...AND A FEW GOOD MEN

[Music] l [Music] it's hard to say exactly what goes into making a marine or a man for that matter but whatever it is there are two basic elements you always have to have when I call off your last name you're going to answer up Sir here and sound off your first name one is good material and the other is the right environment if the Marine Corps has come to be known for the caliber of men it turns out it's largely because of the V value the core places on both of these requirements it may not look like it but the core is very careful in selecting its recruits and when it comes to training him well you can judge for yourself for all Marine recruits processing begins right here you're now at Marie car Recruit Depot San Diego California you're about to start your first day of processing there are five days involved in processing these five days do not count as part of your training from now on the first word out of your mouth is going to be sir unless you are asked a simple question that can be answered with a yes or a no and then you will answer yes sir or no sir while you are here we will expect you to act as a man you'll be treated as a man from now on you will do things to the best of your ability and you will move as fast as possible almost as much a trademark of the Marines as the way they carry themselves and walk is their distinctive hairstyle it takes some time for recruits to develop the other characteristics but they can get the haircut in just a few minutes which is just one of the many practical advantages of this kind of haircut the hair cutting Begins the processing and in a way it's rather fitting because it graphically marks the kind of radical transformation the recruits can expect in other areas as the processing continues the recruits get the initial issue of clothing they'll wear during training 10 and half the first scrub down in the core is the first of countless showers and wash-ups of all kinds they'll undergo in the Marines the core has always been zealous about cleanliness around put heel against B and upholding the military tradition of neatness and bearing no matter what you're wearing your trous turn [Applause] around go down exchange for trous 3436 the core is also very demanding about physical condition and so examinations are an important part of the initial processing all of these men were carefully examined before they were accepted as Marine recruits but the core just wants to be sh sure there's nothing wrong with them now those that need glasses will get them number seven is missing number 14 Snake Eyes if any bad teeth are found they'll be taken care of while a recruit under go training was that 30 accusal yes number 30 accusal okay prod I'll be here in the classroom all the rest of the morning to give you assistance on any question that you may have yes sir the core also wants to know just what its recruits are capable of and so they're given a series of tests those with some special skills will get more tests 18 the PT or physical training tests are designed to be equally revealing about the physical condition of the recruits this [Music] those that require it will get extra train training and attention to ensure they meet the requirements set for all [Music] recruits the last day of processing the recruits receive their rifles and other tools of their trade which they'll learn to use during training 59 27 down gear sir processing ends with the arrival of the drill instructors or di who will lead them through training for the recruits this is probably the most important event of the processing it brings them together with the men who are going to be personally responsible for their training to the left to the during the training the recruits in each platoon will spend some 16 hours each day under the sharp watchful eyes of their drill instructor Commander St Sergeant home over the years these drill instructors have become almost as much of a legend in the core as its Heroes and rightly so because they've had a hand in shaping most of them but like all legends they've been transformed and exaggerated into something that they aren't and as a result they're frequently judged on the basis of what people have heard they are rather than what the recruits actually know they are whenever you're told to do something do it do it as quickly as possible to the best of your ability as three of us between commander and the two dring Strikers we'll be a charge of you at all times even know in any case it's hard to exaggerate the importance of the D and the core is very much aware of the role they play in making Marines for this reason it carefully selects them offic in your chain of command yes sir it was I see have you passed the PFT in the last 6 months yes sir do you feel that you have anything medically wrong with you that would disqualify you for this type of Duty no sir Steph AR green you realize that this is a very challenging job and a very demanding job it'll probably mean that you'll have to spend approximately 80 hours a week at work and probably have to be away from home every third night standing the duty do you want to be a drill instructor yes sir I would like to be a DI then Justice carefully trains them at its drill instructor School period of instruction we're going to be covering the daily seven exercise you as drill instructors must know the daily seven exercise in order to teach your recruits that daily seven exercise is nothing more than a warm-up exercise welcome thank you sir please take a seat just out of drill instru when they do become drill instructors they work under the supervision of a series Commander who is responsible for all the platoon in a particular series thus whatever he may be every dii is carefully selected carefully trained experienced and under constant supervision while you're lock Sergeant Crews were just uh picking the series up out of receiving and to be able to get with them all the way through and I think it' be a very rewarding experience it's much better starting with them so uh I'll be seeing you on the drill your butons on but huh no sir can't hear you no sir how about getting your weapons fired away and if he seems brusk and impatient it's because he has a tough job and not much time to do it recruit training actually begins with the di taking over and telling their platoon exactly what will be expected of them the first place they run up against these demands is on the drill field they get more of the same in physical training where they begin with the basic [Applause] exercises and it continues in their classes this part here located in gray in color is known as the trigger housing the trigger housing I'm going to move down here and pick up this part right here which is under spring some 