Army Drill Sergeant Rates 11 Boot Camps In Movies And TV | How Real Is It? | Insider
Retired US Army drill sergeant Lamont Christian rates US military boot-camp scenes in movies and TV shows for realism.
Christian breaks down the early stages of boot camp in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987), with R. Lee Ermey; and "Cherry" (2021), starring Tom Holland. He looks at weapons and physical training in "Forrest Gump" (1994), starring Tom Hanks; "Jarhead" (2005), with Jake Gyllenhaal; "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016), with Andrew Garfield; and "Band of Brothers" (2001). He explains the plausibility of boot-camp scenarios in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), starring Chris Evans; "Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous" (2008), with Jessica Simpson; and "Tribes" (1970). Christian also looks at the drill sergeants and drill instructors in "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) and "Stripes" (1981), with Bill Murray.
Christian served in the US Army for 33 years as a combat infantryman, with 11 years in the basic training environment. He retired in 2018 as the command sergeant major of Fort Jackson, the Army's main training center for basic combat training. He is now the director of the Warrior PATHH program at the Big Red Barn Retreat, where he helps veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress.
You can follow Lamont here:
/ christian555
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Army Drill Sergeant Rates 11 Boot Camps In Movies And TV | How Real Is It? | Insider
What I really like about this guy is he obviously has the more modern approach to how things are done - No touching, swearing etc. But he also knows and states that in different eras these things, even though maybe technically "against the rules" still happened quite often. He walks a nice line between explaining how it is supposed to be and how it actually was pretty well. Good video
The modern approach has its flaws. It mistakenly believes that the current and next generations will not join if we the military doesn't soften its approach. This has led to decline in discipline when new soldiers graduate and arrive at their first duty station they tend to struggle more than previous generations. When I went through BCT at Ft. Jackson in 2004 they did everything to us except hitting us. The training was vigorous and everyone didn't graduate but it produced the desired results.
@@joeclaridyit's not about "softening it for the new generations" (lmao) it's because there's not a solid argument that the old style of breaking them down is actually effective training rather than a hindrance
@@joeclaridy my opinion: If somebody gets treated unfairly, I will speak out. If I think somebody orders somebody else to do a stupid thing, I will speak out. I don't care who you are, what your rank is, or whatever, I don't care. If that makes me unfit to be in a military, so be it.
I agree. When was in basic and AIT things were different in the early 80's. There were still a great deal of the "old ways" being used. Trust me, there were plenty of "I'll drop rank and we can talk it over in the wood line" statements made. Having said all of this, I don't regret a single second and would do it all again. AIRBORNE.
@Kuhluh well.. some people did get treated unfairly, at least that's how you see it. But you most likely don't know the full story, the DI goals, or what has happened when you weren't around. I saw people get promoted and treated better that probably didn't deserve it, but as far as punished unfairly, I never saw anything outrageous.
When you were talking about the shortest guy in the unit, that was my stepfather in the Air Force (right before Vietnam). He was actually about two inches below the minimum height requirement. My mother found his discharge papers when they were sorting through stuff years ago, and she read over them and laughed when she saw his height listed. "You were never 5'4" tall." He said he stood up real tall when they were measuring him. My mother asked him if his heels left the floor. He said he didn't think so, but the guy measuring him gave him a wink.
That’s actually really cool. It was an era where they needed all the help they could get and he literally and metaphorically stepped up to the occasion
@@jill9356 It was definitely a different era. In WWII, it was not unheard of for boys under 18 to lie about their age to get in. People in those generations reckoned if a young man wanted to serve, he ought to be able to--regardless if he was too young or too short.
@@PlasmaStorm73N5EVV I remembered seeing a movie about a young boy in the Navy in WWII many, many years ago. I was thinking he was not more than than 15, but I didn't remember he was as young as 12. But not everyone had birth certificates back in those days because plenty of people were still born at home and it wasn't such an established thing to have a bunch of paperwork to prove identity. My grandfather was born in 1932 and had no birth certificate; it was an issue when it came time for him to retire and draw Social Security.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
@@kerim.peardon5551 No one is questioning the loyalty nor the motivation of those that joined during WWII. And there is no doubt that patriotism was a major factor in inducing that generation to volunteer for the US Military. However...many individuals either forget, are ignorant of, or merely choose to overlook the FACT that the USA, along with the entire population of the world at that time, was in the grips of the Greatest Depression in modern history. The US Military was one means by which they could escape that misery and uncertainty. I was born during WWII. At that time there were five in my family. My dad volunteered but was rated as 4-F due to a back injury and was rejected. With but a third-grade education and limited skills he worked from sunup until sunset, six and a half days a week for $14! He was not alone and I include that tidbit of information to illustrate the desperation faced by many of that era. All MEN were created EQUAL...then SOME joined the Marine Corps...
100%, hands down, no contest, R. Lee Ermey is, and probably will always be, the best DI, Drill Instructor, Drill Sergeant to ever grace a movie screen.
he is straight up just THE Drill Sergeant XD
I mean he was a real life drill instructor before that movie. I actually got to meet him when I was 15 at the local national guard armory here in town. Very humble very kind and very motivational. Honestly that’s the only actor I’ve ever met and am glad I did. I’ve got his autograph around my house somewhere. He was an absolute gem.
@@TheMrDariusI got a chance to shoot with him after an appearance at Camp Lejune. My cousin had just graduated MARSOC training. He had some leave time and he introduced me and my uncle, who himself was a Vietnam era Marine so he and Gunny had a lot in common to scttlebutt about.
@@TheMrDariusThat's really cool. I saw a few of these actors around Leicester Square in London when I visited the city a few times. Thought we all saw Johnny Depp but it was just a guy in make-up (we were drunk). We called him Johnny Nepp after that ("nep" meaning "fake" in Dutch)
👏👏👏
My Mom is a retired Command Sergeant Major as well in the army. She did 30 years. So proud of her and love her! Thank you for your service sir!
She must be loud
Who are you calling SIR? He WORKED for a living.
I didn’t know there could be woman Sergeants
No one cares bish
That's bs
I remember the USMC school of infantry back in 2003, one of our last graduation requirements was to complete a 20 mile ruck march (hump). We had to finish on our own power. One guy twisted his ankle around mile 10. Most of us, myself included, helped him to the "finish line". Never, not once were we told "do not help him". I think we were 10 feet from finishing when we gave the hurt guy his pack and weapon back. He staggered, limped, and even winced in pain, but he finished under his own power. We were all happy and proud when he graduated on time with the rest of us.
Hard times create strong people > strong people create good times > good times create weak people > weak people create hard times.
No man left behind
That's how it should be! It doesn't make sense to leave your fellow soldier behind on the battlefield, so why do it during training? The point is to build strength in solidarity. Good for you guys, helping him until the end.
I was there at west coast SOI IN JAN 01 2001 and that 20 mile is no joke . Boot camp was easy compared to MCT training.
@@malloryg4251 The point of that scene with him (Capt Sobel) telling others not to help the guy, was to demonstrate that he was a bad commander. The series is based on Maj Richard Winters' book describing his experience in the 101st Airborne, rising from a recruit in Easy Company to battalion commander. I dunno how true Sobel's portrayal is, but it's supposed to be non-fiction. Sobel was so bad that by the end of training, all his NCOs signed statements refusing to follow him into combat citing incompetence. They did so knowing it could get them court martialed (they only got busted back down to private for it, and Sobel was transferred to training stateside instead of leading Easy Company in combat). Great series. Watch it if you haven't. Band of Brothers.
