Phase II Marine Corps infantry changes underway

I don’t know what they said “experiments seek to add a Navy Corpsman to each squad” that’s been the model for a Rifle Squad since forever..
 
That probably was on the TO or Model paper. But as I remember 1967/1968 we went on OP's LP's and even squad size night ambushes with out our corpsman. On operations maybe multiple corpsman. But I think I can safely say the poor guy got stuck on way more details the anybody. That's why you always busted you butt covering him. No luxury of one to each squad then.
But I sure hope the marines get one permanently assigned to every squad.
 
LarrySr. said:
That probably was on the TO or Model paper. But as I remember 1967/1968 we went on OP's LP's and even squad size night ambushes with out our corpsman. On operations maybe multiple corpsman. But I think I can safely say the poor guy got stuck on way more details the anybody. That's why you always busted you butt covering him. No luxury of one to each squad then.
But I sure hope the marines get one permanently assigned to every squad.
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Exactly, I didn’t say it was reality, but it has been the TO forever. And seems like not much changed in 40yrs, I was the only corpsman for the whole platoon on my first deployment to Afghanistan and in Fallujah we managed to get 2 of us for the Platoon, but I was still ran ragged, running for w squads while my junior covered the other.
 
LarrySr. said:
That probably was on the TO or Model paper. But as I remember 1967/1968 we went on OP's LP's and even squad size night ambushes with out our corpsman. On operations maybe multiple corpsman. But I think I can safely say the poor guy got stuck on way more details the anybody. That's why you always busted you butt covering him. No luxury of one to each squad then.
But I sure hope the marines get one permanently assigned to every squad.
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Were any of the riflemen cross trained in any combat lifesaving measures?
 
Lord no, in my immediate area E Co. 2/5 and H&S Co. just a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds mostly and lot of us had not finished High School. We were no where as smart or as well armed (Thank God) as the current Corp. But I will brag that I think on the whole we had more common sense. lol.

Derek, I was the only corpsman for the whole platoon on my first deployment to Afghanistan and in Fallujah. Same same then. Did you have to go on squad and fire team patrols as well?
 
LarrySr. said:
Lord no, in my immediate area E Co. 2/5 and H&S Co. just a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds mostly and lot of us had not finished High School. We were no where as smart or as well armed (Thank God) as the current Corp. But I will brag that I think on the whole we had more common sense. lol.

Derek, I was the only corpsman for the whole platoon on my first deployment to Afghanistan and in Fallujah. Same same then. Did you have to go on squad and fire team patrols as well?
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Yes, I was on all the patrols, and if 2 squads were out at the same time we would always be close enough to mutually support one another.
 
Derek8404 said:
Exactly, I didn’t say it was reality, but it has been the TO forever. And seems like not much changed in 40yrs, I was the only corpsman for the whole platoon on my first deployment to Afghanistan and in Fallujah we managed to get 2 of us for the Platoon, but I was still ran ragged, running for w squads while my junior covered the other.
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Our platoon never had more than two corpsmen. We were crazy busy.
 
Chuckman said:
I trained all my Marines. Only one of me.
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I was more curious about SOPs “back then” lol

I know the Army has TCCC or what was formerly known as the Combat Lifesaver Course that they tried to get as many combat arms soldiers through to bridge the gap between a Medic and that one guy who doesn’t even know how to use a bandaid in the platoon. I didn’t know if the Marines had a similar formal course or if it was unofficial unit level training
 
11B CIB said:
I was more curious about SOPs “back then” lol

I know the Army has TCCC or what was formerly known as the Combat Lifesaver Course that they tried to get as many combat arms soldiers through to bridge the gap between a Medic and that one guy who doesn’t even know how to use a bandaid in the platoon. I didn’t know if the Marines had a similar formal course or if it was unofficial unit level training
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Pre-TC3 It was a version of combat lifesaver, sometimes it could be formalized, but was often done by corpsmen. Honestly I don't remember it being a formal course, but then that was 30 years ago lol. Now everyone gets a version of tactical combat casualty care.
 
but then that was 30 years ago lol.
I certainly know that feeling since it's been over 55 years for me.;)
 
LarrySr. said:
but then that was 30 years ago lol.
I certainly know that feeling since it's been over 55 years for me.;)
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My dad was in the Marines 1954-75. He's been deceased a good while, but a couple of his friends found me through social media. They talk about him like it was yesterday, but it was 60 years ago. Time flies.
 
My dad was in the Marines 1954-75. He's been deceased a good while, but a couple of his friends found me through social media. They talk about him like it was yesterday, but it was 60 years ago. Time flies.

Semper Fi to your Dad Chuck. Only 4 (65-70) years for me, but for your Dad, I understand how close some of those friends of his could have become over all the years.
I notice that with our oldest son who retired after 28 years W-5 flying them damn helicopters. A very close bunch of men still.
I probably should be sending in PM. I'm working on that:rolleyes:
 
Ben
03331, Can't remember but don't we have a extra 3, lol. Or are you testing us? 0311 wasn't as complicated :D
 
Ben Jefferson said:
It’s been 40+ years since I was an 03331/41/51.

