Why would someone be transferred out of a unit during USMC boot camp?

Conner Fleury — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 15:10:31 -0500

Hello everyone,
It has been awhile. Alot has happened since ive been on here last. But thats a story for another time (if anyone of you really even care) Anyways I have a buddy who is currently in USMC boot camp. He left when one of his other buddies left and told me that the recruiter promised them that they would be in the same company together and be able to go threw basic together. I have heard something about this before but am not sure how true it is. Kinda sounds like BS to me. Was the recruiter pulling his chain or is that actually a thing? So i contacted one of his buddies friends today after trying to see if i could find photos of them at basic. She informed me that my friend was transferred from his buddy's company to another one(the buddy he left for basic with) What does this mean? Do they do this just because they can or would their have to be a reason that he was transferred/removed from his original company. To be honest the kids a little rebellious. Not like criminally or anything. More like dont touch that hot stove type of thing. That and he doesnt really know when to shut his mouth. Not sure if that helps or would have anything todo with it. But i would imagine getting dropped like that wouldnt be good.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 2 at 2019 4:13 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:13:24 -0500

Yes, the buddy system is a thing. It isn't BS; it is a program to bring in more recruits. Now, the list of reasons to get transferred from one training unit to another is a long one. It happens. Without more information it would be illogical to just try to assume. You would be served just as well by putting regulations on a wall and throwing a dart at them for an answer.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Jan 2 at 2019 4:21 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:21:49 -0500

In basic we would have guys in our platoon at last formation and not be there at first the next day.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2019 5:30 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:30:35 -0500

The buddy program is designed so that people who enlist in the Marine Corps together from the same area can get sent to recruit training at the same time and be in the same platoon. Going through the transformation into United States Marines together is the next step in their friendship

Being transferred to another platoon happens for any number of reasons. Being rebellious and being in Marine Boot Camp is a bad match.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jan 3 at 2019 6:13 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 06:13:23 -0500

The more common reasons someone might be "transferred" put of their original platoon are things such as:

An injury that will take time to heal and they are "recycled" and placed in another platoon when they are ready to go forward with training.

Another could be physical conditioning. Recruits sometimes arrive in substandard physical condition and are sent to a physical conditioning platoon to get in shape. Once done with this they are placed back into another platoon.

If there were disciplinary issues he could be removed but that is pretty uncommon. Drill Instructors are usually pretty good at fixing disciplinary issues.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 3 at 2019 4:05 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 16:05:58 -0500

Sounds like recycle or getting put in physical reconditioning.

Response by A1C David Fryer made Aug 23 at 2021 3:13 PM

A1C David Fryer — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 15:13:30 -0400

Some recruits just need a little more time and get moved back in the training cycle. My basic training flight had several airmen get recycled into our unit.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Aug 23 at 2021 3:34 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 15:34:14 -0400

Back in my dad it was only a medical drop if you got sick. I went in on the Buddy Program and somewhere in first phase he got encephalitis from an infected Skeeter bite, he spent like 2-3 weeks in the hospital and recycled thru 2nd Batallion., I can’t think of anyone else who just disappeared as being behind or not suitable for moving forward. I can’t even think of anyone sentenced to 3 day motivation platoon, damn that would have been supreme suckage. Pulling up the bottom 5% was probably a huge endeavor, but the top got it, most were in the middle and didn’t need but minimum guidance, they focused most of their attention on the bottom guys, recruits who were overweight, or badly uncoordinated, but they did their job. Not that the rest didn’t get attention, we all got our share of verbal abuse, and smoked just for the hell of it. It’s the PT part where a few really struggle, 1975 was a peacetime military, Nam only a few years in the rear view, recruiting standards were low, interest I guess not very high, there was really some overweight guys in my platoon.

Response by PO3 Andrew Kelly made Aug 23 at 2021 6:52 PM

PO3 Andrew Kelly — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 18:52:28 -0400

One, yes Buddy duty is a thing and not just in the Marines. We had two pairs that were in our company when I passed through Great Lakes and one of them got split up during Service Week. Yes, I realize that dates me a bit.
In that case, the transfer was for disciplinary reasons having to do with getting caught being friendlier than allowed with a female MS3 in the chow hall.
But as has been said more than once the reasons for being transferred are many and varied and we lost about a quarter of our company before graduation and only a handful were for disciplinary reasons.