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1stSgt, i love your story. I retired in 2015 after 20 years of fateful service. I tuned down 1stSgt to retire i knew it was time to get out. I want to thank you for your story you said alot of key things thats always on my mind. Thank you so much 1stSgt, Semper Fi brother!!!
Was in the Marine Reseves as a kid in the 80s. Was a cold weather mountain warfare unit. Not fun. But still get together with my plt sgt, and 2 other Marines several times a year although we live 50 to 70 miles away from each other. My brothers for life.
I think I've made this comment before on your channel, but don't ever stop making these videos. I love hearing these stories and I feel so blessed to sit here for an hour and a half and listening to them. This first sergeant is a perfect example of a Marine! 🇺🇲👍
100% agree……. With the end… how many ribbons on your chest, how much combat you’ve seen? Doesn’t mean jack shit if you’re a guy who values that shit….. if you did your time, honorably? If you weren’t a blue falcon? Or a shit leader? Then you have my respect. I enlisted in the Corps pre-9/11. 9/11 happened while I was in boot. I went to A 1/5. I did 3 tours in Iraq. I got the fuckin Purple Heart. I kicked in doors and saw shit. I’m grateful that I got to be where I was. But I’ll be strait, I wasn’t a Stellar Marine. But I cared deeply, about the men I served with. I got out and a couple years later, I started doing reunions for my guys. Built the infrastructure. I’ve watched healing take place. I’ve watched men reconnect. I’ve watched the best times and the worst times happen. And what matters most to me, is that brotherhood that I have with my 1/5 family. My war family. If you didn’t go to battle? Who gives a fuck…. You didn’t have to come home with the issues that come with it. You signed the dotted line, you went through boot camp…. You are my brother. Or sister. End of story. Semper fi
Super excellent session Sir! I can also tell you 35 almost 40 years later I remember all of my Drill Instructors. I even remember my graduation date and platoon. People think I am joshing them or just trying to tell a good story, but trust me it is true. They left a lifelong imprint on me. Semper Fi and Rock on Sir!
I also did the army tour,it's wasn't TOO bad. LOL. Served with the Marines on my first deployment to go fight in Iraq ( I volunteered for 4 deployments to Iraq,also did 2 tours back-to-back ) with Texas Guard infantry units. My first tour was in late 2004 and all of 2005 at Camp TQ ( it was a marine FOB then ) and our battalion had 12 KIAs and 8 soldiers severely wounded with no replacements ( yeah,it was THAT bad where we were ) thankfully there was also a PRC ( provisional-rifle-company )unit at TQ also.They were a marine reserve unit,so we had to use marines from that unit to complete our missions at full strength. The marines lost several people too,I knew everyone who passed too,marines and soldiers. That was god awful,losing all those friends,then you felt for their families and friends too. My combat patch was 2nd Marine Div-we were under the authority of the marines at TQ. SEMPER-FI
@PJ_Davis --- the following statement may or may not have been uttered by a Lance Corporal in Fallujah in the fall of 2004. _The Marine Corps isn't a military service. It's a self-gratifying religious cult whose day job is contract violence for the U.S. government._
Excellent comment or thought. When I look, retrospectively, at my military time in the Marines, I don't regret my enlistment. It was what I chose to do, like you, I am assuming. But, in all honesty, there are, in my opinion, two major factors or reasons why joining a specific military branch can make all the difference. It is not the uniform. It is the benefits and opportunities that the particular branch offers. I went in active duty as an Infantryman for four years. After my enlistment, I joined the Army reserves, as a weekend warrior, for two years. In comparing the two branches, the Marines offers more discipline but there is a lot of bullshit that one has to deal with. Different Marines give their rationales. But they won't tell you, honestly, why first term enlistments in the Marines get out at about 75%. What I learned about the Army is that the Army offers more benefits and opportunities. My only regret is in not having enlisted regular Army. Many won't admit the other side of reality. Good comment brother
@@d.rcarrera6599interesting, marine culture has always seemed a lot more intense and demanding compared to the army imo, he’ll during my basic training there was a little area where marine guys did their training stuff and those dudes looked extremely elite man.
@Outlaw5.56 It was more intense and challenging when I went through it. But basic training or boot camp is only a training phase. I found infantry school way better. But when one compares opportunities in each, let's be honest with ourselves, the Army offers way more. Why is it many former Marines join the Army?
The last several minutes were pure gold! I saw more "action" as a Border Patrol Agent than as a Sailor, though the Navy had a greater impact on my life overall.
