Author Topic: Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.  (Read 1484 times)

Offline Slurpee

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« on: April 03, 2005, 05:44:37 PM »
As you may have see in Gunslingers post about moving to Texas. I enlisted with the USMC December17, 2004. I ship July25th for Boot Camp. Any advice any tips about military life, basically ANYTHING you can tell me would be greatly appreciated. Currently rightnow we PT usually 2 days a week. Im not worried about the physical part of bootcamp as much as i am the mental part. I talk with the recruiters quite abit, but they are in fact recruiters and i believe i can gain more knowledge from current Marines or former Marines about the how the USMC really is.

Thanks in advance for all the help guys :)

Offline ASTAC

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2005, 05:51:45 PM »
Well, I'm not a Marine..I am a sailor (Your ride to the War)..However, just remember why you joined..hopefully it had something to do with patriotism and duty (and not a free college ride)...keep your mind in the game during boot camp..most of it is a mental mind game..learn and do everything by the numbers and you will do fine. Remember you are not as much an individual in the military as you are a part of a team..your shipmate is just as important a part of that team as you are. So if he fails you fail, and vice versa. Go home as much as possible when you can..because you never know when you can deploy and not see home for a long while...Don't let bleeding heart liberals and politics cloud your vision on what you are doing. Thats all I have for now..hope it helps..Glad to have you on the Navy-Marine team (we are the same branch after all...just different jobs)
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety

Offline Slurpee

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2005, 05:54:33 PM »
Rgr that! No way definetly not for the free college ride. Ive wanted to join the USMC since i was a little guy.:) Basically, i wanted a job that would be respectable, and give me a quick start at life with good oppurtunity. Thanks for the help:)

Offline ASTAC

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2005, 05:57:02 PM »
Very few places you can retire after only 20 years and get half ytour pay and full medical benifits...It goes by quick too..I'm at 12..8 years to go..and i still feel like high school was yesterday...get another government job..federal or local..and get a 2nd retirement since you will be so young when you retire from the military...then have 2 retirements and eventually social security...not a bad deal
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety

Offline john9001

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« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2005, 06:14:37 PM »
PT 2 days a week? in marine boot camp you will PT for 2 hours a day, you should have joined the air force, it's more like summer camp.

just remember in marine boot camp, everything they make you do is to help keep you alive in combat, if you keep that in mind it will help you through camp.

wellcome to the corp.

Offline Slurpee

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« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2005, 06:21:40 PM »
Airforce? Why play JV when you can be on Varsity:D just kidding heh not doggin the other branches. Were all on the same team. But, yes they make us PT 2 days a week.

I myself also train on my own time daily though. I got all the requirements for 100% on IST and for Recon indoc (Force Recon is my ultimate goal in the corps).

Thats what i base my training off of. Rightnow i can do about 15 pull ups, 110 or so sit ups 2 mins, 1.5 mile in 9 mins and 3 mile in 20mins.

Ive heard alot that the swimming pool is the killer. My dad was a Navy rescue swimmer/aircraft mechanic for 9 yrs so im hoping he can help me out with that part.

My plan is to use the time i got, about 4 months now, wisely and try to get prepared both physically and mentally for boot camp.

Offline BlueJ1

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« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2005, 06:23:58 PM »
I went to a Navy version  of boot. It was sorter tho being that were minors. But, I can say that we had to know the General Orders by heart. And study any kind of text you got from the Marines. I studied my BMR (same as Navy uses) and it helped greatly.
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Offline Rafe35

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« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2005, 06:33:39 PM »
Good luck for becoming a Marine, Slurpee.

I ain't too sure when I'll enlisted myself into USMC or else.
Rafe35
Former member of VF-17 "Jolly Rogers"

Offline john9001

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« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2005, 06:38:27 PM »
""Ive heard alot that the swimming pool is the killer"" yes it is, you jump in with helmet, rifle, pack, boots, everything , but every marine does it and so can you, (they wont let you drown, i hope).

but the pool is not the worst, you are in for many exciting adventures, the fun part is shooting all the guns and the govt pays for the ammo.

Offline Kegger26

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Re: Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2005, 06:47:46 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Slurpee
I enlisted with the USMC December17, 2004. I ship July25th for Boot Camp. Any advice any tips about military life, basically ANYTHING you can tell me would be greatly appreciated.  

 Join the Army.

Offline Sikboy

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« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2005, 07:03:56 PM »
Remember, as a Marine in boot camp, you have a lot of rights. Be sure to exert those rights all the time.

Exert your lefts too.

-Sik
You: Blah Blah Blah
Me: Meh, whatever.

Offline Tumor

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« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2005, 07:12:21 PM »
Slurpee

  Good luck!  I'm USAF... 19yrs.  I'll second the statement that it goes very fast!  (Often wish I'd gone USMC, however my knee's which are just about worn out wouldn't have lasted!! lol)  Listen to your NCO's and SNCO's, take advantage thier mentoring, and you'll do great!  IF nothing else, use college assistance whenever possible, don't waste a single minute, you'll have earned it!

