@Deuteronomy of Gath said:

How would someone as clearly unsuitable, mentally and physically, as Pyle make it to Parris Island in the first place?

I served in the military. In basic training I asked myself the same question about alot of the recruits. some of them were borderline psychopaths. It's a numbers game. Recruiters just looking for a live body. Used to call it the spoon test. If the recruit could fog a spoon with their breath they can serve in the military. But in Pyles case he was just a dumb sadsack and it was the Vietnam war.....they took everybody then. He didn't turn psycho until he snapped from all the mental and physical abuse from Sgt. Hartman and the rest of his platoon. He did become a pretty good soldier by the end of it though. Just lost it mentally.

@Deuteronomy of Gath said:

How would someone as clearly unsuitable, mentally and physically, as Pyle make it to Parris Island in the first place?

It was draft time. A warm body was eligible.

I like to see someone do a fan edit with jim nabers pyle talking to the dril instructer in full metal jackit.