LOL, thats the first time I've heard that one. Untrue, but funny. I personally lost 40 lbs during basic training. But I do have to correct you on one other thing. Marines dont get the women they want, they just get the ones that we DON'T want.
Marine Corps
- Thread starter motogp08
- Start date
LOL, thats the first time I've heard that one. Untrue, but funny. I personally lost 40 lbs during basic training. But I do have to correct you on one other thing. Marines dont get the women they want, they just get the ones that we DON'T want.
motogp08
Registered
Thanks for all of the tips guys, it really helps!
Maybe it's not for me, maybe it is...I'm just trying to make sure that I make the right decision.
BEFORE I enlist (if I do), I'm going to get my LE career going well. (This way I have a career here to come back to). THEN, if I'm still desiring military, I might enlist, who know's?
I've got to admit, this is a pretty hard decision, I want to go over and fight pretty bad too...but I'm not sure I want to miss out on family time.
Who know's, maybe I'll enjoy LE enough that I won't want to do anything else...it's still nice to toss around the idea.
I'm not saying I'm done debating this...I'm just saying that nothing is engraved in stone yet.
Keep the tips/advice coming if there is any-more.
Thanks everyone!
Maybe it's not for me, maybe it is...I'm just trying to make sure that I make the right decision.
BEFORE I enlist (if I do), I'm going to get my LE career going well. (This way I have a career here to come back to). THEN, if I'm still desiring military, I might enlist, who know's?
I've got to admit, this is a pretty hard decision, I want to go over and fight pretty bad too...but I'm not sure I want to miss out on family time.
Who know's, maybe I'll enjoy LE enough that I won't want to do anything else...it's still nice to toss around the idea.
I'm not saying I'm done debating this...I'm just saying that nothing is engraved in stone yet.
Keep the tips/advice coming if there is any-more.
Thanks everyone!
HT_USMC
Registered
Thanks for all of the tips guys, it really helps!
Maybe it's not for me, maybe it is...I'm just trying to make sure that I make the right decision.
BEFORE I enlist (if I do), I'm going to get my LE career going well. (This way I have a career here to come back to). THEN, if I'm still desiring military, I might enlist, who know's?
I've got to admit, this is a pretty hard decision, I want to go over and fight pretty bad too...but I'm not sure I want to miss out on family time.
Who know's, maybe I'll enjoy LE enough that I won't want to do anything else...it's still nice to toss around the idea.
I'm not saying I'm done debating this...I'm just saying that nothing is engraved in stone yet.
Keep the tips/advice coming if there is any-more.
Thanks everyone!
That seems a little backwards, honestly.
If you get into Law Enforcement and make enough of a career out of it that you can come back to it, you probably are better off not going at into the military at all. However, if you get all of the "stuff" out of the way for a LE career and do a year or two in the field with a PD that could pay dividends, I suppose. I would simply prod you toward a Military Police "job" in one of the Branches of the service. Assuming that's your interest.
Also, all the branches have the same basic benefits for the same dollar amounts. The GI Bill is the same, pay per rank per time in service is the same, etc. Note, however, that INCENTIVES will be different depending on the branch, the specialty you want (or they want to offer to you), your ASVAB score(s), and a few other things.
There are other things to take into account as well. For example: Do you prefer a laid back environment in which you can wake up, toss on a uniform, go to work, do your job, head back to the house at a reasonable hour and have your down time to yourself? Do you enjoy being around civilization? This would not be a typical Marine Corps day when on base. When in the field, well, the field is an experience all of it's own.
When in garrison, you typically wake up before sunrise (0430-0530) hit the chow hall and eat, police (pick up) around your barracks area and square away your rack and your gear, either muster/gather with your unit or head to your place of duty by 0600 and work a 9-12 hour day. Normally you'll end up running, exercising, or performing some other physical activity for 30-45 minutes with your platoon/company before work or over lunch, a few days a week. You take physical fitness test (PFT's) constantly, the outcome of which has a direct affect on your promotions. You will stand inspections like your history teacher issued a pop-quiz in high school. You're expected to be at the top of your game 24/7/365 and squared away (respectful and clothed according to guidelines that are set for you) even when you're at the beach. That's not to say Marines don't party and cut up, but you've got to learn when the time and place for that actually is and what your limits/boundaries are as well.
Boot camp is tough but remember it's designed to build Marines not to weed people out. The USMC doesn't take applications - they accept commitments. They want to invest in you and get you through boot camp successfully.
As for your question about the Marine Corps being "better" than the Army. Well, as a Marine you could request to join a different branch when you reenlist. Doing so, you keep your rank in tact and move over into that branch and quite possibly retain the job that you performed in the Corps. The transition is like transferring from one department of a company to another. However, If you're in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard and request to join the Corps upon reenlistment... welcome to Marine Corps boot camp Private. You start over completely. Normally a portion of rank is retained upon graduation from boot camp due to time in (prior) service and you're on a fast track to regaining some of or all of the rest of it pending the outcome of certain milestones/scores being achieved. So ,I guess the Department of Defense and the rest of the services have about -that- much respect for the Marine Corps. I think that qualifies as "better".
