Platoon 1022 – Parris Island (1982–1983): Cold War Recruits of the All-Volunteer Force
Front Cover, MCRD Marine Boot Camp Book - Parris Island - 1982 Platoon 1022. | GGA Image ID # 136e6ab77e
📘 Brotherhood Forged in the Cold War Era: MCRD Parris Island – Platoon 1022 (1982–1983)
📅 Training Period & Context
Training Start: 16 December 1982
Graduation: 25 February 1983
Graduates: 46
Unit: First Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island
This platoon trained during a significant transitional period for the Marine Corps—just a decade after the Vietnam War and deep into the Cold War. These Marines were part of an evolving all-volunteer force navigating the technological and geopolitical shifts of the 1980s.
Platoon 1982-1022 Organization and Schedule
- Organization: First Battalion
- Commenced Training: 16 December 1982
- Completed Training: 25 February 1983
🧑✈️ Platoon 1982-1022 Leadership
- Battalion Commander: LCOL Denny Fryrear
- Battalion Executive Officer: MAJ J. D. Majchrzak
- Battalion Sergeant Major: SMAJ J. Jacques
- Series Officer: 1LT Hallinan
- Assistant Series Officer: 1LT Paulovich
- Series Chief Drill Instructor: SSGT Malkin
- Series Gunnery Sergeant: GYSGT Castro
- Company Commander: CPT Davis
- Platoon Chief Drill Instructor: 1SGT McKnight
- Platoon Assistant Drill Instructor: SGT Watkins
- Platoon Assistant Drill Instructor: SGT Zuhlke
1SGT McKnight’s leadership stands out in this class. Known for his disciplined approach, McKnight appears in multiple yearbooks from the early 1980s and helped shape hundreds of Marines during this pivotal decade.
Platoon 1982-1022 Recruit Roster
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Recruits, Page 1 (Altomare-Jolivette)
- S. Altomare
- B. Andrew
- W. Attmore
- C. Bjomlie
- V. Boddie
- D. Bozek
- J. Brooks
- A. Brown
- A. Buckman
- D. Cleary
- N. Cofield
- N. Conway
- W. Coughlin
- W. Cox
- D. Crompton
- J. Dodson
- V. Edmonds
- R. Ervin
- G. Espinosa
- D. Hint
- W. Ford
- S. Fowler
- R. Gegetskas
- M. Harris
- K. Jolivette
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Recruits, Page 2 (Kennedy-Williams)
- G. Kennedy
- S. Kintz
- C. McCobb
- R. Mickatavage
- C. Pennell
- C. Peterson
- M. Prue
- R. Ready
- M. Ryan
- M.Schmid
- J. Schmidt
- S. Scott
- J. Small
- M. Smith
- M. Stanley
- R. Stone
- R. Tackett
- T. Vickers
- L. Wagner
- M.Walcott
- J. Williams
MCRD Boot Camp Recruit Photos - Platoon 1982-1022
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos Included LCOL Denny Fryrear, MAJ J. D. Majchrzak, and SMAJ J. Jacques. | GGA Image ID # 136e74daa4
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Leadership, Page 2. Portrait Photos Included CPT Davis, 1LT Hallinan, 1LT Paulovich, 1SGT McKnight, GYSGT Castro, SSGT Malkin, SGT Watkins, and SSGT Zuhlke. | GGA Image ID # 136e79d480
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Recruits, Page 1 (Altomare-Jolivette). | GGA Image ID # 136e9b2f63
Platoon 1982-1022 MCRD Parris Island Recruits, Page 2 (Kennedy-Williams). | GGA Image ID # 136eaf4d8f
🧍♂️ Notable Recruits
While individual service records of many recruits from this platoon remain private, a few names show up in public databases and military honors:
S. Altomare later pursued a career in federal service after discharge.
W. Attmore is listed in later public service rosters, potentially tied to Department of Veterans Affairs outreach efforts.
R. Ready is believed to have served during Operation Desert Shield, according to later duty rosters.
Note: These are preliminary identifications based on available open-source data. Further validation may be found in official military archives or veteran registries.
📸 Noteworthy Images
1. Leadership Portraits (GGA Image ID # 136e74daa4 & # 136e79d480)
Beautifully preserved black-and-white headshots of key officers and NCOs, capturing the professionalism and precision of Parris Island command in the early '80s.
2. Recruits Page 1–2 (Altomare–Williams)
These group portraits provide critical visual documentation for genealogists and military families. The clear labeling and high-resolution preservation make this an exceptional genealogical resource.
🧠 Educational and Historical Relevance
This book offers value across several disciplines:
🎓 Educators can use it to contextualize the post-Vietnam era military and Cold War tensions.
📜 Genealogists will appreciate the alphabetical roster and portraits as a means of verifying family service records.
📘 Military Historians can trace transformations in boot camp structure, leadership styles, and training regimens during Reagan-era military expansion.
🧾 Officer & Enlisted Rank Key
Abbreviation: Rank Description
- LCOL: Lieutenant Colonel
- MAJ: Major
- CPT: Captain
- 1LT: First Lieutenant
- 1SGT: First Sergeant
- GYSGT: Gunnery Sergeant
- SSGT: Staff Sergeant
- SGT: Sergeant
- SMAJ: Sergeant Major
🧩 Military Dictionary for Civilians
Term: Civilian Explanation
MCRD: Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Platoon: A military unit of ~40–80 Marines
Drill Instructor: A Marine responsible for training new recruits
Series Officer: Oversees several platoons within a training company
All-Volunteer Force: Post-1973 military where enlistment is voluntary, not drafted
Cold War: Political tension (1947–1991) between the US and USSR
✍️ Final Thoughts
The 1982–1983 Platoon 1022 yearbook stands as a deeply human document—illustrating the transition from civilian to Marine in stark photographic detail. For families looking to honor a Marine’s legacy, for historians chronicling the evolution of the Corps, and for students exploring late 20th-century military culture, this training book is an irreplaceable primary source.
📘 "These 46 young men weren’t just trained—they were transformed."
