The "Heavy"

After completing a few 13-week cycles, the drill instructor is moved up to the position of Experienced Drill Instructor (EDI), also called the "Heavy."  His job consists of constant corrections, dispensing punitive "Incentive Training" (IT), and keeping unremitting pressure on recruits to pay attention to details. He also teaches and reinforces academic knowledge to recruits.

SSgt 'C' was the "Heavy" for my platoon (2074).  This cat was hard, firm, fair, and funny at times.  During one of our drilling sessions in First Phase, we were doing facing movements.  SSgt 'C' would call out, "Right Face!" and we would perform the movement.  As reinforcement to do the action correctly, SSgt 'C' demonstrated the movement and yelled out, "It is cock, and drive!  Not turn, and slime!"  Unless you were there, it probably wouldn't be as funny as it still is to me.  I can still see him doing it properly with the 'cock and drive' and then mimicking our movements with the 'turn and slime'.

SSgt 'C' was instilled fear, but commanded respect.  I recall a number of interactions with the "Heavy", both good and bad.  One, I had during First Phase, don't remember why exactly (medical, dental, something), but I was by myself while the rest of the platoon was at the classroom.  Done with whatever it was I was supposed to be doing, SSgt 'C' escorted me to be with the rest of the platoon.  While walking 'briskly' to the classroom area, we passed behind the barracks close to the parade deck.  It was graduation day for some Marines, civilians could be seen scattered about as they were being shown the training areas by the graduates.  Out of nowhere, SSgt 'C' turned his head and said, "See that fine looking girl over there?"  Being only a couple paces behind him, I turned, looked, and said, "Sir, Yes Sir!"  He immediately spun around and started yelling at me for "eye balling his area".  We started walking again then he turned around again and asked, "You think I'm an a**hole, don't you?"  I yelled, "Sir, no sir!"  We took two more steps, then he turned and asked, "Why the hell not!"  That question was almost comical to me at the time, because I did think he was a prick for asking if I saw that good looking girl and then ripping me for looking.  But, I was forewarned by my recruiters, prior to leaving for boot camp, that mind-games were part of the package.  So, I responded with, "Because the Drill Instructor is just doing his job, Sir!"  I believe SSgt 'C' didn't expect that, he looked me up and down, brandished a slight smirk, and said, "Very well."  Nothing more was said. The rest of the way.

We found out near the end of recruit training that SSgt 'C' wasn't a rifleman, or a machine gunner, or even a tank driver like we all thought or at least tried to guess, but was an F-18 jet engine mechanic.  What a shock!  This hard-charger was in aviation?  Couldn't believe it.  Anyone can be a Drill Instructor with the right mind, motivation, and training.

What do you remember about your platoon's "Heavy"?