I remember in bootcamp I smacked a mosquito off my neck. My company commander then made me pick up that mosquito, dig a hole, bury the mosquito, name the mosquito, then say it a prayer in front of all the other companies.... good times

Update: November 14, 2019. I’m a behind the scenes kind of guy so when GQ called me to be in front of the camera, I was incredibly nervous-absolute trepidation. Three weeks later and over 5.5 million views, the messages of encouragement, love and support have been profoundly appreciated. I try to read everyone of them and respond if I can. Sincerely grateful to GQ for the opportunity they gave me. Hope we can do it again in the future. And thank you all for watching. Original Post-To clear up some misconceptions 1) No, I was not dishonorably discharged. Honorable discharge after eight years as a Marine infantryman 2) yes, after the military I gained weight. War and depression will do that and I’m working on it. 3) I did not serve in Iraq, I served in Afghanistan. 4) a correction is needed, I was incorrect to say the lower receiver of an M-16A1 was made by Mattel, it appears I was taught a myth while in the Marines, which is also not uncommon. 5) I did not know what movies or scenes would be shown to me, so everything was off the top of my head. 6) Thank you to everyone who enjoyed watching the video 7) if you didn’t enjoy it, that’s okay, no hate here. 8) I can’t control the sound of my voice, apologies for that.

"Jody is like an urban myth." He was definitely being polite here. Jody is alive and well, and at every military base.

My friends dad was in Vietnam. He said full metal jacket was by far the most accurate as far as what boot camp at that time was like.

"There is only one Jarhead. All the others are bulshit" Truer words were never spoken.

This isnt on topic, but he just looks like he would be a really nice friend

R. Lee Ermey is without a doubt the greatest representation of a DI in cinema....ever. Very accurate. His portrayal was the closest to when I went through basic training in 1984.

9:22 Just a little correction. Combat Medics during WW2 absolutely carried weapons, however Desmond Doss was a devout pacifist and refused to disobey one of the Ten Commandments that’s says you should not kill. The fact that he saved that man lives without a weapons is what is spectacular.

Serial killer breaks down slasher films should be next

As a former Marine myself, you did a fantastic job and represented us well. I have also struggled with my weight and depression after I got out. This is extremely common and often not talked about. Semper Fidelis brother.

I always saw Full Metal Jacket as an anti war film so to hear that people joined the military because of the fill is like hearing kids joining gangs after watching Blood in Blood Out .

R. Lee Ermey was my step father's drill sergeant in the USMC. There's a photo of his graduating class where he's standing off to the side.

people say there are comments criticizing him but i literally cant find any

Your wife: exists Jodi: It's free real estate

"Sir, I got lost on my way to college" might be Jake Gyllenhaal's best line ever

R. Lee Ermy absolutely terrified me when I first saw Full Metal Jacket. He still does! Vincent D’onofrio broke my heart. Stunning performances.

**slams head into chalk board** “That’s accurate.”

We went to boot camp together! This is dope.

Watching all these scenes together let's you appreciate how good Full Metal Jacket was. In addition to being pretty accurate, its just great film making.

I am related to a Vietnam veteran (RIP) who was in R. Lee Ermeys platoon who told me that the thing that bothered him most about the movie was that they show that the drill instructor struck recruits - he said they were not allowed to do that. They did, however, have plenty of ways to psychologically break down recruits who refused to obey.

I'm still waiting for the most realistic Military Movie ever. All that will happen is a 3 hour long Power Point briefing and then everyone leaves the tent looking exhausted and hunting for coffee.

I went into the Army in 1970 and "Jody" was alive and well back then too ! We even had to sing about him while we were marching ! LOL!

What a great breakdown. This guy seems unusually genuine.

Idk why people are hating I found this guy to be a pleasure to watch

This guy is Jocko's undermined little brother

I spent six years in the Marine Corps and to me, Generation Kill was by far the most accurate thing I've ever seen on TV or the movies when it comes to showing what life is like on a deployment. I don't know how it is now, I got out years ago but that show definitely represents the early 2000s Corps very well.

