Military training...

[MR_Vengeance]

Why go Marines? Well...cause I want to be a Marine.

I'm not enlisting for 'job experience' or anything like that. I'm enlisting to get away from all the civilian 'every day job' type crap. For me its down to either the Marines, Marine Reserves, National Guard or Army because I want to go into the infantry and thats all that offers it.

look, i know you are a young guy and wants to experience the rush and all in the corps, maybe even in combat. But please do take the consideration of your parents and those who cares about you, and the fact that you might not make it back alive. I know you are a loader and it's darn boring to be one, sure the company will hold the place for you but if you come up missing a leg or hands, then you would be out of luck. Think about all the pros and cons before you take the plunge.

P.S
With all due respect to the Vets on the board, I'm not trying to discourge the young man from join the corps . I just want him to consider all the facts and current conditions before making a big decision in life.

 

[trickpony1]

I agree with Mr. Vengence.
Whatever branch of the service you chose will, early on, give you a battery of aptitude tests. These tests are designed to measure your aptitude at various tasks such as mechanical, math, visual and spatial orientation etc.
I notice you didn't mention the Navy as an option. I would imagine one of the safest places one can be in time of war is an aircraft carrier that has an escort group close by.
Put your testoterone laced ego aside and ask yourself this question:
Do I want to spend X number of years in the military so I can come home and tell all my buddies how many people I shot and/or how many extremities I am missing and the PTSD that I have to deal with everyday or;
do I want to come home from the military in one piece with a DD 214 that documents the schools the military sent me to and the X number of years having served in a MOS that is applicable to the civilian world?
Search the classified ads in your local newspaper. I don't think you will find too many prospective employers looking for howitzer operators.

 

[raceanoncr]

Search the classified ads in your local newspaper. I don't think you will find too many prospective employers looking for howitzer operators.[/quote]


UPS hired ME!!!!! And I've been hitting their targeted a**es for 29 yrs!!!!

Seriously...most of us don't talk about the body count.

 

[Towely]

I agree with Mr. Vengence.
Whatever branch of the service you chose will, early on, give you a battery of aptitude tests. These tests are designed to measure your aptitude at various tasks such as mechanical, math, visual and spatial orientation etc.
I notice you didn't mention the Navy as an option. I would imagine one of the safest places one can be in time of war is an aircraft carrier that has an escort group close by.
Put your testoterone laced ego aside and ask yourself this question:
Do I want to spend X number of years in the military so I can come home and tell all my buddies how many people I shot and/or how many extremities I am missing and the PTSD that I have to deal with everyday or;
do I want to come home from the military in one piece with a DD 214 that documents the schools the military sent me to and the X number of years having served in a MOS that is applicable to the civilian world?
Search the classified ads in your local newspaper. I don't think you will find too many prospective employers looking for howitzer operators.

I understand what you are all saying and thank you very much for the concern and advice. I am going to college for mechanical engineering so(assuming I get my degree in ME) I won't have much trouble finding a job after college.

As far as going into a 'safer' job, I won't go into all the reasons for not going that route. I have considered all the possibilities. I have lost a friend over there and also know someone who lost both legs.

I don't have much at home. No really close friends that I see a lot, no girlfriend. I either work or train(MMA). This would give me a lot I don't have at home. More than anyone can get at home.

My reasons for wanting to go into the infantry(and yes, part of me would like to experience combat, though I do not want to because I think it would be fun or at all enjoyable) are all deeply personal. Even I don't quite understand them all yet. I just know it's something that I have to do. It's almost like a calling. For as long as I can remember I've known that this is what I want with my life, now the time has finally come to go out and do it.

 

[tieguy]

I don't have much at home. No really close friends that I see a lot, no girlfriend. I either work or train(MMA). This would give me a lot I don't have at home. More than anyone can get at home.

Ahh the army reserves is what you need. Girls will love the jump boots and beret.

My reasons for wanting to go into the infantry(and yes, part of me would like to experience combat, though I do not want to because I think it would be fun or at all enjoyable) are all deeply personal. Even I don't quite understand them all yet. I just know it's something that I have to do. It's almost like a calling. For as long as I can remember I've known that this is what I want with my life, now the time has finally come to go out and do it.

I have served and I think you need to do a little more thinking to get in touch with your feelings. There is no higher calling, no mysticism for joining when you find yourself storming a beach dodging bullets and artillery. At that point its good training, discipline and a lot of luck that will keep you alive. No calling will guide you then. Are you strong mentally and physically? No mysticism will help save you and I'm not sure I would want someone in the foxhole beside me who believed he had a calling to be there. Not trying to slam you I just think you need to do a little more thinking to figure out what this calling thing is all about.

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

Towely, I was in the Marine Reserve for 6 yrs(85 to 91). UPS was accomadating at times. Some drill weekends were friday thru saturday. Sometimes the sup wouldn 't take enough work off of me to get their on time.

Your sups broke the law by not taking enough work off you so that you could get to drill on time. My drills are the typical Saturday/Sunday schedule and it's a 4 hour drive for me so I'll work a half day or not at all. I tried working a full day once and ended up arriving at the base at like 1am. We have to be in place at 6:30 so it was rough.

 

[area43]

look, i know you are a young guy and wants to experience the rush and all in the corps, maybe even in combat. But please do take the consideration of your parents and those who cares about you, and the fact that you might not make it back alive. I know you are a loader and it's darn boring to be one, sure the company will hold the place for you but if you come up missing a leg or hands, then you would be out of luck. Think about all the pros and cons before you take the plunge.

bau correction on my earlier post friday thru sunday was my drill weekends

bau correction on my earlier post, friday thru sunday for a drill weekend

P.S
With all due respect to the Vets on the board, I'm not trying to discourge the young man from join the corps . I just want him to consider all the facts and current conditions before making a big decision in life.

Venge, I understand your point, but with that train of thought nobody would want to go infantry. What mother in their right mind wants to put there son in that type of risk. The fact is somebody has to do it. Take care venge, I enjoy your post. Im glad you changed you avatar(softens your image lol).

 

[area43]

Your sups broke the law by not taking enough work off you so that you could get to drill on time. My drills are the typical Saturday/Sunday schedule and it's a 4 hour drive for me so I'll work a half day or not at all. I tried working a full day once and ended up arriving at the base at like 1am. We have to be in place at 6:30 so it was rough.

bau, correction on my earlier post, most drill weekends were friday thru sunday(5 drillers). UPS might have broke the law. I only lived 7 minutes from the Marine center. Its was one of those battles I choose to pass on . If you read the my original post it was sometimes, not all the time the sup would have to much work on me. take care, area 43

 

[area43]

area 43.yes, that is true we do get va benefits. but, i think it is all tied into how much $ you make. the higher your income the more you have to pay. now if it is something that happened to you will on active duty that is a different story. how many years did yo serve?

semper fi

Hey 2000, I stand to be corrected. I received a bill from the va for my first visit. 15 bucks. Surprised, yes, but hey it was only 15 bucks.

 

[Joopster]

As long as you have orders, you're golden.

I was in your shoes and went for it....Have had a total of 3 years off from UPS while enjoying the raises etc. while I was gone.

Good luck.

 

[retired2000]

area 43. i thought you would get a bill. but, like you said it was only $15. i had 20 years in so i am hoping to get in the tricare health plan after i turn 65