More than a week after the Internet declared him dead and buried, actor R. Lee Ermey, the former Marine drill instructor best known for his movie portrayal of a Marine drill instructor, turned up at the annual Memorial Day parade in Washington, DC and even gave interviews to the press.
Correction: A previous version of this post erroneously labeled R. Lee Ermey a former Marine "drill sergeant." The correct term is "drill instructor" (see first reader comment below).
Comments
To the author of the article, regarding the individuals that train recruits: The Marine Corps does NOT have drill sergeants, they have Drill Instructors. (NOT a good idea to call a Marine D.I. a drill sergeant … not where he can hear you, anyway!). The Army has drill sergeants, the Navy has company commanders or recruit division commanders and the Air Force has military training instructors.
Oh hell no! We had a guy in our platoon at Parris Island wh kept requesting permission to speak to the Drill Sergeant, and they were not exactly receptive to that! lol
There is no such thing as a “former Marine”
Correction, there is no such thing as an ex-marine!
Precisely. The term ‘former Marine’ is the correct one, at least if you wish to get technical. Usually it’s “Once a Marine, always a Marine!” SEMPER FI!
I THINK THE TERM IS THERE IS NO “EX MARINE” WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE BOOTED OUT OF
THE MARINES…. SHOULD WE CALL THEM MARINE ALUMNI??? INQUIRING MINDS WANT TKNOW???
ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE..
First, kudos to you, Mr. Emery. Thank you for taking the time to read the comment and correct the inaccuracy.
And to Jim, you pose a good question, the answer to which I’ve never been real clear on–and I spent 6 years active duty in the Marines! Ex, former, whatever. A matter of semantics, I suppose.
I use either of those terms to indicate I’m now a civilian. They no longer pay me twice a month and have no say, day to day, over anything I do. My enlistments are up, I no longer wear the uniform and I’ve been honorably discharged. BUT, the saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” is so true in so many ways.
The Suck does IN FACT have Drill Sergeants, and one needn’t be a Sergeant to be one. A Marine Drill Sergeant is a Troop Handler – one who marshals Troops around as needed – a job, but not a hard MOS. It’s a BMOS – Billet Military Occupational Specialty – meaning something like additional assignment. Asking what one’s billet is equates to asking what one’s job is.
WHERE one’s billet is equates to where one lives – their hootch, or domicile. Hooch – the spelling w/out the T – is alcohol.
Recruiter, for example, is an MOS. Recruiter’s Assistant is not an MOS but is a BMOS – a temp job that’s often used to get Johnny some time near home without burning up his annual leave balance.
The term Drill Sergeant isn’t favored because of the silly Marine Corps hangups over using terms that the u.S. Army also uses. Another anti-Army example is the organizational level of Regiment. Rather than saying Fifth Marine Regiment, for example, it’d be referred to as Fifth Marines. So, Drill Sergeant is an assignment in the Suck, but not a hard (schooled) specialty.
Got it now, Civilian slime?
Oh, and one other thing – there are MILITARY Police and CIVILIAN peace officers and NOTHING ELSE. If you aren’t in the Military, you’re a CIVILIAN – and that means YOU, local, State, and national police civilian servant. It doesn’t matter how militant a beat-wife beater your sorry, Nazi-Ninja Jackbooted mask-wearing, sorry Thug ass is – you’re a CIVILIAN. Deal with it, separatist, elitist scumbag !!!
Lon, yes, I stand corrected. I suppose I should have been more specific by saying that in the context used by Mr. Emery, referring to R. Lee Ermey’s position as a former drill sergeant, it was inaccurate. HE was a Drill Instructor and is definitely never referred to as a drill sergeant, nor is anyone else who’s completed D.I. School and is responsible for the overall, day-to-day initial training of Marine recruits.
I also remember troop handlers. Many of them weren’t sergeants at all, or even NCOs, and they were simply called just that, troop handlers. But it’s been nearly four decades since I was in the Corps. Certainly some things have changed. Such is life.