I went through MCRD San Diego in the summer of 1981. Other than the shooting in the head, the boot camp scene in Full Metal Jacket was the most accurate portrayal that I've ever seen on screen.

Me: Sees something horrible and inhumane Marine: That is accurate.

"I got lost on the way to college." I can't stop laughing omg.

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps, and I've always said that the boot camp portrayal in Full Metal Jacket is the most accurate I've ever seen in a movie.

My sister was the singer in her bootcamp platoon. She was the number one for it. Afterwards her DI would say she hated her voice. Lol

This is literally the sweetest looking Marine Infantryman I've ever seen

guy who was actually in the marines: yep this is accurate some neck beard on the internet: NUH HUH

I can't believe I just saw this three years later, but this whole thing was fantastic. I wasn't a Marine, I was Army. But there's of course many parallels between the corps and the army. Little technicalities and little differences here and there, but a lot of it is very much the same. It was cool to see a regular enlisted guy talk about his experiences and what he noticed. I was saying so many of the same things even before he said it. They should do this more often.

I haven't been in the military myself, but have family who have served. Your video was insanely entertaining and educational. I really appreciated your insight into things I've always wondered about. Thank you for your service and thank you for your time in making this video.

suddenly everyone in these comment sections are military experts

People are saying that people are making fun of him but i haven't seen one comment bullying the marine.

First stage of service rifle competition (where soldiers earn the distinguished rifleman ribbon) is 20 rounds at 200 yards standing. Absolutely not uncommon for people to land all 20 in the x and the 10 ring for a perfect score.

R Lee Ermey was my neighbor's drill instructor in boot camp. My neighbor said his character in Full Metal Jacket was exactly who he was in real life.

Im impressed that after everything he must have seen and been through he can still have such a calm and soft spoken demeanor and talk so candidly about his experiences.

I fully admit that I wouldn't survive a day in the military.

I am very glad you came out and did this. I enjoyed watching/hearing your take on these things. You did a great job! My Dad was in the Marine Corp before I was born, so I grew up loving and respecting Marines! By the way, he was in the Korean war.

I did Army Basic in the early 90's, I remember one of my drill sergeants, he was a tank driver, never raised his voice louder than needed to be heard, but he explained his teaching method the second day we were there as the three T's, first he'd teach us, then he'd test us and if we f'd it up, he'd torture us, we got really good at pushups and leg lifts. Our lead instructors goal was we would excel on drill and ceremony and aptitude tests or we'd excel at physical fitness, by the end we were top in all three. The only week we didn't have the lead platoon banner on our flag was one miserable week. Of course we started with 60 and only 46 of us graduated, vs the other three platoons in the company lost about 8 combined out of 180. They never endorsed or allowed hazing, really wasn't needed. Fair but tough is how I would describe them all. All of us wanted to quit at some point I'm sure, but it was definitely worth it.

I used 550 cord to secure my blankets to my bed... slept on top of everything... Funny thing was,,,, when the DI came in and started flipping beds because someone messed up... My bed was third one to be flipped... mattress and covers stayed firmly attached and unaffected by the bed flip... The DI actually broke persona and laughed through his nose... He did make me do pushups, but stopped flipping the rest of the beds and left. That was a great day

"I got lost on my way to college." Priceless

Reminds me: a drill sergeant was getting a bit too cocky and aggressive with a new recruit on this side of the world. So he, the drill sergeant, challenged him to a fight to prove his "superiority" to other recruits. It went down really really bad. The new recruit knocked him out cold and completely humiliated him. Which tanked the sergeant's reputation...

When I was in Navy basic training in '98 there were signs posted everywhere "Swearing is not quality leadership". In the 13 weeks I was there I never heard a curse word. Fudge was the harshest thing my Petty Officer said. Fudging, I don't give a fudge, move your fudging butt, etc

As a Marine, this is an accurate analysis for these movies.

