June 20, 1997 - Getting Caught

970620 - Today wasn't a very good day. We had PT which consisted of a 1.5 mile individual ability run (10:46), rifle PT (exercises w/ the rifle...easy),and max sit-ups (49), max pull-ups (7), and a rope climb (I was about a foot shy of the top and started slipping). By this time I was very sore. We then went to a History III class about WWII. Pretty interesting. When we came out, the black flag was up so we just walked to chow. After chow we spent about 2 hours in the sweltering heat on the parade deck rehearsing for something or other. Then we had a class on core values and drill. Then chow and the usual activities. M______ is on duty tonight, but, amazingly enough, he's been OK. Gotta go. Sore + tired. 70 days.

As anyone who has ever seen a commercial or billboard for the Marines can tell you, the Marines hold themselves to a high standard. This indoctrination into "The Few, The Proud," begins in boot camp. We had regular classes in which we went over the "Core Values" of the Marines: honor, courage, and commitment. In addition to this, we had these values taught to us at our weekly Chapel services. Beyond just these core values, of course, we had regular instruction on the importance of following orders, often with pit calls or trips to the quarterdeck just to make sure it all sunk in.

With all of this instruction in the importance of honor and obedience to orders, you might believe it would be unthinkable that a recruit would disobey an order. Alas, while elite, the Marines are still human and therefore fallible (sorry to shock you).

Some time around this date (I don't mention it in my journal), I got caught talking while on firewatch. My early chow partner and I had been patrolling the squad bay during noon chow, tightening the racks (straightening the covers on the beds) and generally maintaining proper order. At one point, we ended up working together on one of the racks and started talking to one another. It probably only lasted a minute or two, but that was long enough for DI Sgt. H__ to enter the squad bay without our notice.

I don't remember exactly how he made his presence known, but I remember being filled with terror at having been caught in such an egregious offense. I was prepared to be in the pit until my heart exploded. Instead, DI Sgt. H__ gave us a different punishment (in addition to an hour of firewatch that night, that is): we were each to write a 250-word essay (that is, exactly 250 words; Marines are all about precision, after all.) explaining the general order or orders that we had violated, and why it mattered.

As you might recall from my post on firewatch, there are 11 general orders given to all sentries, including firewatch. General order number 7, in fact, specifically deals with talking. It states: "To talk to no one except in the line of duty." I am pretty sure he wanted us to write about that one. I'm also pretty sure, though, that he had no idea what he had just done. In case you haven't caught on yet, I kind of like to write. Honestly, the hardest part for me was writing an essay that was only 250 words on the subject. Well, that and making it exactly 250 words.

Anyway, I've listed the orders here again, because, as my essay explained to Sgt. H__, I broke most of them.

1.  To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
Nope. If I'm standing in between two racks and talking to another recruit, I'm not exactly "taking charge."

2.  To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on then alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
Well, I didn't observe Sgt. H__ entering the squad bay, so, nope again.

3.  To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
I don't think I violated this one, but again, I wasn't paying attention so I might have.

4.  To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
Finally, one I didn't break, thanks mostly to the fact that it doesn't apply to firewatch.

5.  To quit my post only when properly relieved.
Since I had stopped following many of the other orders, it could be argued (as I did in the essay) that I had quit my post prior to having been relieved.

6.  To receive, obey, and pass on the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.
I think I did ok on this one. That's two! I'm on a roll!

7.  To talk to no one except in line of duty.

Crap. 

8.  To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

Like the 3rd order, there hadn't been a fire, but we were not in a position to detect it in a timely manner.

9.  To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.
This one doesn't really apply either, so, I guess that's three that I didn't violate.

10.  To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

Like 3 and 8, if an officer had come in, we wouldn't have noticed. But we'd have noticed when they told our DIs. Thankfully this didn't happen.

11.  To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

It was daytime, so we were good on this one too.

So there you go: I managed to follow 4 out of 11 orders; a solid 36%. Not great.

DI Sgt. H__ never mentioned the essays to us after we turned them in. The closest he came to doing so came a few days later. We were on firewatch during noon chow again (this time doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing), and DI Sgt. H__ walked past me. I snapped to the position of attention and gave him the greeting of the day ("Good afternoon, sir."). He stopped for a minute then said:

Sgt. H__: Hey Bailey.

Me: Yes, Sir!

Sgt. H__: Did you go to college before coming here?

Me: No, sir!

He walked away. And that was that.