Drill Instructors in the Marine Corps

exerzieren Instructors in the Marine studentencorpsDrill Instructors in the Marine CorpsI am Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, your Senior Drill Instructor. From now on, you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be Sir Do you maggots understand that? - Gunnery Sgt. Hartman (Boot Camp - Day One) Perception Many recruits have a preconceived notion of Drill Instructors and boot camp before they even step on the yellow footprints, courtesy of former Marine R. Lee Ermeys role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubricks Vietnam era film, Full Metal Jacket. For the few Marines whove never seen the film, Hartman is a tough as nails DI who instills and beats, a love of Corps into his recruits. Im not going to lie, said Lance Cpl. Victor Mendoza, currently deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, when I first showed up to boot camp I was scared to death. I kept waiting for one of my DIs to beat the crap out of me. Mendozas beating never came, but a love of Corps and deep respect for his Drill Instructors did. At first youre so caught up in your own little world that you dont realize until much later the amazing job these individuals do, said Mendoza. Without Drill Instructors we wouldnt have a Corps. They make Marines. Overview Drill Instructor Duty is considered one of the most honored and valuable positions a Marine can hold and is absolutely vital to the process of making Marines, according to Master Sgt. Andre Robinson, a Marine Corps career planner. PrerequisiteIf a Marine comes to me and expresses an interest in becoming a Drill Instructor, one of the first things I inquire about is their physical fitness, said Robinson. Theyve got to be in great physical shape and have got to be squared away, but equally important they must live and breathe our Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment. Marines ages 22 to 37 with the rank of sergeant through gunnery sergeant can request Drill Instruct or Duty. Corporals may be considered if they will be promoted prior to graduation from Drill Instructor School. Additionally, Marines must have scored a 90 or higher on the general and technical portion of the Armed Forces Vocational Battery test, must have no adverse Page 11 entries within two years, no alcohol-related incidents within three years, no courts-martial within five years, no non-judicial punishments within two years, and must not have filed for bankruptcy within two years or have divorce or separation proceedings still pending prior to reporting for duty. After passing the screening process and being selected for the 36-month Drill Instructor Duty tour, a Marine must first attend Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, or MCRD Parris Island, S.C. TrainingThe 12-week course emphasizes leadership, judgment, professionalism, time-management, and, of course, physical fitness. It takes a lot of stamina and character to be a Drill Instructor, said G unnery Sgt. Rose Cole, who served as a Drill Instructor from 1996 to 1999. You have to be able to stay focused on the training no matter what. The worst parte was the long hours and lack of sleep. Drill Instructors are up before the recruits and dont hit the rack until long after they are asleep, usually getting about three hours of rest a night for three months. Still, despite the hardships, Cole says she wouldnt trade her experience as a Drill Instructor for anything. Its a tremendous feeling of accomplishment when you graduate a platoon, said Cole. You cant help but remember what they were like on that first day of boot camp. For more information on Drill Instructor Duty, contact your career planner. There is nothing more challenging or satisfying than Drill Instructor Duty, said Cole. Today you people are no longer maggots. Today you are Marines. Youre part of a brotherhood. - Gunnery Sgt. Hartman (Graduation Day)