What would Gunny Say?

In the Army, they are known as "Drill Sergeants".
In the Navy, they are known as "Recruit Division Commanders".
In the Air Force, they are known as "Military Training Instructors".
In the Marines, they are known "Drill Instructors".

Those who have served know what they are like.  Those who have not have properly seen them depicted in movies or television.  Probably the most iconic is Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey) in the 1987 film "Full Metal Jacket".  Ermey was an actual Marine Corps Drill Instructor in 1965-1967.

Having been to Marine Corps boot camp myself, I can attest to the fact that his portrayal of a drill instructor is spot on as is the portrayal of boot camp overall in the movie.  Boot camp serves a very specific purpose.  To train young men and women into Marines.  While every Marine has their own military occupational specialty (or job), they are all considered to be "a rifleman first".  The yelling, screaming, fast pace, and attention to detail are all intended to prepare a Marine for the very real possibility of combat.  They are no longer children, but are now men and women prepared to place themselves in harms way for God and Country.

I have little doubt that Gunny Hartman would agree with the many posts, videos, and memes that have mourned the loss of the resilience of our youth.  I am sure you have seen them.  They denounce the overuse of everything from bicycle helmets to anti-bacterial soap.  They all state the kids growing up in the [insert decade here] were tougher than kids of today.  I am sure Gunny would agree.

As I write this, my son is at Marine Corps boot camp right now.  I have recently learned of another practice that would have Gunny shaking his head in dismay.  Marines graduate on most Fridays.  This means families are on base Wed-Fri taking pictures of any recruit they see.  They then post these pictures to a common Facebook page and parents at home commence to playing "Where's Waldo" as they try to find their young recruit in the sea of look-a-likes (not unlike what happened when many of them were at summer camp when they were much younger).  In addition to Waldo pictures, these pages are filled with parents supporting each other and wondering how they are going to make it until their baby comes home briefly before going out again.  Gone are the days when the recruits shipped off and Mom and Dad got maybe a letter or two before graduation.  Now we have Facebook where Mom can see her little baby marching around the base.  I think it is time some of these parents land the helicopter and let their babies go... just a little bit.  I have to wonder "What would Gunny say?"

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go find my Waldo.