U.S. MARINE CORPS THIS IS PARRIS ISLAND 1960s BOOT CAMP FILM 78344

Since 1915, the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina (or simply Parris Island) has trained enlisted personnel. This 1960s Marine Corps “unclassified” film introduces the viewer to Parris Island, and opens at mark 00:32 with a shot of the United States Marine Corps enlisted contract, as the narrator spells out the basic requirements of a Marine.

Nervous recruits stand at attention as a Marine captain delivers the oath of enlistment. A smiling master sergeant directs the recruits onto a Greyhound bus and arrives at Parris Island at mark 02:25 begin boot camp. The narrator recounts the history of the island as the cameraman shoots footage that includes young recruits marching in formation. “Before they leave recruit training, they will be molded into United States Marines,” the audience is assured at mark 03:45.

With that, training begins. A drill instructor barks orders as the recruits are hustled off the bus. Their first Marine Corp haircut follows starting at mark 04:22, to ensure uniformity and equality within the platoon. A shower scene follows at mark 05:24, not only for cleanliness but also a symbolic cleansing “to wash away old habits and ideas.” Eye exams, dental exams, and distribution of uniforms follow before the recruit platoon is turned over to their drill instructor. Over the shouting, the narrator explains, “To train them, he must control them.”

Reveille for the recruits is captured starting at mark 06:54 (4:55 a.m. for the recruits) as the men leap from their beds, shave, make their bunks, and head to the mess hall for breakfast before moving on to the classroom.

“Many hours will also be spent learning the basic movements of close order drill. It is through this drill that the drill instructors will begin to build the discipline and teamwork that they want in the platoon,” it is explained at mark 08:00. “The private finds out there is only one way to do something — the right way.”

Physical training also makes up a large percentage of the nine-week basic training session, as the film watches the recruits put through their paces on obstacle courses, guard duty, inspections, and instruction on moral virtues. “We keep them so busy there is little chance for them to become homesick,” it is said at mark 10:55.

Mark 11:36 takes the viewer to the “Special Training Branch” of the USMC, designed to assist those recruits who could not keep up. Emphasis on physical condition, strength condition, obesity reduction, classroom instruction, and motivation are included.

Following three weeks of training on the rifle range for marksmanship, shown starting at mark 13:40 (and a week of mess hall duty captured starting at mark 15:45), recruits have time to participate in battalion and regimental field games, including track events, which also builds teamwork.

With two weeks to go at boot camp, the recruits are taught close combat drills, including bayonet training and aggressive fighting techniques, plus water survival, as shown at mark 18:26, and of course, more obstacle courses.

One of the final stages of basic training, we are told near mark 21:30, is an eight-mile hike to Elliott’s Beach, where recruits learn how to survive in the field and participate in a six-stage practical application test, covering what they had learned. The film captures blindfolded recruits assembling and disassembling an M-14 rifle, and later are shown treating simulated wounds, at displaying proper bayonet-attack moves.

At eight weeks, recruits at Parris Island take the Marine Corps physical fitness test, which includes a three-mile run. “But when the physical training is complete the finished product is a strong, well-motivated, physically conditioned Marine,” we are told at mark 24:10.

By the end of the training film, those awkward, raw recruits are shown at mark 24:40, a well-trained platoon moving as one, and ready to prove their worth at the Battalion Commander’s Drill Competition. Following inspection by the regimental and battalion commander, the recruits have their final review and graduate. They are now Marines.

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