The role of the marines in the military

[Amused]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: vood0g
ok, i just spoke to her and this is what she says.

1. you go to a college that has a program in which u go to boot camp for 13 weeks, and then they pay your way through college.

She makes it sound like it's a summe camp. Marine ROTC OCS is *hard*. I have a friend who just finished, and he is one of the most hardcore people I know, and he said it was the hardest thing he's ever done.

2. during your actual duty, she can have an administrative position (office work, non-combat) if she chooses since she is a girl. she claims that girls do not have to fight unless they WANT.

I doubt she's going to get to choose where she is assigned. Non-combat is not necessarily a desk job

3. bootcamp is different for girls.

Wrong

I do not know anything about the military, so can you guys verify the truths to these statements? I just dont want to sound stupid when I am trying to tell her otherwise.

If she is joining the Marines because she thinks it is an easy way to get through college, please tell her she is making the biggest mistake of her life.

Joining the Army made it possible for me to get an education. But, I did know what I was getting into before I did it. I would never,and never did whine about being sent into harms way.

 

[vood0g]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: vood0g
ok, i just spoke to her and this is what she says.

1. you go to a college that has a program in which u go to boot camp for 13 weeks, and then they pay your way through college.

She makes it sound like it's a summe camp. Marine ROTC OCS is *hard*. I have a friend who just finished, and he is one of the most hardcore people I know, and he said it was the hardest thing he's ever done.

2. during your actual duty, she can have an administrative position (office work, non-combat) if she chooses since she is a girl. she claims that girls do not have to fight unless they WANT.

I doubt she's going to get to choose where she is assigned. Non-combat is not necessarily a desk job

3. bootcamp is different for girls.

Wrong

I do not know anything about the military, so can you guys verify the truths to these statements? I just dont want to sound stupid when I am trying to tell her otherwise.

If she is joining the Marines because she thinks it is an easy way to get through college, please tell her she is making the biggest mistake of her life.

so the bootcamp for girls is the same as they are for the guys? and is it mixed gender, or is guy bootcamp separate from girl bootcamp?

 

[fredtam]

so the bootcamp for girls is the same as they are for the guys? and is it mixed gender, or is guy bootcamp separate from girl bootcamp?

http://www.marines.com/enlisted_marines/faqs.asp?format=flash

 

[vood0g]

thx fredtam. that was a good read.

 

[fredtam]

They are expecting the stupid people aren't they?

When I sign-up or request information online, am I in the Marines?
No. The Web site is for information purposes only. You cannot sign up to be a Marine via the Web site. To become a Marine you must first talk to a recruiter, and then over time voluntarily make a commitment.

 

[Preyhunter]

Boot camps are not mixed gender, but are on the same "base" (recruit depot). The women's training is demanding as well. As far as I know, recruit training for women is done at Parris Island only.

The Marine Corps is the absolute last branch you should choose if you're gonna be a weekend warrior. I never understood why people wanted to go through all that crap just to do one weekend a month and two weeks a summer of duty.

Fredtam's perspective may be skewed a bit because his brother is an officer, not enlisted. I can't speak to what officer basic training is like, but I can for enlisted and the enlisted people that I knew that had done both Army and Marine training said that Marine basic training was much more difficult. ALL enlisted Marines (maybe officers, too) are primarily trained as riflemen. You can't become a Marine if you can't qualify on the rifle range.

Also, you would typically have your MOS (or job assignment) picked out before ever entering any type of training because it's part of your service contract. I wouldn't sign on the line unless I knew what it was I was going to be doing for whatever agreed upon number of years of my life.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Preyhunter
Boot camps are not mixed gender, but are on the same "base" (recruit depot). The women's training is demanding as well. As far as I know, recruit training for women is done at Parris Island only.

The Marine Corps is the absolute last branch you should choose if you're gonna be a weekend warrior. I never understood why people wanted to go through all that crap just to do one weekend a month and two weeks a summer of duty.

