Not long ago, a bunch of old Boothbay Marines spent the afternoon with some members of the 2016 edition of “The Corps.”

They included former Lt. John Druce, now 94, a veteran of the bloody World War II island hopping campaigns of the South Pacific.

Representing the Vietnam vets were former Maj. Jim Singer, and a trio of shuffling old “grunts” named Barry Sherman, Phil Chapman, and yours truly, all of whom were joined by a handful of other former Leathernecks from around the state.

All had been invited to spend an afternoon with the active duty cadre of the Marine reserve infantry unit based at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.

After meeting at the Boothbay American Legion hall, the oldsters piled in a car. On the way down Route 1, there were lots of stories shared. I assume a few of them were true.

Once inside the facility, it was clear that some things have not changed since we wore the uniform.

Floors were polished, desks were neat and lined up in proper office fashion. The offices held photos of stern Marine generals and colonels holding down major posts in the chain of command. The active duty Marines, wearing the latest camo work uniforms, still called “utilities,” were sharp and helpful.

But, to the Vietnam vets, these stateside Marines looked a bit casual. Back then, when we put on clean work uniforms, it was called “breaking starch,” the custom was to have our utilities starched to a fare-the-well.

Today’s Corps has dispensed with the starch and, to our amazement, their boots are no longer carefully spit-shined. Instead, they are a sort of shaded fabric boot with a cushioned sole.

I guess someone, up in the great somewhere of Marine Headquarters, figured out that shiny leather boots don’t do well in the sands of Iraq. And the cushioned soles would be a lot kinder to your “dogs” when you are in the field, especially when you are carrying nearly 100 pounds of gear in your backpack.

Today’s Marines are fit. We saw no big fat sergeants in this unit. Strong and trim is the word and the CO was proud to show us the “pit” where they practiced hand-to-hand combat and the other implements used to keep in shape.

And they showed us their new “gear.”

Flack vests now have removable inserts designed to stop a bullet heading for your chest or back. The demonstration was accompanied by a tale of a Marine in Iraq, who was shot in the chest and lived to tell the tale.

Backpacks were no longer leftover rucksacks. They are high tech units filled with Velcro pockets designed to carry your gear and fit your body type.

Of course, there was no chatter about the little guy getting the pack designed for the big bruiser, but that would never happen in today’s Marine Corps, I am sure.

The Brunswick unit is a reserve infantry company and they showed off an assortment of rifles, machine guns, mortars and other implements of mayhem.

The good news, at least to some of the Vietnam vets was that the Corps is in the process of phasing out the M-16 rifle. Good riddance, said some of the old dogs who have fond memories of that weapon when it was first deployed in the late 1960s. It didn't work very well.

Pistols are almost an afterthought in today’s Corps, as the Iraq era Marines prefer the short M-4 carbine. It is easier to use and, with the array of high tech sights, is a lot more accurate.

John Druce wondered where they kept the flame throwers, a favorite tool of the war in the Pacific.

No, John, no more flame throwers.

A group of weapons they didn’t show off were quietly hanging inside one of the secure open lockers. Swords. A couple dozen swords.

What in the dickens are they for in this GPS-guided, laser-sighted, computer video-controlled Marine Corps?

The answer: tradition. Marines are the Navy’s seaboard warriors. Long ago in the era of sailing ships, they were the guys who battled sea raiders. You couldn’t slay a bloody pirate without a sword.

The oldest weapon in the Marine arsenal is the NCO sword, needed when these Marines represent the Corps at formal occasions, including, unfortunately, funerals for the fallen.

This year, they hope to march in our Memorial Day parades, unless they are called to other duties. If they make it, and I hope they will, be sure to cheer when they march past.

Semper Fi.