By the way: if they start off boot camp by introducing the LMG, run. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Best of luck to you, your a good man and I hope America serves you as well as you seem ready to serve it. I thank you.
Note: If during boot camp your instructor happens to one day out of no where offer you say, a spaghetti lunch or some such, eat lightly. I'm told that’s not just a funny bit of BOB fyi. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Good luck, Zig. Remember that rocket jumping doesn't work as expected in real life <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->.
Good luck with the Marines Zig. Hopefully you'll survive long enough to come back to teh forums. Hopefuly you'll meet Brig there <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Meh.....play around with your life. It's yours, not mine. I mean heck, if I wanted to be a soldier of PRC, then I would have.
EDIT : BTW, have fun with foot drills <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 25 2004, 02:55 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 25 2004, 02:55 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->i''ll be asure to have fuan nawya&&
fcgin chrsti tthea four shorsement goes down realllll goodo dunnit??d<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Forums plus intoxication is a <i>bad idea</i>, Zig, we've gone over this before.
Just because you belive that the wars that are going on right now aren't justified, doesn't mean that other people don't belive that they are fighting in defence of your country. It comes down to your opinion vs theirs, so it doesn't really matter anyways.
Personally I don't think you have to go and kill anyone the president tells you to in the defend of your country, but it's your life not mine Zig.
Totally best of luck, enjoy training because it is TONNES of fun, and don't stop dropping by the old forums to say hi and stuff now and then.
Have fun Zig <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-DOOManiac+Jun 25 2004, 12:20 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DOOManiac @ Jun 25 2004, 12:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If I were nuts enough to join a branch of the military, its the be Marines. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> You know, it's funny I was thinking the same thing. The Marine corps is a good choice. Not that any other group is any less honorable or anything. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
Nope, they aren't. I myself would go into the Army for purely one reason- while Marines do the initiating attack, Army makes the big moves first. But then again, I'd also probably try and be SF, just because their jurisdiction is the same as Marines(aka, anytime, anywhere, just needs approval of a commanding officer).
You should have joined the Army. They have better bases and housing. Fewer hand-me-down weapons too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> But that's just the allegience to my former branch talking.
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours."
<!--QuoteBegin-The Finch+Jun 25 2004, 07:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (The Finch @ Jun 25 2004, 07:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You should have joined the Army. They have better bases and housing. Fewer hand-me-down weapons too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> But that's just the allegience to my former branch talking.
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I've always wanted to do that.
But being an apache pilot wouldnt be half bad either <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
CplDavisI hunt the arctic SnonosJoin Date: 2003-01-09Member: 12097Members
<!--QuoteBegin-The Finch+Jun 25 2004, 01:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (The Finch @ Jun 25 2004, 01:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You should have joined the Army. They have better bases and housing. Fewer hand-me-down weapons too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> But that's just the allegience to my former branch talking.
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> heh join the Airforce,
psst... they're the guys over there sitting in the air conditioned tents, ya know, away from the army/marine guys sitting in the non air-conditioned tents...in the desert. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 25 2004, 02:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 25 2004, 02:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> i've got a decent idea of the crap i'll be getting in the marines that i wouldn't get as a soldier, or a sailor, or a flyer.
that's why they call them Marines. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> As long as you don't come back here crying, were all ok.
<!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 25 2004, 05:31 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 25 2004, 05:31 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> he'll be here in 15 minutes!
<!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> What did I miss?
Just be careful and don't get taken in - those people are paid to lie to you and to make sure that you think the corps is the right place for you. It's a bloody <i>science</i>.
Just watch your back and don't get taken in - keep your wits about you. Decide everything for yourself, AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION WHO HAVE JOINED UP AND LIKED IT.
<!--QuoteBegin-Dubbilex+Jun 25 2004, 07:42 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dubbilex @ Jun 25 2004, 07:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Just be careful and don't get taken in - those people are paid to lie to you and to make sure that you think the corps is the right place for you. It's a bloody <i>science</i>.
