quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Stood on the yellow footprints back in '88

Pretty much as depicted.
(A few even caught a "physical correction")

Year earlier for me. I remember during final drill a recruit did a hand salute instead of rifle salute. He got “corrected” with the sword scabbard in the DI hut.

I went to Navy boot camp at Great Lakes in January of 1969. Yes, it was pretty rough but there wasn’t a bunch of candy asses back then. Those of us that graduated were better, tougher people. I was fortunate as I was in the drum and bugle company. I missed a lot of PT.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
Was boot camp really like it was depicted in the movie? During the 1960's? I'm sure some of the old timers know.

San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot is my alma mater, class of '68. The first hour of the movie depicts life in boot camp to some degree. As mentioned, the scene in the latrine would never happen but much of the remaining dialogue and "physical" interaction took place on a daily basis. I also chuckle at the "jelly doughnut" scene as we never saw doughnuts in the chow hall but "group education" for the actions of others was practiced often to teach us that the actions of others have consequences on the platoon.

My experience was a little different as I had a position of leadership and responsibility in the platoon and was, many times, held accountable for the actions of others; this type of accountability was stuff that is not usually talked about and could not be shown in a movie.

In my opinion, the bootcamp scenes in the movie are 60%-70% accurate. With that in mind, the remaining 30%-40% was worse and can be left to your imagination.

One has to remember, at this point and time, we were all going to Vietnam and the job of the Drill Instructors was to transform men into Marines for fighting and, possibly dying, in war. Bootcamp had to be tough because war is brutal and one's survival depended on their physical condition and mindset.

Ft. Leonard Wood in '86 was very similar, including the physical things. We didn't see it much, but there was definitely some slapping and gut punches administered (nothing that would leave a mark), as well as the group punishment...and one blanket party because of said group punishment.

Saw the movie when I was home on leave with a buddy who had been through boot camp a year before I had and we were laughing our asses off at how accurate it was.

For me, I found it rather easy (other than the PT, but once I got into shape that was easy too). I figured out right off the bat what they wanted and just did that. Some of the other guys weren't quite that bright unfortunately.

A blanket party was encouraged by the DI and did happen, I believe it was toward the end of our time and we got our weekly phone call home taken away. I didn't care much but the married guys took it very personal

After a few weeks we were allowed to go to the PX with our small squad, we marched there and bought snacks and such. When we got back we were chowing down on our snacks. I don't know if the senior DI had a problem with this or they were just fucking with us. They started yelling and saying " who the fuck told you this was ok?" They made us dump all of our shit in a footlocker and get in our dress greens. We had a funeral for our snacks and buried them


One Sunday they said they were going to march us to the movie theater to watch a movie. They had us get in our dress greens and fall out in formation. The DI "Forward,,, fuck you, get back in the barracks and get to cleaning you stupid fucks. A movie, fuck you"

OSUT at Ft Sill in 1987 while this movie was playing in the base theater. Our Drill Sergeants were inspired by the movie.

Quantico, summer of 1967. We didn't get hit, pushups were the acceptable alternative if found not to be living up to the expectations of the Corps. Lots of push ups. If the screw up was considered serious then your squad or the whole platoon would do them with you. Good Times. Lots of push ups.
Verbal encouragement was right out of the movie; delivered about three inches from your face and at a volume that would leave a mark.

Dad was at Ft Jackson for basic in 1965. He told me the basic training part of the movie was right on the money.

Marine drill instructor sentenced over boot camp hazing death arrested after early release

Joseph Felix was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released early and recently arrested in South Carolina for cruelty to children.

Jeff Schogol
Published Feb 2, 2026 3:56 PM EST

A former Marine drill instructor who was sentenced to prison following the hazing death of a recruit at boot camp was released early and recently arrested for a separate crime.

Joseph Felix, a former gunnery sergeant, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November 2017 for hazing recruits, including one who died. The incident was one of the biggest hazing scandals in the history of the Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, prompting sweeping investigations that led to several Marines being reassigned, fired, and court-martialed...

Complete article:

https://taskandpurpose.com/new...h-felix-arrest-2026/