June 16, 1997 - Hollywood

970616 - This morning we did PT. It was a 2 mile fartlek run which basically means you run 2 miles stopping 12 times in the run to do other exercises. It was pretty easy. After that we had a class on the origin of ethics in America. We then did drill for about 2-2.5 hours. It was very hot and very boring. During that time I had to go to the pit for not shaving. It was hard but not real hard. I did OK. We then had chow after which we went to a class on First Aid I. It was OK. We then went to chow and came back to the squad bay. We then did more drill, and all the other evening activities. M______ was on duty + to make matters worse, there are 2 DIs visiting from San Diego so M______ felt he had to be extra cruel tonight to show off. I got a letter from J______ today so I'm in a pretty good mood. I'm tired but not discouraged. 60 days left.

There were some recruits in boot camp who were so hairy that they had to shave twice daily.  Thankfully, I was not one of those recruits. In fact, I didn't even have to shave every day. Unfortunately, however, I couldn't go two days without shaving without my DIs noticing. Lesson learned.

For those of you who were never in the Marines, I feel like I should explain something before I go any further. In the Marines, there are two MCRDs (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) that train recruits: MCRD Parris Island, and MCRD San Diego. Marines who graduated from San Diego will try to assure that their experience was as difficult as that of the recruits on Parris Island. Marines from Parris Island feel no compulsion to say their experience was as difficult as San Diego. Take that information and do with it what you wish.

Regardless of your opinion of Parris Island v. San Diego, it was quite a shock to return to our squad bay and find three more DIs there. To then be told that they were DIs from San Diego, and were learning how to be real DIs, made total sense; brainwashing is kind of a big deal in boot camp, so having tangible evidence that you're the best plays perfectly.

The most amazing thing about these new "San Diego" DIs is how terrible they were at being DIs. For example, when we were supposed to be making our racks (beds), I watched as one of these "San Diego" DIs yell at a recruit (justifiably) for how terribly he was making his rack. Then (and this is what marked him as clearly not a Parris Island DI), he actually made the rack for the recruit! I was absolutely stupefied. Rather than just making the recruit do push-ups until he miraculously learned to make his rack, this guy had the audacity to actually show him how to do it correctly!!! What an idiot!!!

I found out weeks later that these weren't actually San Diego DIs; they were Marines in DI school, where they would eventually learn that yelling, not showing, is the best way to teach.

I have no idea what happens in DI school; it's kind of an urban legend among Marines. The only thing I have heard repeated enough to believe is true is this: There is an examination where the DI-in-training is required to yell at a tree for a full 5 minutes. Now, this might not sound difficult, but try it. Find a tree and start yelling at it. Don't make up fake reasons; only berate it for what you know to be true of the tree. Also, do it at the top of your lungs, and while maintaining your military bearing. I defy you to last more than 90 seconds.

There are three big take-aways from this journal entry:

1. We were already so trusting of our DIs that we would take pretty much anything they said as absolute truth.
2. It's possible to adapt yourself to such a high degree of discipline that, when offered relief, you balk at the relief.
3. The Marines from Parris Island are far, far superior to those from San Diego (which we referred to at "Hollywood Marines"). And yes, I understand that this conclusion was made based on faulty data. It's still true; my DI said so.