I really think that is overstated. When they first go in they all go to boot camp which mostly consists of endurance and discipline training and then they go for a 30 day training on how to shoot and take care of their weapons and learning how to survive by themselves in remote areas and find their way back to camp without a map etc.
But Cesar wasn't a grunt (infantry). He had a desk job and only had to meet physical requirements once a year and go to the rifle range once a year.
Now sure they get into major fist fights. Usually alcohol related, women and bar hopping. And some of the grunts can be scary dudes. Anyone that chooses infantry as their MOS is a little touched in the head to me. J/K lol I guess they like the hand to hand combat and our military does need these type in the armed services.
IMO
Respectfully, I have to disagree. With the implementation of MCMAP or "Semper Fu", the Corps has placed a much stronger emphasis on hand to hand combat training, not only in MCT (the 30 day course for POG's) but throughout a Marine's career, regardless of their MOS. Progression through the program is a major fitrep bullet and something that is highly "encouraged" for career advancement.Also, (and I realize this is being nitpicky) not only do POG's have a PFT and rifle qualification, they also have to pass a Combat Fitness test yearly. Desk job or not, a rating of "stellar", a meritorious promotion and recommendation for a second meritorious promotion board suggest Cesar wasn't the type of Marine to do the bare minimum.
I've worked in ERs in Army hospitals, inner city civilian trauma centers, and at Naval, and unfortunately I've seen more than my fair of violence in each facility I've worked. Yes, there are a lot of alcohol related incidents with Marines (but really? Stick a bunch of young, alpha males in a town with very little to do, and what seems like a 10 to 1 male-to-female ratio and what do you expect?) and you are oh so correct your observation that grunts can be, well, a little off sometimes, but even accounting for that, I still see a difference in the way they release aggression towards others. I don't know if it's because they place more confidence in their physical abilities (deserved or undeserved), or maybe they have a greater respect for the damage a weapon can cause,but in the hundreds of injuries resulting from the violent act of a male Marine I've seen, I can't recall many that involved
any object being used as a weapon, alcohol related or not. Not chairs, bar stools, beer bottles, vases, remotes... Of the ones that did involve weapons, the majority were purposeful intent to cause grave bodily injury. Tragically, it's been my experience that usually when a weapon is involved with a male Marine, more often than not it's used to inflict injury on themselves, not others.
Females on the other hand? Totally different story.
Again, these are only my impressions, based on my personal experience and I take no offense if you disagree with them. I really do enjoy hearing other people's viewpoints. Just trying to explain why I have the point of view that I have. I realize that every person, every situation is different and there are no hard and fast rules as to what a person would do, solely based on the fact that he or she is a Marine, and I'm definitely not trying to imply that all Marines are violent people, because the majority of them absolutely are not.
P.S. For clarification purposes to anyone else reading this, a POG is a "person other than grunt", in other words, a person with a job that isn't an infantry position. Also... I really, really respect do OceanBlueEyes, she makes wonderful, intelligent points that make me think very hard about why I believe what I believe, and I very much appreciate that.
