Gay recruit complains about being called a fag in USMC

[The Ben Boys]

Uh, that's how boot camp works.

You know more about boot camp than the Marine Corps, who have a rule against this sort of thing?

Really? I'm unaware of this, is there a rule or something you could quote?

[Ifreann]

Uh, that's how boot camp works. They insult your mothers, lack of mothers, size of your penis, etc, etc, and most of them are intended to be very real. I don't believe he did anything wrong, as they are supposed to insult them and be "mean" as you say.

[Marine Corps spokesman Captain Richard] Ulsh also said that the letter accuses drill instructors of using language and acting in a manner that is not tolerated in boot camp.

"I mean, we're all human. ... There are people who might do that," Ulsh told HuffPost. "But the way [the recruit] talks about it is like it happens every day all the time. There are strict measures enforced that prevent those sorts of things from happening."

Drill Instructors are not even allowed to "drop f-bombs," according to Ulsh, and if they were throwing around offensive slurs, "there would certainly be repercussions."

I bet you know way more about boot camp than Captain Ulsh.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

i guess they just assumed, since he sent a letter home with a full paragraph of complaint about it.

So what? I bet recruits complain about all manner of shit when they write home. He hasn't quit, has he?

No, he hasn't. And good for him. Maybe is taking it like a man. Maybe he'll be a good Marine. He didn't even ask for them to publish the letter, did he? Maybe he wishes that this entire shitstorm hadn't started.

So, no, I don't blame him, actually.

[Neoconstantius]

He isin the military know.

They need to get the fuck over it. It is the DI's job to effectively crush the soul of the recruit he is training. If he finds out something about a recruit that is easily mocked, I am sure he will take advantage of it. That would include being gay.

So you think government employees should be encouraged to be racist, homophobic and any other type of asshole you'd care to name?

If there was a black recruit and he was called a "worthless nigger", would you be OK with that?

They shouldn't have to make allowances for certain people.

I agree. Don't call anyone a "fag".

They're training Marines, not pussies who whine every time someone uses a word they don't like.

You're so tough.

They need to be flat-out told to man up

First the supporting of homophobia, now you're being sexist. Well done.

and take the shit.

Sounds unsanitary.

You can't be that inane. It's not allowed in this day and age.

[The Zeonic States]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

Pretty much.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Uh, that's how boot camp works. They insult your mothers, lack of mothers, size of your penis, etc, etc, and most of them are intended to be very real. I don't believe he did anything wrong, as they are supposed to insult them and be "mean" as you say.

[Marine Corps spokesman Captain Richard] Ulsh also said that the letter accuses drill instructors of using language and acting in a manner that is not tolerated in boot camp.

"I mean, we're all human. ... There are people who might do that," Ulsh told HuffPost. "But the way [the recruit] talks about it is like it happens every day all the time. There are strict measures enforced that prevent those sorts of things from happening."

Drill Instructors are not even allowed to "drop f-bombs," according to Ulsh, and if they were throwing around offensive slurs, "there would certainly be repercussions."

I bet you know way more about boot camp than Captain Ulsh.

Something tells me Captain Ulsh is heavily involved in USMC PR. Somehow, I don't think the rule against "fuck" is heavily enforced.

[Greenvul]

Navy Seals is the only respectable part of the army, because we can kill you in over 700 ways with just our bare hands, and we all have over 300 registered kills. Not to forget numerous raids on al-Qaeda *nods*

Implying the Navy Seals is apart of the army.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Navy Seals is the only respectable part of the army, because we can kill you in over 700 ways with just our bare hands, and we all have over 300 registered kills. Not to forget numerous raids on al-Qaeda *nods*

Implying the Navy Seals is apart of the army.

...

That entire thing was obviously a joke.

[Agritum]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

I urge you to give a glance at the official policy of the Marines on this sort of stuff, which was just quoted by Ovi...or Ifreann. Can't remind.

[Greenvul]

But the thing you may not understand or Realize is that in Bootcamp it isn't personal and the Drill Sergeants job is to try and get under your skin an piss you off in order to see if you can Handle duress.

If a drill sergeant isn't capable of getting under a rookie's skin without going personal and showing anything less than a perfectly gentlemanly behaviour, he's a major failure at being a drill sergeant.
Because rules and discipline are what really matter in an army - and that's true for all ranks: if someone can't get his job done without breaking the rules, he should resign.

"in an army"

But we're talking about the Marines.

[The Rich Port]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

Night, he joined the USMC. He probably has more genitals than anyone here combined.

He just objects to being called a slur.

He hasn't said the DI can't call him anything else, has he?

[Ifreann]

They should be mean. They shouldn't be bigoted.

Once again: It's specialised. They make fun of the recruits. They make fun of them for who they are. Being homosexual is part of who they are, and will be made fun of, just as being white, black, Asian, fat, skinny, etc.

Sounds like a terrible idea. If they're inferior soldiers because of things they can't change, how are they ever going to be taken seriously by their subordinates? Does the military not need a chain of command?

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

Thank you.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

that awkward moment when I agree with Knightkill.

I've changed my mind.

[Agritum]

Honestly? That guy should probably grow a pair.

Night, he joined the USMC. He probably has more genitals than anyone here combined.

