Metal Jacket

How did Private Pyle ever get to boot camp in “Full Metal Jacket”?

I thought recruiters were picky who gets to join the Marine Corps, not to mention the recruits had to go through a physical before going to boot camp. It seems that Private Pyle is a little slow, possibly having a slight mental retardation.

Full Metal Jacket was a different era. Recruits are one thing: volunteers. That was during the Vietnam draft. The Marines took every 4th man drafted, just like every other branch of the military. The major reason for volunteering was so that you could choose which branch you went into.

Full Metal Jacket Clip