“Get off my bus NOW! Move, move, move,” shrieked Drill Sgt. Garcia from the gallows of his lungs to our unsuspecting group of civilians who were left (intentionally) unattended on a bus at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) awaiting our next briefing. As the sergeant violently and loudly entered, chatter and laughter came to an abrupt halt and our group of successful civilians participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) class 77 snapped to attention. The air of authority a United State Marine Corp drill sergeant commands is unmistakable.
Within seconds, I found myself in the peculiar spot of experiencing the first two minutes of basic training boot camp as an enlisted man, one of 21,000 just this year, in the United States Marine Corp.
“You will not look at me. You will look straight ahead. Click your heels together. SIR, YES, SIR. Say it soldier! LOUDER!”
Sir, YES, sir, I replied in my best Forrest Gump voice.
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