done” statement had to suffice until something else was available. Most guys really appreciated a 72 or 96 liberty chit, which was easy. I’ve read a lot of your posts, and that’s why I say this. One of the few, the proud. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
Thanks Top!! Semper Fi Marine!!
This subject came up before and according to what I have read, you go in as what is called a “Contract PFC” and there are several ways to achieve that. Eagle Scout , JROTC, a certain amount of college credits, sign up at least 3 new recruits and be recommended by your recruiter etc.. but to attain the rank of L/Cpl you must become a Platoon Honor Man or Platoon High Shooter (Expert). Could be more to it than that. Don’t know when this started. Harry 1371
Thanks Harry and Nick. It is nice to know that I can always count on you guys to help make and keep me aware of my various ignorance’s. During my last 2 1/2 year joint assignment with USCentCom, regretfully, I lost touch with a lot of the real Marine Corps. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
I am going to have to use a BS card here, satines were still the authorized uniform until 1982 , that is when camo became the authorized uniform. If you bought the camo it would have been for unauthorized use. you don’t have to take my word for it though, look it up. Paul S
Hey Paul, I thought about that too, but really didn’t remember the exact dates. And besides, we all did receive a clothing allowance, regardless of how small it was. I do remember transferring from recruiting duty to the RDJTF/USCentCom in Oct ’81 and suddenly realizing that I needed to purchase new utilities. So in the interim, I dug out my old salty set that I had brought back from RVN. They were so faded that you could hardly see any color, and everyone thought I was a real salt. Also, they were just a tad tight around the waist. Luckily, I was issued desert cammies with the RDJTF. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
Brings back a memory of mine . On the way back from Vietnam and going thru Camp Hanson there was a Marine that was wearing a brand new set of Camo’s and brand new jungle boots they made him strip them off and they took them away from him and the only thing he had to wear was this wrinkled dirty kaki uniform stuffed in his seabg. They took one look at my old faded( non cammo)jungles and old worn boots and just let me go thru the line. I felt bad for the guy. Talking with him later found out he was with 5th infantry grunt and was giiven the new stuff buy his by a Lt. before he left because he “looked to ragged” Found out later that he was not the only one this happened too. Anyone else remember a situatin like that?
I’m with you on the BS Card………never ate breakfast and for sure didn’t run five miles before hand. We went straight to the Mess Hall and had “Morning Chow” and didn’t run anywhere but to a class room afterwards
I agree Paul. Something doesn’t smell right here. When he mentioned DIs beating trash cans and running 5 miles before “breakfast (not morning chow). I was not in until 1981, but we NEVER ran before chow. They might have PT the crap out of before chow, but the formation runs were all after chow.
I remember when I served in 75-78 @ Courthouse Bay 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion that we transition from the I say again starched green uniform to camomiles. Really was a time in my life I never regretted. I also did well had two Mos’s 1833 & 5711. Amphibian Crewman and NBC Specialist @ Battalio HDQ’s. Two meritoriously permotion LCPL and SGT. 3 eritoutiourous amass citations along with being first Marine to run 10K with Gas Mask in 47 mins. @ 2nd Marine Division Base. Another citation CG from BaseCommanderfor brining Battalion 2nd Assault to a Noteworthy standing from inspection for NBC. I’m proud of achievements in Corp and this lead me to still be an achiever when released from Active Duty 78. Wish I could run like I did back then 19 min. Flat was my best,never could get to 18 min. But best PFT score was 293 I believe. The Marine Life is earned never given. Hard work pays off if you keep the focus and faith. Sgt Mitchell as my E3 Battalion Commander said you are as Hard as a Woodpecker Lips.???
My oldest brother joined the Marines in May of ’78, I joined in August of ’79, he received 2 Satines and 2 Camouflage utilities, I received all Camouflage in boot camp. I purchased Satines after graduation because they were still authorized to wear. Had to retire them shortly thereafter though, don’t remember the the frame, maybe ’81. They were sharp when starched, easier to iron out than the Camouflage were.
Roger that. Hit the nail on the head
M.B. Thornton
MyGySgt USMCR
Old men stuck in their old ways! I found this article motivating to my core. This millennial thinks of you as a kindred spirit. At the end of the day RED AND BLUE RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS. Devil dogs for life.
Old men stuck in their old ways! I found this article motivating to my core. This millennial thinks of you as a kindred spirit. At the end of the day RED AND BLUE RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS. Devil dogs for life.
His report of boot camp in 1977 sounds just like my experience in 1964. Not much changes in the Marine Corps except the faces and the weapons. Semper Fi!
Graduated from MCRD July 67 (8 week Boot Camp) as a Pvt. Twenty two months was a SGT. Five years 6 months was a SSGT. Nam 11/67-12/68, 2nd Mar Div., Gitmo, 2nd Mard Div., Embassy School, Embassy Duty, then to 5th Marine as Radio Chief then out 4/74. It was a wild ride.
