25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
This book is not as relevant as it once perhaps was..., May 1, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Boot (Mass Market Paperback)
Having attended Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI) from May 02 to Aug 02 and graduating with Platoon 3058, 3rd RTBn, I picked up this book a week or so ago to relive some of the memories from boot camp. However, instead of getting a detailed report of what the recruits went through, the author spends more time complaining about how the Drill Instructors can't be as tough as they once could. Instead of feeling a sense of pride and esprit de corps from reading this book, I'm left with a sense of disappointment, stemming mainly from the fact that many of the policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that the author complains so vehemently about are not strictly enforced anymore.
As a background, one must understand that this book was written in 1987. A recruit died during training in 1985 (from a pre-existing physical condition that he [didn't mention] on his enlistment contract, ...and congress decided that it was time to really bare down on Marine Corps recruit training and make it a little more "humane." As a result, they did impose a lot of policies and SOPs that hindered the Drill Instructors' abilities to discipline recruits. Like I said, though, many of these policies aren't strictly enforced anymore.
A harmless example that I'll divulge is the policy of Drill Instructors cursing. In the book, Da Cruz spends much time mulling over the ludicrousness of forbidding Drill Instructors to curse at or in front of recruits. That may have been the case in '87, but I can tell you that today the art of cursing is alive and well on MCRDPI with both the recruits and the Drill Instructors. I think this is perfectly harmless; it toughens up the skin of the recruits, and that's what Marine Corps recruit training is all about: Toughening you up in the event of combat, because the enemy will not follow any "humane" policies or SOPs.
There are several other policies and SOPs that don't hold anymore, but I'm not going to go into them. The point I'm trying to make is this: From reading this book, one might get the impression that Marine Corps recruit training isn't tough anymore. That is not the case. Ask any Marine from my company (or any, for that matter), and they'll tell you it was the hardest thing they've ever lived through. Marine Corps recruit training is still the hardest, toughest indoctrination to the finest fighting force in the world, have no doubts.
Da Cruz also compares Marine Corps recruit training to that of other similar forces from other countries, including the British Royal Marines (to whom the United States Marine Corps holds close ties) and the French Foreign Legion. Da Cruz spends time talking about how Marine Corps recruit training isn't as hard as these others, but the comparison isn't really fair. The Marine Corps plays the role of a major force-in-readiness, ready to storm a beach or be dropped in by helo at the drop of a hat to prepare the way for the rest of the Armed Forces. These foreign forces that Da Cruz talks about play a different role and are probably more comparable to our Special Forces teams, not a regular branch of the service.
In all, I would not recommend this book to someone thinking of becoming a United States Marine. This book is out of date on not only the policies and SOPs, but also on the training schedule. The Crucible is not included in this book simply because it wasn't around in '87. However, if you'd like to relive some of the more memorable moments of boot camp, and get a sneak peek at the lives of the Drill Instructors, then pick this book up.
Semper Fidelis
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the future Marines, May 24, 2000
This review is from: Boot (Mass Market Paperback)
I read this book about the same time I joined the Marine Corps in August 1999. It takes you step by step through the training process. I would recommend this to anyone. You don't have to be a Marine to enjoy it. I have bought multiple copies of this book and given it to my recruiter so he can give it to prospective Marines to read. Also read the book by Thomas Ricks called The Making of a Marine.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction..., May 20, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Boot (Mass Market Paperback)
I will be leaving for Marine Corps boot camp this August, and I was looking for some sort of indroduction to what boot camp was going to be like. This book helped me get a feel for what is going to be happening during my 13 week stay on Parris Island. I would recommend this book to anyone going into the Marines or anyone who is just interested in boot camp.
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