He was my Sr. Drill back in 1994. 3rd platoon B Co 1/19 Ft Benning, GA. There are only a few people you will meet in your life who you will never forget. Your Drill Sgts are in that category. As much as he pushed and rode us, he was always fair and was a true professional NCO in every way. I was always getting myself in trouble and I could go on and on with stories. This is the first time I've ever heard his first name (It used to be Drill Sargent).
I love when we find people in the comments who know the expert in the video. Seems to be universally good experiences with him so far. Seems like a good man.
@@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep He was. I didn't like him at all back then...lol On a serious note, when I went Iraq 10 years later, the things that I learned from all him helped keep me calm, cool, and alive.
Dang I was in B Co 1/19 in 2008. So much history in that place.
You are right! 40 years ago I went through boot camp (AF) and I remember all 3 of my instructors by name. They made a lasting impression. SSgt Garcia, Sgt Keener, Sgt Fox. At the time I didn't appreciate what they did for us but looking back now they helped me be the man I am.
Same here 1982
That’s 1SG Christian, he was my 1SG in Hawaii back in 08-09. He was a terrific leader to work for and genuinely nice guy. Awesome to see him in here.
Too bad the Army has too many failed leaders, no mentorship to prepare junior enlisted to become ncos and then they get promoted and 'train' junior soldiers..
CSM (Ret.) Lamont Christian! He was my First Sergeant when I got stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with 1st BN, 27th IN Regt. One of the greatest leaders I had the pleasure of serving with. This is absolutely great to see! Keep doing GREAT things CSM! NO FEAR!
"I'm not yelling at you soldier. Drill Sergeants do not yell. We simply speak in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. That way, we all learn from each other's mistakes!" -- Drill Sergeant Lyle, In the Army Now
Drop the pin, throw the grenade. DROP the pin, THROW the grenade.
@MajinHercule "Thanks Drill Sergeant, I owe you one."
@user-wy5fu9eb4k it happens to the best of us. That blank check said "everything up to and including my life." I ask you this:: do you regret it?
"but Drill Sergeant, there's only twenty of us here. We can all hear you. You don't need to..." "SHUT UP, PRIVATE!!!!!!!"
Very interesting noticed
The story about how R Lee Ermey got that roll is legendary. And the fact that he could spew obscenities and tirades effortlessly was also part of his legend. I always liked him as an actor in any roll he played and imagine he was one heck of a Marine. RIP Gunny
What always messes with my head is that he was only 43 when he played that role. He looked like a 60 year old. Incredible
Role...
His 1st role as a DI in a movie was in 1978. entirely filmed in the Philippines. should see the words he was using. Much of those words stopped being used in sometime before 1974 when my father went to Army Basic Training at Ft Dix. He went in the dead of winter and drilled in the Snow. His was a little longer because it was a colder then normal winter. They wouldn't drill outdoors in Ice. Note: 1974 would also be the 1st full year of no Draft of any type. He enlisted so if the draft came back he would had been exempted due to military service. He learned alot of respect of the country.
I liked him more in Scrubs!
@@oswaldkite2106when you're 18 years old a 22 or 23 year old Drill instructor looks like he's 40 years old!
22 years later and I can still remember each of my Army drill sergeant's names. They left their mark as tough, no nonsense surrogate fathers with key lessons being attention to detail, discipline, and making me realize that my mind can make my body go on far beyond what I thought it's limits were. Thanks for life lessons. "Drive on drill sergeant, drive on....hooahh!"
40 plus years and still remember all 4 of my Drill instructors names USMC 80 to 84
I remember their rates/ranks, but not all of their names, AO1, HM1(FMF) Fuller, EMC Jiminez, then ME1 Jarman, ME2 Bethsuida, Chief Grote, Chief Don't look at me unless you want to Die
33 years later I still remember my drill instructors name also. Lol
I still remember mines from 1985: Kiker (who used to point and yell at us with half his finger cut off), and Maldenado (who was Hispanic). At AIT (1986), it was Coleman (he was Black).
+1 just for the user name
My great-grandfather died in basic training because while he was crawling under the barbed wire, one of the drill sergeants fired rounds over the recruits and one of the bullets ricocheted off a rock and went in his torso. He died in several minutes afterwards. When he says “it does happen”, I know it does.
Omg, that’s awful! I’m sorry that happened!
It's okay he had a long life, he was a great grandfather @@annettegatlin2161
In Basic Training I had an accident and with a head wound. I was taken to medical and got a stitch or two. I was also given a profile where I wasn't allowed to wear a hat for about 7 days to allow the wound to heal and minimize the chances of infection. It was the most painful week of my Basic. Every Drill Sergeant who saw me made a bee line right to me to chew me out for not wearing a head cover. I was constantly explaining and showing the paperwork for about 3 days until the Training Staff got the word what had happened to me.
You would think they would give you an arm band (temp) to show this.
lol 😂 sorry that happened to ya. I could only imagine
@patraic5241 Yeah that's why I wouldn't want to even be in the military. I can handle someone yelling in my face, sure, but I will not be happy if those documents and paperwork that were supposed to go through but didn't fast enough. Boy I would've been livid about that. That kinda stuff should be taken care of when it comes to paperwork.
@@zaynes5094 In a perfect world perhaps. No organization is perfect. They were doing their job as trained. I couldn't fault them for that. I was older than most recruits so I had the life experience to understand that.
U were a no go put your cover on. I twisted my ankle so bad in basic it was 8 different colors skept with my boot on. Wasn't about to be a suck call warrior.
My father served in Vietnam in 67 and 68 in the Iron Triangle (Phu Loi) during the Tet Offensive and said the Full Metal Jacket boot camp scene was the most realistic of all the ones he has seen in movies. One of the many things that always stuck with me was him telling me that you always knew who was about to go home because they would sleep in the bunker at night for a few weeks instead of in their bunk. When I asked why, he said while you were there you never knew if it was your last day, so you become numb to the fear and the rocket attacks, etc. but, that goes away just before you leave and the last thing anyone wanted was be a short timer and get killed right at the end of their tour. The other thing that stuck with me is him describing arriving and getting off the bus and seeing teenagers that looked like they were 40 years old and the first guy he saw was wearing a belt made of ears.
it absolutely is. I can vouch for that. All but the hitting of Joker.
They hired a literal drill sergeant and just let him go off.
He would probably know my father. Served in phu loi as a helicopter mechanic 67-68. Almost killed second day there from rocket attacks. Name was Joe Custode.
I know many, many people often complain about how boot camp / basic training has changed in recent years, but it’s been studied ad infinitum that people will fight and die ferociously for their friends and comrades. The prioritization of teamwork and bonding will in fact push people to achieve things they never thought possible with greater expediency.
imagine making a stupid comment like this
@@bradcallahan3546lmao, what could you possibly have an issue with on this comment? Upset you can’t haze recruits?
As someone who has never served in any branch of the military, i appreciate the professionalism and patient explanations in this video. I also appreciate the commentary. Very informative.
Is/was a NCO. Literally the words of our creed is "No one is more professional than I...." I love being a NOC because you have to earn everything that comes with the duties of the positions and ranks. It's like having mamba mentality 24/7.
