Marie's are different they like to think
that the best culture is a warrior
spirit we cut ourselves porridge we have
an obligation to be the most ready when
the nation is the least ready and do the
kind of things that our country would
ask of its elite warriors the Marines
are smaller than the other major
military services they're more oriented
on combat throughout history at times
kill is necessary
the Marines run to the sound of the guns
Marines understand that what they do is
a brutal business they never lose their
humanity they're the most ancient of all
the Armed Services I say each not
primitive yeah
there's arguably the most functional of
all the Armed Services they're a cult
that works they're a gang that's lawful
yeah to me the bat is fraternity on the
planet that you can go long to semper
fidelis always faithful oh yeah Marines
more than animal service you have don't
emphasize that notion of camaraderie a
kind of specialness and a special
camaraderie to each other there's a myth
out there that Emory's our Neanderthal I
actually thought in the Marines very
intellectual back today it was I want
Marines I firmly die or idealist stew
their core who really truly believe that
they can in some way help make the world
a better place they live in such a tough
world that they have to cloak their
idealism Michelle just to survive the
professional warrior has a very strong
emphasis on the code of ethics integrity
morality is a big factor our core values
honor courage and commitment that's the
foundation of that ethos and we took
that oath we promised everybody in our
country that for four years or for a
lifetime we give them the best we had
and we do every day Marines don't argue
about should we or should we not have
intervened the mission is everything and
the marine matter how many times you
knock him down he's going to get to his
feet
and I'd probably make just as feared
with any organization in the world we
are the nation's first line of defense
but if you do something wrong to the
country were the last people you want to
see coming at your door
that reputation has been well-earned
over the last 230 years funding for the
Marines is provided by the el Fiero
Family Charitable Foundation which
celebrates the National Museum of the
Marine Corps and Marine Corps Heritage
Center
and by contributions to your PBS station
from viewers like you
thank you
I never started out to be a Marine when
I came aboard I didn't really know what
a Marine was I found that I like this
stuff and and stuck around for about 35
years I think it's important that the
story be told when I tell you to get out
you're gonna get out quickly without get
injured and you're gonna get my yellow
footprint do you understand
get out get my yellow footprint recruits
arrive at boot camp the same as
generations of Marines before them don't
let's go let's go let's go at night
that's followed by let's go let's go
first let's go first
let's go faster faster dokdo the journey
of a thousand miles starts when the
drill instructor invites those recruits
off the bus and puts them on the yellow
footprints and they symbolize you leave
it their lives as you knew it in Elgin
United States Marine Corps
do you understand in that first moment
at boot camp recruits literally step
into the distinctive culture of the
Marine Corps
these symbols and traditions and the
values they represent or what vine
Marines together and what set them apart
the Marines do maintain that distinctive
culture it's a commitment to others the
sense that the organization comes before
the self a real downplaying of the
individual and playing up the importance
the role of the goals of troop they
can't help but fall into a formation
when they stand on the yellow footprints
and it's kind of the first symbol of
becoming part of a team yo whoopee
what you're elevating your hair nice
aspect to the front and your mouth
headshot
when they step on those yellow
footprints and when that bus departs are
receiving barracks
it's an eerie experience they know
they're at boot camp and they're about
to begin the toughest basic training in
the Department of Defense
Jordan remember what's your budget far
from elite warriors recruits question
their decision to join the Marine Corps
many wonder if they'll survive the first
night of boot camp let alone the next 12
weeks of training all those little
details that people take for granted are
stripped away and it really makes a
great impact on their look like get your
toes it upon my stuff sir sir
the main thing is they realize that the
world as they knew it has changed yes
sir
oh no sir do you understand a number
were interviewing recruits about their
thoughts about that night and it
typically was oh my god what have I done
stop at the edge or the meringue tells
you stop the marine boot camp experience
so it's a real shock and it really is
off of the event of the poor we want to
moms and dads to know that their son or
daughter has arrived safely at Parris
Island no you're gonna read young
addition from line one although I don't
do like fun hey guys we have a very
short message that we prepare and then
we put next to the telephones pick up
the phone right awesome
this is reform aren't you glad ride
safely powers on please not semi a
scooter will be is never home and I've
arrived safely where silently is an
opportunity for your boy I used to be a
time out I will contact three classes
are closed
laughs okay see ever a fire how the
phone call is going to be short it may
come late at night an amazing abrupt to
them