Gun Grape

Oh so I'm an "Old timer" now? Ma, wheres my cane?

And don't think I was pissed at you. Or that I thought thats what you meant. You just "enabled" the rant

We will have to disagree on that. He presents an image that reinforce the stereotypes about Marines. All the Marines I know enjoy FMJ. The first part is funny as hell. But it doesn't portray the Corps or SNCOs or DIs in a positive image.

We don't run around yelling ooh-ra, screaming at juniors, and cussing all the time.

R Lee Ermey is as positive portrayal of a US Marine as Slim Pickens was a positive portrayal of a USAF SAC pilot or AF Field grade officers.

Want to see a really good portrayal of a Marine Drill Instructor? Get a copy of the DI with Jack Webb.


Damn, you got me started again.

Back to the thread. I've about quit watching the military channel.

(edit)
I do watch the Top Ranger comp, Top Sniper and the Marines at The Mountain Warfare Center. Both the program on Bn ops and winter survival school.

Stan187

Call 'em like I see 'em, Sir. When you end up getting the cane, make sure its the kind with a hidden weapon inside

No worries, I didn't think so, I knew that fire mission was not aimed for me.

I was reffering to his positive image portrayal in refence to what we were talking about in the thread, the Mail Call show, not FMJ.

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TopHatter

From what I understand, R. Lee Ermey gives 100 days a year to the Corps and it's sponsored associations like Toys For Tots, visits across the world to Marine (and other services) bases etc.

He's been doing this for years and I think that was more of the impetus to his promotion, the only one of it's kind in USMC if I'm not mistaken (I'm referring to a Marine receiving a promotion after his retirement (Looong after, in this case)

Gun Grape

AAAAAAAAAAAh I'm sure you got that from his web site. Yes he is the only retired Marine to receive an HONORARY promotion in the Corps.

From his site bio
Lets throw some FACTs in here.
Fact #1 an Honorary promotion isn't a real promotion. It does not go through a selection board, it confers no rights, privileges, or increase in pay or benefits.

Fact #2 There are, a guess, thousands of retired Marines that have received a real promotion after they retired. By going to the Board of Naval Correction to address various wrongs or administrative errors that may have caused them to be overlooked for promotion prior to retirement. Or that caused them to retire at a rank lower than the rank they held on active duty.Those Marines records are then put before the promotion board and they compete for promotion. If qualified, they are promoted, if the cause was not a recent one, the promotion will be backdated to the date that they should have been promoted and they will receive all back pay due and their retirement will be increased as appropriate.

So his statemet about the "Only retired Marine ever promoted" is bullcrap.

Fact #3 If you want to to compare "Honorary" promotions than Jim Nabors has him beat as the only Honorary Marine to receive 2 Honorary promotions.
Lance Corporal and Corporal

The Honorary "Promotions" were never meant to be. In fact the Honorary Marine program, started in 1992, does not cover promotions at all. That was all dreamed up By Jones as CMC. And he is the only Commandant that gave out "Honorary" promotions.

The Honorary Marine Program (MCO 5060.19B)was put in place by Gen Mundy when he was Commandant. Its intent was
There are other things that gripe a lot of Marines about SSgt Ermey but I'll leave those for the Marine boards.

He does have a big ego as shown in this statement

Bluesman

You are SO curmudgeonly.

I bet some folks find that just so CHARMING.

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Gun Grape

Hey maybe we can get him to start calling his self an Air Force Master Sergeant
He was an airwinger, you guys could do it

fitz

The Military Channel is part of the Discovery Channel family, not the History Channel. Most of the programming on it appeared at one time or another on the Discovery Channel, not HC.

To fil airtime 24/7 on a limited budget one has to get programming where they can. Some of it is quite good - I really liked the 10-part World War 1 series for example and a lot of old ex-PBS programming such as the "Battlefield" series and some Frontline episodes make it on as well. Some of the old "Wings" programs that originally aired on Discovery 10-15 years ago are also quite good.

Some of it is also mediocre to poor. That is going to happen when you are producing entertainment programming for a broad audience.

Canmoore

I agree... however, hear in Canada because of the CRTC, many of the programs are of Canadian Content. Which I like, I like the show turning points in history, disasters of the century. And the pieces done on Canadian military history...

However, lately these shows seem to never be on.. I mean it hasn't become as bad as TLC or the Discovery Channel...but its getting there.