in marine corps boot camp, when we came to final inspections before graduation, the drill instructors.........

Question

brought gasoline for us to clean our weapons with. gasoline makes a rifle come out immaxculate but it is illegal to use for that purpose. my question is, if i would have reported to an officer about us using gasoline to clean our weapons and the drill instructors would have been discipline for it, would that have made me a disgrace to the Marine Corps? the gasoline was used late at night in the head under flashlights

a point to ponder

Answer 1

in my eyes yes, i was in for five years usmc and I think if it doesnt hurt any of the recruits it should be left alone. There was a lot your drill instructors werent supposed to do but they did it and you made it through s ooohhh rahhh.

Answer 2

If you are not lying then you and all other Marines should know one fact. And that is, that if you fail Final Inspection you do not graduate! You make yourself the D.I.s and your platoon lookdumb. That would be more of a disgrace to the Corps. The D.I.s want you to pass and graduate. I dont see anything wrong with it. We used all kinds of stuff and were told to say we used the real things we were supposed to. All kinds of tricks in the Corps. Learn them. But dont ever use that stuff to clean your weapon in the field. Only Bootcamp.

Answer 3

Yes you would have been a disgrace. The Drill Instructors were breaking the rules, this is true, but they did it so YOUR weapon would look immaculate for the inspecting officer. The rules were broken so your inspection would go better. This was for your benefit. You're asking if you would be a disgrace for reporting the fact that your Drill Instructors were looking out for you? I say you're a disgrace for asking. However, behavior like that may be acceptable in San Diego, but no in Parris Island.

Answer 4

You will use gas, carb cleaner, and everything else under the sun to clean your weapon. You're not supposed to, but we all did. It is either that, or spend more hours than you have on th weapon.

They also weren't supposed to put mop and glow on the heal and toe of your boots and shoes, but likely did.

There are many "unauthorized" tricks that people use for inspections. Everyone uses them, and inspectors act like they don't know it.

You can glue you cargo pockets down so the always remain flat. You can sew them. You can take fishing line, get a good crease in your trousers, run the fishing line on the inside of the crease, and iron it again. You now have a permanent crease.

My advice, once in the fleet, get a pair of cammie, boots, and a cover set aside. Get them inspection ready, and don't wear them except for inspections.

I hated inspections, but stood many of them. You just do what you have to, and make sure you are ready.

Answer 5

Can you name one person in the whole U.S. that has not did something that they knew was wrong? I am not saying that what he did as a leader was right BUT i agree that he probably did it for your benefit at final inspection. It was wrong. Thank You from my family for joining and protecting America. My son is a fellow Marine, and is leaving for Iraq any day.

Answer 6

This is small stuff and I suggest you not sweat the small stuff. Worry more about having that rifle immaculate in a firefight and questioning illegal orders such as shooting unarmed civilians etc.

Answer 7

You will never get your weapon so clean....any other way, would be extremely labor intensive....Instead of worrying about "legalities" be thankful, your DIs want you to be the best. I had to spend hours and hours scrubbing my M14.......
You will see and partake in lots more questionable things, during your tenure.

Answer 8

Better keep the lips buttoned, and stay our of trouble. No one likes a dime dropper.

Answer 9

You would be ratting your the the corps and your fellow marine...dishonorable....

Answer 10

Don't say a word