Tumor
« Last Edit: April 03, 2005, 07:14:26 PM by Tumor »
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Offline Gunslinger

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« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2005, 09:04:19 PM »
Slurpee,

I did 2 stints in the Corps One AD for 5 years as a 5953 ATC Radar Mait. Tech.  Then as Active reserve for operation enduring freedom.

Let me tell you this.  I hope you READ your contract.  If not get a copy of it and actually read it to know exactly what your obligations are.  Those years in the IRR that it talks about....yup you do get recalled in them.  I was enjoying 11 months of civilian life and got a fedex package with plane tickets and orders to report in 12 days.  I missed my Son's birth because of that.

2 years ago I couldnt find a job so I enlisted in the Air Force.  I did my time with the Corps and don't regret a minute of it.  Now I work on Ejection seats and love this as well.

Second,

Know your rights under the UCMJ.  Especially your art. 31 rights.  They are a lot like Maranda rights.  The reason is I've seen a lot of young dumb Marines do dumb things and get burned for it because they incriminated themselves or let statements made prior to their rights being read be used against them.  They burn you for being late to work so this is important.

third,

You're right don't worry bout the PT keep up your routine so it wont be that much of a shock to your system.  If you are not the running type you soon will be plain and simple.  Get used to being completly sore from head to toe....then go to bed only to wake up what seems like 15 minutes later to start the new day hurting even more.  Then subjecting your tired body to more PT.

Don't let that scare you because by week 13 you'll be wanting to go to  PT...the quaterdeck....you will want to be "beaten" pysically because it makes you feel good when all they can throw at you aint chit!

The mental part is the hard one.  Get used to somone telling you what, when, and how to something.  Get ALL your friends addresses and write them regularly so they write you back.  This is important because contact with the outside world is limited.  One of my favorite days was sunday because:

1.  we got do wash our clothes
2.  We got to go to church
3.  we got 4 hours of free time (in wich the above mentioned 2 were completed in)
4.  Most of all....I got to read a news paper and feel a little human again.

You'll notice the little things in life that you took for granted that you got to do everyday with out somone telling you do to it.  As I said before EVERY THING IS DONE TO YOU FOR A REASON.  From the way you put your "palms up for targets"  (targets are Napkins in the chow hall) to the way you have to side step through the chow line (think:  "Side Step...March"  or "close March")

When you get issued your weapon you'll love it at first.  It usually lasts about a week until you actually have to cary the thing at right shoulder arms for 3 hours strait and the magazine well is turning your shoulder into hamburger.  Or when the DIs are pissed at you and beating you by making you hold the front sight tip by nothing but your figner tips with your arm fully extended.  That 7.65lb weapon feels like 20lbs real quick........Respect it...and keep it clean!

You will feel no greater joy in life (untill you have kids if you dont allready) than when you are marching down the back corner of the parade deck for the last time to do pass and review and the Marine's Hymn gets played.  You spine will tingle a bit and your eyes get glassy and it all SNAPS together what it all was for.

Edit:
Quote

Ive heard alot that the swimming pool is the killer. My dad was a Navy rescue swimmer/aircraft mechanic for 9 yrs so im hoping he can help me out with that part.


If you know how to swim its not hard.  we had a bunch of guys (mostly kids that grew up in the inner city) that didnt know how to swim.  They struggled.  The hardest thing is the 200 meter swim in full gear (BDUs Flack, Boots, Kevlar helmut, rifle) everything minus the alice pack.  It's easy if you can get yourself to relax.  During the buddy swim try and get somone who isnt an idiot.  My "buddy" tried to drown me and quit halfway through.  I got "beat" just as much as he did.

Wich MCRD are you going to?  PI or SD?


Gunslinger out,

Semper FI.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2005, 09:14:34 PM by Gunslinger »

Offline Silat

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2005, 10:58:00 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Gunslinger
Second,

Know your rights under the UCMJ.    They are a lot like Maranda rights.  Gunslinger out,

Semper FI.



Hmmm, in the army we know how to spell:)
It is Miranda:)

                           :aok
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Offline Slurpee

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Gunslinger and other Marines or former Marines.
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2005, 11:01:47 PM »
Rightnow im in the DEP (still in High School). Read my contract and understand it.

1 part from the contract - basically is saying how you cant get paid while in DEP, However, i also understand that this time is counted toward fulfillment of my military service obligation or commitment.

So thats saying the time im in DEP counts towards the 4 years im suppose to serve right? I have to serve 4 years and can be called back from the reserves for an additional 4 years if needed.

Being 18, i have no kids none of that. Mainly just ready for a life challenge and some adventure/excitment.

Where do i find the Rights at? Definetly better learn those through and through.

If i can get 2 people to join the USMC, i get promoted to PFC, ive been working on that as well. No luck yet though.

Overall ive always been a good natured and respectable kid. Always give older people respect because obviously theyve been around longer and know more then me, and you can learn alot from them. Really im just worryd about doing well in the USMC and having a good time with it.

Swimming im pretty good at but with everything there is always room to improve. BTW ill be going to boot camp in SD:).

Not sure if thats good or bad, but from alota the documentys ive seen etc PI looks hardcore!

Thanks for all the help fellas

Oh another note - The job i secured is 0300 Infantry.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2005, 11:05:21 PM by Slurpee »