Iam joining the u.s. marines

[PFC Mongoose 0]

Yup... Artic Foxes have undersized ears, Desert ones have oversized.

Man, I should make an 'I support War with Quebec' pic for all the canucks here.

Except it would look awful, my pic editing skills are crap.

And yeah, good luck, guys! Hope you both go where you want to go!

[Schoeler 0]

Tips for surviving bootcamp:

1) Run, run early, run often, learn to love it!

2) Memorize your General Orders now. It will save you a lot of pain in bootcamp.

3) Learn the rank system and the chain of command too.

4) Learn to blend in. This was already told to you, but I cannot stress this enough, if your drill instructor doesn't know who the hell you are and refers to you in general terms like shithead or fuckstick, you are doing well.

5) Learn to work as a member of a team. That is all bootcamp is about basically. They want to indoctrinate you into the military lifestyle and breakdown your sense of individuality, making you part of a well oiled machine. You are only going to be as good as the dumbest, slowest, sorryest guy in your platoon. Remember that.

6) Learn to sleep anywhere and at any time. Sleep will become your most valuable commodity. Learn to do it standing up if you have to.

7) Eat well, don't drink soda, drink water or juice. Eat lots of protein, fruits and veggies, and learn to eat fast. Food can be the difference in energy you need when you are operating on only two to three hours sleep a night.

8) Learn to pay attention to detail, no matter how small or insignificant or silly it may seem. It will matter. For example, I got into a world of shit once because I put the top sheet on my rack on upside down (you will learn about hospital corners and catch hems soon enough). Don't assume anything, do what you are told, when you are told to do it, not before, and not your own way.

9) don't get any kind of a tattoo, especially prior to boot. You're going to get killed if you get a Marine Corps tat before you actually become a Marine.

10) Stick it out, no matter how bad it seems. Remember, thousands of guys go to bootcamp every year. Some of them were better and smarter and faster than you are, and a whole hell of a lot of them aren't as good as you, but they all made it through by doing one thing, perservering. You will make it too.

Good luck, and congratulations!

[Balschoiw 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">3. Volunteer. My best times in the military were times I volunteered.<span id='postcolor'>

Hehe . I ended up playing the waitress for former german defence minister Volker Ruehe when I volunteered for an "exiting job" in Somalia. If you are told it will be an "exiting job" stand back

Always volunteer for "easy" labelled recon or patrol missions. They always guarantee action. The higher the risk the more they played it down. Although I don´t know how it is with the USMC.

[Supah 0]

Or do as i did, think about joining the army and then become a networkadministrator I get to drink coffee and smoke all day!!!!! oww yeah and do some work, small negative thing but overall its great Best thing about the army must be no contact with customers ... boy do they suck! But then there must be other people in the army with unrealistic expectations and the strange idea that you are bound by law to help them no matter what. Good luck man .. as for advice .... i've heard the importance of dry socks mentioned around this forum so i will just repeat that and look smart

[PFC Mongoose 0]

A couple of questions I had looking over this;

1.) Why don't you want to call your Sergeant 'Sir?' (Because you're supposed to call them Sergeant or Drill sergeant?)

2.) Is it really that bad if you stand out? (Not intentionally, but, if you just happen to?)

3.) Is it really that important to go to Church even if you don't believe? (IMO, I almost consider that lying.. lying to one's self, mainly. Also, I think if you don't believe, attending is just wasting one's time. )

4.) For the answers, is this just for the Marines, or do all branches of the service work like this?

[Guest]

1) Because they are not officers

2) Yes. Having a pink uniform is not recommended.

3) -

4) No, most of those things mentioned are valid for most militaries.

One thing that I havn't seen are tips to start swimming and diving. Amfibiesoldater - the Swedish equivalent of US Marines have high requirements on swimming abilities and we kustjägare had even much higher then that.

I'd assume that the US Marines do have water training as a part of the regular excercise.

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ Mar. 27 2003,21:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Another tip: Don't train too much before going to boot camp. You risk getting periostitis and that's a sure ticket out.

Oh yeah, tatoos: don't get them, you'll regret it. I have a small trident tatoo that I got in the service and I wish that I hadn't. Probably going to remove it one day...<span id='postcolor'>

i've removed several of my tatoos

but just one thing , just go with a real specialist that knows his stuff or else you will have nasty scars ....

[DarkLight 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 27 2003,11:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">3.) Is it really that important to go to Church even if you don't believe?  (IMO, I almost consider that lying.. lying to one's self, mainly.  Also, I think if you don't believe, attending is just wasting one's time.   )<span id='postcolor'>

Great question, i never go to church and i do NOT believe in a god or any kind of religion. I never do any of the ritual things when i have to go to a church (for example during schooltime, we go to a chapel 2 times each year), i will never do any of that religious stuff.

I don't care what ppl think about me when i might seem ignorant, i don't care when i get in trouble cuz my teacher is angry because i don't want to eat one of those disgusting things, etc etc.

I always show respect, and i advice you to do the same, you don't need to go to church, you can go of course but remember that whatever you do you have to show respect. I show respect towards religious ppl as long as they show respect torwards me.

