Little yellow footprints. Who remembers.

[Packo]

Just wondering who of you remember the little yellow footprints we stood on after deassing the bus at reception.

Guess what. At 10pm EST, I am leaving here for PI to wait for the bus bringing in 60 new grabastic pieces of amphibian shit. I am the guest of the Chief of Staff and Drill Instructer SSGT Wise. Will be representing the Airborne Infantry tonight on the most famous of Marine Corps Bases. Those of you that attended that party at PI, will be thinking of you. For all us Army types, including myself, I will be thinking of us. For all the rest, (don't know if the Navy or AF had yeller footprints), I will be thinking of you and your first step into the unknown.

AIRBORNE! ALL THE WAY, SIR!

Packo

Hoping all will leave a yellow footprint story. Will tell you guys what happened later.

[Dragon Lady]

Packo,
When you get back, please tell me the meaning of the "yellow footprints" I honestly couldn't tell you if we have anything similar in the AF or not... unless I knew what it was about.

[1CAVCCO15MED]

I watched the funeral of a Marine today at Mountain Home Veteran's Cemetary. He was in a Reserve Infantry Company right in the middle of Fallujah. The bagpipes played Amazing Grace and the Marines in their dress blues did the 21 gun salute. One of my Boy Scouts is in his company. His name is Kobelah Bennah. His father is from Liberia and during the Civil War there, Henderson Bennah got out over a period of time about 30 family members. He got them sponsors and jobs and now there are Bennahs all over the town. Good folks. Henderson is this little squeaky voiced man with all the courage in the world. Kobelah was a difficult kid in the scouts. He was brilliant and knew it and tended to go his own way. Nevertheless, he stuck with it and got his Eagle Scout Award. He had to, his father wouldn't let him back out of anything. He got a full academic scholarship to East Tennesse State University and was Homecoming King his freshman year. He joined the Marine Reserve he told me because he lacked self-discipline. He had been admitted to several prestigious Law Schools but he will not graduate this June. He is in Iraq. I worry about him every day but one thing I don't worry about is how he deals with the outdoors. I trained him. If you get a chance, tell the Marines that trained him what a fine kid they made even finer. He and his family know war, civil war. He is paying us back for all his family has been given.

[Andy]

I always knew you could De-ex something or someone could Un-a$$ something. ?Deassing?, thanks I learned a new word. Yes, tell us what interesting new terms the DI?s have come up with. Are they co-ed in Boot Camp?

DL: Up where we live yellow foot prints are what happens if you?ve been drinking beer all night and go out in the snow to relieve yourself, then walk in the wrong direction.

In the military, the first night, it?s usually at night, you get off the bus and ?fall in?. As a guide to aid you there are footprints done in yellow paint so your feet will be in the correct position of attention when you ?fall in?. Of course your feet Will Not be in the right position, nor your hands, chest, nose, eyes and many other body parts. This will be pointed out to you by the Sergeants. The Sergeants for the next couple of months, will be only one step below God. For fear that you might not hear well, when you first get off that bus, the Sergeant will give you instructions speaking in a loud clear manner. This will also help others hear what he is saying to you so that they too may learn from your mistakes. The drill instructor does not enjoy repeating himself. That more than anything else seems to annoy the Sergeant. It's bad to annoy the Sergeant. Actually, everyone there just wants to help you. They want you to learn quickly and once in a while, if you upset them (and why would you want to do that), they may ask you to do some minor physical task. I'll tell you about the front leaning rest and the dying cockroach later today.


Fred, sounds like a damn nice family. If you taught him about being in the outdoors, no doubt he knows. I do pray for them, pray for them every night. Sure hope he comes home in fine shape.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[39mto39g]

Ahh yes,
Army induction center, Fort Knox, 2 days of Shots, paper work, Clothing, gear, Shots, more gear,hair cut, paper work, did I mention shots. What are sane people doing up at 3:30 in the morning. Wake me at 9 for breakfast.

Ron

[catman]

Can top all of you. I went through induction, basic and AIT at Ft Sill, most would say that was nice since I grew up in Oklahoma. Now remember I was 17 had not been away from home before and by the time I went in, we had moved to town and I could see my house from the barracks. Never got a pass until I reached AIT. That really sucked.

Trav

[exlrrp]

Good luck Pack

Show them Marines how to dress right
But why tell yellow footprints stories when you got cable and number stories to tell?/ ( my #--true fact--911)
Now THATS something to be proud of and puts you at least one up on Marines
Abu, dude (explain THAT one)
James

[Packo]

Report from the field.

