Rating: 
Summary: After reading MAKING THE CORPS i would like to applaud Ricks
Review: As a middle schooler I have wanted to join the marine corps for about two years now. I read just about every marine corps book I can get my hands on. As I read MAKING THE CORPS my eyes where opened up more and more to the positives and negatives of the finest fighting unit our country has to offer. But still in the end I remain knowing that the Corps is all that i want to be in and serve in. Thomas A. Ricks has done a fantastic job in describing all the trials the marines have gone through, wether in boot camp or in politics. I would seriously like to recommend this book to any one considering entering the corps as a NCO or a commisioned officer. SEMPER FI!
Rating: 
Summary: This Civilian Thanks You Marines. What Do Journalists Want?
Review: As a never-served civilian, I would gladly recommend this book to any fellow American - WITH CAUTION. It's so well-written, that I've read it repeatedly. With appreciation and real support (and not pandering) from my side of the fence, YOU MARINES WILL CONTINUE TO WIN WARS AND KEEP AMERICA FREE.
Ricks's worldview - the Washington Post Intellectual Elite - has to be accounted for. He almost seems to relish what he sees as a deepening divide between civilians and military. Remember, modern liberals love to claim to save us from division they claim exist from their high perch:
1. Ricks does what a lot of journalists covering the military do. He postures as lending them support, sympathy, airing their feelings. He positions himself as neither supporting liberal nor consverative views of military conduct and policy. But the impression he gives is opposite - that the marines are a CULT, that the marines are on the cusp of becoming an American SS. IN RICKS'S WORLD, ROOTING FOR THE USA IS JINGOISM AND MORALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY INFERIOR JOURNALISM.
To the modern journalist and liberal, patriotism is political. To the modern journalist and liberal, it's more authentic and superior for a Marine to be neutral to a political party. RICKS'S MESSAGE IS, IN EFFECT, A MARINE CAN NOT BE LOYAL TO HIS SERVICE AND PATRIOTIC AT THE SAME TIME, AND WORSE, CONSERVATIVE!
2. Why is Ricks bothered by the increasing partisan conservatism (if Ricks is even right) of the Marines and other armed services? He sets off false alarms that Leftists love to believe - that underneath it all, the USA's military institutions attract losers seeking benefits and also promote dumb robots.
Since when, Mr. Ricks, is American conservatism equal to militarism or military supremacism?
3. Ricks contributes to a false stereotype of the American enlistee and volunteer- that America's youth are destined for loserhood in burger-flipping jobs. In fairness to Mr. Ricks, a couple of recruits that Ricks profiled KNEW WHY THEY WANTED TO BE MARINES AND KNEW THE RISKS AND REVERED THE USA.
The liberal elites dump on the traditional "Ozzie and Harriet" American family. They ushered in 1960s radicalism to free youth from a supposedly intellectual, cultural wasteland. The 1960s cultural revolution was a disaster (YES, TRUE!). Do elites like Ricks now believe that service to country will clean up the decadance and make America MORE egalitarian? IS IT THE MILITARY'S JOB TO MAKE MAKE AMERICA MORE EGALITARIAN?!
4. Much talk from Left-liberals these days about a back-door draft, and the supposed dire need for a draft comes from the liberal worldview of Ricks.
Should America want a draft to WIN WARS or improve the the spiritual, cultural, and economic health of America's poor and downtrodden?
Does Ricks not believe that America's young volunteers are up to the job of WINNING WARS?
WHEN AMERICA HAD A DRAFT, LIBERALS CLAIMED THAT RICH, WHITE GUYS IN BOARDROOMS WERE SENDING POOR FOLKS OUT TO DIE. NOW WITH AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ARMED FORCES (TURNING AWAY THOSE NOT UP TO THE JOB AND GENERALS HAPPY WITHOUT A DRAFT) LIBERALS ARE STILL STOKING THE SAME FEARS!
In conclusion, I had the impression Ricks is not all that different from modern day journalists who hold a dim view of America's traditional institutions and they believe (but will not say it explicitly) that the core of American institutions were always wrotten and need to be constantly REMADE IN THE LIBERAL IMAGE.
Liberals and socialists ARE NOT NECESSARILY PACIFISTS. THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE POWER OVER THE MILITARY TO DO THEIR SOCIAL ENGINEERING.
Liberals almost cannot help themselves with regard to seeing a looming disaster in America even amongst witnessing an institution that helped make America free, good, and brave.
Rating:
Summary: The Way it Is
Review: Being a former U.S. Marine, I believe that this book is one of the best that has been written on the subject of daily recruit life in today's Marine Corps. The portrayal of the good, the bad, and the ugly makes this book highly believable if not 100% accurate. From my own experiences, I can testify to the validity of this book and beseech all who are interested in learning what today's Marine Corps Recruit Training is really like, to buy and enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I did not know there is a mental part of boot camp, so i will be prepared for it when i join the Corps. I also feel sorry for anyone that thinks this is a sad book. My cousin says that his time in the marines was the best part of his life. He likes teaching but he wishes he could have stayed in the core forever. He says that while youre there, you will hate boot camp, but upon graduating you will look upon it as the best part of your life, because you learn to be a marine!