So... don't go if you don't want to, and go if you want to.

I'd never go... but that's just how i am...

[Balschoiw 0]

for the recruits that are with us church is mostly an option when they want to have some time for relaxation

During missions military priest are often confronted with psychological or personel problems of the soldiers and therefore a good institution to find an open ear whenever something is pressuring your soul and you don´t want to share such things with your comrades.

[m16a2m203 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 28 2003,15:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A couple of questions I had looking over this;

1.) Why don't you want to call your Sergeant 'Sir?' (Because you're supposed to call them Sergeant or Drill sergeant?)

2.) Is it really that bad if you stand out?  (Not intentionally, but, if you just happen to?)

3.) Is it really that important to go to Church even if you don't believe?  (IMO, I almost consider that lying.. lying to one's self, mainly.  Also, I think if you don't believe, attending is just wasting one's time.   )

4.) For the answers, is this just for the Marines, or do all branches of the service work like this?<span id='postcolor'>

1) In the Marines as a recruit everyone is a Sir or M'am till you graduate from talking to enlisted to officers. He should also get used to talking about himself in third person. US Marines have Drill Instructors, US Army has Drill Sergeants.

2) Not really, you'll just end up doing more physical activity and the butt of a few jokes but other than that not really. You may even get chewed out a few times. It happens but they have been doing this for years. It is sort of scripted if you can call it that. Picture this. I wore the thickest portholes in the world, was of medium height, & my name was in the middle of the alphabet which placed me to the outside middle in formation and I was known by such things as Recruit Foreskin, Recruit Four-eyes, etc. because of my real name.

3) For our platoon it wasn't because you wanted or not wanted to go, you were ordered to go. Didn't matter which denomination just as long as you were gone. It gives the DI's time to do things they need to do. I'm proud to say not a single atheist was amoung us.

4) Not the same for all services.

[hellfish6 7]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 28 2003,03:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">3.) Is it really that important to go to Church even if you don't believe?  (IMO, I almost consider that lying.. lying to one's self, mainly.  Also, I think if you don't believe, attending is just wasting one's time.   )

of the service work like this?<span id='postcolor'>

Well... either you go to Church or you hang around the barracks with the Drill Sergeant. And he will make you wish that you believed in God.

I'm Buddhist, but I went to chruch anyways, because everyone told me that I could sleep there. But there was always this one asshole who kept waking me up. It's because of him that I haven't been to church since!

[E6Hotel 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ Mar. 28 2003,11:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">One thing that I havn't seen are tips to start swimming and diving. Amfibiesoldater - the Swedish equivalent of US Marines have high requirements on swimming abilities and we kustjägare had even much higher then that.

I'd assume that the US Marines do have water training as a part of the regular excercise.<span id='postcolor'>

I did consider mentioning it, but our minimum swimming standards are depressingly easy.  (The higher classifications, though...)  Basically, only a total hydrophobe would need to worry about swimming.

Of course, anyone planning to try Recon should go ahead and grow a blowhole on the back of your head.  You're gonna need it.

Semper Fi

[E6Hotel 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 28 2003,10:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">3.) Is it really that important to go to Church even if you don't believe?  (IMO, I almost consider that lying.. lying to one's self, mainly.  Also, I think if you don't believe, attending is just wasting one's time.   )<span id='postcolor'>

We weren't required to go to church.  I preferred having a few quiet hours back in the squad bay.

Semper Fi

[Guest]

What are the minimal physical requirements for the USMC?

In Sweden you first have a general fitness test with physicals tests, psychological evaluation, IQ tests etc. For every position in the military there are different requirements on those test results. Special positions require additional tests. The Amfibiekĺren (Swedish marines, you might say) are considered regular troops, so they don't have a second set of tests but they do have pretty high requirements on the physical tests.

Kustjägare (costal rangers) have a second set of test. The minimum physical requirements are these:

Running: 10 km in hilly terrain under 45 min

Pull-ups: minimum 8

Push-ups: minimum 40

Sit-ups: minimum 40 on each side and straight

Reverse sit ups: minimum 40

Step-test with 30 kg pack: min. 25

March with 25 kg pack: 10 km (in group)

Swimming: 700 m

Jump/dive: 5 m height

Diving through barrel: 4 m depth

When your training is completed there are two major test before you get your Beret and the trident. One is the distance-paddling where you have to canoe 100 distance minutes within 48 hours. The other is the "march of death" - a two-four day march without any sleep and with lots of assignements (weapons tests, setting up camp etc).

If you later chose the combat divers you have to pass more tests that make the previous ones look like child's play. The free ascent from 30 m depth is one of the favourites along with the torture (pressure) chamber). After being selected there are regular tests once a month. The swimming test are the worst ones with increasing difficulty. In the end you have to do a three distance minute (5,5 km) swim.

