Question for USMC vets...

[OH25shooter]

I friend and I were relating some of our very limited M-16, M-1 carbine training and other stories we had during our 1968 time in the AF. Especially, how the "new updated" AF training has issued rifles and is teaching combat tactics, etc. He told me MC basic recruits are all issued a red card they are required to carry in their fatigue pocket. If and when the recruit feels stressed or threatened by the drill sergeant, he removes the card and displays it for the DI to see. Hence, the DI is required to back off. I said, no #@*&#@ way! Not in any branch of the US military. Can any recent MC vets confirm or deny this crazy story?

 

[Justin]

It's an urban legend.

 

[odessastraight]

Well, sir, I can hardly be considered "recent", but I gotta tell you that we let all of the other branches call them "fatigues". Marines call them Utilities. I enlisted in April 1968. We fired the M14 in Boot Camp and were issued M16s before getting to Viet Nam. Naaaaaaaaaa, we didn't have any little red card to save our butts from our DIs. They owned us. They knew it. We knew it and it mostly worked out fine that way. That "red card" deal just doesn't seem like a Marine kind of thing to do...but I'll be interested to hear about it from "recent" Marines, too.
Semper Fi.

 

[striker3]

I am active duty in the Marines and the answer is HELL NO.

Like Justin posted, the whole thing is an urban legend.

 

[Justin]

And that, it would seem, is that.