Rating: 
Summary: Proud to be a U.S. Marine
Review: I have read this book and was rather intrigued and disappointed in it. The author comes out strong in discussing what the Marine Corps Boot Camp is all about then the jumps from one subject to another which makes the book disorientating. This would have been a great book if he started out with the beginning process of how the recruit is recruited and then begins his long journey into the Marine Corps. The trials and errors of each different type of recruit could be discussed. I found it rather confusing to know what had happened with one recruit because too many references to other recruits were discussed at the same time. If he was to write about Marine Corps Boot Camp from the prespective of an outsider looking in, then he needs to write the entire process. So much of what actually happens in it was tainted by the political values of society. That should have been placed in a different book. He jumps from one subject to another and then back to the recruits lives. What was disappointing was telling the readers that this recruit did not make it but then left it up in the air to discuss briefly in other chapters and then finally in the later chapters. There was no discussion about the training itself. For any Marine who has been through this training, we all know that it isn't just briefly touched on. So much happens when you go through it that are not even told in this book. The Marine Corps is ever changing and he does touch briefly what happens in the Fleet and what the aftermath of the duty stations are like, but he make the Fleet look bad in certain aspects which unfortunately is true but not all experiences are the same. Only a few make it bad. What he did not touch upon is that the every Marine went through different changes in boot camp. The boot camp that those who went before me (pre-1981) were different than those who went through now. I agree, the Corps is changing and adapting. So if anyone is interested in writing a book about Marine Corps Boot Camp, you must understand that there are two Boot Camps, one in Parris Island and one in San Diego. Each one has its own stories and its own history.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I picked this book up my freshman year in college for a history book review. I choose this particular book because my boyfriend was toying with the idea of joining the Marines and I wanted to learn more about it, so I searched for a book that could tell me something about the subject. What I found was a fascinating account of bootcamp at Paris Island, South Carolina... I could not get enough of this book.
The author, having spent time with these young men as they experienced the Marine Corps basic training really captures the reality of the training experience. Told from many different points of view this book tells so much about the young men who choose a life of service.
Upon reading this book I gained an even deeper respect for those who choose to make the Corps their life. I suggest this book to anyone wanting to learn about the Marine Corps, or anyone who knows someone in the Marines.
Rating:
Summary: Today's USMC bootcamp & civil-military relationships.
Review: If you want a great read about today's USMC recruit training at Parris Island, SC, and a great insight into the USMC vs. American society 'culture war,' then don't miss this OUTSTANDING book! Ricks does a superb job of capturing the challenges and triumphs of a real platoon undergoing bootcamp at the Corps' legendary Parris Island Recruit Depot. He explores the recruits' backgrounds and responses to the transforming bootcamp experience. Unlike some other works which seem to exaggerate certain perspectives, this book is an honest, realistic and well-written collection of astute, in-depth observations. You will understand how the Corps continues to thrive while keeping their numbers small, standards high, and traditions strong. This book also analyzes the growing cultural gap between the USMC and the very society from which it comes. Ricks did extensive research into this gap and carefully weaves it in all throughout the book. He accurately describes the USMC cultural experience and compares it to what you see and don't see in today's society. If you have never given this gap much thought, you will find yourself wondering why you never noticed it before. Being a Marine, I loved this book. Being a part of American society, I was intrigued and entertained by this book. I recommend this book to any Marine and all citizens who ever considered becoming a Marine, running for public office, or know others who have done either one. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Good book.
Review: It was a very interesting book and hard to put down. It is an accurate account of day-to-day activities of boot camp. Highly recommended for anyone who may want to get an idea of what boot camp is like or to relive some old memories.
Rating:
Summary: Three month review
Review: Look...Ricks attempted to give the Corps more respect yet what we all must understand is that he is/was a journalist and would not bite the hand that feeds him (the military allowing him to actual write a story about a sacred place) by divulging all that happens and all that these men see in MCRD training. With that in mind, it is a good outline for delayed entry recruits or the parents of Marines to gain a little understanding. I would though suggest to get a net overview of the next four years a Marine will face, learn from and be guided by when he becomes a civilian once again is the book by P. Chadz.
Rating:
Summary: Semper Fi
Review: Somewhat striking versus my years 58-62. Couldn't quit back then. None where thrown out weekly they just set them back and then back again if they didn't adjust. Some of the text gave me the opinion the Author felt they were mostly losers any way you looked at it. Well,during the years I was in I only saw strong patriots ready to give their lives for our great USA. I can't help but believe it's still the same. A saying I remember was 'they might not be real pretty but they are pretty tough. Let there always be men that wish to become the greatest-- a United States Marine.
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