United Packo International, 20 April 2004, Parris Island, SC 2300 to 0430

Where shall I begin. Got to the receiving barracks and met with the 4 DI's that would be handling tonights grabastic pieces of amphibian shit. All 4 SSgts, 2 male 2 female. My DI is SSgt Wise, female type, 1 ea. She's a hard charger and Airborne qualified. She is a student of mine at the University and will be getting out to teach and become a principle is her goal. She's about 5' nothing but has a great DI voice. Her counterpart is a SSgt Lopez who is a 3 cycle DI but her first night doing reception. All 4 agreed they HATE doing reception. I saw why. There already were some males and females there, all separated in different rooms. They had their heads down on the desks and were not to move nor ask to go to the Head or anyplace else. Questions were delt with harshley. Some still tried to question.....some learned valuable lessons. These had been somewhat local recruits and had to wait around for the next 4 busses and 1 large van to arrive. They do not arrive at the same time.

When the first bus arrived all 4 went out to greet them. It would be the last time all 4 would do that since while processing the first bus, another would arrive. A DI would welcome them with a "nice" talk on the bus, then get them moving off for the "yellow footprints". It brought back memories seeing them pile off trampling each other. Bus was co-ed. They were told, in a prepared speech, that basically they were no longer civilians, and their asses belonged to the Corps. Some UCMJ stuff was explained, and that they WERE NOT Marines yet. They were told how to address every Marine, Sailor, and civilian on base and how to answer. They then did many repetitions of AYE MAM!, each time increasing the volume to "blow the portholes out of the building". The portholes were safe. They were then told to line up females on left, males on right, infront of the big silver doors. They were told to run, hurry, and lineup with toes touching heels. The stampede was something to watch. People falling, getting run over, and guys trying to out-do other guys to be the first, hoping, beyond hope, the DI's would notice and think, "wow, hard charger there!". The DI's could care less.....this is reception. Once the bodies were untangled, with many shouts, screams, and cursing, the receptee's were ready for their "rendezvous with destiny". The big show began.

They were hustled into the building where all they had to do is throw their yellow envleopes into a box. Sounds easy...but not for recruits that didn't listen to mommy and daddy and ain't about to listen to a DI. These recruits were chastiezed to the fullest extent of the DI Law. The males and females lined up to make a phone call, all scripted that basically says, This is Recruit Smith, I have arrived safely on Parris Island. Do not send any packages, you will be contacted by post card of my address, bye. They are then separated into different rooms. I went with the females. (Andy, be still your beating heart) What was funny to see in the first group were 2 females with "tudes". They were reacting to SSGT Wise, like.....I didn't have to take any shit from my parents, why should I have to take shit from you. Yes, you are all correct, BIG HUGE MISTAKE. Wise may be a Marine, but she's an AIRBORNE Marine and she and SSGT Lopez soon had a new name for her, "Sobby". First lesson Sobby, these ain't your parents and don't have to take your shit. She will remember that night for a long time. I have to admit, I felt none, zero sympathy for her what so ever. She continued to mess up, but without the attitude, leading Wise to lecture the others about how they will pay for Sobby's individuality all through boot camp and how both these individuals will get you "nasty ladies" killed in Iraq from their foolishness. They were then required to get rid of contraband, which was also a hoot. Amazing what these girls would bring to boot camp with them and think they were going to use. Condoms! Yep, you'll sure need them. Birthcontrol pills, and all kinds of other stuff the Marine Corps quickly pointed out they did not need. Many brought friggin' hairdryers. Yeah, can you hear it in the morning. "Mam! This recruit is not ready because her hair's still wet!" Not on this Island! There was much yelling, screaming, cursing, and now lots of crying and "sobbing", and a bunch of young girls saying, (to themselves), what the hell did I get myself into. One recruit kept following Wise with her eyes and head. Wise responded, at the top of her lungs, which are healthy, "What are you staring at scum face. I don't swing that way!" Ya gotta love it.

To be continued:

Part 2 Initial Issue. Time to go see them take off the civvies and put on the skivvies. Andy, be still your beating heart! (best part of the night)

Packo

[Drywall]

"line up with toes touching heels" heh heh heh, That ain't quite the way I remember that part.

[frisco-kid]

"GET THE HELL OFF MY BUS NOW! WHAT THE HELL YOU LOOKIN' AT, BOY?! WHY ARE YOU EYEBALLIN' ME?! DO YOU LIKE ME?! YOU BETTER NOT BE LIKIN' ME! LIKIN' LEADS TO LOVIN' AND LOVIN' LEADS TO F**KIN'! YOU WANNA F**K ME, BOY! YOU FROM SAN FRANCISCO, BOY?! YOU ARE?! GET YOUR ASS OVER ON THEM FOOTPRINTS! I'M KEEPIN' MY EYEBALL ON YOU, BOY!" Ah, the good ol'days.

Glad to hear the still put The Fear in 'em. They sure put The Fear in us back then.