He just objects to being called a slur.

He hasn't said the DI can't call him anything else, has he?

And he hasn't quit the boot camp after that shit. That's laudable.

[Copenhagen Metropolis]

Calling someone fat, stupid, nigger or faggot makes no difference to me. If one is fine, I'd say the other is too.

I would like to point out though, that I've always thought of the 'classic American Sergeant', yelling and screaming and acting like a complete prat, as kind of unprofessional. It's what we in Denmark would refer to as 'den sorte skole' (the black school); the old way that was used to teach people in school.

The military enjoys beating your personality out of you before they reconstruct you into the perfect soldier.

It makes the process more fun and efficient, for them at least.

Except it doesn't make you the perfect soldier and it isn't very efficient. It might be fun though.

[Norstal]

I bet you know way more about boot camp than Captain Ulsh.

Something tells me Captain Ulsh is heavily involved in USMC PR. Somehow, I don't think the rule against "fuck" is heavily enforced.

...But...it's still not allowed.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Once again: It's specialised. They make fun of the recruits. They make fun of them for who they are. Being homosexual is part of who they are, and will be made fun of, just as being white, black, Asian, fat, skinny, etc.

Sounds like a terrible idea. If they're inferior soldiers because of things they can't change, how are they ever going to be taken seriously by their subordinates? Does the military not need a chain of command?

They'll take them seriously because they know if they don't they will be mentally and physically abused.

[Ovisterra]

So you think government employees should be encouraged to be racist, homophobic and any other type of asshole you'd care to name?

A Marine drill instructor? Yes.

That speaks volumes about you.

If there was a black recruit and he was called a "worthless nigger", would you be OK with that?

Yes. Just as I would be okay with a DI calling a white recruit a "white-ass honky."

So you think Marines should be taught to discriminate based on skin colour and sexual orientation.

Great.

I agree. Don't call anyone a "fag".

How about they start calling everyone a fag?

Why the fuck would they do that?

Equality isn't necessarily good. I mean, everyone being called a fag is better than only some people being called fags but they're both a billion times worse than no one being called a fag.

It's specialised. Overweight pole will be called fat-asses, blacks niggers, whites crackers, and gays fags.

So we're institutionalising racism, fat-shaming and homophobia. Fun!

You're so tough.

I just want the Marines to be.

How does homophobia make people tough?

First the supporting of homophobia, now you're being sexist. Well done.

1. I'm not "supporting homphobia." First of all, I'm not afraid of gays, and I doubt those DIs are either.

Congratulations, you're super-clever.

Tip: That's not what it means.

Second, I support homosexual marriage.

While that's good (and slightly surprising), it doesn't make it impossible for you to be homophobic. You're like those people who say "I can't be racist, I have a black friend!".

2. "(idiomatic) to "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc."

Are men not allowed to display bravery or toughness anymore? Can there be no differences between the sexes?

Sure they can, but implying (or saying outright) that one sex is inherently tougher than the other or that being tough is purely a trait of one sex is, in fact, super-sexist and not very nice.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Something tells me Captain Ulsh is heavily involved in USMC PR. Somehow, I don't think the rule against "fuck" is heavily enforced.

...But...it's still not allowed.

All I can see is a five-year, bottom lip trembling, having just been called a sissy by some mean girl in his class.

[Greenvul]

Navy Seals is the only respectable part of the army, because we can kill you in over 700 ways with just our bare hands, and we all have over 300 registered kills. Not to forget numerous raids on al-Qaeda *nods*

Implying the Navy Seals is apart of the army.

Never mind, I just realized you're quoting the copy pasta. You're obviously joking, sorry.

[Woodstead]

This. I, myself, have been called "marmite miner", "bumboy" and many other (to me) more intense terms.

IS it bad if "Marmite Miner" made me chuckle a little? I want to add it to my list of friendly jives.

I find it less offensive than "haha ur gay, and I'm uninspiring"- it takes thought and originality- add it!

[Orcoa]

that awkward moment when I agree with Knightkill.

I've changed my mind.

You see why now?

Because a military that is based on diversity like ours should not be manned by homophobes and assholes like this.

[Ifreann]

I bet you know way more about boot camp than Captain Ulsh.

Something tells me Captain Ulsh is heavily involved in USMC PR.

I can't imagine they pick random captains to serve as spokespersons, no. I would expect they're briefed on what they're going to be talking about, too.

Somehow, I don't think the rule against "fuck" is heavily enforced.

I wouldn't know.

[Greenvul]

Everyone gets targeted by drill instructors. They get targeted personally and if they don't perform to expectations or show a lack of discipline they get targeted viciously. If you want a list of words that are banned for sergeants to shout at recruits write them down and send them to congress, until then: they'll shout whatever they want to at their recruits and if the recruits can't handle it they can wash out - that's the whole point of the abuse that is heaped on people in basic and its nothing like the abuse that they get handed when deployed.

by your own admission their behaviour encourages the troops to think of it as normal behaviour. These Drill Sargeants are more than just figures of hate to recruits. they're also role models. the model their setting isn't one thats appropriate for the army.

They're not troops, they're Marines. It isn't the army, it's the Marine Corps.