The payback? You get to see and do things that the movies haven't been able to truly capture the essence of. You'll forever have a sense of pride and accomplishment. You're in a brotherhood and you'll have at least a fellow Marines that you will keep in touch with for the rest of your life thereafter.
Good luck to you no matter what direction you go!
+100
Ok, here is my take on the Marines and I hope it answers some of your questions.
One of the questions you asked was what is the difference between the Marine Corps and the other Branches. Here are some of the differences.
The United States Marines are called the Presidents own. They hold this title because they are the only branch that the United States president has authority to send them anywhere in the world at his discretion. The president does not require approval from anyone else. Period.
In order for the Navy, Army, Air force or anyone else to be deployed it takes an act of congress.
This is one of the reasons the Marines also hold the title of first to fight. Because they usually are.
All other branches other than the Marines train you in one Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) (unless you decide and are approved to change MOS). When you finish boot camp you go to school and are trained in whatever you signed up for or whatever that branch decides they need you in. (with the exception of the Navy, sometimes the Navy will send you to the fleet first for a year or more before they send you to school)
For the rest of your career when you test for promotions and such you are only tested on your specific MOS.
With the Marines, all Marines are first and foremost an 03 – which is your basic grunt. Machine gun toting, hand grenade throwing life taking widow making sun of a beyotch. Oooooh f’in RAWWWW
Then out of the kindness of the Marine Corps heart they will train you in your secondary MOS.
My secondary MOS was 6087 – Egress, environmental, cryogenics technician. I worked on ejection seats, life support systems and fire detection and fire extinguishing systems. for fighter aircraft.
When a Marine is tested for promotion they are required to know all their 03 grunt shid (usually first and foremost) and they are required to know all their MOS specific information.
While it was stated previously that if you are in any other branch and choose to go into the Marines you have to go through Marine Corps boot camp. That is because Marine Corps boot camp is way more intense than any of the other branches. It is longer (usually three months) it is more physically intense (when I went through boot camp, by the end we were doing 5 mile runs in cammy pants, t-**** and combat boots).
And it is more mentally challenging. From day one of boot camp we were told we weren’t shid, were went civilians any more and we sure in the he11 were not Marines. We were basically pieces of crap and it was there job to mold us into something that somewhat resembled a human being.
After three months of boot camp, the day before we graduated our senior DI got us all together, he kind of pumped us up a little, we were all pumped up, ready to graduate and become a United States Marine!!
He then informed us that just because we graduated didn’t mean we were going to be Marines. He told us we would still be pieces of shid and it would take us a few years before we were real Marines.
Kind of sucked the wind out of us. But in retrospect he was right. It takes a few years of being in the Corps before you can be considered hard core enough to be a Marine.
I don’t know what Marine Corps boot camp is like these days. I have heard it is not the same Corps I was in. I have friends who have gotten out because of all the sensitivity crap that they are forced to comply with so they don’t upset someones fricken mama. And they sure in the he11 don’t want to hurt noones feelings (sarcasm) . I feel it kind of ruins the concept of what makes a Marine.
But Marines are still kicking a$$ in combat so it can’t be screwing them up to bad.
So these are some of the reasons that you have to go back through Marine boot camp from the other services.
Now, if you want to go from the Marines to another branch. You don’t have to go back through boot camp but good look trying to stay in the same type of work.
I knew someone that was thinking about going from the Marines into the Air force, they wanted to stay in the aviation tech field. They were told it wouldn’t happen.
When the Air Force rep was asked why, it was explained that an aviation tech in the Marines performs the duties of 3 or 4 different MOS’s in the Air Force.
Back then it was explained the Air Force only wanted people working in their MOS, they didn’t want someone being tempted to work on systems outside of their MOS, which could happen if someone with additional training and knowledge went into the Air Force.
A Marine for the most part will get a job done. If they are tasked to do something, they do it., doesn’t matter if they have been trained in it or not.
If something needs to be fixed, they fix it. doesn’t matter if they don’t know what they are doing, they figure it out and fix it anyway.
Marines are known for doing the most with the least amount of support. You just fricken do it and don’t whine that you don’t have this or don’t have that.
Guess I will finish with this.
If you read all that I wrote and your blood is pumping with excitement and the thought of taking on this type of challenge is intriguing to you. Then you might want to consider the Marine Corps.