Just finished my OCS. It was weeks of sexual jokes by unprofessional 22 year olds. As someone who enlisted before becoming an officer it is just very eye opening to see the differences between these 22-23 year old officer candidates and people who had to earn their title and responsibilities. The military in general needs to realize that a single framed sheet of paper speaks nothing of one’s character and leadership abilities.
@@conradyates7340 Exactly, but the piece of paper was a very good arbitrary filter, numbers wise
@@conradyates7340People always say "Thank you for your service, you're a hero". Bro you don't know the person. He might be a straight ahole in civilian life. A piece of paper doesn't define your character. Couldn't have said it better myself.👏
@@JuanGomez-bs6ue I actually don't really like it when people say this. The overwhelming amount of the time it's just a job like any other. I spent more time trying to convince squadmates that a superior NCO or officer wasn't "screaming at them", they were talking loud to everybody and it was nothing personal. Out of boot camp is very different and many guys thought their whole career was just them standing at attention or parade rest and being yelled at. I usually asked them what their MOS was and asked them if that made sense and then they calmed down a bit. A dude joining the Army to play French Horn in the band is not going to be spending all day getting yelled at unless they're doing something extremely stupid.
My dad dropped out of high school on his seventeenth birthday and enlist in the Marine Corp that same day and requested to go to Vietmam. He served two tours as a dog handler. He said out of all the Vietnam movies Full Metal Jacket best portrayed what life was like in the Corp and Vietnam.
Dropped outta school to go to a war we had no part in being in 😂😂i feel bad for dude prolly came back and got his face spit in
@Klyde Johnson He grew up extremely poor. The Marine Corp and Vietnam provided an opportunity to not live that life anymore. He said he'd rather die in Vietnem than to be poor in Skidmore, Texas.
@@klydejohnson7520 You're an ignoramus.
Mine was similar he came home on his 17th BD in '52 and told his folks he enlisted in the Air Force for Korea, when his older brother got home and heard that decided to enlist the next day, they went through basic training together and then didn't see each other for several years until they were both out of the service. Dad served his hitch as a fireman sometimes having to pull pilots out of crashed jets while they tried to douse the fire from the crash.
My dad dropped out of high school at 17 and joined the Corps to go to Korea. The armistice was signed while he was in boot camp so he never saw combat.
As an army combat vet (06-12), this might be one of the more informative breakdowns on here....explains how its done today while still breaking down the clip (in its era).
I've heard that "hard work" song on TikTok a few hundred times. It's so interesting to put a face to it!
I really liked his demeanor and explanation of the movie scenes. He's cleared up and changed how I see not only drill instructors but the military too.
I don't know if you realized one of internet most beloved celebrity, Bob Ross, was once a drill sergeant... He is mostly known nowadays as a painter with ASMR-esque, smooth-talking voice on KZhead
DI are far from the persona they portray in boot camp. They go from being scary teachers that hate you to being pretty cool.
@@LizziesLukas omg I didn’t know he was a drill sergeant
Vegas odds If I bet a dollar for everyone that watched this and then went on to watch The D.I. I would have about 3 million dollars.
yeah but he is one that is pushing the pussification of our military.
I went to basic training in 1968. Drill Instructors rarely called an individual a disparaging name, but it happened. They reserved that for address to the entire unit. As far as physical contact - all the time. Getting knocked down to "assume the position" was common. I can't count the number of times the brim of the drill instructor's hat bounced off my forehead. Move a muscle when at attention - down you go. They were preparing us for war. It was a bad time in 1968.
Damn man, they didn’t lay a finger on me when I went through in 21, but boy did they say every single curse and insult under the sun. They would get as close as possible to touching but never would. Too many people who would cry to the CO about sharp. Had many EO cases because of mean words🤣
L
Yeah, the old brim of the hat right to the bridge of the nose, between the eyes, I think was meant to piss a recruit off to see if they'd lose their "military bearning" while being chewed out for screwing up. It was just a method to make someone uncomfortable by getting in their personal space. Beyond that they never touched us. I don't know if they're allowed to even do than anymore.
When I went through PI in 05, I couldn't count how many times I saw other recruits, including myself, being physically corrected just doing drill. If our elbows weren't tight to our bodies, our DIs would physically correct us and make us give ourselves kidney shots when they smacked our elbows in tight, but like everything else, there was a reason for everything they did. Looking back at it almost twenty years later man, that was one of the funniest places that I've ever been that I wasn't allowed to laugh.
@@abikeanditsboy3449 I always found something to stare at. A brick in a building or whatever. Then when an instructor broke that line of sight I just held it. They noticed. So one time (I think just to screw with me). I had three of them yelling at me over nothing. I held that line of sight the whole time. I think we all had fun with it to be honest. Like an inside joke the rest had no idea about it. But at that moment the instructors and I were sharing.
Command Sergeant Major is as high as you can as enlisted. Some of you might not realize that. This man knows what he is talking about. Thank you sir.
My dad served in the Air Force for 25 years before I was even born, and my brother was an Army paratrooper for 9 years. I come from a military family, so I'm proud to have watch this.
The reason Marines love the scene in "Full metal jacket" is it is so realistic and we can relate . Lee Ermey came to Iraq in 2003 to speak to Marines, he went into movie script mode and the crowd fell in step, they knew every line. It was an awesome experience. One of my best times in my 31 years in the Marine Corps was in 1993 i was on a funeral detail for a Vietnam era Marine named Gustav Hasford, he had died in Greece so his body was not present but a group of Marines he served with were there including a old crusty CO (still fit in his dress blues) . They told some hilarious stories of Gus, both in Vietnam and after the war. Gus was a writer and wrote the book that the Movie "Full metal jacket" was made from. The Marines at the funeral were all the guys from the movie , and Gus was Joker.. I went and socialized when them after the funeral and we had a very memorable time.
Wait joker was HIM?!... In that movie?! And the film was based on his book?
Must have been a great moment seeing Lee Ermey in Iraq. When I was in Afghanistan in 2009 we had Anna Kournikova singing on stage lol
Did you find it hard not to laugh?
@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ No.
My step-dad was a Vietnam Vet in 68-69, he passed away in 2000. He had a Marine detail playing taps and presenting the flag to my mom. This was some kid/young adult no more than 22 years old. He was a 3 stripe sergeant that had tears in his eyes and a chocked up voice when he presented his flag to her. I never understood what brotherhood meant until that day, and it was perfectly on display.
The army and other branches all have their differences. I was in the navy and went through basic in 2010. We undressed in a big room together during processing. Each of us got a box. We had to take off all our cloths and put it the box to mail home. They gave us navy branded sweats to wear until our tailored and monogrammed uniforms came in. We learned how to tie knots. We did the duck walk in a room with a bunch of other guys.
Mannn i wish i was born in AMerica, i would love to join the Army, Navy, whatever, i will proudly serve the greatest nation in the world till my days are over. you guys are so lucking living in America...
@@lamaidalaakapinkcrocodile7527 How you gonna be a bootlicker for another country's boots?? Sad and pathetic.
@@lamaidalaakapinkcrocodile7527 it's not really even the greatest country (fight me)
@@lamaidalaakapinkcrocodile7527 Those north americans you admire would probably tell you to work hard to make your own nation great, and maybe even greater than america, not betray give up and run away to greener pastures. Anyways, the USA is a democratic imperialist country like athens, they are nice to themselves (with tons of asterics), but will not hesitate to support corrupt murderoys extremist regimes in other lands if it aligns with their interests, just ask latin americans (that are also ''americans'') and middle easterners and africans.
