Bullshido in the marines?

[yanta]

I'm good at 3 things, fighting (passibly) music, and helping people, lol.

If you are really interested in counseling, you might consider looking into getting the Navy to pay for medical training in psychology. They're seriously in need of people, and being in the Medical Corps you could then go deploy with the Marines, without actually having to be one :)

Seriously, I'm a Marine officer (and incidentally I was a MCMAP instructor once upon a time). Don't join the Marines unless you want to be a Marine. It's not a place to be if you don't want to be there. If all you want is college the Air Force or Navy would be a better place to do your time.

That said, if you do want to be a Marine, do it. It's a great opportunity. But D Dempsey is right -- life in the Marine Corps is a *lot* better as an officer. Look into ROTC or a service academy if you've got the grades. It's worth the extra time. Honestly.

~yanta

[Colby]

Yanta brought up a good point. Being a Corpsman might be a good choice. We always took care of our doc. He never once had to buy his own beer. Plus, as a doc, you'll always have a little psychological leverage over the guys you'd take care of. All you have to do is threaten to lose a shot record...

The docs we had were really gunji, and we trained them in our weapons systems too. If we had to go sleep in the mud, they were right there too. I have nothing but respect for those guys.

[jnp]

The docs we had were really gunji, and we trained them in our weapons systems too. If we had to go sleep in the mud, they were right there too. I have nothing but respect for those guys.

Marines respect two kinds of Navy personnel, Seals and corpsmen.

It's not a place to be if you don't want to be there. If all you want is college the Air Force or Navy would be a better place to do your time.

I spent six years enlisted in the Marine Corps, and I can tell you, this guy knows what he's talking about.

The Navy and Air Force have better everything. Better barracks, better equipment, better food and most importantly, better educational opportunities. Do NOT join the U.S.M.C. unless you are 100% sure that's what you want to do.

[7thSamurai]

Well, when you think about it, it would probably a very good and awesome thing if everyone in the infantry had a masters in philosophy...

agreed

[3moose1]

That said, if you do want to be a Marine, do it. It's a great opportunity. But D Dempsey is right -- life in the Marine Corps is a *lot* better as an officer. Look into ROTC or a service academy if you've got the grades. It's worth the extra time. Honestly.

~yanta

Yeah, my dad was a staff seargent in the Marines, and in force recon, and he told me that if i was thinking about joining the military, that air-force would be better...he told me some of the luxuries that the air-force guys get...but i mean


Its an allure type thing, you know? You can join the air-force, and the army, or the navy, and its nothing really...special...but if your a Marine, well, your unique...

I don't know, i still have alot of things to think about, and i really need money for college...

I'm going to talk to an air-force recruiter today...but if i go air-force, i'd want to be an officer, and you can't be an officer w/out college...right?

[yanta]

Its an allure type thing, you know? You can join the air-force, and the army, or the navy, and its nothing really...special...but if your a Marine, well, your unique...

Absolutely. But what makes you unique is the fact that you've got the worst standard of living of all the services, and you perform 80% of the expeditionary defense taskings on .1% of the defense budget.* It does give you decent bragging rights the rest of your life, though.

I don't know, i still have alot of things to think about, and i really need money for college...

Well, here's the cool thing. If you're sure you want to go to college...and you're sure you want to be in the military...get the military to pay for you to go to college FIRST. You get a degree *and* you make more money during your time in the military. Win-win. ROTC, dude, I'm telling you. Or a service academy. Just change the order, get your Uncle-Sam-funded degree first and enjoy the benefits while you pay the Uncle back.

I'm going to talk to an air-force recruiter today...but if i go air-force, i'd want to be an officer, and you can't be an officer w/out college...right?

See, to me this is backwards. If you want to be enlisted, pick the Air Force, because they take the best care of their lowest-ranking people. If you're going to be a Marine, if you're an officer you'll at least come close to the enlisted AF standard of living...

~yanta

*This statistic brought to you by the finest in anal extraction, but it's true in spirit

[halfcut]

I did notice while working with the AF that the only officers taken seriously were pilots, so keep that in mind.

[John Q]

This has been an interesting post for me seeing as how I just finished the Battle Course and earned my MCMAP Instructor status two days ago. Before you read any further, please understand that I am, and always have been a complete Motard. (motivated to the point of retardation)

MCMAP is a great system for teaching basics and introducing Marines to the basic concepts of fighting and a cambat mindset. Today I was helping to instruct 80 2nd Lieutenants basic Tan belt techniques and it is quite an interesting experience.