If you read this and your first thought are “man that don’t sound like much fun” or “don’t know if I could handle that”
Then you should probably consider another branch
Also, from my experience, most of the law enforcement departments I have been in contact love hiring prior active duty Marines. They know how to take orders and they know how to get the job done (not a slam to any other branches, just what I have experienced)
With the exception of a friend of mine. He was in the Marines for 10 years. He worked special ops (CIA stuff like that), had been through a lot, seen a lot
He is trying to get into corrections and so far it seems like they don’t want him because of his background. He is fighting it but I guess with his back ground they are worried that if an inmate did something stupid my friend might nut up and just take the inmates life without a second thought. And while in law enforcement and corrections you need to kind of be hard core, I guess they don’t want you too hard core due to legal reasons.
Hope this helps
One of the questions you asked was what is the difference between the Marine Corps and the other Branches. Here are some of the differences.
The United States Marines are called the Presidents own. They hold this title because they are the only branch that the United States president has authority to send them anywhere in the world at his discretion. The president does not require approval from anyone else. Period.
In order for the Navy, Army, Air force or anyone else to be deployed it takes an act of congress.
This is one of the reasons the Marines also hold the title of first to fight. Because they usually are.
All other branches other than the Marines train you in one Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) (unless you decide and are approved to change MOS). When you finish boot camp you go to school and are trained in whatever you signed up for or whatever that branch decides they need you in. (with the exception of the Navy, sometimes the Navy will send you to the fleet first for a year or more before they send you to school)
For the rest of your career when you test for promotions and such you are only tested on your specific MOS.
With the Marines, all Marines are first and foremost an 03 – which is your basic grunt. Machine gun toting, hand grenade throwing life taking widow making sun of a beyotch. Oooooh f’in RAWWWW
Then out of the kindness of the Marine Corps heart they will train you in your secondary MOS.
My secondary MOS was 6087 – Egress, environmental, cryogenics technician. I worked on ejection seats, life support systems and fire detection and fire extinguishing systems. for fighter aircraft.
When a Marine is tested for promotion they are required to know all their 03 grunt shid (usually first and foremost) and they are required to know all their MOS specific information.
While it was stated previously that if you are in any other branch and choose to go into the Marines you have to go through Marine Corps boot camp. That is because Marine Corps boot camp is way more intense than any of the other branches. It is longer (usually three months) it is more physically intense (when I went through boot camp, by the end we were doing 5 mile runs in cammy pants, t-**** and combat boots).
And it is more mentally challenging. From day one of boot camp we were told we weren’t shid, were went civilians any more and we sure in the he11 were not Marines. We were basically pieces of crap and it was there job to mold us into something that somewhat resembled a human being.
After three months of boot camp, the day before we graduated our senior DI got us all together, he kind of pumped us up a little, we were all pumped up, ready to graduate and become a United States Marine!!
He then informed us that just because we graduated didn’t mean we were going to be Marines. He told us we would still be pieces of shid and it would take us a few years before we were real Marines.
Kind of sucked the wind out of us. But in retrospect he was right. It takes a few years of being in the Corps before you can be considered hard core enough to be a Marine.
I don’t know what Marine Corps boot camp is like these days. I have heard it is not the same Corps I was in. I have friends who have gotten out because of all the sensitivity crap that they are forced to comply with so they don’t upset someones fricken mama. And they sure in the he11 don’t want to hurt noones feelings (sarcasm) . I feel it kind of ruins the concept of what makes a Marine.
But Marines are still kicking a$$ in combat so it can’t be screwing them up to bad.
So these are some of the reasons that you have to go back through Marine boot camp from the other services.
Now, if you want to go from the Marines to another branch. You don’t have to go back through boot camp but good look trying to stay in the same type of work.
I knew someone that was thinking about going from the Marines into the Air force, they wanted to stay in the aviation tech field. They were told it wouldn’t happen.
When the Air Force rep was asked why, it was explained that an aviation tech in the Marines performs the duties of 3 or 4 different MOS’s in the Air Force.
Back then it was explained the Air Force only wanted people working in their MOS, they didn’t want someone being tempted to work on systems outside of their MOS, which could happen if someone with additional training and knowledge went into the Air Force.
A Marine for the most part will get a job done. If they are tasked to do something, they do it., doesn’t matter if they have been trained in it or not.
If something needs to be fixed, they fix it. doesn’t matter if they don’t know what they are doing, they figure it out and fix it anyway.
Marines are known for doing the most with the least amount of support. You just fricken do it and don’t whine that you don’t have this or don’t have that.
Guess I will finish with this.
If you read all that I wrote and your blood is pumping with excitement and the thought of taking on this type of challenge is intriguing to you. Then you might want to consider the Marine Corps.
