Military service

[GABRIEL_ARCHANGEL]

I'm going into the marines in October and i was wondering if there is anybody here who has served in the armed forces and if anybody has any advice?

[Ghost]

why you going to the military? well anyway good luck in the military.

[Guy Montag]

Tip: Almost everyone who outranks you will exploit your gullibility as much as possible. i.e., get one can of camoflage paint, you need to stay up seven days straight to make Sergeant Major.

[HurTmePlentY]

My friend just recently came back from Iraq (marines). He said training was hell, and he told me all the crap people above his rank did to him (them). Anyways, my only tip. Keep your mouth shut. And don't do anything stupid. Be ready for whatever they throw at you.




he said if anyone messed up on anything, the sergent would come over and give that person an arbitrary amount of push ups to do. not only that, anyone who is standing around that person, even if they didnt do anything wrong, was given an arbitrary amount of push ups to do also. lol
just imagine:

the guy next to you in formation says something fucking stupid, and the officer walks up and points at the 2 ppl to his left and to his right as he says, " 25, 30, 50, 42, 33, GO."


im not saying its going to be like that everywhere you go for training. just be sure you are ready for anything.
Good luck.



What kind of job are you going for? Combat?

[GABRIEL_ARCHANGEL]

0311 infantry

[BigJohn 308]

I did not serve in the military, but have served in paramilitary fields of government service for most of my adult life. My recommendations would include:

• Remember that the USMC is building a team. Not individuals with talents. Excelling at a given task is good, but not if it’s to the determent of the rest of your unit.
• Try and understand as soon as you can what it is that your DI is trying to teach you to do. Focus on that mission. They have a very tight schedule, but cannot advance to the next block until the unit as a whole competes the task satisfactorily.
• Remember the training schedule was planned out long ago, long before you even spoke with your recruiter. This is a predestinated program designed to turn you into what the Corps needs, not what you think the Corps needs.
• Yes, it’s your right to b*tch, but I’d strongly recommend you don’t! Your DI’s will look at that as poison to the morale of the unit and will make an example of dissenters.
• Always maintain a “Can Do” Attitude. You will be frequently given long lists of difficult tasks. These are easier, physically and mentally, with a team of highly motivated hard chargers.
• Do not disobey the rules! A good DI will set the conditions where you (think) you can get something off… but beware, it’s a trap!
• Always remember when you’re exhausted, you are not the first person to have to go through this, many others have faced this challenge successfully. You will often hear a lot of talk about those who failed, but remember that most DO make it through.
• Buy a GOOD pair of running shoes(Mizuno, Asics or New Balance) and START RUNNING 1.5 Miles every other day until you can do so without a walking break
o After you make the 1.5 Mile nonstop marker in 11:30 to 14:30 minutes, increase your run to at least 30 minutes every other day.
o Remember that about two minutes into your run your body is going through a change in state what is going to give you the feeling that you’re about to pass out… DO NOT QUIT OR SLOW DOWN! Keep Running! You body is telling you that it want to be at rest, but you need to push on. After a few minutes, you body will accept the fact that you’re not gonna five in, and you will find it easier to breath
o Remember your “Combat Breathing” - When your exhausted & sucking wind, slow your breathing down just a bit, take in a slightly deeper breath, hold it for two seconds, release it in a controlled exhale. Repeat process to finish line.
o Focus on endurance training, not strength or speed training.
o Start training with proper pushups and situps – Every day.
• Start working out tomorrow morning and keep at it every day until two days before your departure to Uncle Sugars Green Machine
Above all, keep control of your emotions and watch your attitude. Failure will result in an immediate response.
Congratulations on your acceptance to the USMC ! I have full confidence in your ability to earn your Globe & Anchor, so don’t you ever doubt that you can!

[Plastic Jesus]

OK, I'm just going to add some perspective in for you that many others don't have. This is not meant to be a put down of Hurtmeplenty but just to explain why things happen the way they do.