The thing that I like about MCMAP is that as you advance through the belt ranks, your're able to train in new ways. For example:
Tan Belt: body sparring/pugil Sticks
Grey Belt: Ground sparring
Green Belt: Free sparring w/kicks and punches (no head shots)
Brown Belt: Free sparring, standing to ground
Black Belt: Integrated free sparring w/ mma gloves

This kicks ass because it gives me a way to give my platoon something different in the morning than tire flips, firemans carries, or a three mile run.

A big part of MCMAP that gets ignored too much is the concept of character developement.

After techniques are taught there are supposed to be discussions on leadership, topics that concern Marines, warrior studies, and martial culture studies.

I, for one think it's a great system considering it's taught to literally thousands of Marines every month undergoing whether in Boot Camp or TBS.

But, then again I'm also motivated as hell coming out of my course.

Now I just have to spend some good time preparing myself to become an Instructor Trainer. Those guys are friggin Machines.


Oh and one more thing to add to this ridiculousy long post: People who join the Army or Air Force do it because they want benefits and don't have any other plans. People who join the Marine Corps join because they want to be United States Marines.
Your recruiter is saying youre too smart to be infantry because he has gaps to fill in other occupational fields. Some of the smartest and best Marines I've known are Infantry.

[colonelpong2]

I did notice while working with the AF that the only officers taken seriously were pilots, so keep that in mind.

Who takes officers seriously anyway? Their sole purpose it to get in the way and give the troops someone to impersonate for our own merriment

[yanta]

Who takes officers seriously anyway? Their sole purpose is to get in the way and give the troops someone to impersonate for our own merriment

This is mostly true. But, hey, we do get paid a lot more to do a lot less work!

~yanta
laughing all the way to the bank :laughing6

[colonelpong2]

This is mostly true. But, hey, we do get paid a lot more to do a lot less work!

~yanta
laughing all the way to the bank :laughing6

And there in lies the problem. Plus you grow those stupid handle bar moustaches

[3moose1]

John Q, thank you for posting...How hard would you say it was to get trained to be an instructor, and to get up to being an instructor-trainer? Is it a viable career path? what did you do till you got to this point?

See, you have to understand, i'm looking at everything but navy and coast guard here. Even national guard (ok, they said 60 gs and free college :p)

I want to go to school, major in social work, to get my M.S.W, and minor in clinical psychology. Thats a long ass time in school, and i don't want to get 100 grand in student loans...

[halfcut]

Oh and one more thing to add to this ridiculousy long post: People who join the Army or Air Force do it because they want benefits and don't have any other plans. People who join the Marine Corps join because they want to be United States Marines.

There is probably some truth to this.

[John Q]

The training I underwent was very challenging. I am in very good condition. I train jujitsu 4 days a week, PT my platoon 4 days a week, and do Crossfit and Oly lifting when I can.

The course still whooped my butt.

They push you just past your level of fitness and begin in on your mental strength. We started with 19 Marines and ended with 9. Thats a good drop out rate over two and a half weeks.

I was very challenged by it.

But dont misunderstand me, it's not a whole new job for me now. Its an additional occupational specialty that does not take precedence over my original one. (Crash Fire Rescue)

I am a basic level instructor (Green belt) I almost am ready to test for my brown, but thats not the point.

To really make MCMAP your day to day life you have to become a Martial Arts Instructor-Trainer. These guys are charges with running MCMAP programs constantly and training basic level Instructors. Others just go back to their units and run the MCMAP program in ADDITION to their normal job.

I would like to become an Instructor Trainer within the next year or so, and hopefully may have a chance to be able to train Instructors, but it would still be only for a few years, and my original obligations to my original occupation would remain.

The main purpose of becoming an Instructor or Instructor- Trainer is bringing some new knowledge and training back to your Platoon, Company, and Batallion.

If you are that focused on school and all of that, I think the Air Force is the place for you. They really emphasise college, and the lifestyle is comfortable. If you're looking for a challenge, it isn't here.

Becoming a Marine involves all lot of mental rewiring and sacrifice. I am NOT saying Marines are brain washed, I'm just saying that you dont become a good Marine by holding onto nasty civilian traits (no offense)

[John Q]

Oh, and one more thing

DO NOT JOIN THE NATIONAL GAURD

They are a friendly fire incident waiting to happen

I'm being completely serious here.

I mean no offense to National Gaurd members who may post here. But it doesn't matter anyways, because they'd probably agree with me...