[PiNs_Da_Smoka 0]

About the whole church thing, hellfish pretty much summed it up. Everyone keeps telling me to go, even though i don't believe in any sort of god. Its a time to chill out and have some time to sit back and relax, if you don't believe, just drown it out. And maybe even meet a few ladies. Its either that or be around your DI and have him make you do shit, i'll choose the preceeding. At least thats what i was told by most.

[Harnu 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Running: 10 km in hilly terrain under 45 min

<span id='postcolor'>

Holy crap, isn't that somewhere areound 6 and a quarter miles?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Diving through barrel: 4 m depth<span id='postcolor'>

?

[E6Hotel 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ Mar. 28 2003,18:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What are the minimal physical requirements for the USMC?<span id='postcolor'>

Physically speaking, everyone's required to pass a semi-annual physical fitness test (PFT), consisting of three events:

1)  Dead-hang pullups (no leg motion allowed).  Each is worth five points, with 20 pullups considered perfect.  I usually get 14 or 15, although I once managed 17.  Before dead-hangs were specified, it was easy to get 20 by "kipping" (using leg momentum to jerk over the bar).

2)  Crunches in a two-minute time limit (replaced sit-ups because too many Marines were injuring their necks by pulling on their heads).  Each is worth one point, with 100 as a perfect score.  On a good day I get around 80 (I have a hard time doing anything 100 times in two minutes).

3)  A three-mile run.  18 minutes flat is worth 100 points, and you lose 1 point for every six seconds after that.  Minimum run time is 28 minutes.  My best time was 18:47, but I was running 30 miles a week (through Camp Pendleton's hills) when I pulled that off.  My normal times now average around 20:30.

2) and 3) above are the same for Women Marines, with different scoring standards.  Instead of dead-hangs, they do a "flexed arm hang" from the pullup bar.  As long as their arms aren't locked out straight, the clock is running.  70 seconds is a 100-point score.

The PFT doesn't incorporate swimming (although many think it should).  We are required to swim qual, with the frequency between re-quals depending on how high the swimmer is rated.  The ratings start out at 4th class (basically being able to survive contact with water), and get progressively more difficult.  After 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st class comes Water Survival Qualified (WSQ), which is the highest non-instructor rating available.  Strangely enough, 1st class is actually much harder to pass than WSQ.  At the 1st class/WSQ levels, the tests involve demonstrating various rescue tows, 500m swims using the survival strokes in boots and utes, the burning oil splash drill, swimming 25m while holding a 10lb brick out of the water, etc.  Oh yeah, and a 3m jump w/ full combat gear.

Recon has much different standards.  To qualify for Recon (either Division or Force), a Marine has to pass a one-day indoc, consisting of the following events (keep in mind that the events occasionally change):

1) A PFT, with a 225/285 needed for Division and Force, respectively.  In other words, to pass the 1st event of the Force indoc, a Marine needs to run three miles in 20:30, do 20 dead-hangs, and 100 crunches.

2)  A formation run to the training pool (at Lejeune it's about three miles).  The run is led by Recon Marines, and if you fall out, you're done.

3)  Most Marines wash out at the pool.  For two hours, they have to swim 25m back and forth underwater, get out and do callisthenics for approximately five minutes, and repeat the process.

4)  Run back to the starting point.

5)  The final event seems to change frequently.  It used to be a timed 5-mile ruck run (w/ a 50lb sandbag in an ALICE pack), but I think that now it's a 10-mile speed hump.  I'm not positive about the time limits.

Assuming the Marine passes the indoc, he's screened by the Recon CO.  If all goes well, the Marine then goes to the Basic Reconnaissance Course, Army Jump School, Navy Combat Diver School, etc., etc.

Semper Fi

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Harnu @ Mar. 28 2003,22:13)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Running: 10 km in hilly terrain under 45 min

<span id='postcolor'>

Holy crap, isn't that somewhere areound 6 and a quarter miles?<span id='postcolor'>

Something like that yes. It's no biggie though, later we did it in 42 min with 25 kg pack and full gear.

After a very lazy winter I've picked up running the last two weeks. Until today I've done 5 km runs, but I did a 10 km run in 52 minutes today. So you don't have to be in extremely good shape to do it in 45. I'm going to try to get it down to the 42-45 range the coming weeks.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Diving through barrel: 4 m depth<span id='postcolor'>

?<span id='postcolor'>

There is a long barrel (at the bottom of a swimming pool) that you have to swim through.

[Harnu 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ Mar. 28 2003,22:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Diving through barrel: 4 m depth<span id='postcolor'>

?<span id='postcolor'>

There is a long barrel (at the bottom of a swimming pool) that you have to swim through.<span id='postcolor'>

ohhhh okay. The wy it was written it sounded like jumping off a diving board and go through a 4m barrel on the way down

[crewcutkid 0]

Pins! Did you complete Basic yet???

Sry for the off-topic.

If you have, did you go into a branch yet?

If so, what?

-Crew

[SFG 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (crewcutkid @ Mar. 29 2003,03:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Pins! Did you complete Basic yet???

Sry for the off-topic.

If you have, did you go into a branch yet?

If so, what?

-Crew<span id='postcolor'>

No he leaves to basic in 3 days