Shit sure has changed thankfully!
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I was an 0351 (cross trained at the company level for 0331 and 0341) from '75 to '78. I can't remember if corpsmen were assigned to each squad or not. They were always around though. Feeding me Motrin and making me change my socks. On a side note both my boys are Marines (one still in and one out) and I know for certain they get much better training and equipment than we did. Significantly better weapons etc. The Corps was completely worn out from Vietnam during my tour.
 
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rocketman said:
I was an 0351 (cross trained at the company level for 0331 and 0341) from '75 to '78. I can't remember if corpsmen were assigned to each squad or not. They were always around though. Feeding me Motrin and making me change my socks. On a side note both my boys are Marines (one still in and one out) and I know for certain they get much better training and equipment than we did. Significantly better weapons etc. The Corps was completely worn out from Vietnam during my tour.
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Even in the early-90s we had a lot of VN-era stuff. That didn't change much until the late 90s, but GWOT really saw it rain cash and new gear.
 
Chuckman said:
Even in the early-90s we had a lot of VN-era stuff. That didn't change much until the late 90s, but GWOT really saw it rain cash and new gear.
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that is just wrong. I used a Haversack, Knapsack and a bedroll with a shelter half and blanket until at least 1978. Then ALICE packs came along. The new Molle shit looks really cool. I would like to know the correct way to use those little snap thingys though.
 
I was issued that WWII haversack and a shelter half in 1975 and had to live with it for a year until I went to Okinawa. There the China Marines (4th Marines) allowed us to use whatever worked for the most part. Everyone I knew used a Vietnamese Ruck that came with an alum frame. It was a great pack. When I came back stateside to 29 Palms we had Alice to carry our stuff
 
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I'm enjoying the comments on the gear. I have a interest because I'm working on a old 1952 M-38 Jeep. I will only if ever use it for play, parades, displays ect. I never actually seen a jeep during my tour but supposedly even this M-38 model was around in early years of Vietnam. Probably way down South.

I'm trying to make this one give a decent example of what we had in the sixties. I have a nice M1A and a government model M16. No selector of course. And a lot of other props as well. Here are some pictures for anyone interested. See if you can add gear you carried if you were in the Marines throughout the sixties of anytime for that matter. Pictures would be great. I do have a way to go but summer months are about the only time I play with it.

I apologized to the original poster I'm not trying to grab you post.

A few pictures of many. It's very hard to locate this old stuff anymore. And no doubt I'm not going for perfect just the best I can to end up with a half ass good display.

IMG_2530.JPG

IMG_2533.JPG

IMG_2630.JPG

IMG_2625.JPG

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IMG_2710.JPG
 
Ben Jefferson said:
that is just wrong. I used a Haversack, Knapsack and a bedroll with a shelter half and blanket until at least 1978. Then ALICE packs came along. The new Molle shit looks really cool. I would like to know the correct way to use those little snap thingys though.
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rocketman said:
I was issued that WWII haversack and a shelter half in 1975 and had to live with it for a year until I went to Okinawa. There the China Marines (4th Marines) allowed us to use whatever worked for the most part. Everyone I knew used a Vietnamese Ruck that came with an alum frame. It was a great pack. When I came back stateside to 29 Palms we had Alice to carry our stuff
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I had a VN-era flak jacket for my first 'body armor'. My deuce gear was mostly nylon, but still a couple pieces of the old cotton. My ALICE ruck was pretty new. Even on the recon side when I thought I would get Gucci gear a lot of it was old. When I went to the reserves, we used shelter halves until...1999 I think, then transitioned the Eureka tent.

But after 9/11?? Shewt....money flowed like manna from heaven. We went to MOLLE stuff very quickly, everything was new, extras of some stuff.
 
I was at Fort Drum from 94-97. I was issued Alice Pack and Alice gear. About 95 they started issuing low rucks and vest, but most of us chose to stay with Alice Packs and gear. We were issued some sort of 1 man tent, but I was told by my squad leader at the time to throw it in the top of my wall locker, you will never use it. We used ponchos and bungy cords.
 
scmoose said:
I was at Fort Drum from 94-97. I was issued Alice Pack and Alice gear. About 95 they started issuing low rucks and vest, but most of us chose to stay with Alice Packs and gear. We were issued some sort of 1 man tent, but I was told by my squad leader at the time to throw it in the top of my wall locker, you will never use it. We used ponchos and bungy cords.
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Wish I could comment. My only time at Ft Drum or Camp McCoy was with shelter half’s and tent poles.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
Wish I could comment. My only time at Ft Drum or Camp McCoy was with shelter half’s and tent poles.
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I have never been to Drum, and only at McCoy during the summer, but spent plenty of time at Bridgeport/Pickle Meadows, we were only allowed to use ponchos and shelter halves. But that was part of the point: if you set it up right even when it's stupid cold and the snow is stupid high it's really not too bad.
 
I reported to Drum in February, went on my firsts field problem a couple weeks later as an AG. I laid balled up in the fetal position in my hooch that night wondering why I hadn't listed to my Father about MOS choices. Several months later I was sitting on the Eisenhower in the port of Norfolk getting ready to head to Haiti. While making a quick call to my dad to let him know I couldn't tell him where I was going he quickly reminded me of my MOS choice again.
 
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