I was at MCRD Apr-Jun 78 and there was an issue with the chow hall so we had to take cattle cars over to Naval Training Center to eat in their chow hall in 1st Phase. It felt like they stuffed the whole series in one cattle car, could barely breathe. Great video, haven't seen you for a while on the MCRD Alumni page 1st Sgt. Hope all is well...
I took the USAF..I already knew how to shoot, already had a flatbelly, and already knew how to handle myself in pressure situations. It's all good. Retired flatbelly USAF MSgt....24 years.
My senior drill instructor tried to burn the guidon flag lol We had to stop him right after service week. I had a kill hat that would terrorize at night, he would wake you up go to the back of the squad bay and do jumping jacks with matteres over your head. You would just see the hat slowly rise next to a bed and him snatch them up, at one point I there was 5 recruits doing jumping jacks with mattreses over there head in the dead silence. Another dude got caught smuggling food, they made him run all of 2nd battalion squad bays with a CPR dummy over his sholdiers yelliing I am a fat boy I steel food.
One of my DI's threw a black stapler at me. I ducked, I was forced to duck walk around the barracks with my footlocker on my shoulders. quacking like a duck for 2 hours, while my left knee aching badly from the rifle range sitting position a week prior. I still have problems with knee...I never complained, so no VA rating on a messed up knee. Boot camp was tougher back then, physical abuse was rampant. 1974-1978
@28:15 best thing i ever heard. You had a DI on this channel... doing nothing but praising about making recruits life hard. That's not leadership... but this is
Interesting interview. We were on MCRD San Diego at the same time, but as a nasty recruit, my stay was a bit shorter, graduating with Plt. 2082 on October 28, 1988. We had a dark green Sgt. Moore that joined the DI team about halfway through our training. I wonder if he was the SSgt. Moore you mentioned. I kinda doubt it, because he seemed/acted fully onboard with our SDI’s “do our jobs the right way” stated policy. Semper Fidelis! 🍻
I would love to speak to my Drill Instructors. They were complete hard asses. I hated them, but I sure as hell appreciate them now. The Marine Corps is a great place for a troubled young man with no discipline.
I was 3rd MAW WERS37 Motor T. Shorylt after arriving a couple of us was told to go to Mag11 Motor Pooi and pick up a sky hook. All day looking for a non existant piece of equipments.
Went through basic in the early 80’s. 3rd Bn H co Parris Island. I got thumped. One DI just did it because he could. The other one gave me a smack that I earned. Anyway..shortly after, NIS put uncover agents in as recruits. Some DI’s got burned and ended up in Leavenworth.
USMC 68-71 Parris Island VMO-6 MAG 36 Cpl Quan Tri Vietnam/Futema Okinawa. I always had respect for anyone who served the military. The fact is that Marine Corps boot camp is different than the other branches. I'm going by my personal experience. There is no way to explain how physically and mentally challenging Marine boot camp was like. While at Parris Island a recruit two bunks down from me cut his wrists to get sent back home. On two separate occasions I witnessed two Marines beaten to the point where they were hospitalized with one recruit who had his spleen ruptured. Beatings and getting slapped around was an accepted practice. This was done to weed out those who couldn't cope with adversity. As tough as it was, I wouldn't change a thing
My uncle was a World War two soldier, and he was decorated for some heroic acts he performed while a patient in a field hospital during the battle of the bulge. He passed on sometime in the 2010's, I think it was. The Army or National guard sent a National Guard private to play taps, and the private was NOT a musician. He had a fake bugle, with a recorded version of taps on a built in . Chee Z. I consider it disgraceful
Great presentation with a different perspective. I was in from 79-83. No combat. Got thumped for no reason in boot camp… did I&I duty in the airwing… got out as a Sergeant. I went where I was told… did my job to the best of my ability. Still felt guilty for not doing more… especially after the Beirut bombing the month after I got out. Tried to get back in after 9/11. Was told I was too old and too fat. 🤣
My DI’s would wait for McMap to hit us for “training” only had one kill hat grab me by the throat during the crucible because I looked at him funny when he caught me day dreaming while he was talking he didn’t like me at all but hurt my pride more than physical pain 😂
He was my senior DI B co 1101 sept 15 to dec 5th 1987....he was a tuff sob but I can say fair ...I bet he never knew his junior di Sgt weiser stopped me graduation day and told me if he ever saw me again he was gonna kill me ...I went 6 yrs in the corps looking over my shoulder waiting to be KILLED 🤣🤣🤣 ...good to your full story
Sure did. Part of receiving the severance pay was agreeing not to retire from any military service. I went on to retire from the Marine Reserves. Had to pay back every dime.