Just watch your back and don't get taken in - keep your wits about you. Decide everything for yourself, AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION WHO HAVE JOINED UP AND LIKED IT. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Don't bend over to pick up the soap, your green remember...
<!--QuoteBegin-Cpl.Davis+Jun 26 2004, 02:20 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cpl.Davis @ Jun 26 2004, 02:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-The Finch+Jun 25 2004, 01:13 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (The Finch @ Jun 25 2004, 01:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You should have joined the Army. They have better bases and housing. Fewer hand-me-down weapons too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> But that's just the allegience to my former branch talking.
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> heh join the Airforce,
psst... they're the guys over there sitting in the air conditioned tents, ya know, away from the army/marine guys sitting in the non air-conditioned tents...in the desert. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Being a fighter pilot would own. And it'd probably be a damn sight safer than ground work.
The way I see it, going to war on foot is a bit like playing NetHack. Yeah, if you know what you're doing and you have good equipment you won't get killed really really really quickly. But it's still easy for something you have utterly no control over and couldn't predict at all wiping you out in one hit. So to speak.
Zig...I am Captain Planet!Join Date: 2002-10-23Member: 1576Members
edited June 2004
was painless.. lol
don't see what everyone's talking about... either i'm dumb or their isn't any subterfuge going on.
they're trying to get me to join the Marines, and i want to join the Marines.
i'll read the contract, and decide if the terms within are to my liking.
what room is there for complication?
well, all that crap is beside the point. i'll tell you guys how it went.
the recruiter calls at 3:30, picks me up 3:45. he's korean, i didn't see that coming. think i talked to a black guy a while ago, musta shipped or something. but this korean guy is the one i've been talking to lately. nice guy, course he's paid to be. not trying to sound cynical, it's the truth. he comes with another guy, a white guy, who looks like one of the mud-wrestling types. i'd find out later that he's comin out of boot, combat MOS.
they're both in uniform w/o coats, with the striped pants n white hats n lookin very sharp and all. we hit the recruiting office, and they start me off (sorta abruptly) in a back room with a practice test, the liddle version of the big one. in the room with me is a lotta boxes of paraphrenalia (the boxes say stuff like CERAMIC MUGS) and some desert camo net strewn over the back wall. on it are hung some magazines and an inert AT-4. i ask him if it's an AT-4.
"how the f_ck do you know that?" lol
so i take this test, which makes me feel like a damn idiot because it's the middle of the summer and i haven't done long division in years. all in all, i do well, missing about 4/80 questions where i thought i wouldn't miss any. this isn't the real thing though, i'm told, just a quick guage of my academic proficiency.
done with the test, and i'm sat down and shown a set of tags with different values and ideas, bout 10 total. i'm supposed to select three. i like all of them: challenge, leadership, education possibilities, etc.
i choose "self-reliance, self-direction, self-discipline", "pride in belonging", and "professional skills/opportunities". i figure those are most important to me. the recruiter tells me about each one, and how the Marine Corps is the means to my goal in each. i'll learn professional skills and leave active service with the means to support myself in the way i like. i'll earn the title, "Marine" and be able to say that about myself with pride, knowing that i am one of "the few and the proud," the premiere fighting force of the nation and of the world. most importantly to me, and he can see that (he's got a degree in psychology apparently), self-direction is a big thing for me. i don't have that. he talks to me about how in asian families, the only things that matter are school, school, studying, and school. after highschool you go to college and that's that, you're another slant-eyed workin stiff. it's not exactly how i'd put it, but i can see where he's coming from, and my family is exactly like that. i've always known it. he tells me that thru the Marine Corps, i'll secure a life of my own, become a man, be a decision maker. i know he's telling me what i wanna hear.. but i don't mind. it sounds good. and regardless of whether i become that man, that decision maker, i'll be a Marine. and that's what's important to me.
