Even though I disagree with many of the changes, when I see the privates graduate at the end of the day, when they walk off that drill field at the end of the ceremony, they are still fine privates; outstanding, well motivated privates.

Meaning of the quote

Even though the speaker didn't agree with many of the changes, when he saw the new soldiers graduate and leave the training field, he could see that they were still excellent soldiers who were highly motivated and ready to serve.

About R. Lee Ermey

R. Lee Ermey, a former U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor, rose to fame for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the iconic film Full Metal Jacket. Ermey often played authority figure roles in movies and hosted popular TV shows about military history and weapons development.

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More quotes from R. Lee Ermey

There was a huge, tremendous amount of disabled veterans and the Veteran’s Administration just wasn’t geared up for it. I know for a fact that it’s getting better and better.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

It’s been a pretty fun ride, to tell you the truth.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

There have been a lot of changes in recruit training in the past twenty years.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Kubrick ate it up. He loved it. He just let me go crazy.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Kubrick’s films have life – they just never die.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

When you try to find funding for a VVA function, it doesn’t seem like it’s any trouble at all. People come out of the woodwork with their money to help out because we went over and fought a war.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I was stationed at a marine recruit depot in San Diego from 1965 to 1967.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

We had times in ’66 and ’67 when we would pick up a platoon of privates out of the receiving barracks the week before we even graduated the platoon that we were on!

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I honestly do feel that I am a role model for young people.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

The drill instructor must have total and complete control. Mindless obedience is what he’s after.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I got space from Travis Air Force Base, went back to the Philippine Islands and made it a point to meet the only American casting director in the Philippines. I was off and running.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

There’s a lot of whiners in every crowd.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day – I go down to recruit graduation at least once or twice a year.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

It’s my firm conviction that when Uncle Sam calls, by God we go, and we do the best that we can.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I got to write most of everything I said.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Even though I disagree with many of the changes, when I see the privates graduate at the end of the day, when they walk off that drill field at the end of the ceremony, they are still fine privates; outstanding, well motivated privates.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I don’t have any respect at all for the scum-bags who went to Canada to avoid the draft or to avoid doing their fair share.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I’ve never had to spend any time in the VA hospital, so I really can’t speak for those guys.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Without discipline, there is no Marine Corp.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I firmly believe that you live and learn, and if you don’t learn from past mistakes, then you need to be drug out and shot.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Back in the old Corp, we weren’t training those privates to infiltrate into the peacetime Marine Corp. We were training those privates to go to Vietnam.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

That’s all I cared about too, was getting it right.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

America’s trying to do the best for its veterans.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

I go the VA Hospital when I have a problem and the doctor jumps on me.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

The best part about the movie, and everybody seems to rave about it, is the boot camp part.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)

You’d be surprised how many kids and young people come to the website and send me email that they are actually going into the Marine Corp because of something that I said or did.

R. Lee Ermey

American actor and soldier (1944-2018)