Semper Fi!
Bill Allen
Was in the Corps from ‘67-73. We
wore olive drab utilities. What are
green satines ? In boot camp we did
not run before morning chow.
Nick Garton, Sgt
Hey Nick, are you sure about that color?? My sateen utilities were “forest green” not “olive drab,” which is more associated with the U.S. Army. Any unit to which I was attached, and there were many, ran PT according to their own different schedules. In Kaneohe HI attached to Comm Support Co, 7th Comm Bn in ’72-’75, it was not unusual for the Old Man to get a hair up his ass and we would take a run down to Bellows AFS and back just for the hell of it, before breakfast or lunch. Not too many happy campers then, except for the Old Man, who was huffing and puffing with the rest of us. LMAO. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
MSgt Prothro,
I am sure of the color of the utilities that I wore ( olive drab). Not sure
about you.
Nick Garton, Sgt
Hey Nick, I think you are right. I went through boot at (Paradise
Island) in July of ‘72. 2nd Battalion Plt. 277. If I remember correctly, up at 0530, dressed, went to chow first, came back to barracks dressed in pt gear then to pt and a 3 mile run. I never ate much at breakfast because the one time I did, I left it all over the pt field. My senior wasn’t happy about that. I had to clean it all up, bare hands. Yum! After that, the only thing I ate at morning chow was a piece of fruit. Apple or orange. Learned my lesson. I really do love the memories of P.I. I’m sure we all look back at boot and have a smile now and then. Simper Fi brothers and sisters. Happy 245
I learned a few important things in the Corps that stuck with me for life. One/ Never make a Final Decision until you get ALL the facts. People Die when you make a bad decisions.
Two/ If I am Right I will NOT quit. If I am wrong I will never start.
1/14 1957/ 1/13/1963 PLT. 105 a 2 strip Cpl 18 mons 2/4/1st brigade FMF. we didn’t run too chow, we were over by the small grinder in huts by the base theater we duck walked to the mess hall in Jan. it was dark most of the first month all the step-in a half’s were surveyed too another PLT. we were issued 2sets of herring bone utility’s you about salty they would almost white with a heavy starch you would stand out in a crowd they were SHARP. Shamrock Kelly
They marched us down to a trailer and all of us buy a set of camies in 75 or 76 at Camp Pendleton . That’s a fact!
I was in Parris Island in early 67 and remember running in the dark with flash lights before morning chow.
Semper Fi
CWO-5 Noble Callaway USMC retired
The Gunny was a E-3 out of Boot and retired an E-7 WTF? Gunny you lost your mojo. The 5 mile run before chow BULLSHIT again. I was PLT 3002 Oct 76 2 pair Cammie’s and 2 pair olive drab.
Nick,
Regarding the color of the utilities, in 1969 while on mess & maintenance week in boot camp, I was assigned to work in the supply warehouse (MCRD SD). I was given a razor blade and spent the day carefully cutting the the black strip with gold lettering that said “us army” off of utility shirts.
These were then issued to incoming recruits. They were some shade of green.
Damn!I can’t believe it! Were the Marines ever that hard up for uniforms? bill 0331
Hey Gregory – Thanks for the info, that’s very interesting. Having a secondary MOS as Supply Chief, I know we did often have to do weird things to get what we needed to do the job we were assigned.
To Nick Garton: I apologize; suppose you were probably right and I was wrong. Didn’t mean any offense.
However, I do know that in 1969 I was in Vietnam, wearing forest green sateen with cut off sleeves, Army solid green jungle fatigues, or USMC cammies, whatever were clean and dry as could be.
Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
I looked up the official Marine Corps Utility colors, From 1941 to the 60’s it was called “Sage Green” with early version being “Herring Bone”, Then thru the 60’s and 70’s it was the “Sateen Green” Then the various camo type. Camo did not become the “Official(air quote)” utility until 1982. However, I have seen photos of Marines in training in the late 70’s wearing both. Not a good looking bunch! I guess it depended on who was in command.
parris island was the best thing I ever did
All. Of these fond memories are exceptionally motivating on this, are 245th, Marine Corps birthday. I was fortunate enough to be a contract Pfc but did go on to earn meritorious Cpl and Sgt. It was the most inspiring fulfilling 5yrs, 1mth and 29 days ever. During Team Spirit 84 in Yetchon Korea,, a savvy supply NCO came up with several cases of C-rats. Those Of us fortunate enough to get some were extremely grateful.
Thank you all for your service .
Sgt Gary J Erwin 83-88
Where did this uniform color story start?
Anyway, I appreciate the information. When I went to PI in July 1968, the uniforms were green. To me, just green. When I arrived at Camp Books, Da Nang in January 1969, we wore the same green fatigues and was issued M-14 (same as boot camp). At some point ’69 or ’70 we were switched to the camo fatigues and M-16 rifles.
Sgt. R.Brown, Sr. 68-74