Hi, I was just wondering how everyone’s BMT experience was as a female? I’m just curious because I know everyone’s was probably different. Lol, how was the plane ride to BMT and the bus trip? Were there a lot of females or not so many? Did the guys say anything or just sit in shock lol? Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks,

__BlackBetty__

quote:

Originally posted by BlackBetty:
Hi, I was just wondering how everyone’s BMT experience was as a female? I’m just curious because I know everyone’s was probably different. Lol, how was the plane ride to BMT and the bus trip? Were there a lot of females or not so many? Did the guys say anything or just sit in shock lol? Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks,

__BlackBetty__

Fear not young lady. I'm sure some of our Lady Leathernecks will be along shortly to converse with you. By the way there is no such thing in the Marine Corps as BMT!

Semper Fi

John Boy

Oh thanks for the heads up on that...when I talked to the recruiter for the Air Force he called it BMT so I just assumed it was the same, which I should have known better. Thanks for letting me know.

__BlackBetty__

quote:

By the way there is no such thing in the Marine Corps as BMT!

However, there are, BLT's, BUTT's, BRA's, BAZOOM's, and BOOTY's.

I can guarantee you that there is precious little comparison between the Air Force's Basic Military Training and the Marine Corps' Recruit Training (A.K.A. Boot Camp)!

The Air Force's BMT is only six weeks long, while ours is 12. In the Air Force, basic training is co-ed. Not so in the Marine Corps. You will be in an all-female platoon with all female drill instructors (who are some of the meanest *****es you have ever met in your life).

In the Air Force, you will get one weekend off during basic training to see the sights of San Antonio. At Parris Island, you will get to see the sights of--well--Parris Island. Oh yeah, and you'll get to see them while marching carrying a pack on your back.

If you're looking for a military/corprate environment and someone to take care of you, join the Air Force. If you're looking for a real challenge and the opportunity to become something you'll be proud of the rest of your life, join the Corps.

P.S. Ever wonder why you never see any Air Force tattoos?

quote:

Originally posted by BlackBetty:
Hi, I was just wondering how everyone’s BMT experience was as a female? I’m just curious because I know everyone’s was probably different. Lol, how was the plane ride to BMT and the bus trip? Were there a lot of females or not so many? Did the guys say anything or just sit in shock lol? Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks,

__BlackBetty__

Well, I can't type my experience when i first got off the bus, because I was just traumatized I didn't wanna remember..I remember bits and pieces.

But I can tell you, once training kicked off in my Platoon, there were around 30-35 girls..the numbers got smaller and smaller because of Recruits being hurt, and just being dropped into FRP or the next platoon. In the beginning it SUCKED. Yes, they were in your face 24/7 and ripped you a new one just so you can learn quicker to do X, Y, and Z in .01 of a second.

I really enjoyed my 2nd platoon and the DI's. I thought the DI's were really great women. they were my idols. My platoon had a lot of team work- which you need- you will never survive if you don't have team work at Parris Island.

As far as men Marines on Paris Island, we never came close to them. Only during the last month or so of training; in BCT & the crucible. For being a female recruit, we were taught that once you're in the fleet, as a junior marine AND a woman, you were going to be treated as a piece of meat. During BCT before the crucible, my DI's weren't kidding...you can see how my DIs, GSGT, even commanding officer, had to fend for our series, and the title to be a woman Marine.

I liked bootcamp a lot. It taught me so many things that nothing else will ever teach me in life. I'm glad I signed up for the Marine Corps...

I hope I gave you some useful information!

So why was it so traumatizing? what did they do to you guys, or make you do. was it all screaming. and how did the recruits get hurt? what are other ways that you can get hurt while in bootcamp? at the end, do you do the cruisable together with the male Jr Marines?

I'll tell you. It is traumatizing because it is something that you are totally not used to. It is an experience that you can only understand by going through it. That is what separates the girls from the Lady Leathernecks. We are a unique, exclusive group and you can really explain it justly.

I will tell you that there is a tremendous amount of yelling, social adjustment, emotional stress, physical conditioning to the MAX, and construction of a well oiled Marine. You will do things you don't want to do, things you never thought in a million years you could do and you will make friends for life.

When you receive the Emblem at the end of bootcamp it is the best moment of your life and you will never forget that moment for the rest of your life. Am I right "Ladies"?

You are so right! Anyone else struggle against tears during the emblem ceremony/graduation? Awwww that was the BEST day ever.

Stuggle against tears? Are you friggin' nuts?! I had tears streaming down my cheeks, but I was locked and cocked through it all.

I don't think they do it like we did WAY back when. Maybe the younger generation can chime in.

Our ceremony was the morning of graduation in the courtyard at WRTC (4th BN) in the charlie uniform with our green bucket covers on w/o emblem. A DI, hopefully your favorite, would come in front of you, like during inspection. You would have your emblem in your hand and present it to the DI. They would take it, remove your cover, and while attaching it to your cover they would tell you what they thought of you. It was a personal face-to-face, one-on-one conversation that no one else could hear. It was outstanding!!

SgtShaw86: That was the way it was suppose to be when I graduated in 78. Didn't happen. There were still some s***birds in my Plt and screwed it up for all of us. I had last firewatch, went to do final report and while I was gone they had gotten up, turned trash cans up side down, bunch of other crap. Pissed of the DI's to no end. We had to WALK to graduation, a bunch screwed up in front everyone and turned the wrong way to march up to formation. When we were to get our emblems they handed them over and walked way. At the end senior DI reamed us, told us she was ashamed to turn us out into the fleet and walked away. Later came up to my bunkie and I and told us that it did not include us, but boy did it really put a rotten damper on what should have been an outstanding day.

