Marines, why are we so arrogant?

[MattTheSkywalker]

Someone said it up above - Marines in falljuah are there now because the Army is stretched too thin; no forward naval bases in Fallujah.

I trained with just about every type of special ops person there is. I was an Army ranger. The Army Special Forces guys were the most professional, SEALs definitely loved themselves the most, Delta Force guys were so laid back I thought they were asleep, then it was time to train and they were amazing.

But the toughest, most competent, hardest dudes, the dudes I would want to take to war, were the Marine Force Recon guys. (on the other hand, Battalion recon guys were often assclowns).


Now, as to arrogance...I think it has to do with a force comprised largely of marginally educated high school kids being torn down and rebuilt into beach stormers. Rangers are the same way, just change "beach" to "airfield".

 

[Code]

I didn't think you could sign up for 8 years. I thought four + one in reserves was the max??

I haven't gone in yet. I'm waiting for them to let me know if I am in or not for the summer OCS session. I took the oath and technically they own my mind and body for the next 8 years if they want it. I'm not very optimistic about being selected as the recruiters were extremely discouraging.

I know they get some kind of bonus for enlisting guys, but it seems that they get a meal voucher pulled out of their pocket every time a guy applies for OCS.

 

[Synpax]

Milo - Thank you for the info. I'm walking in without any preconceptions. I was not aware until recently that there was such a bifurcation of the forces and am only begining to understand it's necessity.

Matt - That's awesome. You mention recon and that would be my goal. Qualifications for that area are 10 miles in 2 hours with a 50 lbs pack (just to get in, I know suceeding is harder). I'm going to do my first test run for that on Sunday.

Code - it's 3.5 active + 4.5 active reserve. It use to be only 1.5 active reserve.

 

[Code]

Just as a word of advice, "active reserve" means you're the first mofo to go to war, right??

If you are doing this for school and thinking you won't go to war, think again.

Milo - Thank you for the info. I'm walking in without any preconceptions. I was not aware until recently that there was such a bifurcation of the forces and am only begining to understand it's necessity.

Matt - That's awesome. You mention recon and that would be my goal. Qualifications for that area are 10 miles in 2 hours with a 50 lbs pack (just to get in, I know suceeding is harder). I'm going to do my first test run for that on Sunday.

Code - it's 3.5 active + 4.5 active reserve. It use to be only 1.5 active reserve.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Matt - That's awesome. You mention recon and that would be my goal. Qualifications for that area are 10 miles in 2 hours with a 50 lbs pack (just to get in, I know suceeding is harder). I'm going to do my first test run for that on Sunday.

I was a light infantry officer and Ranger, I travelled many distances on foot with heavy-ass rucksacks.

Advice you can use:

Walk with the ruck first, a lot, if you are already not. As you get accustomed to it, up the weight in the ruck, and up the distance. For example, try to walk 15 miles with an 80 pounder before you get into speed.

Here's why:

Ruck marches are really really bad for you. They hurt your shoulders, your back, your hips, knees and legs, and they can fuck up your feet. I came to the Army after being a college basketball player; I was in super shape, and I still had to adjust to the new demands of a heavy ruck.

Additionally, many guys who are mentally tough enough end up crapping out because their feet just aren't conditioned to handle the stress of a long walk or run with a heavy ruck.

Your feet should be blistered, callousm leathery etc before you even show up day 1. It will make your life much easier. Once you get them in that condition, you'll be able to add speed, distance and weight with relative ease.

 

[big4life]

My father was a retired Gunny. He wasn't arrogant, but everyone that met him respected him, even without knowing that he was a Marine.

 

[Code]

You might want to also work out your lower back, add some muscle there.
Maybe doing Good Mornings.

I say this cuz when I went through the ruck-walks, the one thing that really fucked me over was lower back pain. Big knots and wicked pain.

I was a light infantry officer and Ranger, I travelled many distances on foot with heavy-ass rucksacks.

Advice you can use:

Walk with the ruck first, a lot, if you are already not. As you get accustomed to it, up the weight in the ruck, and up the distance. For example, try to walk 15 miles with an 80 pounder before you get into speed.

Here's why:

Ruck marches are really really bad for you. They hurt your shoulders, your back, your hips, knees and legs, and they can fuck up your feet. I came to the Army after being a college basketball player; I was in super shape, and I still had to adjust to the new demands of a heavy ruck.

Additionally, many guys who are mentally tough enough end up crapping out because their feet just aren't conditioned to handle the stress of a long walk or run with a heavy ruck.

Your feet should be blistered, callousm leathery etc before you even show up day 1. It will make your life much easier. Once you get them in that condition, you'll be able to add speed, distance and weight with relative ease.

 

[Rex]

I have 4 years active duty, then 4 years inactive Reserve. Pretty much after my 4 years active I don't get called back unless the war is going big time and troops are dropping all around. 2 active duty are under the belt. 2 more to go.

Active Reserves is the one weekend a month/ 2 weeks a year stuff. They don't deserve all the ragging people give them for being "weekend warriors". A lot of the infantry reserves are over in the desert right now.

I respect the officers that were enlisted before commissioning. They know the bullshit that the enlisted get, and they're able to relate better. The 22 year old butterbar out of OCS with a degree in basket weaving knows shit, and treats us like shit. Of all of the officers I have been lead by, through FAPs or multiple changes in chain of command, my favorite was the Mustang.

 

[powerslave]

I respect the officers that were enlisted before commissioning. They know the bullshit that the enlisted get, and they're able to relate better. The 22 year old butterbar out of OCS with a degree in basket weaving knows shit, and treats us like shit.

I found that to be true as well. We had several officers that were prior enlisted.

 

[p0inko]

USMC

uncle sam's misguided children