As to the rest of your comments and your overall acerbic tone, I’m not sure what set off that tirade, but you have a nice day, sunshine.
I received R. Lee’s fake obit from a friend last week and was very upset. I live in the Emporia, KS community — D.I. Ermey’s birthplace. Since the obit never showed up in the Emporia Gazette, I decided to do some research and found that the obit that was circulating on the net was a hoax! We are all relieved to find out that our local hero is alive and well!!
Hoorah!!
Concerning the unnecessary display of childish emotion from Lon, I’d say he’s covering up his own shortcomings. Is that the chatter of a “Wanna Be,” a “Poser?” In any case, I doubt his professionalism was something he picked up in the Marine Corps and no matter the situation, that was uncalled for. Kevin, I’m LMAO, “but you have a nice day, sunshine.” Good one.
I served in the US ARMY as my son is currently.
the Army calls them DI’S..
aka drill instructor…however when “conversing with your DI, it was yes drill Sargent!!! I think instructor gad too many syllables..
Might get us confused, especially you jarheads
GOD BLESS
David, it seems a bit odd that you claim they are called drill instructors in the army. Everywhere I look, even the U.S. Army’s own website, refers to them only as drill sergeants. The patch they wear is called a drill sergeant patch, and the school they must attend to earn it, at Fort Jackson, S.C., is called Drill Sergeant School. Even their top award for that job is called “Drill Sergeant of the Year.” But I could be confused, what with being one of those jarheads. Would you care to point out one single official reference to Army “drill instructors?”
What the hell is a “jack wagon”. By the way–you were never a Drill “Sergeant”–you let them get away with that
MGYSGT ret
We must find the “jack-wagon” who made up this complete farce!!
Kevin,Sempter Fi,uncle?I am the son of a United States Marine.What you posted,I understand.Lon is on our side.Good night,Sir.
In response to Lon Horiuchi, you have no idea what you are talking about. I’ll start off by saying that nobody refers to the Marines as “The Suck.” The only time anybody ever uses that term is referring to combat. Also, there are no drill sgts in the Marine Corps. The people you refer to that march the Marines about are called… ready for it? Marines. We don’t require a separate MOS just to march around.
Also, recruiting duty IS a BMOS. Your primary MOS does not change when you go on recruiting duty, which is known as a b-billet. Example: My recruiter was a scout sniper. When his time on recruiting duty was up, he didn’t go “oh no, what do I do now?” He went back to being a scout sniper. Yes, you can become a career recruiter and actually change your MOS to recruiting, but that’s few and far between. On RA, or recruiter’s assistance, your MOS, BMOS, or anything else doesn’t change. It usually doesn’t last more than a couple weeks to a month tops unless there’s some kind of special circumstance like the guys wife just squirted out a baby or something.
Yes, the Marines refers to their regiments simply as First Marines or whatever regiment it happens to be. What does that have to do with anything? We also refer to ourselves as Marines and not soldiers. We’re different branches, we do things differently. Deal with it.
As far as civilian peace officers? Did your mom fall down the stairs while she was pregnant or something? The farther I read, the better it gets. There are such things as civilian police officers. You complain about them, but who would be the first person you’d call if you got robbed? I know there are cops out there that think their badge is a crown, but they’re still there for a reason.
Why don’t you go back to sitting in your mom’s basement touching yourself while watching war movies and reading about the Marines on the internet so you can pretend you’re that much closer to being a real man. And to think that you were the fastest sperm…
Yo Marines! At ease! The commercial was funny and we all know the truth. Don’t you guys have anything else to do. But just to agree, there is no such thing as a former Marine. We never call our DIs drill sergeant and what the heck to civilian police have to do with this discussion anyway? let’s all just be thankful we served in the best service…as everyone knows deep down inside. Proud to have served….Master Gunnery Sergeant, Ret.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that Lon is not a Marine or he maybe tried and failed. He probably got pulled over by a trooper who is a Marine and got pissy because of his bust. OORAH and SEMPER FI. By the way. The Corps does not have drill sergeants. We have DI’s. And you can not be a former or ex Marine. You can not unlearn what you have learned.
