MAKING A MARINE U.S. MARINE CORPS 1950s RECRUITING FILM (Print 1) 81354

Dating to the Korean War era, this wonderful U.S. Marine Corps film begins with images of combat and an amphibious landing drill, probably at Camp Pendleton in California. At 1:40, the concept of "vertical envelopment" is described with helicopters deployed off of an aircraft carrier. At 1:45, a nuclear weapon goes off and Marines (at the nation's nuclear test site in Nevada as part of Upshot-Knothole ) observe the rising mushroom cloud. The cloud dissolves into the USMC logo at the Corp's recruiting depot in San Diego. The "making of Marines" is then described in Parris Island, South Carolina. Recruits are seen entering the depot and immediately being processed. At 3:30, a drill sergeant introduces them to the Corps, and the recruits walk past an Iwo Jima statue. At 4:16, the men strip and prepare for showers, and have their hair cut off at 4:30 (a la Full Metal Jacket). At 5:00 showers and then the men get new clothes. At 6:50, the men go to sleep, only to be awakened for physical exercise including the obstacle course and calisthenics. Close order drill is shown at 8:30. At 10:30, weapons are inspected by the Drill Sergeant. At 10:47, water training is shown and at 11:25, marksmanship and rifle practice with the M-1 Garand. Classroom instruction is shown at 13 minutes. At 14:30, Marines lift buckets as part of physical drills -- proving that you can use almost any heavy item for muscular benefit. At 15:00, hand to hand and bayonet drills are shown. At 17:44, final inspection is shown of the men who "made it" and are now able to proudly call themselves Marines. At 18:16 the final review march is shown at Parris Island. Semper Fi!
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[@mariofilippi3539]

Army boot camp in the 70's made a man of me. I was too scared to join the Marines because I heard it was much tougher. Looking back I do not regret joining the military.

[@wesinman2312]

I was never in the service, but I attended my BILs graduation at Parris Island. I was so impressed and could feel the spirit. Thanks for your service.

[@downunderrob]

Anyone else watch this and hear R. LEE ERMEYS voice as the Drill Instructors?

[@IVector377]

Was thinking the same. R.I.P.

[@jon9021]

Definitely!

[@robertogarcia8717]

This is what he watched when he wanted to see a sappy love story 😢

[@anthonylicari7776]

No I heard John Wayne

[@Leonidae]

No crayons were harmed in the making of this informative movie.

[@jon9021]

Hahaha!

[@flynlr]

didn't see a single hog drawn anywhere

[@mariofilippi3539]

Wasn't co-ed either.

[@The_Dudester]

I wen t through in San Diego in the late 70's, Some differences: 1) 8:24 We never worked out with M-16's (besides, an M-1 Garand is much heavier). 2) 10:48 We used the M-16 and there was a strict accounting of bullets (so as to head off murder-suicides) 3) 11:16 We worked out with Drill Instructors, there wasn't special fitness instructors, or whatever those guys were. 4) 12:09 We never had a track and field event like this. 5) 13:22 "Bucket Drill", was a thing of the past, I think because the USMC was humiliated by a movie (was it called Tribes?"). 6) 14:00 Instead of this kind of drill, we had classes on bayonet drill (with the pugil sticks seen here) , then a playoff, of sorts, to see who was best. Because of prior martial arts experience, I took 2nd in my regiment-losing to someone 18 inches taller.

[@r.hill.2369]

I went through San Diego in '81. It was Tribes.

[@codyhilton1750]

Once a Marine Always a Marine. Semper Fi.

[@Quasimodo1957]

I was at Parris Island in 1976 and I must say the DI in this film was much more polite than the ones I came across.

[@jeremyperala839]

I grabbed onto the rappel tower in boot camp because i was scared of heights. The drill instructor smiled and stomped on all my fingers on both hands. Down i went.

[@mattpierre891]

I'm thinking Jack Webb in the D.I.