I went through Navy boot camp (Orlando) in 1991. I don't remember ever learning to tie a knot LOL. Though I think one of the videos covered knots. My rating (nuclear MM) never tied knots anyways, so it didn't matter. No monogrammed for us, it was all about the stencil for our dungarees. We still carried rifles (non-functioning) until about halfway through and they got rid of marching with rifles. All in all, it's not tough, just that culture shock the first week when you go in.
I love the way how he explains it and takes the history into account as well. Thank you for the insights gained.
That was wonderful to watch! Thank you, Mr. Christian!
I remember Ermy talking about what it was like to be a drill instructor at that time. How the instructors were under absolutely insane stress. How training was cut down massively to just a few weeks compared to what it was during WW2. He said the screaming and insults was a lot to do with keeping distance as well. That you couldn't feel for these kids. That you knew how many would die just moments after deployment. It was difficult to knowingly send these kids to their deaths
wow, thinking about it that way...that´s tough.
I remembered a scene from one of his earlier roles, Boys of Company Z, where his stressed why he was hard on one recruit not because he was black but because he wanted a leader that would bring his troops home alive.
I read an interview with Ermey on that point too; he said that they cut back training time while *simultaneously* doubling training squad sizes. As a result, the DIs of the day had to hit really hard, really fast to make the impression they needed to make.
The Marine Corps will live forever.
Wrong about the training, Army Basic was eight weeks and Advanced Individual Training was nine weeks. Vietnam veterans were much better trained and were clearly superior to WW2 troops in test scores, marksmanship, and physical training, my basic training class at Ft. Ord, CA in 1966 broke both records for marksmanship and physical training, the first class in history to hold both records. You need to read books to understand wars, son.
My daughter just swore in at MEPS for the Air Force. I, being an Army veteran, strongly suggested the Air Force. Then, a few days later, I got a call, although it was meant for her, from a Marine recruiter. I spoke with him for a bit and was happy to say she will start BT with the Air Force soon. He asked why she chose the AF. I told him that as an Army veteran it seemed the grass is greener on the other side. He started to talk about how the Marines are just as good if not better. I said "the Marines have no grass, it's all mud". He chuckled and we ended the call. I am proud of all the branches, I also know my daughter and she is not built for the Marines.
Smart mom, you are...just graduated Army BCT last summer, and it was no picnic in the least and did what I had to do to get through it, but I ain't built for the Marines either, no way no how 🤣
My uncle was career Army, 1941-1975, Pvt to LTC. He told me to join the Air Force. Did I listen? Nope. Joined the Army like a dumbass (but they did guarantee me the language I wanted - the Air Force would only guarantee language school with their pick for the language). Best wishes to your daughter - she chose wisely.
Chose Army (Field Artillery) in 95, went to Fort Sill (Joint Training Facility) Air Force chow halls were way nicer than ours, however I still miss the M109A6 and throwing rounds down range. I sometimes wish I had chose a different MOS since my ASVAB score was high enough for about anything, but I was 18 and ready to leave the festering one horse town, listened to my recruiter and desperation got me in the end!
I, too, am an Army veteran. I was a 13B. My son joined the Army last summer. I tried to talk him out of it and tried to persuade him to go to Air Force... he's now a 13B and isn't enjoying it... I tried to tell him lol
@Obdaron X I was a 13B too! I did OSUT at Fort Sill in July 2000. D 1/19. I was also in the M109A6. Did most of my time with the 4th ID.
I had the honor and privilege of serving with CSM Christian, as both my Brigade and Post CSM. He's a great man, a fantastic leader, and an all around great mentor. Don't let the small jokes on this video fool you, he's a hilarious conversationalist, who always manages to sneak little nuggets of wisdom into a conversation between the humor. Keep up the good work, Big Smaj! Forty Rounds!
I bumped into him at Campbell a few times. I was 1st 502nd. Seemed like a great dude. I was a young and fresh sgt and he was always accommodating and friendly. I can’t say the same for other SGM’s I met.
Hooah
@18:10, discussing the "hazing" scene from "An Officer and a Gentleman". One thing to keep in mind was the context of the scene. In the film, Mayo (played by Richard Gere) was caught by Gunnery Sergeant Foley running a scheme of selling prepolished boots and belt buckles. Foley demands that Mayo DOR (request to be dropped from training; i.e. quitting). Mayo refuses to quit. So, Foley opts to spend the weekend essentially hazing him. It's not part of the regular training plan, but a specific punishment. Another viewpoint was that Foley was trying to determine if Mayo was able to find it within himself to endure it. In one part of the hazing scene, Foley points out the one female candidate in the class who, after having trouble on the obstacle course, opted to stay on base to do extra training over the weekend rather than take weekend leave. Foley tells Mayo that she might not make it through the program, but he feels she has more guts and character (i.e. he has a lot more respect for her) than Mayo ever will.
Mr. Insider You are a new generation Sergeant Major. Thank you for your service.
This man was my last CSM, I didn't deploy under him but every interaction we had, he was approachable, down to Earth, a top notch leader, and just a cool guy. Currahee, CSM!
101st.
@Nex-Ex He seems like a real stand up guy.
@@childofcascadia Except for when he was sitting down. Then he was just low.
I love these stories, and seeing your old SgtMaj's out there! My last SgtMaj in the Marines, was the guy who lifted Capt Scott O'Grady into the helo on his rescue. And every so often I come across that, and smile, and think how nice he was to me, stateside :)
Unless the words 'Medal of Honor' or mentioned, NCO's are rarely considered worth a headline to news. But CSM Christian is a legend known army-wide that comes with his own soundtrack.
I met Desmond Doss way back in '93-'94 time frame. That man had such incredible stories and a truly humble man who loved the Lord. It was a great honor to meet him in person and I have a whole lot of respect for him and his sacrifices that he made. RIP Desmond.
How did he pass? I see no mention in the vid description
@@user-ur4rg5ph3x Who? Desmond Doss? Pass what? Boot camp?
@@jeremycarteri think he meant how did he die
@@soonamii2414 oh! Okay.
@@user-ur4rg5ph3x Mr Doss passed away of old age. Possible pneumonia?
Something I would add, is in the Navy those drill competitions are a common regular boot camp experience. Also, for the Navy instead of The Forge it The Crucible we had Battle Stations as our end of boot test. Started in the middle of the night being woke up and included everything from open water survival to fire fighting. And then your graded and ranked against the other divisions in your graduating class (I'm assuming this last part is similar for Army and Marines)
Interesting I went through Navy Boot in 1964 and we had no such thing at that time.
"middle of the night" They gave us 45 minutes, just enough to ensure everyone was actually fully asleep. :P I don't remember a ton from battle stations, except that we had one exercise where we had to get the whole group through a hole in a bulkhead without anyone touching the bulkhead or the sides of the hole. I was in charge of getting the group through, which we did do, but one guy forgot his gas mask in the first room. As soon as we were all across, the RDC on top of the wall yelled "gas attack!" It sounds a little stupid, but I was heartbroken. Even though it wasn't real, the knowledge that in a real situation, I'd have gotten someone killed stuck with me.
@@michaeltorrisi7289 WOW. In San Diego in 1964 we had nothing like that. We did have fire fighting it was an all day class at an off site training facility. (1 of 2 times we left SD Boot training facility, the other was rifle training and shooting). My first "Battle Stations" was training at Groton Sub Base as I had been chosen by the Ward Room to be the Time Baring Plotter. The whole Control Room plot party attended a week long training up at Sub Base. Helps to be dyslectic to write backwards.