Hello Marines!! From a submarine squid, I thank you for your service. I worked with your Recon men when I helped drive submarines in the late ’70s. There is a lot of rivalry between Navy and Marines but I’ll have to admit, I’d be really glad to have a Marine backing me up in a bar fight. For the civvies out there that like reminding us that the Marines are a department of the Navy, I agree with the Marine saying “Yes, it’s the men’s department.” Semper Fi Marines, I’ll watch your backs!
A Squid
Submarine Service, USN
1975-1981
As a former active duty Marine, I remember all too well the
fear and intimidation of Marine boot camp in the mid-50’s. This movie brought back great memories!
Not only that, he was honorarily promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. So that would be his correct rank.
The old saying: marines never die in peace time, they are put under glass with a sign and a hammer: Break in the event of War!
CMC said that to Puller…
And to several war horses…and those war horses are what kept the country alive-and now a new generation has S/Sgt Ermey, RL. [I think I saluted him somewhere-lol]
Some of you are extremely bored, and some just simply have too much testosterone and need a reason to go off on someone. I am just glad that Mr. Ermey isn’t gone, and I love the commercial. I’m neither ex-Army or Marine, but I trained with the Marines everyday during my 4 years in the US Navy Seabees- Hoorah! I know from experience that it doesn’t matter what branch we all served in, when it comes down to it, I’d watch any of your backs and rely on any one of you to watch mine over a civilian any day! God Bless all who’ve served and still do.’
I am a former Marine, not an ex-Marine. You learn this in boot camp and your Drill Instructors make sure you’ll never forget it.
chris….the Seabee’s….really. No wonder you joined the Navy, you have no testosterone so don’t get mad that others do have testosterone.
People who act like they are FORMER MARINES are the lowest scum on earth. People go through a huge transformation in becoming Marines and many have died wearing the uniform. Don’t ever let me catch you posing as a Marine, I will thrash you both physically and mentally.
Real Marine as far as the Sailors not having any testicular fortitude why don’t you tell that to the
marine corps Few Good Men “Navy Corpsmen” next time
they have to patch your sorry ass up. Then again in
your case they might not bother. I have put too many
grunts back together from various causes including getting their ass kicked in a bar fight to gunshot wounds.So spare me the macho Mr Manly crap Punk!If the Gunny is truthful he will tell you “Doc” is the first guy they cry for when they get shot! all the Real Marines in or out of the Corps have nothing but respect for Navy Corpsmen.BTW I was an Army Medic from 69-71.You were probably still sucking Mama’s tit. Ken Schroeder HMC USN Ret.
Gentlemen: Let’s get a grip here. Seabees have earned their place in history and are well-deserving of every service member’s respect – without them, we’d be hitting the beaches blindly. As for the BMOS and PMOS racket…, a billeted MOS DOES NOT EXIST for Drill Sergeant. Therefore, a Marine can NEVER be assigned as a Drill Sergeant…, ONLY as a “DRILL INSTRUCTOR!” Case closed! Each and every MOS (P or B) has an official name and that’s THAT!
Too many people wish they could bare our standard. Maybe it comes from watching too many movies or television shows accurately portaying Marine Corps life, I don’t know. But we all know the “Band of Brotherhood” we share amongst ourselves and our fellow service members……, there’s no greater feeling than the comfort of knowing we share a common bond – brotherhood.
I’m a Navy veteran of Vietnam in country on a PBR support base on the Perfume River (70-71) and on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)71-73. I retired a Sgt. Armor,USAR please rethink any doubts that any Sailor has the guts of a (insert your branch of service or MOS). There were Medals of Honor for the Black Berets of the Riverine Sailors as well as, Navy Cross’s, Silver Star’s, etc. etc. I have the utmost respect for the FMF,Force Recon and Sniper Teams of the USMC. I bid one and all Peace and To absent Comrade’s may they rest in easy in the arms of our Savior, Jesus.