My friend just recently came back from Iraq (marines). He said training was hell, and he told me all the crap people above his rank did to him (them). Anyways, my only tip. Keep your mouth shut. And don't do anything stupid. Be ready for whatever they throw at you.

In a combat situation, or even in live fire training, all kinds of shit and hell can happen. Your training, however harsh, is nothing compared to what you might face when you get into the shit. It is designed to prepare you for the enormous strain, both physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual that you could face during your service. If it seems harsh, then know that however harsh it is, it is nothing, NOTHING, compared to what you will face. Sure, your Drill Instructor might come accross as an assfaced punk, but when you can get through the pussy hardships of basic all you've proved is that you might, MIGHT, keep your cool when you see your friend's head explode from a sniper's bullet after you've humped 40 miles through an ass-hot diseaseed swamp and the most pleasent thing raining down on you is blood.




he said if anyone messed up on anything, the sergent would come over and give that person an arbitrary amount of push ups to do. not only that, anyone who is standing around that person, even if they didnt do anything wrong, was given an arbitrary amount of push ups to do also. lol
just imagine:

the guy next to you in formation says something fucking stupid, and the officer walks up and points at the 2 ppl to his left and to his right as he says, " 25, 30, 50, 42, 33, GO."
In combat, the person nest to you isn't just repsonsible for keeping you from doing pushups, but is responsible for your life. You have to learn that your life depends upon these other soldiers and that their lives depend upon you.


im not saying its going to be like that everywhere you go for training. just be sure you are ready for anything.
Good luck. Most of your time will be spent standing around and waiting for something to happen. Like a police officer or a firefighter you spend most of your time training, cleaning things, doing paperwork, and bullshiting with your fellow soldiers. Training is always shit, and any day that it feels easy is a day you are wasting your time and getting soft.

What kind of job are you going for? Combat? All jobs in the Marines are combat (but not really), you should research your MOS carefully.

[Plastic Jesus]

OMG 0311!!!!!! Dude!!! You are bag of meat!!!!

You might want to try for something else if you can!!!

[BigJohn 308]

More on the PT:

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/blfitmale.htm

[GABRIEL_ARCHANGEL]

thanks for everything guys

[HurTmePlentY]

i like what you did there plastic.

[GrimGriz]

Memorize that gomer pyle movie so you don't feel left out.

[D34THSPAWN]

can someone say MEATSHIELD!!!!!!!!! HOO RAH!

[BigJohn 308]

Naw, I don't think Gabe is going for the Meatshield concept... But perhaps he has an eye on an 0317 MOS.

Am I right here Gabe?

[Plastic Jesus]

Honestly, 0311 is a stepping stone to other stuff if you want to be in the infantry, not that I know all there is about the Marines as I was Army, but I am fairly certain that these guys are basically just bags of meat that that the marines throw at the enemy. I think they also use them as artillery ordinance on rare ocasions (think of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but put a marine in place of the cow). But I kid, the Infantry is hardcore, you will have to bust your ass if you want to get anywhere. Dudes who start in the infantry usually try to go into some sort of special forces work, most of the guys washout, then either try again or try to get into a different MOS. I started as an 31R in the National Guard them went full-time as an 18C and a lot of the others guys that I trained with were infantry, 11B. The Marines MOS categories work a little differently though, so I can't be certain of the numbers and the status, but if you want to be a bad ass you will move into recon work.

[GABRIEL_ARCHANGEL]

My dream job is 0317 but i don't know if ill be able to attain such an awesome mos as that but that is my goal and 0311 is just a stepping stone.

[BigJohn 308]

Regardless if you think you can or you cannot… Your right.

[Plastic Jesus]

Did you just quote Stewie Griffin? BTW I looked up 0317, sniper school is tough, and you have to be really good, I would suggest you go recon so 032something. The force recon is teh h4rdc0r3s of the Marines. Oh, and if you can't score a 300 on you PT test, don't even bother.


BTW snipers suck.

[BigJohn 308]

Did you just quote Stewie Griffin?

I can assure you that if Stewie Griffin has used that line, he is quoting me!