after that, we watch a cheesy recruitment video, which begins with a USMC commercial. the guy in a t-shirt and shorts has to complete an obstacle course over lava, finally reaching the pedestal and securing the saber/sword thingy. you know, the marine sword. he grabs it and a lava monster erupts from under him, and he vanquishes it while standing on a laser tightrope. he turns around and transforms into a slick, uniform-clad Marine. it's "exciting", in an early 90's, GI-Joe sort of way. the movie continues and follows kids through boot, until they receive their eagle, globe & anchor. they look downright nasty comin off the bus, and for the next 20 minutes or so they get yelled at and screamed at while they fire their M16s and run and do pushups and situps and thrusts and throw each other around and flip each other over and run and get screamed at. i'm sorta thinkin, "i know what boot camp is, thx" but i know that i really DO not know. nobody can teach me what it is, thru video or whatever. i'll find out myself. well, the kids graduate and it's very dramatic, all the girls are crying and all the boys are smiling broadly. the recruiter says, "don't worry, the girls don't always cry." i think i'll probably cry myself, if i'm that happy about it. then comes the part where they reflect. it shows their before and after faces. each punk kid comes out lookin like GI-f_ckin Joe... that's how it goes i guess. i think boot camp makes you grow a butt-chin and makes you all scowly and proud-faced. but i like the way they look when they're done. and i know that they're real people, even if touched up a bit behind the scenes.
ok, cool video. now i get to come out and shoot the **** with the gunny and some other Marines. they find out from me that i like guns and i like shootin. they ask me the muzzle velocity of an M16, i say 3200fps. they say holy sh_t. Marines swear a lot, at least these ones. that's one thing they don't bullshlt you about, i guess. then the gunny asks me, "what's your first general order?" or something like that. i don't remember what it was, because i didn't know the answer. everyone laughs. so i guess i know about the tanks and the guns and i've shot mosta these things before. but i tell em i'm not a marine yet, and they lighten up.
they ask me about my parents and how they feel about it, etc etc, and we end up figurin that they'll come over to the house tonight at about 8. cool deal. so he drives me home, talks to me about how Jarhead was horsesh_t and he saw a damn lot of cool stuff, blowing up bunkers with AT-4s and the like.
so here i am, waiting for them to come to my house.
the end/beginning.
oh yeah: they started doing some in-house PT while i was there. i did more pullups than the marine on active duty. he weighs 50lbs more than me.. but i still did one more. he kept doing the same amount (11) over and over again while we were there, though. i don't think i coulda done my set of 12 that many times in a row. i'm not there yet, i guess. but hey, it was pretty cool.
<!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> understood, O&G! hopefully i'm in the 0.000001% of marines that <b>don't</b> die </ubersarkazm> ~_~;; <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> that is so not true between the years 1980-1993 for every 100,000 active duty marines only 122.5 marines died so i think your chances are pretty good
Zig...I am Captain Planet!Join Date: 2002-10-23Member: 1576Members
edited June 2004
my sarcasm synapses are firing hard and fast. i take it you're joking, epidemic. lol
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> understood, O&G! hopefully i'm in the 0.000001% of marines that <b>don't</b> die </ubersarkazm> ~_~;; <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> that is so not true between the years 1980-1993 for every 100,000 active duty marines only 122.5 marines died so i think your chances are pretty good<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Comments
good luck, and remember this:
when everyone is shooting in one direction, it would be wise to do the same.
good luck, don't get perforated!
If I were nuts enough to join a branch of the military, its the be Marines.
Take care of yourself, and good luck.
Note: If during boot camp your instructor happens to one day out of no where offer you say, a spaghetti lunch or some such, eat lightly. I'm told that’s not just a funny bit of BOB fyi. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Maybe play the Army game to get into the spirit?
Meh.....play around with your life. It's yours, not mine. I mean heck, if I wanted to be a soldier of PRC, then I would have.
EDIT : BTW, have fun with foot drills <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
fcgin chrsti tthea four shorsement goes down realllll goodo dunnit??d
fcgin chrsti tthea four shorsement goes down realllll goodo dunnit??d<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Forums plus intoxication is a <i>bad idea</i>, Zig, we've gone over this before.
