And as usual, a dollar short. Sort of. Although I only lasted for most of my first two years in the Marine Corps Option program in NROTC because of the 1972/73 requirement by the Commandant of the Marine Corps that every Marine Officer had to be a Rifleman, and there was to be no exception for Aviators after 1974 (sigh, I'm really that old), I bailed out and went to the Navy. Not because I did not think that I could hack "Bulldog Cruise" and then TBS, but because I was deathly terrified of breaking something (I am not the most graceful athelete outside of a swimming pool), and being NPQ'd (Not Physically Qualified) for Pensacola. My career plans did not include being an 0331. Given my propensity to swim, I figured that Navy would be a better fit anyhow. Sort of makes sense, since running on water is not well documented outside certain stories.
So to my sort-of brethren, I say Happy (belated) Birthday and a big "Semper Fi". The MOI at my college told me "Once a Marine, Always a Marine", but I don't know if two years as a Marine Option count...I had an Eagle, Globe and Anchor on my collar, but never made it to Quantico.
Anyhow,
To all my other Vet Brothers and Sisters out there, Hey, Happy Veterans Day. We have real cause to celebrate now, don't we? To those of you still serving, come home to your loved ones safe and sound and remember, we all think about you every day.
Peace.
posted by Jo Fish on 11.11.06 at 05:21 PM
Comments:
I had a similar Marine Corps experience, but before your time. I entereed college 3 months after the Korean war broke out in 1950. It was an unsettled time. A few classmates who served in WWII were activated. The draft beginning to ramp up, and college deferrment programs were uncertain.
Thw Marine Corps had a great shortage of Platoon Leaders (1st Lt,) and the Marine Corps had no ROTC nor were thy a part of the Navy ROTC.
To deal with this shortage, the hurridly create a special program, called the Plaroon Leadership program.Essentially any college student who qualified could sign up for the program and receive a draft exemption until graduation, at which time the member would receive his Commission, ala ROTC.
The deal was fairly simple, you had two summers to complete boot camp and Officer Candidate Training. You had to go to Boot Camp the first summer, so they could evaluate candidates, then, if you were a Freshman, you coulg choose which of the remaining two summers to complete the Course.
I went through 8 weeks of boot camp at Parris Island, SC, during July and August. (Tepperature 120, Humidity 120.) Technically we held the rank of Sargaent and were paid at that grade while on duty, but were treated like any other recruit.
I had the option of going back the next summer or waiting a year. Since a class of the OCT members were in training at the same time and it looked like pretty much the same thing, I chose to skip a summer.
During the next year, I received a letter saying that a decision had been made to cancel the program, no reason given, But obviously someone wasn't happy with the results.
They gave us three options that I remember, but there may have been more. One was a transfer to the active reserve at our current rank of Sargeant (equivalent to Corporal in the other Branches,) a quaranteed slot in regular Officer Traing upon graduation (no commission at graduation, or to resign from the program.
Since transferring to the reserve likely meant immediate call-up and off to Korea, that was not a good idea. And going to 16 week OTC was starting all over again, with no guarantee.
So I chose the resignation option and was drafted fairly soon into the Army.
I couldn't tell from your post whether you had actually gone through boot camp or not, but the old saying is that all Marines will go to Heaven, because they've already been to hell.
Semper Fi, and happy birthday corps.
posted by: Jerry on 11.11.06 at 08:28 PM [permalink]
Belated happy Veterans Day! Hope you're feeling better about this year than the last couple. :)