Fredtam's perspective may be skewed a bit because his brother is an officer, not enlisted. I can't speak to what officer basic training is like, but I can for enlisted and the enlisted people that I knew that had done both Army and Marine training said that Marine basic training was much more difficult. ALL enlisted Marines (maybe officers, too) are primarily trained as riflemen. You can't become a Marine if you can't qualify on the rifle range.

Also, you would typically have your MOS (or job assignment) picked out before ever entering any type of training because it's part of your service contract. I wouldn't sign on the line unless I knew what it was I was going to be doing for whatever agreed upon number of years of my life.

My view isn't skewed as I am not talking only of boot camp. I am not saying that Marine boot camp is not harder than the Army. Boot camp is a very short period in your military carrer. My point was that the Marine infantry does not train more than the Army. Also my brother was enlisted in both branches first and is not the only person I am basing my opinion on.

I couldn't tell you personally because I was a traitor and joined the Navy.

 

[Preyhunter]

Originally posted by: fredtam
My view isn't skewed as I am not talking only of boot camp. I am not saying that Marine boot camp is not harder than the Army. Boot camp is a very short period in your military carrer. My point was that the Marine infantry does not train more than the Army. Also my brother was enlisted in both branches first and is not the only person I am basing my opinion on.

I couldn't tell you personally because I was a traitor and joined the Navy.

You are a sad, sad man.






(I would normally do a wink smiley to imply I was kidding, but that would probably come across the wrong way. You know, with you being a squid and all...)

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Preyhunter

Originally posted by: fredtam
My view isn't skewed as I am not talking only of boot camp. I am not saying that Marine boot camp is not harder than the Army. Boot camp is a very short period in your military carrer. My point was that the Marine infantry does not train more than the Army. Also my brother was enlisted in both branches first and is not the only person I am basing my opinion on.

I couldn't tell you personally because I was a traitor and joined the Navy.

You are a sad, sad man.






(I would normally do a wink smiley to imply I was kidding, but that would probably come across the wrong way. You know, with you being a squid and all...)

LOL & STFU

 

[irwincur]

The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder with it's own air force?

Most of the marines I have met would not take too kindly to his statement.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

I know what cannon fodder is.

Actually it would be an infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed. We have already established that Marines are the first to be deployed. Casualties in a war usually happen on the front line. If I were sent to the front line I would expect to (while hoping I wouldn't be) killed.

Again why do people think Marines are such bad asses?

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

I know what cannon fodder is.

Actually it would be an infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed. We have already established that Marines are the first to be deployed. Casualties in a war usually happen on the front line. If I were sent to the front line I would expect to (while hoping I wouldn't be) killed.

Again why do people think Marines are such bad asses?

I never said Marines are the ultimate badasses.

The implication I got from his post is that he thinks Marines are less effective than other soldiers and are only good for dying while others do the real work. Not a very smart thing to say people who are trained to hurt/kill and are paid for it.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

I know what cannon fodder is.

Actually it would be an infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed. We have already established that Marines are the first to be deployed. Casualties in a war usually happen on the front line. If I were sent to the front line I would expect to (while hoping I wouldn't be) killed.

Again why do people think Marines are such bad asses?

I never said Marines are the ultimate badasses.

The implication I got from his post is that he thinks Marines are less effective than other soldiers and are only good for dying while others do the real work. Not a very smart thing to say people who are trained to hurt/kill and are paid for it.

"Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay."

Also none of the Marines I know would take offense. As a matter of fact it is a common arguement.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

I know what cannon fodder is.

Actually it would be an infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed. We have already established that Marines are the first to be deployed. Casualties in a war usually happen on the front line. If I were sent to the front line I would expect to (while hoping I wouldn't be) killed.

Again why do people think Marines are such bad asses?

I never said Marines are the ultimate badasses.

The implication I got from his post is that he thinks Marines are less effective than other soldiers and are only good for dying while others do the real work. Not a very smart thing to say people who are trained to hurt/kill and are paid for it.

"Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay."

Also none of the Marines I know would take offense. As a matter of fact it is a common arguement.

From Merriam-Webster Online

Main Entry: cannon fodder
Function: noun
: soldiers regarded or treated as expendable in battle

To me this implies that they are not valuable nor able to do their job effectively. How would you like it if I called you worthless?

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: irwincur
The marines are like the guys who volunteered to be in the first row during a Civil War battle. Pretty much cannon fodder, the shock troops of the US military.

Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay.

:roll: It is true. Why do people think Marines are such bad asses.

Cannon fodder would be saying that they are only there to take the bullets so everybody else can do the fighting. Completely the opposite of the truth.

I know what cannon fodder is.

Actually it would be an infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed. We have already established that Marines are the first to be deployed. Casualties in a war usually happen on the front line. If I were sent to the front line I would expect to (while hoping I wouldn't be) killed.

Again why do people think Marines are such bad asses?

I never said Marines are the ultimate badasses.

The implication I got from his post is that he thinks Marines are less effective than other soldiers and are only good for dying while others do the real work. Not a very smart thing to say people who are trained to hurt/kill and are paid for it.

"Say that to any Marine. Oh, before you do that, leave instructions with your parents to post on ATOT about you recent hospital stay."

Also none of the Marines I know would take offense. As a matter of fact it is a common arguement.

From Merriam-Webster Online

Main Entry: cannon fodder
Function: noun
: soldiers regarded or treated as expendable in battle

To me this implies that they are not valuable nor able to do their job effectively. How would you like it if I called you worthless?

I enjoyed reading this thread because I know people in force recon and those who went through the army, but you need to realize that expendable is not synonymous with worthless. And fredtam skipped over the first definition of cannon fodder that comes up on dictionary.com

cannon fodder
Soldiers, sailors, or other military personnel regarded as likely to be killed or wounded in combat

ex·pend·a·ble
1. Subject to use or consumption: an expendable source.
2. Not worth salvaging or reusing: expendable rocket boosters.
3. Not strictly necessary; dispensable: an expendable budget item; expendable personnel.
4. Open to sacrifice in the interests of gaining an objective, especially a military one: expendable civilian targets.

 

[K1052]

I enjoyed reading this thread because I know people in force recon and those who went through the army, but you need to realize that expendable is not synonymous with worthless. And fredtam skipped over the first definition of cannon fodder that comes up on dictionary.com

cannon fodder
n.
Soldiers, sailors, or other military personnel regarded as likely to be killed or wounded in combat

ex·pend·a·ble
1. Subject to use or consumption: an expendable source.
2. Not worth salvaging or reusing: expendable rocket boosters.
3. Not strictly necessary; dispensable: an expendable budget item; expendable personnel.
4. Open to sacrifice in the interests of gaining an objective, especially a military one: expendable civilian targets.

I suppose it comes down the how you take it. Being called cannon fodder is not exactly a compliment IMO.

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: K1052

I enjoyed reading this thread because I know people in force recon and those who went through the army, but you need to realize that expendable is not synonymous with worthless. And fredtam skipped over the first definition of cannon fodder that comes up on dictionary.com

cannon fodder
n.
Soldiers, sailors, or other military personnel regarded as likely to be killed or wounded in combat

ex·pend·a·ble
1. Subject to use or consumption: an expendable source.
2. Not worth salvaging or reusing: expendable rocket boosters.
3. Not strictly necessary; dispensable: an expendable budget item; expendable personnel.
4. Open to sacrifice in the interests of gaining an objective, especially a military one: expendable civilian targets.

I suppose it comes down the how you take it. Being called cannon fodder is not exactly a compliment IMO.

True, but isn't that the mentality of front line warriors? Fighting like you are already dead?

Cannon fodder doesn't seem insulting, just heartless.
It reminds me of the necessary, harsh realism and cold indifference of a good military strategist.