Personally I don't think you have to go and kill anyone the president tells you to in the defend of your country, but it's your life not mine Zig.
Totally best of luck, enjoy training because it is TONNES of fun, and don't stop dropping by the old forums to say hi and stuff now and then.
Have fun Zig <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<a href='http://www.military-quotes.com/murphy.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.military-quotes.com/murphy.htm</a>
You know, it's funny I was thinking the same thing. The Marine corps is a good choice. Not that any other group is any less honorable or anything. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
drunk like a 'rine already i see <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
ummmm ... dont be goin out like that, kay?
lol.
yea Demand the truth!
The next time you talk to your recruiter, ask him about those sneaky cloaked Oni, and quick strike Fade attacks!
HA bet he didnt talk about any of those things in his great "Join the TSA Marines" speech...
OH wait...
you meant the <u>US</u> marines....
Well y didnt you say so lol.
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours."
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've always wanted to do that.
But being an apache pilot wouldnt be half bad either <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
heh join the Airforce,
psst... they're the guys over there sitting in the air conditioned tents, ya know, away from the army/marine guys sitting in the non air-conditioned tents...in the desert. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
that's why they call them Marines.
that's why they call them Marines. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
As long as you don't come back here crying, were all ok.
<!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
What did I miss?
Who will be here?
Just watch your back and don't get taken in - keep your wits about you. Decide everything for yourself, AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION WHO HAVE JOINED UP AND LIKED IT.
Just watch your back and don't get taken in - keep your wits about you. Decide everything for yourself, AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION WHO HAVE JOINED UP AND LIKED IT. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Don't bend over to pick up the soap, your green remember...
Have you decided your MOS yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend going into armor. Driving the Abrams is even more fun than it looks and there's nothing like an APFSDS-T round to say, "Up yours." <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
heh join the Airforce,
psst... they're the guys over there sitting in the air conditioned tents, ya know, away from the army/marine guys sitting in the non air-conditioned tents...in the desert. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Being a fighter pilot would own. And it'd probably be a damn sight safer than ground work.
The way I see it, going to war on foot is a bit like playing NetHack. Yeah, if you know what you're doing and you have good equipment you won't get killed really really really quickly. But it's still easy for something you have utterly no control over and couldn't predict at all wiping you out in one hit. So to speak.
don't see what everyone's talking about... either i'm dumb or their isn't any subterfuge going on.
they're trying to get me to join the Marines, and i want to join the Marines.
i'll read the contract, and decide if the terms within are to my liking.
what room is there for complication?
well, all that crap is beside the point. i'll tell you guys how it went.
the recruiter calls at 3:30, picks me up 3:45. he's korean, i didn't see that coming. think i talked to a black guy a while ago, musta shipped or something. but this korean guy is the one i've been talking to lately. nice guy, course he's paid to be. not trying to sound cynical, it's the truth. he comes with another guy, a white guy, who looks like one of the mud-wrestling types. i'd find out later that he's comin out of boot, combat MOS.
they're both in uniform w/o coats, with the striped pants n white hats n lookin very sharp and all. we hit the recruiting office, and they start me off (sorta abruptly) in a back room with a practice test, the liddle version of the big one. in the room with me is a lotta boxes of paraphrenalia (the boxes say stuff like CERAMIC MUGS) and some desert camo net strewn over the back wall. on it are hung some magazines and an inert AT-4. i ask him if it's an AT-4.
"how the f_ck do you know that?" lol
so i take this test, which makes me feel like a damn idiot because it's the middle of the summer and i haven't done long division in years. all in all, i do well, missing about 4/80 questions where i thought i wouldn't miss any. this isn't the real thing though, i'm told, just a quick guage of my academic proficiency.
done with the test, and i'm sat down and shown a set of tags with different values and ideas, bout 10 total. i'm supposed to select three. i like all of them: challenge, leadership, education possibilities, etc.