Thank you for sharing.
CSM Christian was my line company 1SGT and my HQ 1SGT. In my time working under him, I can say that without a shadow of a doubt, he was the best and most honorable men that I've ever served under. He didn't treat you like you were beneath him. You were an equal, but he still held you to the same standards as everyone else. I wish all leadership was like that man.
He's somebody I'd like to sit down and talk to. My SM (White who was black) and CSM (Black who was white) were both approachable but obviously not going to sit down with a SPC and chat about the good ol days. He seems pretty awesome.
He looks so familiar. I honestly think he was my 1sgt or csm in my boot camp back in 02.
Too bad he contributed to the erosion of quality of soldiers leaving bct by making it soft af. He is the problem. I'm glad my obligation is over so I don't have to worry about being next to someone trained by his obviously poor standards
@@FighteroftheNightman😂🤡🦤
CSM Christian was the scariest and coolest dude I ever met as a CSM.
I can remember my 1st few hours in the army. There was lots of paperwork and medicals. Everyone was very nice to us. As soon as we signed on and swore the oath it all changed, we were assigned our platoons, introduced to our instructors and our new life began. I was both scared and very excited, it was an interesting period of my life.
Did you enjoy it?
@@yepperz Loved it.
Yeah, we laughed about that later. At reception we were thinking, hey this isn't so bad. The NCOs there weren't exactly nice to us but they were ok. Then back on the bus, which dropped us off on the pad. The nice NCO who rode with us told us to line up on the marks, then he got back on and it pulled away. We were left standing there in the dark (it was after midnight) looking around at each other like "What the....", and for a moment it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. We were about to meet guys in campaign covers, and they were not happy to see us. Shock and awe was about to begin. 😄
@@d23g32 We got to reception and finished initial briefings by around 0400. They let us go to bed... And woke us at 0600. "It was at the moment, he knew he fucked up." :P At one point a couple of days later, after chow, we formed up at our usual location, standing at parade rest, waiting for someone to march us back to barracks. A corporal showed up to lead us back... 3 hours later. My shoulder hurt so bad from standing at parade rest for so long... Great times!
@@josephhein9497hurry up and wait lol, oh how I miss those days lol.
FYI: In FULL METAL JACKET, the actor they got to be the D.I. was failing miserably at it so ERMEY decided to step in and help him with the scene, the director liked him so much, he offered the role to ERMEY
Not at all true. He did great for an actor but Ermy was trying to get into acting and made it his point to take the role so he started by suggesting script changes to make Hartman more and more abusive and then recorded and submitted an audition tape with his changes to take the role (since at that point he was never offered -- just taken on as a technical advisor). FMJ was actually his 4th film.
This was such an pleasant and educational breakdown.
"Go cut the grass!" Sounds ridiculous but this British Soldier and Grenadier Guards Veteran has done that more than once! Excellent stuff Drill Sergeant!
This royal engineers veteran nods in agreement 😁
This bootneck went out and 'cut the grass' at MCRD San Diego more than once with those cheap stamped metal blunt tip scissors that were in the issue sewing kit.
@@jammer2isme Go guard that Palm tree.
@@hylanddilligaf6023 I had to guard the swimming pool… not the building…. The actual pool :/
I had to paint rocks, and trim the grass with scissors!
If you notice in most scenes R. Lee Ermie has his left arm at parade rest instead of swinging naturally. The reason is he crashed a jeep and broke several ribs on the left side of his body late at night. The pain of the arm swinging was too much so he kept it static behind his back.
Didn't know that. I just thought it looks badass.
He was also hired initially to be an advisor. The director listened to him giving demonstrations and loved it so much he was given the job. The huge majority of what he said wasn’t scripted. He just did what he knew how to do.
@@curtish2541 thats the coolest part of his performance in that movie is how he just swung back into the ''D.I character'' so naturally even though he had been retired for quite a while
Gotta admit it works for him lol.
@@curtish2541 R Lee Ermey and the Everly Brothers were at MCRD, SD Ca. at the same time I was at MCRD, PI, SC. The jargon, vernacular, and other terminology used by Ermey in the movie were in vogue at that time. Although it is true that R Lee Ermey was a Drill Instructor, our Drill Instructors were already using that 'lingo' in 1961 when we were going through boot camp! Have A Nice Day...Molon Labe...Semper Fi
I found this very instructive. Thank you (1) for your service; and (2) for providing your insight.
What a great video. Basic training is a time of your life you never forget. Never. Sometimes you remember things that you think you forgot. But it's good memories either way. This honorable man knows his stuff, but he's not above showing a sense of humor. BTW, we tried that cadence from the diddy they used in Stripes, and it's impossible to keep step from. However on the first day of Basic, Winger would never have gotten away with this. The formation would be immediately "dropped" for push-ups. "Half-left, face!" Because we hadn't been taught "Open ranks" yet. We did have fun, though.
The DI in Forrest Gump didn't get much screen time, but he sure made it count. He really nails the "saying nice things angrily" tone
Especially since he was one of the most positive-reinforcing people in Forrest's life up to that point. He was always shouting, but they were compliments.
Drill Sargent “why did you do that Private Gump” Gump “ because you told me Too drill Sargent” DS “god damn it Gump, you must be a god damn genius”
It's interesting to see the drill sergeant point out that the flag scene in Captain America: The First Avenger has more in common with specialized training than with normal boot camp. Although it's never stated explicitly in the movie, various bits of dialogue make it clear that the squad with which Steve Rogers is training are all candidates for the Super Soldier program and that the training process is also being used to help select the first test subject. Given the goals of that program, it would make sense that the training and evaluation process would focus not just on basic military skills, but also on testing and instilling critical thinking and initiative abilities as well.
I was thinking the same thing. Steve was only there because the Doctor requested he be added and they were willing to humor him
I was thinking that it wasn't the best movie to use as an example of basic training. Great video anyway!
@@godofebic7060he was spot on then knew exactly what he saw without even knowing the contexts
I remember Sgt Britt as a DI for Platoon 2009 Delta Company 88/11/01 through 89/01/25. I was a recruit at the little end of Platoon 2008 so I was familiar with DI Britt being nearby on Company marches. I too was an AmmoTech at Redstone Arsenal February/March 1989. Great Interview. Semper Fi!!
Thank your for your service, Sgt. Maj, especially for bringing people into the Army!
The toothbrush scene was sooo memorable for me! I am the daughter of a 1950’s era marine. As kid that toothbrush discipline was one of his all time favorites. Mom’s bathroom was generally sparkling clean. 🪥😂
In math class in 7th grade, I was caught cheating and so my male teacher made me first crinkle up a bunch of little pieces of paper, and then go around the room and collect them all with a toothbrush. I'm sure he served 😊 I actually liked him a lot, he wasn't mean in general compared to some other teachers
I would have loved to hang around your father.. Him being a clean man alone has my approval.. I hate when someone's house or apartment is nasty knowing damn well they can pick up a broom 🧹, a mop, make that clean that bedroom up, clean that bathroom up, wash those dishes and clean that stovetop and inside that oven..
