Good God! Am I Old Corps Already!

[Anonymous]

I'm reading about how boot is now and I'm so pleased to see how different it is. It appears that women are more and more, being treated equally. When I went through we had an entire list of items to bring that included a girdle! When the men were learning hand-to-hand and pugle sticks, we were learning to apply makeup to look like a "Lady Marine" instead of a "Lady of the Night." We did do land nav and night ops and many other things Marine Corps - OORAH! But I feel like I missed a lot of opportunities. Guess I was just helping pave the way for ya'll young pups!

Semper Fi!

DJ Weidler Cpl. USMC '86-'92

dweidler@uiuc.edu

[Anonymous]

Amazingly, it wasn't too long after you got out that bootcamp for females changes. Under Gen Krulak, things changed a lot for female Marines. The same time that female DI's began wearing "the hat" is when females started training equally with the male Marines. I believe it was in 96. Sad to think that only 10 years ago we were being taught how to apply our makeup instead of how to defend ourselves. I think that had I went to boot camp then, I would have been disappointed to not receiving equal training. It just goes to show how important our predecessors our in the equality that we receive today. So I guess you are "Old Corps" already!! :)

Semper Fi,

Stephanie Rhoades Sgt USMC 98-02


:
: I'm reading about how boot is now and I'm so pleased to see how different it
: is. It appears that women are more and more, being treated equally. When I
: went through we had an entire list of items to bring that included a
: girdle! When the men were learning hand-to-hand and pugle sticks, we were
: learning to apply makeup to look like a "Lady Marine" instead of
: a "Lady of the Night." We did do land nav and night ops and many
: other things Marine Corps - OORAH! But I feel like I missed a lot of
: opportunities. Guess I was just helping pave the way for ya'll young pups!
:
: Semper Fi!
:
: DJ Weidler Cpl. USMC '86-'92


rhoadessn@aol.com

[Anonymous]

Well, we got to throw one hand grenade each. We fired a pistol. We qualified on the M16. Did swimming survival and the gas chamber (in the building and in the field). We did the O course, but the slide for life was under construction. Did rappelling and other things I'm sure I'm forgetting. But we never did hand-to-hand combat training, puggle sticks, or bayonette training. I think they only spent a morning or afternoon on hair care and makeup, but that was probably the afternoon we should have been learning to fight.

Last night I found an old diary on accident. I was sorting out my picture trunk. I didn't even remember keeping the diary. It was very interesting to read about my life at that time. It was very strange. Lot's of names I don't remember - so be sure you write down first and last names (include maiden names of females) so when you look back, you can remember. Or when you try to track down a friend, you can. I remember Sue, and I remember she married Rob Combs and that she had a daughter from a previous relationship named Angie. That's all I can remember and now I have not much to go by to find her.

I don't think I missed out on too much, but rather that I helped fight to make it right (OK, at least better) for the next wave of women. I had so many men who did not want me there at all. I'm sure there are still a lot of those around, but hopefully their numbers are diminishing rapidly.

Semper Fi!

DJ Weidler Cpl '86-'92


:
: Amazingly, it wasn't too long after you got out that bootcamp for females
: changes. Under Gen Krulak, things changed a lot for female Marines. The
: same time that female DI's began wearing "the hat" is when
: females started training equally with the male Marines. I believe it was
: in 96. Sad to think that only 10 years ago we were being taught how to
: apply our makeup instead of how to defend ourselves. I think that had I
: went to boot camp then, I would have been disappointed to not receiving
: equal training. It just goes to show how important our predecessors our in
: the equality that we receive today. So I guess you are "Old
: Corps" already!! :)
:
: Semper Fi,
:
: Stephanie Rhoades Sgt USMC 98-02


dweidler@uiuc.edu

[Anonymous]

Thanks for making me feel SO old today. I went in the Corps in 1974. We were the first 12 Series they had. Yep I remember the make-up training and the afternoon tea so we could show we could act like ladies in uniform. I was one of the first women trained as an 1143. Each generation of Marines evolve. We look back at those behind us who blazed our trails and those now we look at with pride as they keep our traditions alive. We will always be Marines. It has been seared into our hearts and souls.

I do alot of support work with our active duty women and what they do today in Iraq is amazing. Tho they are not listed as combat our women work with our fellow Marines in the same zones.

You all definately make me proud to be a Marine!

Mary Ann Merrit Women Marines Association Operation Caring Friends Working to support our deployed Marines www.jocokyroots.com/USMC.htm

merrittone@comcast.net

[Anonymous]

Let me make you feel young. I went to booth camp in 1962. I rember well the make up sessions, and tea's. We were there to "Free a Man to fight." We learned clerical and other mundane things. But I would not have missed the those times for anything. I was kicked out because I was married and pregrant. They give honoable discharges to you if you were married and general ones if you were not. How things have change and for the better. You girls in now keep up the good work.

[Anonymous]

I agree that things have become much better in our training, more equal to men. However, sometimes they go overboard. Our reserve unit was activated 2 years ago and served honorably in Iraq. The unit is being activated again, and my friend has an 8 month old baby (single mother) and is going to have a very difficult time getting out of another deployment because of it. No one else is able to watch her baby while she's gone for a year, and she doesn't want them to... how much she would miss! Thoughts on that?

[Admin_USMC]

I too am a single mother. While I am not in the regular reserves, I am still a member of the IRR and eligible for call up. My son is 17 months old and it would be hard for me to leave him for a year. However, that is my duty and the contract which I signed. Your friend as a member of the reserves is requires to have a parenting plan in case of this very situation. While I was on active duty, I was married to another AD Marine and if we had children (which we didn't) then we would have been required to have the same plan on file with the command. I understand her delimma, but at the same time she knew this was a possibility when she signed her contract. If she continues to get out of deployments for hardship then the Marine Corps may decide that she should be discharged for hardship. There are a lot of single mothers out there who make the same sacrifices everyday, and there are a lot who retire honorably while still being a single parent. There will always be stereotypes and such although things are much better than they were years ago. Thanks to all of the women who came before and paved the way for those of us serving today. I salute you!!!!

[ECHO5SNICKERS]

I agree with what Stephanie had to say. I am a single mother as well, and have had to send my children to my parent's house during deployments. My current unit so mobile that I found I could not function as a single parent and a Marine SNCO, so I made the decision to allow my ex-husband to take the children for the time I am stationed here. I felt that it was best for the kids to have a stable life with him, instead of having to go to the sitter's house at 2 am because the pager went off and I had to be at work in an hour on any given day. It was difficult, but as Marines, we make sacrifices. As long as we weigh the pros and cons and make educated, mature decisions, you will be fine, and so will your children.