http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_marine_021905,00.html?ESRC=dod.nl 

Associated Press

February 19, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A drill instructor who struck a Marine recruit who later died during training has been suspended pending an investigation into the death, military officials said Friday.

Jason Tharp of Sutton, W.Va., drowned Feb. 8 while participating in a water-survival training course at Parris Island.

The day before his death, a Columbia television station recorded a confrontation between Tharp and the drill instructor, who was seen in the video grabbing Tharp by the shirt and striking him in the chest.

The instructor, who was not identified, has been reassigned to administrative duties, said Capt. Jamie Nott, a Parris Island spokesman.

Nott acknowledged that grabbing and striking a recruit violates regulations.

Another drill instructor told WIS-TV that Tharp had refused to get in the water. "He's just afraid because he is not able to swim correctly right now, and he just wants to leave and go home," Staff Sgt. Anthony Davis said.

Officials say Tharp entered the pool voluntarily the day he died and was swimming the 25-meter requirement. They say Marines at the pool took immediate action to rescue and resuscitate him.

The victim's father, Johnny Tharp, told the television station his son joined the Marines to earn money for college. "I don't know how they could treat my son the way we saw him," Tharp said.

let me start off by saying I do not condone the striking of a trainee for any reason (as I was a Drill Inst. in the USAR)...that being said, what really bothers me is when you hear of someone saying I joined just to get the money for college or this is not what I thought it would be like...my apologies to all the other fine young (and older) men & women who are proudly serving their country I know it is a small portion who are the whiner/complainers..and I dont even mind them as long as they DO THEIR JOBS...again it is sad that this trainee died and it should/needs and will be looked into, but how should they be treated...we are trying to prepare these people for war..where your actions or inactions can lead to the deaths of 100's or more.

I am not the Gung Ho RA RA type...I know the military life is not for everyone. Therefore, you need to get a FULL understanding of what you are getting into before you join...talk to people (not just recruiters) talk to Vets...and LISTEN to what they say !

The military can be a great career...but make no mistake it is a VERY tough career, you will not be treated like boys & girls..you will be treated as SOLIDERS !

I usually avoid these types of threads as I try to not be too opinionated ! but this just BUGS me

Thank you for letting me vent...

You may now go back to your regular scheduled programming.

TANK...(E-5 Ret.)

Thanks for your inputs on this one Tank!!!

And Thanks for your Service..

Very good points well taken here!!!

Hog

I am an (almost) 18 year veteran and I have to agree with you Tank!

It is very sad that the young man had to die, but this is one example in a long list of things that I like to refer to as the "continuing pussification of our military". To INJURE someone is flat out wrong.

Hazing, on the other hand, is part of tradition, as long as it doesn't physically injure them. So what if your 'pride' is hurt... MAN UP!

Alot of military traditions are being watered down because of the few babies who want to whine about it.

Before anyone goes nuts... please read my post again. I do not condone physically injuring someone. Again, it is sad that this young soldier had to die.

Pleased ta meetcha Tank!

USN E-6, AD

I'm sorry this young man died. I'm especially sorry for his parents. I feel bad. I was not there, I did not see what transpired, so I can only make observations and comments based on experience. I don't believe for one minute that he wanted to be there. There was NO WAY he wanted to be there. He was recruited like so many others and shoved off to basic training with NO IDEA it would be that tough.

Like Tank said, they're gonna be treated like soldiers. I think from the beginning, he should never have been sent to military boot camp. Someone dropped the ball. I have managed too many young sailors with problems with authority and he had a problem with authority. And he could not swim. How did he ever get that far? They should have cut their losses with him way before it got that far. Let's say he actualy made it through boot camp and got put into a unit. How would he respond when things got tough?

I don't condone some of the actions of DI's, but I know for a fact that they would have NEVER intentionally let that kid get hurt.

But, someone will answer for what happened, and it will probably be more than one person in the chain, and at higher levels. More than likely, some procedures will change as well as a result of this incident.

I hope the truth does come out soon. It's a high profile case and some news outfit will put their spin on it. I only hope the Drill Instructors involved get to tell their story.

"Tharp and the drill instructor, who was seen in the video grabbing Tharp by the shirt and striking him in the chest."

Exactly Herfsnipe the spin was already added.. according to the article it was filmed.. so I would like to also see the footage before making any type judgement to his treatment IE: Struck or Tapped in the chest??

Hog

Herfsnipe's right. I had no idea what the Marine Corps was or did when I enlisted. All I knew was that my recruiter offered a challenge. That was enough for me, so off I went. The Marine Corps is NOT what you see on TV. Those that want to be Rambo or reap the benefits without shedding blood, sweat, and tears need not apply.

It's a shame recruits are pushed on instead of weeded out. A good number of applicants have no business entering the service. There's a lot to cover in a short period of time. Some are nervous, some don't listen. If you listen to all instructions, and do EXACTLY (no more AND no less than) what you're told, you have a safety net. If the recruit ventures outside of that safety net - he's unpredictable. It's hard to react to those situations and vital nanoseconds are lost. Keep that in mind before judging the DIs. Remember, millions have made it through without injury.

Hazing is as old as our armed forces. Unfortunately, so is corporal punishment. Who can honestly say with this little information whether it was hazing or corporal punishment? I can't, that's for sure.

It does indeed sound like the media is putting a spin on it. Although we weren't there and don't know the details - the story does have holes in it. If he couldn't swim, there's no way he made it to WSSQ. He was testing for a 3rd class qual.

I am truly sad to hear that the recruit died. Somewhere along the line the system failed him. Whether it was his recruiter, his DIs, his fellow recruits, or the safety swimmers on duty - we'll probably never know.

More on the Topic:

Five Marines suspended during drowning inquiry

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/02/19/marine.drowning/ 

Death of Marine recruit sparks investigations, suspensions

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/11000490.htm 

Hog

I am hearing all this, we are sorry he died he should not have been there in the first place stuff. Maybe he should not have been there, but if he could not swim teach him, if they do not have the time to teach him they should have required him to have learned how before basic. Someone brought up a good point, were are the staff in charge of the training area. The range has it's range masters. If somebody gets shot it is on them. Maybe that is were the ball got dropped.

I went thru Navy Preflight School in Pensacola, and I can tell you that the Marine Drill Instructors we had did in fact "lay their hands on recruits"! I have seen three guys get pushed down at one time because the DI hit the end guy and he fell into the other three!

If you cannot take it, don't be there! I graduated and became a shiny new Ensign in the Navy, after 16 weeks of training, of which the first 4 or 5 were in mortal fear of the DI's!

Charlie