Marine Corps Veteran here. Full Metal Jacket boot camp scene was pretty accurate except for there was 10x the amount of screaming and the running and everything was way faster. We screamed for hours and hours and hours especially during the beginning of boot camp. How Jake Gyllenhall spoke to his DI is way more accurate than whatever soft, slow voices in other movies but he was even a little slower obviously because its a movie and you have to be able to understand dialogue. But sitting down and looking up at a DI like that was a no go. If they talk to you, you stand up. Everything was with a sense of urgency. We even showered sometimes for like 10 seconds. During the end, we had like 5 minutes showers and it was a true, true luxury.
Yeah I remember ten second showers (literally counted down from 10 lol) for almost a month. By the end wake up at 06 and getting half an hour at night to shower (for the whole platoon, 55 guys 8 showers) was super dreamy.
I'm guessing the fire watch witnessing a murder-suicide in the head was non-standard though.
I lost my voice at least twice during boot camp
@@dongquixote7138 Yes, rifles and rounds would be in the armory by then.
I ended up at Beaufort Naval Hospital on Forming Day 2. Woke up spitting blood from all the screaming and yelling. Some kind of way I had gotten pharyngitis and laryngitis. That in itself left a mark on my Senior Drill Instructor in a good way. Until the day I got out and lost contact, we spoke once or twice a month. I had asked him to pin me Sgt when I found out he was on a base near me but wasn’t able to because he was leaving for deployment the night before.
My favorite boot camp drill instructor and movie was F. Murray Abraham in No Time for Sergeants starring Andy Griffith and Nick Adams. I could watch that every night!
Thank you for your service
My father is a Vietnam marine (he has passed, but you never stop being a marine) and I can promise you every other word out of his mouth was a cuss word, and that happened due to being there which he volunteered to go, not drafted and did 3 full tours (which in that era meant he was there for the pretty much the entire US engagement). His marine buddies who also did Vietnam were much the same way, so to me that was normal. I'll give you an example: After he had been out for years, he grew a thick beard. When I was a little girl about 6 or 7, had got off the school bus going home and unbeknownst to me, he had shaved it off. I had never seen him shaved. So when I opened the door and saw this strange man, I looked around panicky, wondering how I had gone to the wrong place and started crying and backing away at speed. He tried doing the nice talk and that just put me in 'stranger danger' mode when he took hold of my arm and started fighting and kicking and screaming and I think I even bit a couple of times. Finally he started yelling and cussing (like the stereotypical drill sergeant right in your face way I might add) and instantly I was calm, I knew that voice and just clinged to him while my fright shakes wore off with him still half cussing half laughing as he knew why I had panicked but just hadn't expect that before the fact. Had no clue who he was when he was trying to be nice. Later in life dad said he was proud of me for that. Meant I wouldn't be tricked into going with someone just because they decided to be nice to me and would try flight first but would go straight to fight mode if necessary. As a result, got more freedoms than my two half sisters who were 5 and 6 years older than me because he thought I had the most sense.
What was your dad's MOS?
3 tours in Nam was 3 yrs and 3 months. May my brothers rest in peace Semper Fi.
@@philipdobbins2769 He was more than likely an 03 (grunt).
@@longshot398 Why do you say that? Actually, that is highly unlikely due to military policies.
The babies of the family always get the most leeway. I know... I'm the baby of the family 😉
This guy was incredible. Please have him back again.
The man, the myth, the voice behind the legendary Hard Work cadence. The oldest form of a DI's black magic...a spell that when cast can make thousands of the most ignorant, stubborn, lazy, stupid, and malingering within earshot suddenly jump up and move together with strangely flawless choreography and unexplainable motivation.
I live how he explained of how the structure is and was but how it could be. He articulated it well, good voice and I would love to see more from him well. He’s been through the decades. Historian for sure
Was at Paris Island in 04', still had the footlockers. Enjoyed your video. Semper Fi.
I was raised by an Army drill instructor who served in Vietnam. He wasn't the greatest person but he never hit me and yet I was was terrified of him. My biggest fear was disappointing him or triggering his anger. 😬
Yikes! I hear that! Hug!
Drill sergeant 😊
Not all abuse is physical , hope you got help.
I would have thought,DI , can leave being a handful DI ,at work,act nice at home, just my thoughts
@@jesseweems4851 Derp! Thank you 😅
I went through basic in 85. A DS wouldn't touch you in front of people, in formation etc, but he would absolutely invite you out behind the woodline if you showed signs that you wanted to get physical. Also it was pretty well understood that even though the DS couldn't hit you, your squad or platoon leader could and WOULD on his (unspoken) behest. I heard things have gotten a lot softer and easier now, but violence was always on the table in 85. If you wanted to take it there that option was always available. Full Metal Jacket was so accurate that I actually got anxiety watching it, it took me right back to Ft. Jackson. We had a couple guys lose it mentally and get recycled.
I went thru in 85 Alpha 1-1 Tank Hill Fort Jackson Drill Sergeant R. Barefield
That's subjective. Usually it gets hyper aggressive in active war time. To me Full Metal Jacket is tame and looks like childs play compared to what I went through and I did basic in 2008. Violence was frowned upon but it still happened sometime out in the open.
I was in basic in 2001, and they couldn't touch you, but they sure could make you do pt til you puked. Also legal to dig the brim of their hats into your forehead while screaming in your face with spit flying. I was glad I had glasses, always had to clean them after.
I went in 86, USN, nothing like that went on. We absolutely went through endless PT several times. As old as I am, I can still hold half situp position for a long time.
@@garyvon1736 My memory isn't the best and it was a long time ago, but iirc we were A-2-2 in Brick City. I don't have a DD214 ready to hand, I could be way off but that's what springs to mind. For me basic is a blur, but AIT stands out pretty well because I ended up in Brems Barracks at Ft. Gordon and that was a WILD place. We were way out in the woods away from everybody else "where nobody can hear you scream", as they loved to remind us.
That was fun. Thank you for your service sir.
The underwear room inspection was still in use in 1986- source, I was there in MEPS Houston. Was not required to duckwalk. Previous group was required to "Milk it down" to see if there was any pus producing infection. Thank you Sergeant Major for your service. P.S.... The "breakem down to bulidem up in which we are agreement, is not necessarily effectual process, cost me my first try at military service. Later I served 13 years as a Federal Contractor, with the DoA, the DoS, and the DoN Overall, thank you for this video SGM
My dad was in the navy for 22 years and did basic training in the late 50s. He told me that Full Metal Jacket was the closest thing he ever saw to his experience
ditto for mine who did basic twice in the Army(under two names, got sent to the stockade for the second stint)…he liked the movie’s realism as it reminded him of his training back in the very early 60s
@@TwinFuddle No one's is trying to compare the different branches of military on how they served their basic training or who had it harder. Its the time and era when they served basic training seemed to match what Full Metal Jacket was showing. That's all anyone is commenting about. That it was pretty accurate to the way their experience was.
Our "class film" was "A Few Good Men" due to our ROTC program being used for the intro to the film as the Fish (Rifle) Drill-Team of which my old lady (bunkmate) was an elite member. Also, "Under Siege" and "Hamburger Hill" were favs.
My dad was a captain in the Green Berets and he said basic in FMJ was absolutely perfect, and he knew guys just like Hartman.
@@TwinFuddle You mean in the video? yeah I can't attest to his experience. I just always remembered my Dad telling me how Full Metal Jacket was as close to what it was like to do basic training in the late 50s
My father always said the bootcamp scene from Full Metal Jacket took him back to his experience in the Marines (bootcamp 1968) more than any other movie he's watched. He's repeatedly said the only difference was that instead of one DI in your face it was usually three.