Jarhead: 0:16 0:34 Head shaved, uniform and barracks 1:38 Standing in line 2:20 Drill instructor yelling 2:57 Jody 3:28 Being a scribe 3:51 Hitting someone's head in the board/wall 4:31 Boot camp 5:43 Branding Stripes: 6:58 7:02 Marching and guys smiling 7:54 Singing while marching 8:38 Totally fake military base Hacksaw Ridge: 9:17 9:21 True Story 9:48 Obstacle courses and racing event Heartbreak Ridge: 10:26 10:27 Emotional moment 10:51 Shooting range 12:14 Firing in the range 13:12 Running around the group while walking Full Metal Jacket: 13:47 14:25 Unlocked footlocker 15:57 Proper motivation not given to a Private 16:34 Hazing 17:04 Critique review on the movie

Full Metal Jacket was the most accurate movie about the Marine Corps. It was EXACTLY what I went through in Marine Corps boot camp during Viet Nam. I always felt that whoever wrote the script was in my platoon.

The boot camp scenes in full metal jacket is the most accurate and true to reality ever put to film.

Imagine making an anti-war film, trying to exaggerate everything bad about it and 30 years later, some ex-marine says "Yup, that's what it's like. This film made thousands of people want to join."

Ok be honest who came here to see him do full metal jacket

I just want to thank you Marine Sir, for putting your life on the line for protecting us

One thing I've noticed about all ex marines is they all look so friendly but there's also that thought in the back of your mind that this guy could kill you in .3 seconds

The fact that the most disturbing movies on the list, is determined by an actual Marine to be the most accurate speaks volumes.

This guy just kept a whole generation of kids on quarantine out of the military Showing Jarhead “that’s accurate, that’s accurate, that’s accurate”

He looks like such a friendly guy who play fall guys with his kids

I love the 'most replayed' thing. You just knew what was going to be there!

I'm a navy veteran, James is the modern day veteran. He reminds me of all my navy buddies. Also GQ needs to get him in another video. People think veteran they think special ops guys, when in reality James here is the everyman vet

James seems like the sweetest guy, I hope he is being treated well with love and respect now in life.

God bless this man, he has some firsthand experience and he has super soothing way to convey them. Plus he looks like a supper huggable teddy bear. Also the insight that an anti-war movie actually brought all the more recruits to the USMC is hilarious.

That Part with the Marines standing on the catwalks.. such an underrated scene, and such a powerful moment. I got to my fleet grunt unit on a Friday evening..it was quite a bit uglier in real life than in the movie, I will say that. It began a very difficult year of float workups. They would try to break us any way possible..Like if they could break you, you did not belong anyway. We lose more marines in those first 6 months in the fleet than any other time. I try to explain it to people, and they never really understand. I was grateful in the end, it all made sense when i was senior and going to Iraq with some pretty hard boots lol

I want to see more of this guy, he is so disciplined and polite

I love how they found a down-to-earth likeable guy instead of some over the top "Hoorah" dude with a real hardon for acting tough. Great stuff!

My friend who was in the marines, and the second Gulf war, told me that Full Metal Jacket had the most accurate depiction of marine training he has seen in a movie or television program.

In heartbreak ridge, they were filming in and around Camp Pendleton. If I recall correctly. Supposedly the story is, the actors hung out with real marines to get a feel for it. Supposedly the marines even tossed them a few pieces of gear here and there, sort of as a loaner for the film.

US marine’s wife/girlfriend exist: Jodi: 😏

I got lost on the way going to college 😂

I had the same misadventure at a shooting range than that poor guy. My MAT49 misfunctioned and I turned to call the drill instructor and luckily he push my forearm up as 3 bullets went out. I was severely punish (and beaten a little bit by another instructor that hated me because he was robbed as a tourist once in my village), totally deserved!

Full Metal Jacket. Best boot camp scene and probably the most accurate for Vietnam era recruits.

See y’all in 6 years when this gets recommend to everybody

There is a Russian saying: "If you've been to the army, you don't laugh at the circus".