@markwheatley5402 I had a buddy he was an 0311 after he graduated ITS he got orders for a Naval air station in Italy for barracks duty also I guess Marines no longer have sea duty assignment
1988 Ft Dix new Jersey the DIs phsically beat us , and thats fact, last week of basic the sergant major had a chat with us all and said the army was trying accelerated basic training to see if the kids could handle it.
👍 Like this video to support to show appreciation for Mark and/or Urban Valor.
🗣 Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!
✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories.
This is a real leader. Seems like he was a real good DI too.
He was my DI in 1987 Platoon 1069. I thought he was an asshole till about a week before graduation.
Ha, I'm from Indianapolis... What a coinkidink!!😂😂😂😂😂😂
I was in Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in November 87 to February 88!! The funniest place on earth where no one laughs!!! Semper Fi!!! OORAH!!!
1stSgt, i love your story. I retired in 2015 after 20 years of fateful service. I tuned down 1stSgt to retire i knew it was time to get out. I want to thank you for your story you said alot of key things thats always on my mind. Thank you so much 1stSgt, Semper Fi brother!!!
Semper Fi
Was in the Marine Reseves as a kid in the 80s. Was a cold weather mountain warfare unit. Not fun. But still get together with my plt sgt, and 2 other Marines several times a year although we live 50 to 70 miles away from each other. My brothers for life.
These interviews keep getting better and better. First Sergeants words at the end if this video meant a lot to me. 🇺🇸
I think I've made this comment before on your channel, but don't ever stop making these videos. I love hearing these stories and I feel so blessed to sit here for an hour and a half and listening to them.
This first sergeant is a perfect example of a Marine! 🇺🇲👍
100% agree……. With the end… how many ribbons on your chest, how much combat you’ve seen? Doesn’t mean jack shit if you’re a guy who values that shit….. if you did your time, honorably? If you weren’t a blue falcon? Or a shit leader? Then you have my respect.
I enlisted in the Corps pre-9/11. 9/11 happened while I was in boot. I went to A 1/5. I did 3 tours in Iraq. I got the fuckin Purple Heart. I kicked in doors and saw shit. I’m grateful that I got to be where I was.
But I’ll be strait, I wasn’t a Stellar Marine. But I cared deeply, about the men I served with.
I got out and a couple years later, I started doing reunions for my guys. Built the infrastructure. I’ve watched healing take place. I’ve watched men reconnect. I’ve watched the best times and the worst times happen. And what matters most to me, is that brotherhood that I have with my 1/5 family. My war family.
If you didn’t go to battle? Who gives a fuck…. You didn’t have to come home with the issues that come with it.
You signed the dotted line, you went through boot camp…. You are my brother. Or sister.
End of story.
Semper fi
You said it better than I did.
Worked with A1/5 at the Gov Center..SF
Super excellent session Sir! I can also tell you 35 almost 40 years later I remember all of my Drill Instructors. I even remember my graduation date and platoon. People think I am joshing them or just trying to tell a good story, but trust me it is true. They left a lifelong imprint on me. Semper Fi and Rock on Sir!
Semper Fi
I went army, no regrets but the marines were always intriguing to me
I also did the army tour,it's wasn't TOO bad. LOL. Served with the Marines on my first deployment to go fight in Iraq ( I volunteered for 4 deployments to Iraq,also did 2 tours back-to-back ) with Texas Guard infantry units. My first tour was in late 2004 and all of 2005 at Camp TQ ( it was a marine FOB then ) and our battalion had 12 KIAs and 8 soldiers severely wounded with no replacements ( yeah,it was THAT bad where we were ) thankfully there was also a PRC ( provisional-rifle-company )unit at TQ also.They were a marine reserve unit,so we had to use marines from that unit to complete our missions at full strength. The marines lost several people too,I knew everyone who passed too,marines and soldiers. That was god awful,losing all those friends,then you felt for their families and friends too. My combat patch was 2nd Marine Div-we were under the authority of the marines at TQ. SEMPER-FI
@PJ_Davis --- the following statement may or may not have been uttered by a Lance Corporal in Fallujah in the fall of 2004. _The Marine Corps isn't a military service. It's a self-gratifying religious cult whose day job is contract violence for the U.S. government._
Excellent comment or thought. When I look, retrospectively, at my military time in the Marines, I don't regret my enlistment. It was what I chose to do, like you, I am assuming. But, in all honesty, there are, in my opinion, two major factors or reasons why joining a specific military branch can make all the difference. It is not the uniform. It is the benefits and opportunities that the particular branch offers. I went in active duty as an Infantryman for four years. After my enlistment, I joined the Army reserves, as a weekend warrior, for two years. In comparing the two branches, the Marines offers more discipline but there is a lot of bullshit that one has to deal with. Different Marines give their rationales. But they won't tell you, honestly, why first term enlistments in the Marines get out at about 75%. What I learned about the Army is that the Army offers more benefits and opportunities. My only regret is in not having enlisted regular Army. Many won't admit the other side of reality.