Thankx for your service Sarge
"I'll PT you until your assholes are sucking buttermilk! " One of the greatest movie lines of all time.
I went through Parris Island in 1976, and I can tell you that the recruit training scenes in "Full Metal Jacket" were quite realistic. I even witnessed a couple of DIs getting physical with recruits who were either not paying attention or were doing something dangerous at the rifle range. Those PMIs didn't play.
You didn't tell the DI not to curse at you because you were triggered?
Brother I went through P.I. in '88. I got kicked in the stomach with my arm extended holding my rifle with my pinky through the front sight. Also boots and shin bones in the ribs while doing push ups. 3rd Btn was rough and tumble.
@@marvindaugherty5989 PI 2004 3rd Btn no one can hear you scream. And yes I do believe boot camp should break you, better to break in a controlled safe place than to break during real combat.
San Diego MCRD May 2001 before 911. I was thrown against racks, gut checked, pinched and the whole 9 yards. Broke guys from other platoons who joined us were given IT even with broken legs. Best years of my life. Those three months showed me the whole range of human nature.
L
R.I.P R. Lee Ermey (Who played the amazing Sargent Gunnery Hartman) Rest easy, you glorious, magnificent bastard, you.🙏
Oorah!
*Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
The words “Half right face”, will forever send shivers down my spine.
CSM Christian was my battalion CSM while I was going through basic at Fort Jackson in 2011. Absolutely amazing soldier who I had the honor to meet while in the field. He could tell I was a bit nervous seeing a CSM rank in my face, but truly spoke in such a respectful manner that you could tell how passionate he was in leading the way and training soldiers. Definitely a role model soldier.
I was at Jackson in 2011 as well!
Thank you for this video.
The Boys in Company C was another great one and also starred R.Lee Ermy. Awesome video, thank you sir for your service
I’m proud that our military had men like this man in it. He’s very impressive.
As a veteran of the Australian Army, I can remember doing Quick Decision Exercises or QDE, all the time. It installs confidence not only in the soldier but the unit, knowing that, those they doubt as just being ‘lazy’, actually show a initiative. One of the three parts of the Australian ethos “Courage-Initiative-Teamwork”. If you can’t function as a cohesive unit in training, then your dead on the battlefield, or, you will never be trusted amongst your peers.
Amen.
Wow, I have never reached the heights in the military that you have, but you were so honest about this. I could talk to you, because I always wanted to understand how this works. Awesome commentary.
I went to basic at Ft Dix love this video. I want to mention about this expert. This man achieved one of the most respected ranks in the military. I could see me following him into a situation
R. Lee Ermey was originally technical advisor to get the drill sergeant right. He talked Kubrick into casting him as Sargent Gunnery Hartman, who was originally played by "Get some!" Huey door gunner.
Cool
It’s Gunnery Sergeant, abbreviated GySgt.
I believe the dude you're referring to is called Animal.
@@MrKouzan No, he's referring to the door gunner in the helicopter scene, Tim Colceri.
He was also a technical adviser for Officer and a Gentleman. They reused some of the insults in Full Metal Jacket.
I had the pleasure to serve under this man in the 25. Hats off mad respect
Thank you, for your service
What year?
@@THE_RICHEST_OPP 05 time frame
Great video and very informative
Thank you for your service.
I’m a navy vet. Went to bootcamp in Great Lakes Illinois. During winter. That was fun. Thank you for your service and breaking it down for us!
What year? I was there in November 2003
95 here
I salute u shipmate for doing boot camp at Great Mistakes during the winter cause that Lake effect is killer. I was there in summer of '99 Div 254.
@@drohall nice. Good times
Ah “great mistakes”. Don’t miss that pass
My Dad was a Drill Sergeant in the Army after he did 3 tours as a Ranger in Vietnam, he said Full Metal Jacket actually bothered him a little because it reminded him of what he saw and did because it was so close to real with a lot of things, granted there was some difference because he was Army and not a Marine but they weren't kind back then at all, my Dad was very hard on people because he wanted them to not die when they got sent to that Jungle just a majorly different time.
He didn’t treat you like that did he? I always wonder if DI’s treat their friends and family like that and how turn it off when go off duty.
@@tigertank06 I went through basic training (back in Nov) and our MTIs shared with us a phrase about "not taking the backpack home" with us. We're not exactly trained or conditioned on how to avoid doing that, but it's a good way to explain it. You choose whether or not you take the backpack (stress, trauma, etc) home to your family. It's not much different from any other stressful work environment, but the U.S. military is statically recognized as the most stressful occupation for a person to have. The best way to avoid doing that is ensuring you have a healthy coping mechanism and, if you need it, therapy. If not, you get the mentally and emotionally unstable veterans who hurt their loved ones in however many ways they do. And MTIs/Drill Sergeants are mostly projecting a louder version of their selves for a purpose. I imagine many of them apply similar methods of discipline on their children, but it's not the same kind of environment so I don't think it's that hard to avoid doing unless the individual person struggles to separate their profession from their personal life.
@@tigertank06 He was hard on me but lovingly so, he let me make mistakes and would explain why and how not to do it again, I love my Dad he is an awesome man and made me the reasonable good human I am today. Edit: To directly answer your question, some things bleed over but its more entertainingly so than scary DI screaming at you.
@@lilscenechick1995 Interesting. It’s good that they’re telling you not to treat everyone else like a fellow soldier. Having someone to open up to helps. I guess I have this image of soldiers not being able to turn it off at the end of the day in my mind. Especially when I read about people who come from military families.
I was in the US Army in Ft. Bliss, Texas for boot camp. I remember during moments in between training regimes the DIs would have to make up time and we often did something like preventing tiny rocks from getting sunburned...by flipping EVERY TINY STONE over that was around the flag pole.
Uncle Hulka! Our big toe. So glad you included Stripes in this video.
Running up the mountain caught me. When I was in basic, there just happened to be a charity 5k run on base, and we were allowed to participate. We ran as a flight. We had one man that was having serious difficulty, and we slowed down to help run with, and carry him. As a flight, technically we came in 5th, but because we refused to leave a man behind, we were bumped up to first because all those that came in ahead of us head abandoned teammates. The idea of nobody getting left behind was deeply instilled. We did also walk down the row to get our injections, but hours were done with the guns for the most part. And I will say, if it were REALLY about health and hygiene, everyone would be required to shave their head. It's about military tradition.
Yeah on the military tradition the same thing about males can't have Facial hair (despite males in earlier times having beards) due to gas mask
And isent also about hand to hand combat and not giveing the enemy something to grab onto
@@levigreene9451 I'm sorry, not facial.hsid but head hair ? While you're wearing helmet?
I went to USMC boot camp in 1987. Full metal jacket was as realistic as it could be other than they didn't have junior drill instructors play a big factor. Full metal jacket boot camp scenes were 10/10 for my era
That movie actually contributed to my son wanting to be a U S. Marine. 🇺🇸
@nancyharris7715 I went in the Marines the summer that movie came out
MCRD PISC Aug 1987 2nd Bn D Cmpy Plt 2084 I’m 54 now and it’s on my bucket list to go back just to see the place one more time.
@Bradgilliswhammyman unfortunately for that time period there is alot of accounts of physical a racial abuse happening
@@Bradgilliswhammyman I went to Parris Island back in 07. Racial insults, cussing, and beatings 100% happened. I am half black, but look middle eastern. The 7-11 jokes and the reciting lines from that one Simpsons character were very common. Im not sure you know what you're talking about.
