I told you last time about how I feared Army basic training after watching the portrayal of Marine recruit training in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket. When I learned my new friend, retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dan Ritter, had served as a Marine drill instructor, or DI, I knew he’d have a great story.

In 1981, after a judge recommended Ritter consider the Marines, he enlisted at age 17. He rose through the ranks quickly, reaching sergeant by the end of his four-year enlistment. But he was considering getting out, discouraged by a lot of the senior enlisted leadership who’d fought in Vietnam and had trouble with alcohol and poor fitness.