[@BlueBeeMCMLXI]

Move this program to High Schools.

[@josemoreno3334]

My two brothers are former U.S. Marines and proud of them. Semper Fi.

[@rogerlevasseur397]

My father served as a US Marine in the mid 1950s. I watched this as kind of a window into what he went thru for his training back then.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

God bless your father for his service to our great nation.

[@jarheadlife]

The pistol badges each recruit had then needs to actually be a part of bootcamp again!

[@jeremyperala839]

Sorry we spent the money on accepting tranny's and sent all the pistol ammo to Ukraine. Here is a paint brush, go paint rocks.

[@Dadsezso]

Semper Fi Marines. I spent 22 years in the USMC. I'm nearly 70 and still dream that I'm in the Corps. I keep asking them why in hell I'm not allowed to retire in these dreams. The only answer I get is, "Once a Marine, always a Marine." Dang I'm tired when I wake up.

[@ConradSzymczak]

Interesting. I have never seen someone chamber a round with a full en bloc clip loaded. 9 rounds. USA = 8; USMC=9!

[@madmikemadmike2175]

do they still do the silent prayer?

[@TheReadBaron91]

Not when I went in 2009, we had to sing the hymn every night at the top of our lungs

[@user-lu4qm3cs8i]

Semper Fi

[@heyjoe113]

squid pro row

[@panderjitsinghvv8199]

Good to see that locked footlocker.

[@xfirehurican]

Plt 213, MCRD San Diego, January '68. 2542, 2549, 2591. RVN ×2, CONUS (east and west coast), Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, London. Retired October '88 MSgt Second career, 22yrs, Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. Semper Fi!

[@RetiredSailor60]

My brother, Michael, USMC 2001-2005. Ooorah! Retired US Navy Sailor here.

[@ConradSzymczak]

Next Stop, Korea (or 'NAM)....

[@user-wk2zb4ss1k]

@ConradSzymczak. USMC 64--68. Parris Island 3Rd Battalion. Vietnam 65--66, 20 years old. And when Christmas rolled around and hearing all those old Christmas songs. Well, talk about some teary eyed Marines. Rotated back Home in March 66. Merry Christmas and God Bless.

[@blueduck9409]

I wonder how many of those fellas went to vietnam? It was common in those days for the marines drill instructor to deploy to vietnam with the unit.

[@jarheadlife]

Never heard of that

[@codyhilton1750]

This was Korea area, at least ten years before Vietnam.

[@KommissarKartofelov]

@@codyhilton1750 post-korea judging by the LVTP-5's and the mitchell camo helmet covers in the film's intro

[@codyhilton1750]

@@KommissarKartofelov Well sir, as I was a Marine in 58-61 I should have some knowledge on the subject. The rank didn't have cross rifles that came in 58. And there wasn't any discussion about Vietnam either which is the question. 99% of those Marines, like me, served 3 to 4 years.

[@motorTranz]

@9:52 "A simple fact that America's basic strength lies in it's faith in God.". Old Corps...

[@NA-me6sh]

can't have that anymore, can we...

[@TJ-USMC]

"Semper-Fi" MCRD San Diego 1977

[@josemoreno3334]

My older brother was there in 1970. My younger brother was there in 1979. Semper Fi.

[@nicflatterie7772]

… as you earn your place … Not given to you, earn it. Current generations could learn that.

[@toddstrickland973]

I even thought I heard Frank Sutton In there.

[@brianl0604]

No date at the beginning but most definitely post-Korean conflict; UH-34s didn't enter Marine Corps service until 1957.

[@tonyparete6892]

I wonder which one of them is gonna be the first to be made to mop concrete in the rain because he bought a '57 Chevy Belaire at 21% APR.

[@HootOwl513]

Never saw those Red Mike covers the film platoon wore for PT. But I was in 20 years later than this film and on the other coast. PLT 2117, Co G, 2d Bn, RTR, MCRD SD. 731203 - 740304.