MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Two representatives from the French army, Sgts. Maj. Frederic Plautin and Thierry Fiorini, both of whom are attached to the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., as military defense representatives, visited Parris Island April 12 to view Marine Corps basic training and compare it to their own recruit training.
"The purpose is to have a look at what is here," said Plautin, whose previous military occupational specialty was as an airborne soldier. "This is going to be a comparison [between French training and American training] and will finish as a report to the [French] chief of staff.
"Our chief of staff paid a visit [to Parris Island] and thought it would be a good idea for us to have another look at how the Marine Corps manages training."
The information gathered for the report could lead to changes in French military training, said Plautin.
"This is so we can see if there are good [ideas] we can use in France," said Plautin. "It may give our chiefs a better idea of what to improve."
While here, the two Frenchmen experienced and witnessed many key aspects of Marine Corps recruit training, including initial drill competition, the gas chamber, the Crucible, Marine Corps marksmanship training, the Confidence Course, bayonet training and the Rappel Tower.
They also had a chance to meet with Marines and recruits aboard the Depot to get a better idea of what Marine Corps life is like for the Marines living it.
"We are very impressed at the discipline of everyone here, especially the drill instructors," said Plautin.
According to Plautin and Fiorini, who both belong to a section of the French army called the "Troupes de Marine," the training between the two countries is incredibly different.
The major variation in the two training styles is levels of standardization, said Plautin.
"The Marine Corps is all standardized," said Plautin. "Everybody does the same training, but in France, the units do their own basic training."
While every American Marine recruit is required to complete the same basic training every other Marine has gone through, French recruits enlist with a particular unit and the unit they check into provides their basic training. Recruits have evening and weekend liberty and are not as isolated as Marine recruits are during training, said Plautin.
Another difference between the Marine Corps and the Troupes de Marine is that while the Marine Corps is attached to the Navy, the Troupes de Marine is attached to the French army.
"We are structurally different," said Sgt. Maj. Darrell Stillings, sergeant major, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and the designated escort for Plautin and Fiorini.
All in all, the visit was very successful, informative and provided a good view of Marine Corps training, said Plautin.
"[We are] very pleased with what [we have seen] here," said Plautin.