Those young fucking Marines

[HAL Pilot]

Somehow they always amaze me and make me proud to have served beside Marines multiple time during my career.

My daughter lost her ID card. Instead of taking her to the Navy PSD in San Diego I took her the Marine Corps Recruit Depot figuring there would be less of a wait (I was right). When I pulled up to the gate and showed my retired ID card, the Marine sentry snapped to a perfect position of attention and gave me a text book perfect salute. When I nodded my head and said "thanks, that made an old Navy guy feel kind of like an officer again" he replied "Sir although I would have saluted you because you're an officer that salute was because you're retired. I salute all retirees officer or enlisted out of respect for the years they spent in service to our country and the sacrifices they made.".

I thanked him for his service and his sacrifices (he had a CAR so he's been there) and got directions to the ID card office. After getting my daughter's new ID card, I got directions to the base Sergeant Major's office to tell him about this gate sentry. The actual base Sergeant Major wasn't in but another one was there. He said he was going to find out this Marine's name and ensure the General heard about this. I swear I thought the Sergeant Major was going to shed a tear when he commented, "these young Marines just keep getting better and better every year."

 

[KBayDog]

Thanks for sharing, HAL, but a little TMI here:

Somehow they always amaze me and make me proud to have serviced beside Marines multiple time during my career.

 

[armada1651]

"All else is support."

 

[wlawr005]

Thanks for taking the time to recognize that Marine, Sir.

 

[MIDNJAC]

"All else is support."

The guards at the Miramar gates clearly felt the same way. Keeping active duty pilots from getting to work/getting on base for any reason they could fabricate was their primary duty, and we were the support for that mission.

All not kidding aside, cool story Hal, sounds like he was a good dude!

 

[HAL Pilot]

Thanks for sharing, HAL, but a little TMI here:

Well the MarDet CO on TR and I had many a good time at various liberty ports on deployment and then again in the Carnary Islands when we both were with the same UN mission. There is a good chance we serviced our "dates" in adjacent hotel rooms....or even in the same admin during a certain Greek Island port visit....

 

[Gatordev]

The guards at the Miramar gates clearly felt the same way. Keeping active duty pilots from getting to work/getting on base for any reason they could fabricate was their primary duty, and we were the support for that mission.

Really? Have you tried to get onboard NASNI? I think the 6 gates move so slowly you actually go back in time. When I've gone through NKX's gate, even in the morning rush, they're number one mission seems to be getting everyone through. No ID grab while still giving a crisp salute AND a greeting.

 

[BACONATOR]

Try getting onto Andersen AFB (operative words are Air Force). The civilian locals go with either the look at ID, then walk away leaving you to assume you're good to enter, or they'll pass a simple "Thanks, bro" in their heavy chamorro accent. The rare occasion when there's an actual enlisted air force member present, or dare I say, even looking at the IDs him/herself, you'll get a "good to go" and a hand wave. No salute, no nothing. I'm about as lax as it gets when it comes to protocol... but really?

HAL, your post is the reason I love the Marine Corps and am always thoroughly impressed with the gate sentries on MC bases. Iwakuni is even a bit much with "stand by" calls. They've got the Japanese up to their level of protocol, too. Impressive.

 

[phrogpilot73]

No ID grab while still giving a crisp salute AND a greeting.

Lejeune during rush hour? No ID needed. Just a base sticker. You know, how it USED to be. They do ask random vehicles for ID, I have yet to be the random guy - although I only go down 6 times a year. Maybe it has something to do with being a base full of guns. And tanks. And artillery. And people who actually know how to USE them.

 

[KBayDog]

Lejeune during rush hour? No ID needed. Just a base sticker. You know, how it USED to be. They do ask random vehicles for ID, I have yet to be the random guy - although I only go down 6 times a year. Maybe it has something to do with being a base full of guns. And tanks. And artillery. And people who actually know how to USE them.

Don't mean to derail the thread too much - it's a good one - but I think this thread could lead to a good discussion.

Stinky, is that really why you think they just wave everybody on to Lejeune (I don't know if they do or not; I haven't been there in half a decade). Or do you think it's probable that commuters - especially "influential" commuters - simply complained about having to wait in line every morning?

I'd submit that Fort Hood has more firepower on board - and more people who know how to use it, too - but how many of those people are/were permitted to carry that firepower freely? A lot of my peers (and me, too) griped when we had to start packing heat as SDOs in Miramar, but even then I could see the utility in having personnel on base other than PMO prepared in the event something went down.

 

[Swanee]

I'd submit that Fort Hood has more firepower on board - and more people who know how to use it, too - but how many of those people are/were permitted to carry that firepower freely? A lot of my peers (and me, too) griped when we had to start packing heat as SDOs in Miramar, but even then I could see the utility in having personnel on base other than PMO prepared in the event something went down.

When I was at TBS there were a couple of NCOs on duty with loaded M-4s patrolling around the main campus part of Camp Barret. Col Smith said he started the program to provide two Marines to immediately respond to a shooter scenario during the day. The OOD and JOODs carried M-9s at night.

 

[CumminsPilot]

When I was at TBS there were a couple of NCOs on duty with loaded M-4s patrolling around the main campus part of Camp Barret. Col Smith said he started the program to provide two Marines to immediately respond to a shooter scenario during the day. The OOD and JOODs carried M-9s at night.

BGen Smith now. CO out at 29 Palms.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I'd submit that Fort Hood has more firepower on board - and more people who know how to use it, too - but how many of those people are/were permitted to carry that firepower freely? A lot of my peers (and me, too) griped when we had to start packing heat as SDOs in Miramar, but even then I could see the utility in having personnel on base other than PMO prepared in the event something went down.

It was said more tongue in cheek than anything else. It's not like dudes are walking around Lejeune with a six-shooter hanging off their hip 24/7.

 

[KBayDog]

It's not like dudes are walking around Lejeune with a six-shooter hanging off their hip 24/7.

That would be bad ASS!

 

[Rocketman]

When I was at TBS there were a couple of NCOs on duty with loaded M-4s patrolling around the main campus part of Camp Barret. Col Smith said he started the program to provide two Marines to immediately respond to a shooter scenario during the day. The OOD and JOODs carried M-9s at night.

When I was in we stood Company Duty NCO carrying a side arm and 2 loaded mags. At least we did in the 4th Marines. I never stood Duty NCO in the 6th Marines at Lejeune so I don't know if their Duty NCO's were armed or not. I did stand duty as a part of the reaction force there though. We carried weapons (M-16, 1911 etc) and ammo but we were a true reaction force that was only called out if needed.

When I was at Camp Barrett for family day a couple of years ago I loved seeing the guys walking around in the shadows with their M-4s. I felt very well protected.....