Are Marines treated to harshly? Should they ease up on "INCENTIVE PT"?

Question

article about recent death of a Marine who died from complications. But many are trying to make it seem as if he died from receiving incentive PT.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_incentivept_082508w/

Answer 1

It's regrettable when a troop dies. But troops do die. They can die in training. They can die in transit between duty stations. They can die on leave. They can die in combat.

The question as to whether his death was the fault of the Marine Corps, or his superiors, should be left up to the military. I have a problem when civilians -- who absolutely nothing about the military, about war, about combat, get involved and try to tell the military how to do its job.

Potential problem: the Corps has a reputation for looking out for its own. There might well be a reasonable concern that they might subjugate the reputation for HONOR to protect themselves. However NCIS is involved. The fact that the Navy and Marines come under the Secretary of the Navy, kind of clouds the issue. Perhaps the Army should look into the matter as an unbiased third party.

The question as to whether or not the Marines should "lighten up" is easy. No. You don't get to be one of the best fighting units on the planet by lowering your standards when somebody makes a mistake in judgment. This may be a case of where the punishment for not meeting the standards was inappropriate under the circumstances. I don't know. Clearly, if fault is found, the one or ones at fault should be properly punished -- by the military. This is a military problem... not a civilian problem. Those without first hand knowledge of the incident, or without direct access to the physical evidence, should keep out of it.

Answer 2

I'm not a marine so I don't know what it's like,  but from the article, it looks like natural health complications that killed him. Not the guys in charge.

Edit: If they lower their standards by they way, they will be no better than the army.

Answer 3

People don't seem to understand the point of incentive pt. In combat if you mess something up some one dies. Usually not you but some one next to you. To drive this point home in training "incentive pt is utilized to illustrate the importance of following orders.

Mom can tell you all day long that if you touch the stove you will get burned and most kids don't pay attention tell they get burned. Pain teaches a lesson we don't soon forget. Or as my Drill Instructors used to tell us "Pain, retains".

Answer 4

i dont think so...that is a very rare case although it is a shame..i sure hope i dont have any crazy medical issues that might pop up like that =(

Answer 5

no, they should stick with currant or go back about 15 years in training standards and also get rid of the crucible. the harder the better, both training and mental.

Edit: woops, didnt read the article. I'm with the Sergeant Major on this. all that **** should stop after SOI/MCT.

in the fleet you play room cleaning games, not thrashing.

drop and give me twenty is ok, but not IT in the fleet.

Answer 6

If anything they've become too strict in how "hazing" is defined.  I really don't see PTing someone for s******g up as hazing and fail to see why it shouldn't be used in the fleet.  There were a few times while deployed as a young Marine I screwed around on liberty and was lucky enough to have squad leaders and a platoon sergeant that decided to handle it in house instead of it being sent up the chain.  Some people, not saying this young Marine was one of them, but some people need some extra encouragement to stay on the straight and narrow.

It seems he died as a result of a medical condition, not getting PT'd.  His parents are pissed their son is dead, but it doesn't change why he his dead.  If they aren't satisfied with the autopsy that was carried out they should have a second one done by a civilian.  As for the mark by his eye, well he was chucking rocks at people he could have either been hit with one or some other Marine got pissed and layed him out.

Answer 7

sounds more of like some kind of hazing then PT.