Foley, a Marine, training Navy recruits?

MArines have very close ties to the Navy. they are separate but still intertwined

Marines are quite often involved in Naval officer training. Marine officers come through the same commissioning programs (Naval Academy, Navy ROTC, OCS) and Marine officers and non-coms are part of the training staffs. My ROTC unit had a Marine Officer Instructor, a Marine Corp major, and an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor, a staff sergeant or gunnery sergeant (we had both, at different times). They were involved in the training of both Marine Options and Navy Option Midshipmen.

I can't speak for AOCS, of the period, as I didn't come through that path. The writer had, so I would assume it was based on his experiences.

Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!