i choose "self-reliance, self-direction, self-discipline", "pride in belonging", and "professional skills/opportunities". i figure those are most important to me. the recruiter tells me about each one, and how the Marine Corps is the means to my goal in each. i'll learn professional skills and leave active service with the means to support myself in the way i like. i'll earn the title, "Marine" and be able to say that about myself with pride, knowing that i am one of "the few and the proud," the premiere fighting force of the nation and of the world. most importantly to me, and he can see that (he's got a degree in psychology apparently), self-direction is a big thing for me. i don't have that. he talks to me about how in asian families, the only things that matter are school, school, studying, and school. after highschool you go to college and that's that, you're another slant-eyed workin stiff. it's not exactly how i'd put it, but i can see where he's coming from, and my family is exactly like that. i've always known it. he tells me that thru the Marine Corps, i'll secure a life of my own, become a man, be a decision maker. i know he's telling me what i wanna hear.. but i don't mind. it sounds good. and regardless of whether i become that man, that decision maker, i'll be a Marine. and that's what's important to me.
after that, we watch a cheesy recruitment video, which begins with a USMC commercial. the guy in a t-shirt and shorts has to complete an obstacle course over lava, finally reaching the pedestal and securing the saber/sword thingy. you know, the marine sword. he grabs it and a lava monster erupts from under him, and he vanquishes it while standing on a laser tightrope. he turns around and transforms into a slick, uniform-clad Marine. it's "exciting", in an early 90's, GI-Joe sort of way. the movie continues and follows kids through boot, until they receive their eagle, globe & anchor. they look downright nasty comin off the bus, and for the next 20 minutes or so they get yelled at and screamed at while they fire their M16s and run and do pushups and situps and thrusts and throw each other around and flip each other over and run and get screamed at. i'm sorta thinkin, "i know what boot camp is, thx" but i know that i really DO not know. nobody can teach me what it is, thru video or whatever. i'll find out myself. well, the kids graduate and it's very dramatic, all the girls are crying and all the boys are smiling broadly. the recruiter says, "don't worry, the girls don't always cry." i think i'll probably cry myself, if i'm that happy about it. then comes the part where they reflect. it shows their before and after faces. each punk kid comes out lookin like GI-f_ckin Joe... that's how it goes i guess. i think boot camp makes you grow a butt-chin and makes you all scowly and proud-faced. but i like the way they look when they're done. and i know that they're real people, even if touched up a bit behind the scenes.
ok, cool video. now i get to come out and shoot the **** with the gunny and some other Marines. they find out from me that i like guns and i like shootin. they ask me the muzzle velocity of an M16, i say 3200fps. they say holy sh_t. Marines swear a lot, at least these ones. that's one thing they don't bullshlt you about, i guess. then the gunny asks me, "what's your first general order?" or something like that. i don't remember what it was, because i didn't know the answer. everyone laughs. so i guess i know about the tanks and the guns and i've shot mosta these things before. but i tell em i'm not a marine yet, and they lighten up.
they ask me about my parents and how they feel about it, etc etc, and we end up figurin that they'll come over to the house tonight at about 8. cool deal. so he drives me home, talks to me about how Jarhead was horsesh_t and he saw a damn lot of cool stuff, blowing up bunkers with AT-4s and the like.
so here i am, waiting for them to come to my house.
the end/beginning.
oh yeah: they started doing some in-house PT while i was there. i did more pullups than the marine on active duty. he weighs 50lbs more than me.. but i still did one more. he kept doing the same amount (11) over and over again while we were there, though. i don't think i coulda done my set of 12 that many times in a row. i'm not there yet, i guess. but hey, it was pretty cool.
that is so not true between the years 1980-1993 for every 100,000 active duty marines only 122.5 marines died so i think your chances are pretty good
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Zig+Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zig @ Jun 24 2004, 10:16 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> understood, O&G! hopefully i'm in the 0.000001% of marines that <b>don't</b> die </ubersarkazm> ~_~;; <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
that is so not true between the years 1980-1993 for every 100,000 active duty marines only 122.5 marines died so i think your chances are pretty good<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
notice the ubersarkazm tag? o_o