Posted on Jul 3, 2016
The recruit's death at Parris Island was tragic. I'm troubled by Marines' reaction to it
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As a former director of the Marine Corps' West Coast drill instructor school, I am appalled by many Marine Corps Times readers' reaction to the recent story on the death of Pvt. Raheel Siddiqui at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.
Post by MarineCorpsTimes.
Many respondents, who view themselves as "real Marines," gloated over this American's death and lamented the public outcry as the "pussification" of the Corps. Having studied misconduct in recruit training, I've found a direct link between dehumanizing language and abuse. Viewing someone as weak can lead people to believe it's OK to abuse them.
While I'll reserve judgment on this specific case until the investigations are complete, I'll emphatically state that hazing is illegal and that even the very worst recruit does not deserve to be hazed to death. There is a well-established process at both depots to weed out those who don't make the cut and send them home with some dignity intact for volunteering to serve their nation.
The Corps has been challenged with this issue over the years. What matters here is that an American family sent the Corps their valedictorian son, and through omission or commission, representatives of the Corps sent him back in a coffin.
As Gen. Jim Mattis once told me, "Every time we kill a Marine in training, we have done the enemy's job for him."
Joe Plenzler is a retired infantry and public affairs officer. He spent the last five years on active duty on the personal staff of the 34th, 35th and 36th commandants of the Marine Corps.
Post by MarineCorpsTimes.
Many respondents, who view themselves as "real Marines," gloated over this American's death and lamented the public outcry as the "pussification" of the Corps. Having studied misconduct in recruit training, I've found a direct link between dehumanizing language and abuse. Viewing someone as weak can lead people to believe it's OK to abuse them.
While I'll reserve judgment on this specific case until the investigations are complete, I'll emphatically state that hazing is illegal and that even the very worst recruit does not deserve to be hazed to death. There is a well-established process at both depots to weed out those who don't make the cut and send them home with some dignity intact for volunteering to serve their nation.
The Corps has been challenged with this issue over the years. What matters here is that an American family sent the Corps their valedictorian son, and through omission or commission, representatives of the Corps sent him back in a coffin.
As Gen. Jim Mattis once told me, "Every time we kill a Marine in training, we have done the enemy's job for him."
Joe Plenzler is a retired infantry and public affairs officer. He spent the last five years on active duty on the personal staff of the 34th, 35th and 36th commandants of the Marine Corps.
The recruit's death at Parris Island was tragic. I'm troubled by Marines' reaction to it
Posted from marinecorpstimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Marines
Marines
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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Until the investigation has been completed in good conscience I could not pass judgement SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL.
I am not surprised that about "15 DIs and other Parris Island officials are under investigation for potential violations of Marine Corps orders on hazing, physical abuse, assault and failure of supervision" in the death of Pvt. Raheel Siddiqui at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.
I hope that justice will prevail and that only those who are guilty of crimes will be punished.
I recognize that God passes judgement for each person in terms of eternal judgement bliss or condemnation.
We are called to exercise wise judgement in many areas of our lives by God in terms of who we learn from [the Bereans were counted more noble because they tested everything the Apostle Paul told them to ensure it matched up with the old testament scripture.]
The government requires us to pass judgement when we are called to serve on a jury.
I am not surprised that about "15 DIs and other Parris Island officials are under investigation for potential violations of Marine Corps orders on hazing, physical abuse, assault and failure of supervision" in the death of Pvt. Raheel Siddiqui at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.
I hope that justice will prevail and that only those who are guilty of crimes will be punished.
I recognize that God passes judgement for each person in terms of eternal judgement bliss or condemnation.
We are called to exercise wise judgement in many areas of our lives by God in terms of who we learn from [the Bereans were counted more noble because they tested everything the Apostle Paul told them to ensure it matched up with the old testament scripture.]
The government requires us to pass judgement when we are called to serve on a jury.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL well, one can't have it both ways: indoctrinating young minds to believe they are the doing the 'best with the least' will result in 'the best' detecting and eliminating the 'runt of the litter' to ensure their warrior ethos is not compromised and therefore survives onto the next generation of warriors. The Greek Spartans would take newborns from their mothers to evaluate them for warriorhood. Those who didn't make the grade were killed off, a code of conduct that permeates human culture at all levels even to this day--in and out of the military. In many ways Col. Jessup's evaluation of Santiago in the movie A Few Good Men as being a 'sub-standard Marine' who would jeopardize many lives and therefore qualified for a 'code red' training session is simply art imitating life.
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The death of a recruit is always tragic. It is hard enough to find qualified civilians who will even attempt to complete recruit training. Pushing a recruit to and beyond their breaking point in order to show them how much potential they actually have is part of the process of making a Marine. Unfortunately it sometimes goes too far. Especially if there is no one in the chain, especially at company level, willing to say "Enough!". That's where the SNCOs fall in. If they are unwilling to hold their Marines accountable for crossing the line the behavior goes unchecked and becomes cancerous.
Keep in mind most Drill Instructors are 23-24 years old. We were all still pretty gullible at that age. It is easy for a pack mentality to develop amongst them. Especially if it goes unchecked by their direct supervision.
Now, don't take that as a bash on our young SGTs and SSGTs who are busting their asses out there trying to turn ordinary people into our nation's finest. It is a tough job. America is trusting you with their best and brightest. And a few shitheads as well. Train them or weed them out and send them home. Alive.
And before anyone tries to bust me out, I was never a Drill Instructor. It was my misfortune to get picked for Recruiting duty. I cant imagine having to go to the same parents who entrusted you with their son or daughter's future and telling them they died because someone thought it was a good idea to PT them until they passed out and died.
Keep in mind most Drill Instructors are 23-24 years old. We were all still pretty gullible at that age. It is easy for a pack mentality to develop amongst them. Especially if it goes unchecked by their direct supervision.
Now, don't take that as a bash on our young SGTs and SSGTs who are busting their asses out there trying to turn ordinary people into our nation's finest. It is a tough job. America is trusting you with their best and brightest. And a few shitheads as well. Train them or weed them out and send them home. Alive.
And before anyone tries to bust me out, I was never a Drill Instructor. It was my misfortune to get picked for Recruiting duty. I cant imagine having to go to the same parents who entrusted you with their son or daughter's future and telling them they died because someone thought it was a good idea to PT them until they passed out and died.
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