He’s really articulate with his words, for a marine.

Full Metal Jacket & Jarhead, seem accurate to me (Jan 85) SD-MCRD 🤣🤣🤣

I watched Full Metal Jacket, and went into the Air Force. No one kicked me in the face, and I'm good with that. Secondly, anyone making fun of this dude needs to realize, most of you couldn't have endured half of what he did.

I really liked the way James broke things down, he seems like a really cool guy

1968/74 yep that all happened and even more.{ My Movie was Halls of Montezuma } James did a great job breaking it all down. Semper-Fi..

You did good, but I’m surprised you didn’t catch on to the sir sandwich in jarhead. I’m an 06r myself and you know how hilarious it was when some recruits would start to sir sandi!!! Hahaha semper fi

My dad was an army Sargeant in the South African infantry... He was chuckling through most of jarhead... In a weird, creepy kind of way... I now know why. I can't believe that man raised me in such sensible manner.

Jody: *Bangs nearly every Marine’s wife or girlfriend* Johnny Sins: “Finally a worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!”

KUDOS to you for making an educational and interesting video. I was discharged in 1986 after serving 7 years in the Corps. I worked in the Public Affairs field and was a military journalist. I hope you do more videos. Full Metal Jacket was spot on and I appreciate your description and valuable critique. Anyone who doesn't like it...I would say go suck a raw egg...but I will be nice and just say I guess you really don't know what it can be like. My hubby, also a former Marine, experienced much of what you showed in Full Metal Jacket. He couldn't swim well ... and was chased around inside of the pool by two drill instructors. Let's just say he manage to get his swim qualification in deep water with full gear on, regardless. My poor guy, lol.

Footlocker not locked, a real no-no, very accurate indeed. Got a good yelling by the drill instructor.

You should do prisoner breaks down prison movies

People talking about his shape..look at the forearms. There's "Back in my day, don't test me" strength there.

Yeah camp Lejeune part was hilarious since it's in Jacksonville NC lol.

The original actor that was supposed to play the DI in Full Metal Jacket, played the door gunner in the helicopter.

"Jody" is taking care of all the Navy wives and girlfriends, too. Heard it a million times, and not just in boot.

Marine: *gets branded* Me: please don't say it please don't say it please don't say it Him: That's accurate Me: :(

Lol the 4:47 looking up to the guys and getting off the bus is like getting transferred to prison. Some got cat walks like that too and they size us all "new recruits" up lmao crazy similarity.

My weapon was an M-14 with 7.62mm, until they gave me that POS M-16 and I because I could type 25 wpm, I went to Camp Pendleton, CA to become an Administrative Clerk. Retired Army National Guard. Great experience and honored to have served my Country and State.

“I got lost on the way to college, sir!” 😂

Marine: is at war Wife: *exists* Jodi: *communist national anthem*

13:39 Is That You John Wayne? Is This Me? And a good lead in to FMJ.

Thank you for your service James Laporta, and all the other who have served and are serving.

WIRED would like a word with you.

I know to him this isn't a compliment, but hes just adorable.

the emery one rings so true, i joined the aus navy in 93 and we had Petty Officers try and see how far out of a room they could get a persons gear as for inspections it had to be on the bed perfectly lined up perfectly ironed to an exact size. waiting for your room inspection was tense when you see stuff suddenly come flying out of someone elses room. final inspection i passed no worries but a large number failed. so they had to do it all again. but bed and gear had to be on the parade ground for inspection. the whole intake, some 80 guys and girls worked like crazy those that had passed helping those that failed to take the bed apart run it downstairs and set it up on the parade ground, then help them set up their gear for inspection. everyone passed, helped put it away and that night got blind drunk.

My father was in 1948-1968, he was beat severely during boot camp MCRD. However, they made him a sniper in Korea 1950-1952 & Vietnam 1965-1968.

My dad went to marine corps boot camp in the late 70s and he said that full metal jacket is exactly how it was. Gut punches and all