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Platoon Commander aka Senior Drill Instructor

Platoon Commander aka Senior Drill Instructor

If you’ve never heard of a Platoon Commander while in Boot Camp, it’s not my fault. I didn’t write the book, I didn’t publish the book. I simply purchased the book sometime during my internment at MCRD San Diego. The Marine Corps, or the Navy, recorded my experience for me during those two plus months. I was much too busy to take pictures. My book clearly shows the Senior Drill Instructor listed as “Platoon Commander”. I don’t recall the Senior DI wearing a different style belt than the other Drill Instructors except while drilling toward the end of training, preparing for “final drill”. Then he wore a black leather belt with scabbard, otherwise it was the standard canvas cartridge belt with first aid pouch. SF
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Comments

Jeff Howards - June 8, 2020

Plt 2079, E Company, 2nd Bn, RTR, MCRDSD. Granuated 1 Nov 73. No Plt Commander that I remember, but we had (or were had by) Senior Drill Instructor SSgt Copp, Drill Instructors SSgt Anderson and SSgt Cyr. We also had a sadistic Hispanic Sgt who enjoyed beating Pvts. Don’t remember his name. They gave him his own Plt in our Series have way through training. He beat them too. At graduation I saw him sitting in a car wearing LCpl stripes. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Gunny Jim Ogilvie USMC Ret - June 8, 2020

My boot was in June 61 !! My three DIs were addressed as ( Senior Drill Instructor SDI, and Junior Drill Instructor JDI ), Platoon Commander belongs in the FMF and other organizations as he is usually a 2ndLT or 1stLT !!! Also referred as Platoon Leader. As far as I know, DI’s were always through even today known as SDIs and JDIs and of course to US they were SIR!!!!

Ed Peters - June 8, 2020

I also was in platoon 2060. MOS 2531 Field Radio operator. I remember Ponder puting the reins on Barefoot, who was a little sadistic . I joined the Marines with my high school friend Bob Becker. We both were in 2060. Bob died in the 90’s due to cancer. Ed Peters in uniform 1967-71.

Jim Hilleary - June 8, 2020

SSGT Ponder was my platoon commander with platoon 2060, August 1967. He was assisted by Sgt Barefoot and Sgt Newby.

Harry - June 8, 2020

I agree Bill. The Senior D.I.always wore the “Spit Shined Belt”. I’ll never forget our Sr. D.I. S/Sgt Williams. He approached me the afternoon of our graduation and, informed me that he grew up in a town very near to where I grew up and,played football at one of our rival High Schools. He never let on to that fact during training but I do recall one time when He was walking around the squad bay choosing people to attend the dreaded “Motivation” He pulled me out,looked at me and then pushed me back, not to be chosen.Another memory Thanx Bill Harry 3rd Bn Plt. 3056 Oct-Dec ’67

Bill Noonan - June 8, 2020

During my vacation at Parris Island, 2nd Bn, C Co Plt 2091 in 67/68, I never saw any Senior D.I. wear anything but his glossy black belt and the Jr D.I.’s wore the green web belts with gold buckle with the EGA. This old Sgt would never forget any detail about the DI…. They were God……and we saw them enough to have details etched in my brain housing group.

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