If you read this and your first thought are “man that don’t sound like much fun” or “don’t know if I could handle that”
Then you should probably consider another branch
Also, from my experience, most of the law enforcement departments I have been in contact love hiring prior active duty Marines. They know how to take orders and they know how to get the job done (not a slam to any other branches, just what I have experienced)
With the exception of a friend of mine. He was in the Marines for 10 years. He worked special ops (CIA stuff like that), had been through a lot, seen a lot
He is trying to get into corrections and so far it seems like they don’t want him because of his background. He is fighting it but I guess with his back ground they are worried that if an inmate did something stupid my friend might nut up and just take the inmates life without a second thought. And while in law enforcement and corrections you need to kind of be hard core, I guess they don’t want you too hard core due to legal reasons.
Hope this helps
Warchild
Banned
HT_USMC's post is absolutely spot-on in every way, so heed his advice.
That said, this comment of your's, moto, caught my eye:
This is the 18-year-old in you talking.
Trust me... believe me.... hear what I am telling you: warfare and close-combat are NOT the "action" you will love. There is nothing one earth - nothing - that is uglier than warfare. The staggering brutality associated with snuffing out the lives of young men who have not even begun to live yet is simply beyond insane.
That said, this comment of your's, moto, caught my eye:
That's another one I heard, "first in to fight." I kinda like that idea too...(always loved the "action.")
This is the 18-year-old in you talking.
Trust me... believe me.... hear what I am telling you: warfare and close-combat are NOT the "action" you will love. There is nothing one earth - nothing - that is uglier than warfare. The staggering brutality associated with snuffing out the lives of young men who have not even begun to live yet is simply beyond insane.
Moto -
Listen to what Warchild says about the whole war thing. it is not glamerous. You lose friends, you see things that will haunt you for the rest of your life. (or could depending on how you deal with things)
+1
I'm not trying to talk anyone out of serving this great country, but if you have any doubts..ANY...they WILL turn into regrets after you see how things really are. Remember, what you see on the news and what soldiers actually go through are 2 entirely different things.Civilians are sheltered from the truth for a reason! Its not like a rambo movie! The good guys die too.
standiggity
Registered
Go all in, and go all out. If the family is holding you back.. you will miss a lot of time with the family. A lot of families fall apart in the Corps. I did 5 years 9 months and never regretted a day.. but it is hard to raise a family. Some people are good at it (MC Mustang).. and some people can't handle not spending that much time with your family.
motogp08
Registered
That paragraph is the one I'll take...
I've heard so many great things about this service, that it sound's really appealing...
I'm not afraid of working to achieve something that I really want. But, at the same time, it's still the family-time issues that I have the most problems with.
I guess if there's a draft, my decision is pretty much made which branch I'm going into...MARINES!
But just enlisting now...I'm still not so sure, (hope I don't sound too wishy-washy, I just don't want to make any rash-decisions).
motogp08
Registered
I know, I'm sorry. I get a little immature about stuff I like from time-to-time. :sulking:
I don't mean to sound immature on this question either, but I feel like I should ask while I have a chance...I know it's not fun (and I COMPLETELY understand if you don't want to answer), but how hard was it to kill insurgents/and how did you deal with it? (Or any enemy for that matter)
I've heard <(I know, just hearsay), but I guess a lot of the guys "de-humanize" the enemy...is this how you deal with it?
I've seen videos over the internet of people getting killed, and it's not pretty like you said.
How much worse is it in real life? ???
I want to join the Marines, but I want to also start my LE career, I'm really struggling with this decision...
I know, I'm sorry. I get a little immature about stuff I like from time-to-time. :sulking:
I don't mean to sound immature on this question either, but I feel like I should ask while I have a chance...I know it's not fun (and I COMPLETELY understand if you don't want to answer), but how hard was it to kill insurgents/and how did you deal with it? (Or any enemy for that matter)
I've heard <(I know, just hearsay), but I guess a lot of the guys "de-humanize" the enemy...is this how you deal with it?
I've seen videos over the internet of people getting killed, and it's not pretty like you said.
How much worse is it in real life? ???
I want to join the Marines, but I want to also start my LE career, I'm really struggling with this decision...
When you take a human life, regardless of the human. You have crossed a line there is no coming back from.
It is not a line you want to cross unless you have no choice.
War, combat, killing people. should always be a last resort. it should never be a first option. and it should never be something a person seeks pleasure in. But sometimes it is a necessary evil
Sorry Young Buck.. You're just not military material.
+1, When Your BALLS Finally Drop............???
motogp08
Registered
???
Nope. Never saw "combat" in a war environment over seas.
I am sure there are those here that can better answer the question as to if the training prepares you for combat. My guess would be that it is better than nothing. But from people I know that have been in combat over seas they seem to express the attitude that nothing can truly fully prepare you for combat.
Like someone else mentioned, it is not like in the movies
motogp08
Registered
I know, nothing is like it is on TV...(TV is our "fantasy world")
I never implied that. I was just curious if the training helped much for when you really do see combat.
This is a really hard decision, I really want to, but I also don't...it's a 4yr commitment also, if it were 2, the decision would be a LOT easier...:down:
