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Submitted by Meghann Ackerman on Sat, 2008-05-10 13:43.
I learned something very important yesterday while covering a change of command ceremony: Don't stand where Marines are marching, they're not going around you.
There I was, all sweaty and gross, in the middle of an airfield getting footage. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Marines, who had been marching as part of the ceremony were directly behind me. I had always been under the impression that marching was a noisy exercise, so I was started when I suddenly heard, "Excuse me, ma'am!" from behind me.
Next time, I'll have to keep my eye on all the Marines present. But, guys, do you think you could stomp a little harder too?
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Well, Meghann, if you're going to be a videographer or photographer, you should already know that the 3 most important issues are composition, composition, and composition. That being said, to be out on a shoot and not be aware of ALL your surroundings can not only leave you without the best shot but can also place you in a dangerous situation.
Okay. Vid/Photo class dismissed. :^D
Or you could remember the line, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." Many people think this a a modern expression, but it is attributed to Thomas Paine, an Englishman who came to the US in the late 1700s.
That's one of my favorite lines. I use it probably 3 times a week.
I wonder if they would have followed me...
Glad you found the Marines. 55 years ago I found me a good one. Maybe you can repeat History.
Tell your Marine I said, "Thank you, Sir!"
I remember some time back in Navy Boot Camp, our company was marching to go to afternoon classes. As we got on this relatively narrow sidewalk, I noticed another company coming in the opposite direction. There we were, two companies of about 75 men marching directly head-on towards one another. Both of the Company Recruit Chief Petty Officers (RCPOs) kept up there cadence calls.....hup, hup, left, right, left, right (with some more glamorous cadences as well from time to time)......then CRasH! No "Company Halt", nothing to stop the plowing of individuals as a result of acting on actual orders. A brawl broke out amongst the first 3-4 rows of each company and kept up for about 5 minutes until some regular Navy types nearby rushed to the scene and demanded order to the situation.
Sort of funny and just fortunate to have been in the back of the company at the time.
That must have been a long time ago, I heard that the Navy does Boot Camp over the Internet and Sally Struthers is the CPO in charge. It's like a 4 hour course and an hour of that is the physical.
Didn't know they taught you how to march or that you knew what cadence were. Much less your left from your right. Ha.
Y'all actually crashed into eachother?! That made me laugh as I pictured it in my head! Would Marines do that? Don't think so!!!! (Sorry, I can get on a "Marines are better than Navy" kick sometimes. I believe all branches do the same job, just with different equipment and training.)
I remember one time getting lost on Parris Island trying to find a residence - the guy at the gate gave me the wrong directions. After driving around for a while, looking for somewhere to get correct directions, I gave up, parked my car and walked over the grass to a military group doing an exercise. Somebody immediately came to my rescue and I had a military escort in front and behind my car as they showed me the way to the home I was searching for.
Are there maps of these bases available to citizens so strangers can find their way around?
I worked at Domino's for a while and we had maps of the bases posted. Don't where they got them and they weren't very up-to-date. I'm At Cherry Point, NC now and I can Google it and it shows the roads and our roof tops! Not very secure if you ask me!