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(More customer reviews)This is a three-hour trip through a three-month process of turning young men and women into US Marines. The Discovery Channel got unprecedented access to the recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From the pre-arrival interviews with soon-to-be recruits to the moments of the yelling-off-the-bus and standing on the yellow footprints, we are introduced to several would-be marines in honest and frank ways. These interviews are spliced together with the opening scenes of recruit experience -- getting the haircut, getting the uniform, learning very basic things (making the bed, wearing the cover, etc.). However, this is not yet official recruit training, even though it is very much part of the overall experience. The recruit training really begins when the series commander introduces the Drill Instructors (DIs) for each platoon -- these are the permanent men and women in charge of the training. Men only train with men; women only train with women.
There are about 600 Drill Instructor and training personnel on Parris Island; there are many platoons training simultaneously, with graduations taking place each week, as well as intakes. Minimum requirements of fitness are first determined by the Initial Strength Test (IST); those who do not make the first cut get 'recycled' into the Physical Conditioning Platoon (PCP). From these beginnings, the recruits are followed through their initial drills, Basic Warrior Training, swim training, rifle qualifications, and the Crucible, followed by graduation.
All that takes place here is real. This is not play-acting for the cameras -- indeed, it is commonly held that Marines love cameras, and love to show off their stuff. They aren't 'the proud' for nothing. The camera crews followed men and women in their respective platoons, and followed recruits in Parris Island barracks, training courses, classrooms and others. No activity is too small -- from folding uniforms and packing a locker (over and over again) to disassembling and reassembling the rifle in rapid time. The training is very stressful -- yelling and screaming, repetition, incentive punishments (IP), and constant activity is meant to keep the recruits going on a high-energy level. Nothing can approximate combat stress, but this comes as close as it can come.
The people followed throughout include twin brothers, people from urban and rural settings, single, engaged, and married people; there are Americans, and those hoping to become more American by joining the Marines (a man from the Ukraine, a woman from Guyana, etc.). What motivates the recruits varies; few can pinpoint a burning desire from childhood to become marines; in fact, at least one recruit initially told his recruiter to leave him alone and not call back! There are many people dropped (overall, 10 percent of men and 15 percent of women on average are dropped from training for one reason or another), including some of the people followed for the documentary.
The crews also follow the Drill Instructors and officers in charge for commentary on what is happening and why -- officers are scarce, as the vast majority of the training takes place only at the hands of the individual Drill Instructors, enlisted all, who stay with platoons from beginning to graduation, and the success of the platoon is the success of the DIs.
One gets a sense of the difficulty, the physicality, and the intensity of spirit that happens here. Marines are not automatons, they are not robots, but they are transformed into disciplined and effective warriors whose skills are beyond what the recruits thought possible for themselves. The transformation from individuals to team players is also apparent, particularly with events like the obstacle (confidence) course and the Crucible. Their stories are inspiring, and occasionally heart-breaking. While there are bits and pieces not covered, and certainly nothing in print or on video can ever match the actual experience of being in Marine Corps Recruit Training, this video comes close.
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