Former U.S Marines still do the following ? ?

[litenlarry]

I remember this lesson.

For some minor infraction (the DIs firmly believed the entire platoon for one person"s mistake) we were made to do up and on shoulders with our M14s. Holding your M14 in both hands you first trust it forward, then back to you chest , up over your head, then behind your neck, then back up overhead, down to chest, thrust out for a count of 2 repeat. After getting up into the 90s several times and having the DI start screaming because someone was screwing it up and having to start over. I was praying for the count of 100. When after several restarts we final got to 100 and he simply went to 101, 102 and of course some fool stopped at 100 and we all started over again. They had a real talent for making you think the finish was somewhere and then when you got there having you continue.

I was the kind of kid that was always skirting trouble and doing what I wanted. Minor scrapes with the law, etc. The Marines taught me discipline and that sometimes I had to at least present the picture society wanted to see. I am sure it saved me from young self. In those days many recruits were there because a judge gave a choice. Jail or USMC. I think it was a good thing. I think it would still be a good way to go.

Oh yeah, up and on shoulders with a M14 were brutal..I think our DI's would make us do them until everyone in the Platoon had the rear sight aperature firmly planted in our skulls..

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"Irish pennants" is new to me but we had gig lines in the Army and yes, I still check mine.