TBS Graduation

[mustang_wife]

I'm so glad we're talking about TBS graduation. I thought this day would never come!

soon enough. You'll be sitting here...

 

[HAL Pilot]

^ Aw...the bellhop uniform....that's the one we made the Marines on TR wear when they served hor'durves and drinks on the flight deck in foreign ports.

So I take it TBS is really six months of maitre'de training?

 

[KBayDog]

...we made the Marines...

Yeah, right.

HAL, you crack me up.

 

[HAL Pilot]

...we made the Marines...

Yeah, right.

HAL, you crack me up.

Okay, "we" didn't make the Marines serve drinks, the carrier CO made the Marines serve drinks....

The euphemism was "Sunset Parade". Every time we were on a foreign port visit where there was a VIP function scheduled the MARDET was tasked to put on that uniform and act as cocktail waiters and ushers.

As the Nuc Weps guru, the MARDET CO reported to me. I would hear the bitching for weeks. While I sympathized with him, I also reminded him that he always said Marines were "called by a higher power to serve" so he needed to shut up and get to serving.....

A year or so after we both transferred off TR, the MARDET CO and I both ended up on the same UN mission in the Western Sahara desert. We had a great time drinking while on liberty in the Canary Islands every few weeks. He steadfastly refused to walk to the bar for drinks when it was his turn. He'd pay but I had to walk or we went thirsty.

 

[KBayDog]

Every time we were on a foreign port visit where there was a VIP function scheduled the MARDET was tasked to put on that uniform and act as cocktail waiters and ushers.

Interesting bit of history.

Thank goodness it is HISTORY.

...I also reminded him that he always said Marines were "called by a higher power to serve" so he needed to shut up and get to serving.....

"I guess we should feel some sort of guilt, but she broke the cardinal rule: Never [mess] with people who handle your food." - Monty, Waiting

 

[HAL Pilot]

Interesting bit of history.

Thank goodness it is HISTORY.

There was a reason Marines used to be called "sea going bell hops".

But I agree, not a good use of Marines.