Alright I’m actually sitting on duty right now and of course bordem has taken over. I read everyones posts and had to laugh at them all, I stumbled across this page simply searching The Gunnys mos before he became a D.I., (every Marine knows it’s not Drill Sergeant, come on the acronym isn’t D.S.) but really who gives a shit some people make mistakes on names, big deal get over it. When it comes to feeling like a bad ass just because your a Marine, all I can say is whatever helps you sleep at night. 8 times out of 10 the guy who are super moto about being a Marine are pogs, guys who have never deployed, never will, or even if they did deploy, would never leave the wire. The guys on the ground, the trigger pullers are the main reason the Marine Corps has the reputation it has. You never hear of IPAC or any other admin shop winning battles against the enemy yet they are normally the ones at the bars that have to be super moto with their high and tights telling everyone they are a Marine for the attention. Now don’t get me wrong we need those jobs to function properly, if we didn’t we would be screwed. I just got back from Afghanistan a few months ago, my mos is 0331 (Infantry Machine Gunner) yeah I’m proud of what I did over there and what my buddies did. We did some really good things and I will honor my buddies who didn’t make it home. But for the guys who have actually been over there, used their weapons, seen death first hand, its not important to have a dick measuring contest, I have a few buddies in the Army, I give them shit just because its tradition but I’m no better then they are. Through out history the Army has don’t some good things, a lot of fuck ups but still they should get some good credit. Every branch of the service has its shit bags, and the Marines are no exception. We are just held to a higher standard and try to withhold those expectations. As for the Navy thing, a Corpsman is ONE of a Marines best friends, I don’t know maybe my unit is just different. Because we never cared what branch you were in, even if you were a civilian contractor, if we ever heard Americans we in trouble and needed support, well that’s all we needed to hear and we were bringing the guns (I’m in a combined anti armor team and when we weren’t out, we were on QRF). By the way I really don’t care what kind of criticism I get for this post because I’m never going to see this page again so say whatever you want.
By the way I’m a LCpl (active) with a 4.6/4.5 pros and cons so I’m not a shitbags, just for the record.
Gentlemen, as a mere civilian, who was unable to serve for health reasons, I cant get into debates and contests about who is better than who. Instead I want to say thank you, to all those servicemen and women, who have served, from the revolutionary war, to afghnistan, for protecting us, the citizens and giving us the freedoms we have enjoyed, since the nation began. Thank you to every service, and every individual, who put their lives on the line, to keep us free. Wether from tyrannical governments, or governments which had lost their colonies, and were seeking to reclaim them. Wether against invaders from without, or divisions within. Whether from world threatening powers from across the ocean, or from those who have infiltrated and attacked within our own boundaries. To anyone, who has put on that uniform, and served under that flag, honorably, and given their lives, either temporarily or permanently, You desrve my highest gratitude and highest honor. So again, I say THANK YOU, for your service, and I salute you.
I truly wish you would run for President of this Great country
MARINES ARE ON BOARD SHIPS SO THE NAVY GUY HAVE SOMEBODY TO DANCE WITH .. JUST A MIL JOKE
I know that we all served with the idea that we would support anyone in harms way no matter what branch. i served with nmcb 24 desert shield/ storm. we were attached to 5th marine and fleet hospital. Some of my best friends are marines, some are anchor clankers and some are airdales ,puddle pirates or just troops.But they are all brothers. Its not the look, it’s the mission. oorah , hooyah ,hooah or hua it’s all good.
Mr. R Lee Emery is one tough S.O.B and I love him. To bad their are not more of him. The men in the US have become a bunch of pansies and need to grow a pair.
Congratulations to Mr. Emery and all that are like him and Semper Fi to all of our brave Marines and military men and women.
I wish I had been tough enough to become a Marine when I joined the Air Force.
I solute Mr Emery for his service and telling it like it is. Don’t let the PC idiots rule over a proud Marine or any other brave soldier or any patriotic American.