My Basic training base was host to Stripes. Fort Knox is proud of it. I did training on the same confidence course that Bill Murray and John Candy were on. Our Drill Sergeant pointed out the places from the movie. Awesome basea and training.
I think it was good that you had a former drill sergeant review this and. Differentiate between past and present practices.
Hi Drill Sergeant Christian! I was in your basic in Ft Benning GA in the mid 90's! You were way more meaner back then than now! Glad to see you!
Basic Training is such a weird period of training. When I went through it, we all hated it for the first month or so. But, by the end, we were almost sad to see it end. At the end, we were all pushing ourselves to be stronger, faster, and a better team. Navy Basic Training back then was two months. And ended with what was called "Battle Stations". It was one hellish night. I almost failed, but the DI's were there to push me, and give me the mental boost to finish strong. They never gave up on any of us, even though we thought of them as the enemy for most of Basic. They built us up to be the absolute best sailors we could be. When looking back, they were as kind as they could be. Even when they were having us "Make it rain" in our recruit bay. That was when we really screwed up, and they would close all the windows, and have us exercise until moisture formed on the ceilings from our sweat. Didn't take long in the summer, I can't imagine trying to make it rain during winter rotations. If anyone dropped, the DI's would be there in a flash, and they made it seem that they were there to terrorize, but if you watched their eyes, they were looking for signs of dehydration and illness. I remember YN1's pride as we marched for graduation. No one in my life before had as much pride in me as my DI's did on that day. And it's still amazing that they brought 100 young, angry, men from all walks of life, and formed us into a unit that won the CNO Division award. I was lucky to have so many mentors in my military career. I still look up to them, and it's been more than twenty years.
Nope, I hated BCT and never really looked back. The mindfuckery and how bullshit it all was is what made me hate it. If they made me to BCT training while treating me like an actual adult with respect, then, yeah, I'd probably miss it. At that time however, there was so much mindfuckery to go around. Fortunately the Army is now moving away from it.
DIs/DSs/RDCs all get a bad rap, but really they care about you more than probably anyone else ever has or will. Their entire goal in life is to make sure you succeed and don't die. I remember I hated one of my RDCs in particular, in only the way a recruit can hate an RDC. After an injury during PT he was the first one there to make sure I was okay (as in not immediately dying), gave me medical attention (he was originally a corpsman) while waiting on the actual corpsmen to show up and was really sad that I had to spend time in the RCU over it (MCL tear). It was only at that moment that I realized that the man I hated so much only wanted the best for me and that's why he pushed me the way he did.
That first month was ROUGH. Rest was pretty smooth sailing tbh.
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You were the cadenc call3r im the Gatorade commercial? Outstanding! Thank you for your service, sir
Prior Marine here, and I have to commend the speaker in this video as he's extremely well spoken. I personally would say that at least in the Marines...our recruit training is ALOT more chaotic than any of these movies portray (believe it or not). Mass punishment and hazing is a thing though that definitely happened. One of our DIs was removed from the military for bashing a recruits head in with a steel flashlight. I personally was choked out for not sleeping in the position of attention as I was fully asleep lol.
Lmao
"Recruit, did I just catch you sleeping comfortably??!! "😭😭
Why are you shocked he's articulate? Hmm....let me guess why🤔?
@@ivanlowjones what are you even talking about?
@@tomgillman9555 The fact you needed to point how well spoken this particular individual is.
“Cursing and sweating is not acceptable.” It sure happened a lot for me. “Touching trainees is not acceptable.” I definitely was punched in the gut once, and was backhand smacked in the groin when I mouthed off to a drill sergeant during a brass and ammo shakedown.
When did this occur ? It might be "not acceptable" but it seemed to be pretty much the norm in some eras, maybe it even still is.
@@juandenz2008 I went to Army Basic Training at Fort Sill in 2006. The Drill Sergeants said they weren’t supposed to curse or have physical contact, so things were changing by that point, but they still yelled F-bombs pretty much every word (which we found humor in what they said by the end). The physical contact wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but I think they did more than they were supposed to.
I was in the air force BMT in 09. I remember trainee accident knockoff the TI hat. It was seconds of leveling him , he mum that he was lucky they have IG walking now to combat physical contact. I don't think they never hit but obviously, it was a loophole of physical contact because TIs of all training unit seem like they were frustrated of not able laying smack down like they use , it dam near laughable
NO BRASS NO AMMO DRILL SERGEANT!!!!!!!
@@rachaad Chairforce*
The Marine obstacle course at my university also has a rack of steel bars going in between Folgers coffee cans filled with cement as makeshift barbells on the cheap. They only end up at probably about 25 pounds, but like you said, it is a lot cheaper than buying weights for everyone and they are also weatherproof
I went through basic training in the summer of 1979 at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (aka "Lost in the Woods Misery"). I remember my drill sergents vividly. Great discussion!
*Sergeant
As a Marine (EAS in 2015), I can say one of the most accurate "modern day" war movies is Jarhead. It may not be Saving Private Ryan but is a very accurate portal of a typical Marine. Not surprised since its based off of a real Marines accounts in the Gulf War. From the way the DI acted to the hazing when you first get to your unit to the overall dialog between them.
Especially the Jodie scene
Funny, my family member was in the Marines and he hated that movie because he said it was so unrealistic
Generation Kill hits it pretty spot on too
@@jebidiahcornstalk5091 well it should. Some of the actors were actual Recon Marines that were there for that mission playing as themselves like Rudy Reyes
Love the commercial for it: " You SHALL maintain a state of suspicious alertness at all times..." cut to a dood snoring.
What an awesome guest! I love the subtle flex at 14:42 for his cadence being used in a commercial! Thank you for your service sir!
Check out the flex of a commenter here flying F117s!
Calling a Drill sergeant sir would get you yelled at and you might even have to drop and give him 20 by said drill sergeant. 🙂
Calling him Sir was the worst insult you could ever do. He earned his stripes. Not just given to him for time served, like an officer.
Yo, this is the "Hard Work" Drill Sergeant!
@@imnirvana9982 Since i have nothing to do with anything military related i couldn't care less.
Just a really great and honest, direct, uptodate, first person, according to our time, review on all those Hollywood most 'bs' movies around. Thank you!
Excellent coverage. I served in the Air Force and Army (honorably discharged from both). Accurate.
Did my AF Basic Training in 1981. Being the Canadian Air Force, most of the Army/Marine stuff didn't happen but that didn't stop our Drill Instructors from being the most verbally abusive and sarcastic SOBs I had ever met. I especially remember "haircut day" though, they marched us all to the base barbershop on day 2 or 3 and processed us through in record time. One of the guys in my platoon had a big 2 foot wide afro (and he was white) and the barber held off on him until just before lunch, shaved HALF of his head and sent us all to the mess hall, saying "I'll finish that after lunch". Hilarious.
To me, I would wonder why a recruit wouldn't get his head shaved before induction. It's not like you don't know what is coming.
I had the distinct please of meeting CSM Christian at the 2014 50th anniversary of the Drill Sergeant Academy, when he was the Commandant of the Drill Sergeant Academy. I graduated drill sergeant school in 1989 and am happy to see him here breaking this stuff down like the pro he is!!
As CSM Christian (Retired) pointed out throughout this video, there were several different segments that were more or less realistic, some of them however took me back to my basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 1979. Thank you CSM Christian for sharing this and thank you for your service //Former SGT E-5 Hanner