OMG, that sucks so bad!!!

We started with 57 and only graduated 45. This one butthead had hair down to her butt and kept all of us late. Then when it came to the hump, she dropped and I had to carry her weapon and her pack the rest of the way. When we went to the CS chamber, she choked early and beat-feet out of the room and caused the rest of us to spend extra time in there. She even knocked over the DI at the door.

Oh, also during the night infiltration course she tripped a flare next to my leg and burned me. She did all kinds of crap like that. Needless to say we pretty much wanted to kill her by the end.

I am old. We did not have combat training. But you would have thought we going thru torture to listen to some of the bimbetts that were in our plt. One complained that on Thanksgiving the Senior DI warned those on a medical diet that they may want to watch what they ate (it was the one time they were not restricted). This female complained to the CO who chewed out the Senior DI, and as we all know what rolls downhill. Had another one try to committ suicide---by taking eight asprin. They tended to pair me up with some of the more dificult ones, I was the oldest in the plt and they thought I would have a good influence, LOL.My biggest regret is having destroyed my knee and getting out after two years, I had every intent on making a career out of it. I LOVED being in. Even if it were at a time when women were not appreciated at all ( as one gunny told me, BAMs were good----there ought to be one in every barricks for the male marines). It was real intresting to be a female military police in that time. I had lots of fun. Will have to tell you a few stories some time.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtShaw86:
Stuggle against tears? Are you friggin' nuts?! I had tears streaming down my cheeks, but I was locked and cocked through it all.

I don't think they do it like we did WAY back when. Maybe the younger generation can chime in.

Our ceremony was the morning of graduation in the courtyard at WRTC (4th BN) in the charlie uniform with our green bucket covers on w/o emblem. A DI, hopefully your favorite, would come in front of you, like during inspection. You would have your emblem in your hand and present it to the DI. They would take it, remove your cover, and while attaching it to your cover they would tell you what they thought of you. It was a personal face-to-face, one-on-one conversation that no one else could hear. It was outstanding!!

Brings tears to my eyes! I went through in '88! I graduated boot camp when I was 17 (didn't turn 18 until I got to Motor T School) Needless to say I was the platoon baby. When I stepped off that bus I was so scared. When I met my Senior DI I was even more afraid! She was about 5 foot tall and mean as hell! But by the end we were all mad cause we would miss her and the other DIs.

Anybody else have a story they'd like to tell?

Mine was surprisingly not that bad. I think it helped because my recruiter was very helpful and prepared me for it. At first, I thought he exaggerated everything to scare the living daylight out of me. It didn't help that the other recruiters helped out. By the time, I got there I was thankful he did.

The worst part for me was the sleep depravation, the yelling and screaming, the crying and whining, and the new terms, lingoes, etc. (“This recruit”…this and that) that we all had to learn. I remember being frustrated once because I had to correct myself about 10 billion times on how to “request for a head call.” I swear I was going to piss on myself. By the third day, I did lie in the rack asking myself what the heck I was thinking to be here. Unlike other platoons where their SDI’s were nice and all, I swear ours was worst then the DI’s themselves. I believe she is now a SgtMaj…bless her heart. One thing I like about is that she told us everything about anything that we were going to experience once we hit the fleet, i.e. the jokes, the bullcrap, the drama, the men, etc. She was very thorough and straightforward about things we would have to deal with which was awesome. Of course, I have tons of stories about incidents throughout boot camp. I could probably write a short story.

Nik can you remember some of the specifics about Drill Instructor advice, do's don'ts. the fleet? Bonnie can you remember any of those 'warnings' about the fleet? I went through in 85. Started at 17 and finished at 18.

I distinctly remember being told by our DI's that we are women, but we are also Marines. We are not to get their coffee, run their errands, or shine their boots. Even though we are Marines we have to maintain our femininity. That is why we had Mabylene come in give that make-up class.

Don't forget the 12th General Order.

"I walk my post from flank to flank and take no "crap" from any rank!"

Wow.. I guess I am still the "eldest" posting here.. but can remember! Graduated in '75 and was also 17, so I can relate to what a few of you mentioned about being scared "@#$%"less stepping off the bus. I can remember everything at Parris Island, all the way to the smell. It really was a putrid low-tide musty stink... It especially smelled when we were in formation at "0-dark thirty" in the chow hall line. I can remember the sand fleas, standing so close to the lady in front of me and helping out by blowing off the sand fleas biting the girls neck in front of me. Bonding and lifelong friendships. Semper Fi

OMG!!! You just brought back tremendous memories. I did the same things. You're right about the smell. That stinkin' swamp smell.

So, when are we going back to relive all these memories?? I haven't been back since boot!

That would be something! All of us WM's getting together and invading PI for a reunion. That would just be freaky, but Great!

Ooooooo, I just had a bang up idea!!! Danielle, why don't you see if you can have your book launch there or out in town in Beaufort, SC? We would have to stay somewhere other than the roach motels out in town.

Guys, I really believe in my heart that this book will be successful. If so, then I would love to put something together like that. I am currently stranded in Holland and have left good paying Telecom Mgmt (but hated it) career to write. If this book enables me to get back to America then certainly we could pull together some type of a cool reunion. I don't have one American friend out here and it has been a terrific morale boost to interact with my sister Marines. However, I'm probably the sappiest out of all of us here! hahaha Total bleeding heart. Cannot wait to meet y'all someday. Danielle