Good comment brother
@@d.rcarrera6599interesting, marine culture has always seemed a lot more intense and demanding compared to the army imo, he’ll during my basic training there was a little area where marine guys did their training stuff and those dudes looked extremely elite man.
@Outlaw5.56
It was more intense and challenging when I went through it. But basic training or boot camp is only a training phase. I found infantry school way better. But when one compares opportunities in each, let's be honest with ourselves, the Army offers way more. Why is it many former Marines join the Army?
Thanks for sharing your story and wisdom. Stay well and stay strong. Semper Fidelis
Top Emery was in 513, He was a Marine AO one of my SNCOs in Iwakuni.
@9:30 I am still looking for the keys to the hummer and the blinker fluid 🤣
The last several minutes were pure gold! I saw more "action" as a Border Patrol Agent than as a Sailor, though the Navy had a greater impact on my life overall.
Top!!!!! Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Getting out of the Marines is like breaking up with a bad girlfriend... you might have had some wild times together, but it's time to go.
Sgt Maj McMichael was one of my Sgt Majors in Pendleton.
He was a really good man.
I was at MCRD Apr-Jun 78 and there was an issue with the chow hall so we had to take cattle cars over to Naval Training Center to eat in their chow hall in 1st Phase. It felt like they stuffed the whole series in one cattle car, could barely breathe. Great video, haven't seen you for a while on the MCRD Alumni page 1st Sgt. Hope all is well...
I'm doing great. I quit Facebook, may com back now that they are letting us post without bullshit.
@@markwheatley5402 Merry Christmas & Semper Fi 💪👊
@@markwheatley5402Semper-Fi TOP. Great interview and outstanding leadership advice.
I took the USAF..I already knew how to shoot, already had a flatbelly, and already knew how to handle myself in pressure situations. It's all good. Retired flatbelly USAF MSgt....24 years.
Our senior drill, sfc lemon was a judo blackbelt in the late 80s when we messed up we got the juice
My senior drill instructor tried to burn the guidon flag lol We had to stop him right after service week. I had a kill hat that would terrorize at night, he would wake you up go to the back of the squad bay and do jumping jacks with matteres over your head. You would just see the hat slowly rise next to a bed and him snatch them up, at one point I there was 5 recruits doing jumping jacks with mattreses over there head in the dead silence. Another dude got caught smuggling food, they made him run all of 2nd battalion squad bays with a CPR dummy over his sholdiers yelliing I am a fat boy I steel food.
One of my DI's threw a black stapler at me. I ducked, I was forced to duck walk around the barracks with my footlocker on my shoulders. quacking like a duck for 2 hours, while my left knee aching badly from the rifle range sitting position a week prior. I still have problems with knee...I never complained, so no VA rating on a messed up knee. Boot camp was tougher back then, physical abuse was rampant. 1974-1978
I was at VMFAT-101 from 2010-2014. It's in San Diego at Miramar.
We went to the same high school in Galveston.
Lewis Cass or Kokomo. I only went to Lewis Cass until 8th grade. Graduated 1975.
Yeah this channel is my go to after being out after spending half my life in this military game. It fckn sucks …
@28:15 best thing i ever heard. You had a DI on this channel...
doing nothing but praising about making recruits life hard. That's not leadership... but this is
I was stationed at Yuma from 85-88. 2nd LAAM bn
Good to a fellow airwinger's story and Iwakuni. H&MS 15/ MALS -12 GSE Semper Fi.
I never was in the service; if I went through the marines I would hope this guy was my Chief Drill Instructor.
Interesting interview. We were on MCRD San Diego at the same time, but as a nasty recruit, my stay was a bit shorter, graduating with Plt. 2082 on October 28, 1988. We had a dark green Sgt. Moore that joined the DI team about halfway through our training. I wonder if he was the SSgt. Moore you mentioned. I kinda doubt it, because he seemed/acted fully onboard with our SDI’s “do our jobs the right way” stated policy. Semper Fidelis! 🍻
I would love to speak to my Drill Instructors. They were complete hard asses. I hated them, but I sure as hell appreciate them now. The Marine Corps is a great place for a troubled young man with no discipline.
Admin guy eventually becomes a 1stSgt. Tale as old as time. 😆 Loved this interview.
Actually, very few admin guys ever became 1stSgt's. Most became MSgt's.
