Leadership Stories – Marine Corps Boot Camp Infantry Training

The President can order the Marines into battle if they wish. More so than any other service.

So when we arrived at Infantry Training I knew this is where I needed to pay attention. We had just come from the Rifle Range where I had qualified as a Marksman. Although I was glad that I qualified I knew I could have done a little better.

My Dad was an expert marksman. He participated on many rifle and pistol teams when he was in the service.

Once we arrived and settled into our barracks we were issued our combat gear. It consisted on a helmet, pack, canteens, cartridge belt, entrenching tool, shelter half, sleeping bag, and other odds and ends.

Almost immediately we loaded up our packs and went on a long forced march. A forced march is a march where you carry your full issue of combat gear and rifle. Then you march out over open terrain.

Since we were at Camp Pendleton it wasn't a jungle like atmosphere but nonetheless, it was not that enjoyable.

This was during a time when it wasn't that important to make sure we had enough to drink, i.e., water in our canteens. We were allowed every now and then to get one or two swallows from them.

What I clearly remember was when we finished marching out we had to pair off and set up our two person tent. Each person carried one half of the tent, i.e., the shelter half.

What I remember most was that we were lucky enough to set up our tent right over tarantula spider nests. What I soon learned was they actually had small holes in the ground where they lived, and we were right on top of them. You saw them a lot. They didn't seem to be that aggressive, but it was still nerve racking.

I didn't get any sleep that night wondering and watching to make sure we were not invaded. I saw a couple outside the ten which was open at both ends, but we had plugged the holes that were under us. You see the tent was just big enough for two people, but like I said it was open on both ends.

The other thing was that we had to sleep with our weapons. I really didn't mind this at all. The rifle was our life. If we lost it, it could ultimately mean death on the battle field. I placed the sling through my arm and wrapped it around a little loosely and kept it close by me all night. I knew by now that the DI's would try to take them if they saw an opportunity. Wasn't going to happen to me or my partner.

Another thing I remember clearly was the C-Rations. They came in cans then. To be honest they tasted great when you were in the field. We would heat them up right in the can with Sterno that was provided with the C-Rats. In most cases you would trade what you didn't like with someone else.

Back then they came with a couple of cigarettes so I was always able to trade them for real food.

It was a blast living out in the field.

We learned many things about survival in the field under combat conditions. We also learned about camouflage, booby traps, moving through the jungle, fire fights, sectors of fire, close combat, and much more.

One of the things that sticks out about the booby traps was the Claymore mines. They would usually be set off with a trip wire. They consisted of a somewhat flat simi circle canister that was filled with BB's. Almost like a shot gun blast only much worse. It would definitely take you out or blow off a limb depending on where it caught you and how it was set up. I still think about them for some reason. They were a nasty weapon.

We also learned about other types of booby traps, like covered holes that would have spikes sticking up at the bottom, and other types of small blasts.

The purpose of the sectors of fire would have been if you were side by side with two or more Marines you would each be assigned a certain area to cover. That way not everyone was covering all the areas. Sort of took the pressure off of everyone. But you would need to pay attention if someone got taken out, so that you would cover their area also. In some cases you would place a stick into the ground on each side of the barrel of your weapon so that you would know what your sector was. Made a lot of sense then.

Digging fox holes was no fun but necessary I suppose. The other thing you would use your entrenching tool for (e-tool) was to dig a trench around your tent so that if it rained it would keep any running water out for the most part. A lot of that depended on how much, and how hard it rained.

Keeping dry in the field was critical to your long term health. The last thing you wanted in combat was to get a rash, or athletes foot. Other concerns were a tooth ache or small cuts that would become infected. Anything that took your mind away from the real battle was not good.

I thoroughly enjoyed the field then. Funny thing is today when my kids want to camp out I don't have any desire to do so. My idea of camping today is a motor home or hotel room.

On another day we got to practice throwing live hand grenades. They weighed about eight pounds if my memory serves me correctly. Throwing the first one was a little nerve racking but I enjoyed it after that. Pulling the pin and then counting a couple of counts then throw. I wanted to throw it immediately, but I guess the last thing you wanted was for someone to pick it up and throw it back.

We also got a chance to experience the gas chamber. The gas chamber was a small building where you went in with your gas masks on and then once everyone was in they would make you take them off. We also had to breath in, so if you think you could just hold your breath, the DI's had another plan in mind. The gas hit you like a ton of bricks. It was absolutely the worst thing ever. You could not breath once you sucked in your first breath. Once outside it took quite a while to regain your normal breathing.

I hated it with a passion. Your eyes burned! Your skin itched! It was miserable.

I will finish up this experience on the next page of my Leadership Stories.

Thank you for reading another one of my leadership stories and may God Bless you!

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