Marine Corps Stories: My Commandant Says

Two Marines, a man and a woman, enjoyed a night on the town. They watched a movie, and ended up in a hotel not too far from the base.

“We train together at MCT. Some at SOI, too. We go to MOS school together. We’re in the Fleet together. Why not have men and women train at a single base together?” Lance Corporal Flarizell Fellows asked. She flipped her hair.

“Because that would upset the tradition,” Lance Corporal Trey Creagh said.

“Tradition, like segregating blacks, demeaning other races, excluding women, gays, lesbians, and the transgendered...that tradition?” She asked.

“So some messed up shit happened in the past. That’s not tradition. That's just unfortunate history,” he said.

“Why shouldn’t the women be with the men in physical training and academics?”

“Because that’s not the problem. Fraternization is the issue. There would be too much tomfoolery.”

“Tomfoolery? What is this, the 1940’s?” Flarizell said.

“You know what I mean. There will be a desire for the men and women to get together romantically.”

Flarizell shook her head. “I doubt that that would be a problem. Gay and lesbian recruits ought not engage in sex acts. As long as everyone is professional and onboard, then those urges will melt away.”

“Your tongue is more lax than action.”

“I’m telling you, recruits and their nasty bodies will be separated from each other, and will not have enough time to deal with the alleged ‘romantic’ aspects of boot camp. Besides, even if there was some action going down, the collective punishment, and the individual punishment, would probably deter anyone from engaging in such acts.”

The two of them then looked at each other for a long time. They kissed and held each other. They then broke from their embrace.

“We’re Marines. Not recruits.”

“Sounds like a bunch of excuses,” Creagh said.

“I’m stating reasons. We did it because we have an attraction. We’re permitted to do what we just did...and more….” Flarizell said. They undressed and fell back on the bed. After this session, they looked at each other.

“It’ll never work,” Flarizell said.

“What...you?”

“I mean you’re right. If I saw you in boot camp, I’d pay someone to be with you in the big gear locker.”

“”I was just about to say I was agreeing with you. There should be a system like in colleges for coed situations. But you were right. The punishment would be severe if men and women were to do what we just did in recruit training.” Creagh put on his pants and shirt. Flarizell slid into her skirt and blouse.

“I’m beginning to think the whole idea for having the men and women together during recruit training is to establish unit cohesion but also to make it easier for those young boots to keep their feelings in check. They would have to control their emotions in order to get to a place...like where we are right now,” she said.

“Agreed. As long as recruits are busy with their own PFT and rifle scores, academics, and knowing what it’s like to be a Devil Dog. I’m all about it. We don’t share the same command. But obviously, if men and women are in the same platoon, they would need to be disciplined according to the catch-all Article 134 of the UCMJ.”

“I think we can safely say the Corps is ready for the integration of the sexes. Demonstrating that we understand gender equality would prove to be a boost to the Corps, not a hindrance.”

Creagh took hold of Flarizell’s hand and kissed it. “If we have to ask to be in one of those videos they show about fraternization in the military workplace, then we’ll be examples of patience and the ability to connect romantically under the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.”