Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
(Post 1124747)
Volunteered, but for the wrong reasons. The draft during the Vietnam era could mean the army or marines, but air force and navy were voluteer only. I was afraid of being drafted into the army, as I didn't think getting shot at was necessarily a good career move, so I tried to join the coast guard and was told they had a six-month waiting list. The navy, on the other hand, was eager to have any able body they could get.
Boot camp was probably nowhere near as tough as the marines', but it wasn't a piece of cake either. First day, 0400 hours, the lights come on and there's our new Company Commander (the navy's equivalent of a Drill Instructor) banging a garbage can and shouting at us to get up and moving. First was the head-buzzing, then the wait to be issued uniforms, which at that time was limited to dungaree pants (stove-pipe denims) and chambray shirts (light blue work shirts), plus skivvies (undies) and socks. Then to the barracks to learn how to fold them all and pack the locker 'properly' (i.e. "Theres the right way, the wrong way, and the navy way!)"
Then learning to make a bed the navy way. "You WILL fold the corner in this manner, and you WILL tuck it here!" No "or else", just do it this way. No-one in boot camp ever asks "or else?", because no-one wants to find out just how bad it can get.
Miles of marching, learning how things are done on ship, classes on naval history - mostly why the uniform has that funny flap on the back (because in the old days when sailors had long hair they used grease to keep it from flying around - the flap was a separate leather piece that kept the grease off the clothes) and why they wear that silly kerchief (because the leather flap tied around your neck, stupid!). It brings to mind Tevye's line from Fiddler On The Roof: "And why, you may ask, do we have these traditions? I'll tell you - I don't know! But we have them!"
I'm amazed at how much I remember after all this time, including how to do the 16-Count-Manual-At-Arms. But most of it's actually boring. I really just wanted to celebrate another anniversary come-and-gone.
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