It's America's boot camp, 88 days of drills, inspections, rifle practices, war games, grueling physical exercise and a regimen that separates the men from the boys...
Boot is an insider's account, told by a former Marine and veteran journalist who went back to Parris Island to see if today's grunt measures up to the crack troops he served with in the South Pacific. He follows the recruits of Platoon 1036 from Day One through every step of the rugged training that transforms raw recruits into a fighting elite. His searingly honest, you-are-there coverage brings these unforgettable weeks to life...and lets anyone who's been there judge for himself if today's brand of "tough" is tough enough for a real Leatherneck, a man proud to be a Marine.
It's America's toughest Boot Camp, 88 days of drills, inspections, rifle practices, war games, grueling physical exercise and a regimen that separates the men from the boys. Boot gives the inside story of basic training in the Marines, America's fiercest fighting force. Martin's.This is one of the few recent books available to the general public that describe U.S. Marine Corps boot (basic combat) training, covering it from day one through graduation. The approach is journalistic, with clear writing that is often repetitious. The author compares selected activities and issues with his own 40-year-old experiences in an attempt to show that the training is not as tough as it once was, or should be. This thesis, however, is beside the point, since the approach to training has changed over the years, as have personnel needs. Boot training is not designed to make a complete Marine; it merely provides the basis for further training in individual units. Public, and perhaps high school, libraries may want a copy for young men interested in joining the Marine Corps. Edward Gibson, Union Coll. Lib., Barbourville, Ky. Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.
To research this book, novelist da Cruz, himself an ex-Marine, spent three months with the recruits of Platoon 1036 at Parris Island, S.C. He shows the eased training standards at Marine boot camp and quotes many enlistees who think the regimen is not nearly tough enough. Drill instructors, for example, may not use profanity at trainees, nor touch them; the process of converting trainees into Leathernecks involves much physical instruction, close-order drill, exercises in marksmanship and simulated combat. The aim is to instill a sense of self-respect and confidence and, more importantly, esprit de corps. There is a chapter on female Marines, whose attrition rate is exceedingly high. Da Cruz's argument that training has become ``too easy'' is off-putting, as is his glorification of the Marine as ``a different breed.'' Military Book Club main selection. (March 24) Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.
Shopping Cart
