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For Mr Eric Blair
By Maj P
This is the long-promised answer to a commenter, Eric Blair, who has twice asked me about field historians in the Marine Corps. Sorry it took so long.
Basically, our detachment-- 12 Marines strong, including two combat artists (mdfay.blogpsot.com and alexdurr.net)-- goes out when there are large scale operations underway, and we document the actions of Marines in those operations. Each unit from battalion up is responsible for submitting its own semi-annual historical document called a command chronology. It tells what that unit is, where and when it was, what it was doing for the period in question, and to a small extent who was in it. We, on the other hand, are less concerned with a single unit than we are with the entire task force, however large or small it may be.
Our primary duty is oral history, a recorded interview with a single subject, usually covering a recent event. For senior officers we also do career level interviews. Those interviews are recorded in digital format, and archived at Quantico, protected by official use only for several years (for privacy and operational reasons). Selected ones are transcribed. They preserve the first-hand accounts of individual Marines, unfiltered and unedited. This is a valuable task; no one else in the Marine Corps undertakes it. In addition, we do a little photography, and also keep a journal recording our impressions of operations and providing some guidance to future researchers.
We also do some writing. I have been involved in a writing project that grew out of my tour in Iraq two years ago.
For a good blog from one of our Marines, look at vmicraig.blogspot.com.
I hope this answered your question! Let me know if it doesn't.
jpp
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Comments
Maj. P., I have a Marine history question.
Were the Marine's involved in any conflict in 1885?
(It's an odd question that I am asking for a bizarre reason, but...)
June 18, 1885 - Marines land in Panama to protect trans-isthmus railroad
Sorry for the typo, i'll change that. And thanks to Russ jumping in wih the answer.
Maj P
Two more:
I have two alcohol violations (not DUI's, consumption when I was in high school and 20) does that mean that I am disqualified from the Marine Corp?
(I have some information about OCS and PLC)
Do you have to start the program when you are 18 to join?
Mike:
Call your local recruiter. Those are common questions, and I'm not in a position to provide the most up-to-date answers. I will say, however, that in my experience, being completely up front about things definitely helps you. As for OCS and PLC, I believe you can start at any time during your college years, but again, ask the "OSO," or officer selection officer. The recruiter will put you in touch.
Maj P
Mike, old VMI buddy of mine had a "drunk in public" from just a year or so ago, and he's currently holding a top secret clearance.
Like Maj P said, being honest and upfront with recruiters/background investigators is your best shot.
Thanks guys.
Thank you kindly, Major.
Yes, you've answered some of what I'd like to know, but I have a couple follow ups: (Its the Historian's Hydra: an answer to one question usually leads to more questions).
Anyway, is there some particular way you choose who is to be intereviewed?
And, what is meant by 'career level'? (I'm sorta assuming it means you want to interview a captain or a major or a colonel to find out something about their experience of being at that level of command).
Thanks much, and stay safe.
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That's blogspot.com, not blogpsot.com. vmicraig.blogpsot.com takes you to some online Christian pamphlet. : )