@markwheatley5402 haha must be my soda straw perspective
Semper Fi Devil Dog!💪🇺🇸
Semper Fi
My platoon in bootcamp was the last to make it up the reaper. Our reward was to sit in red ants. Bootcamp was hell, but prepared me for Iraq.
😂 Flightline! Also "See the supply sergeant for a foot of fallopian tube so we can fix that fuel leak!"
I was 3rd MAW WERS37 Motor T. Shorylt after arriving a couple of us was told to go to Mag11 Motor Pooi and pick up a sky hook. All day looking for a non existant piece of equipments.
I went to MCRD San Diego in January 1987
Did you know a James Unruh by chance fire crash rescue retired as a master sergeant 1969-1991 ?
No
Went through basic in the early 80’s. 3rd Bn H co Parris Island. I got thumped. One DI just did it because he could. The other one gave me a smack that I earned.
Anyway..shortly after, NIS put uncover agents in as recruits. Some DI’s got burned and ended up in Leavenworth.
USMC 68-71 Parris Island VMO-6 MAG 36 Cpl Quan Tri Vietnam/Futema Okinawa. I always had respect for anyone who served the military. The fact is that Marine Corps boot camp is different than the other branches. I'm going by my personal experience. There is no way to explain how physically and mentally challenging Marine boot camp was like. While at Parris Island a recruit two bunks down from me cut his wrists to get sent back home. On two separate occasions I witnessed two Marines beaten to the point where they were hospitalized with one recruit who had his spleen ruptured. Beatings and getting slapped around was an accepted practice. This was done to weed out those who couldn't cope with adversity. As tough as it was, I wouldn't change a thing
My uncle was a World War two soldier, and he was decorated for some heroic acts he performed while a patient in a field hospital during the battle of the bulge. He passed on sometime in the 2010's, I think it was. The Army or National guard sent a National Guard private to play taps, and the private was NOT a musician. He had a fake bugle, with a recorded version of taps on a built in . Chee Z. I consider it disgraceful
Great presentation with a different perspective. I was in from 79-83. No combat. Got thumped for no reason in boot camp… did I&I duty in the airwing… got out as a Sergeant. I went where I was told… did my job to the best of my ability. Still felt guilty for not doing more… especially after the Beirut bombing the month after I got out. Tried to get back in after 9/11. Was told I was too old and too fat. 🤣
Semper Fi. USMC 1979-1982 MOS-2531
You should never feel guilty again. You did more than your job.
My DI’s would wait for McMap to hit us for “training” only had one kill hat grab me by the throat during the crucible because I looked at him funny when he caught me day dreaming while he was talking he didn’t like me at all but hurt my pride more than physical pain 😂
He was my senior DI B co 1101 sept 15 to dec 5th 1987....he was a tuff sob but I can say fair ...I bet he never knew his junior di Sgt weiser stopped me graduation day and told me if he ever saw me again he was gonna kill me ...I went 6 yrs in the corps looking over my shoulder waiting to be KILLED 🤣🤣🤣 ...good to your full story
💯👍🇺🇸🙏
Had to pay the severance back wtf 😮
Sure did. Part of receiving the severance pay was agreeing not to retire from any military service. I went on to retire from the Marine Reserves. Had to pay back every dime.
Getting punched by the DI's was normal in 1968.
Security forces is that the same as barracks duty from the 80s?
It depends, the job they wanted me to take as Marine Security Forces for nukes.
@markwheatley5402 I had a buddy he was an 0311 after he graduated ITS he got orders for a Naval air station in Italy for barracks duty also I guess Marines no longer have sea duty assignment
i was a hat 10 years ago this all facts lol
Spy recruits out
1st like and comment. I need a t shirt but will settle for a cookie
Lol
Ran out of cookies. Crayon sent. Semper Gumby 🇺🇸
Funny cause to me there is no way im willing to be a marine lol. Went Army.
Still got the frog voice
I know, you should have heard it in First phase. 🤣🤣
@ 👍
🇺🇸
Marines always come to the Army for something 😂
And they wonder why most of the eligible generation will have nothing to do with the U.S. Marines.
I'll bite, why?
Funny did not get in air force but put with airplanes in usmc
For 2 out of 24 years.
11:45 gay moment
this guy defending deployment dodgers lmao
Who in the hell is a deployment dodger?
Boring story
1988 Ft Dix new Jersey the DIs phsically beat us , and thats fact, last week of basic the sergant major had a chat with us all and said the army was trying accelerated basic training to see if the kids could handle it.
Our senior drill, sfc lemon was a judo blackbelt in the late 80s when we messed up we got the juice