10,000 troops under the command of Brier General Russ the rins over here on the other side with only 500 careful not to touch the inside portion and we're going to place the dressing directly on the W we're going to spread our fingers out there are also practical applications such as guard Duty sir FR reports Force number four all secure Po and orders remain remain the same nothing unusual to report sir sir post number five training in close combat [Applause] also hand to hand [Applause] [Music] combat and more Drilling [Music] [Applause] everybody's constantly tired and aching these first days of training still the exercises get progressively [Music] harder but they keep at it and for most of them it pays off for some however it's too much as soon as the DI spot individuals who are having trouble they usually work out a program of their own to give them special help however when a private's inability to progress henders progress of the platoon and other recruits he is assigned to the special training branch and that's just a small part of the contract that each and every one of you people signed when you come into Marine Corp now that's part of the reason why you're here in motivation here the recruits work and live with others who have the same problems and special programs are set up to help them meet the training requirements some are additional motivation you will get paid once others need help in physical conditioning two one two sir one sir two sir hand [Applause] over some have medical problems which keep them from participating in the activities of a normal training platoon for those who find it difficult to obey the rules there's Correctional custody by the time the final days of the first phase of training roll around everyone is beginning to feel that they're a part of a team by now the soreness and stiffness have begun to [Music] disappear number one number one number one number one r r so have confusion and uncertainty Griff reporting back from sick man's or sir I get your gear off go with the rest of the series all right [Music] sir most recruits manage to find the strength and energy for sports and for competition with the other recruits in training [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] drown proofing is a vital part of recruit training with every man required to swim at least 75 M fully clothed and carrying a [Applause] rifle by the time they've completed the first phase of training the recruits are considered ready to be introduced to another old tradition of military life mess and maintenance Duty the recruits have a week of mess and maintenance during their training bone structure you have to rely on they spend the next two weeks at the rifle range first learning how to use their rifles weapon into your shoulder rotating up keeping the right elbow up high straight up bring the elbow well underneath the piece aiming in getting a good natural point of aim squeezing the trigger straight to the rear then practicing to develop skill [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] this is one of many opportunities the recruits will have to qualify with their [Music] rifle all Marines are required to fire for score once a year [Music] also included in second phase is an introduction to combat [Applause] training here the recruits are trained in basic skills they'll need in the field go up to 360° they learn how to use a compass is composed of that makes up the earth now then what we're going to learn today is how to shoot an asthma before we can do this we must practice using Maps such as the point if you look to you rear where the radar little radar is set up on the hill here they have a chance to actually work with mines and demolition charges it up keep your on the door all time the recruits also learn to use grenades properly prepare to throw throw Grenade on the way get infiltration training combat training introduces the recruits to the kind of food and living conditions they'll encounter in the [Applause] field your feet are flat on practically all training is in the form of exercise with the recruits actually doing what they're learning you [Applause] can many of the training activities take place at night Tracer displays show the various kinds of coverage produced by different fire patterns the men returned to the Recruit Depot for the third and final phase of their training this is a spit and polish period and everyone is very much aware that there are only a few weeks of training left with the recruits expectantly looking forward to the end of their arduous and demanding schedule and the drill instructor struggling to smooth out the rough edges in time for graduation in the meantime everyone continues to drill the physical training is harder than ever still everybody does it their schedule is tougher than ever but now they can handle it without straining if you don't you don't see anything to it you don't do anything about for those who display a potential As Leaders there is a special program to develop it and make them aware of the challenges and rewards as well as the responsibilities of leadership discuss a problem with them almost before anybody can believe it graduation day arrives as far as the recruits are concerned there are really no special preparations their Barracks are always spotless the ranks and uniforms display the same daily meticulous care what family and friends of the recruits see here today is no special show but actually the same conditions they could see any day the big difference of course is in the recruits themselves for parents and relatives it's well worth the long trip many of them have made to be here it's a proud and happy day for families and friends the recruit's pride and feeling of accomplishment seems to be contagious even the SE and old mentors who have gone through this many will even sheepishly admit that they feel a great sense of loss every time graduation day comes around it's an especially proud day for the recruits who receive Awards and there are many ranging from the most outstanding recruit to those who have excelled in the different areas of training but whether or not they received a special award all the recruits have a feeling of achievement theyve earn the right to be called [Music] marines it takes good men to get through the Marine recruit training program and everybody knows [Music] [Applause] [Music] it but there are two facts you can't get away from it's that the core obviously started with some pretty good men and it's equally obvious that it did a pretty good job of training him the whole thing is nicely summed up in the words of one mother who wrote we sent you a boy and you sent back a man she could also have said you sent back a Marine [Music] go let's goe and hold it [Music]