Friday, May 28, 2010

Why Join the Marine Corps?

Why would any man or woman with good sense want to join the Marine Corps? Why go through the arduous rigors of Marine boot camp also known as Marine recruit training only to possibly be deployed to a combat zone and become a KIA (killed in action) or a disabled veteran?

There are many reasons men and women just like you, myself included, join the Marine Corps and to get some idea of the reasons why brave men and women join the Corps you can visit this site: Why Join The Marine Corps and if you have already enlisted and are wondering what is in store for you at Marine Corps Boot Camp you can visit this site for answers: Marine Corps Recruit Training

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Marines Modify Rifle Qual

It seems that many things have changed since I enjoyed my time in Marine recruit training and was on active duty. One of those changes has to do with the rifle range and qualification. You can read this forum post from Leatherneck -> Marines Modify Rifle Qual

On your way to Marine Corps Recruit Training? If you are you are going to need an edge. It's no Sunday church picnic and if you know what's instore and how to adapt, improvise and overcome you too will be able to join America's most honored fighting force, complete your testing (recruit training) and earn the title Marine. This is the manual you need for success.

Monday, May 17, 2010

After Discharge One of Your Military Service Benefits is the VA Medical Center

For years I had no idea that I could use the VA Medical Center for my personal medical care. I was under the misguided impression that the VA Medical Centers were only for those who had Military disabilities or were retired from the American armed forces. But I found out from a friend and fellow Marine that my thoughts were wrong. So I checked it out for myself to be sure and ...

As a Marine, even with only 3 years of active duty service, one of my benefits is the availability of medical care via the VA. As long as you have been honorably discharged from the American armed forces, any branch of service, you have the opportunity to obtain medical care at any VA Medical Center throughout the United States. It doesn't matter if you are successful and have great insurance or if you are completely destitute and can't pay a dime the VA will make sure you receive proper medical care. If you can pay for medical care great - through the VA you may only have a small co-pay after your insurance covers the bill but if you are less financially fortunate you could be eligible for free medical care. All you need to do is ...

Visit your VA online or at the nearest VA Medical Center location and sit down with a VA rep and give your sitrep. Your VA counselor will help you fill out any necessary paperwork and help you get approved for medical care.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Is Marine Boot Camp Hard? Marines Testify About Boot Camp Abuse

Is Marine boot camp hard? Do bears shit in the woods? When I went through Marine boot camp 38 years ago abuse of recruits was a normal thing. Marine recruit training wasn't a fucking daycare. It was designed to weed out the weak, the "non-hackers" and our platoon lost over half the recruits we started with. Obviously it isn't the same as it was then for now Marine Drill Instructors are disciplined severely for abusing recruits to the extremes that were normal to me when I was in Marine basic training. 1st phase was the worst. It was like "Hell phase." It fucking sucked.

In the words of the Associated Press November 08, 2007

"SAN DIEGO - Several Marines testified Nov. 7 that their boot camp drill instructor smacked them in the head with flashlights and rifles and ordered platoon members to lie in their own vomit." You can read the whole article here: Marines Testify About Boot Camp Abuse

The Marine Corps Times offers another article about abuse in Marine boot camp you can read about it here: $30M abuse case began at boot camp. Scott DiDonato, a former Army man, experienced difficulty while in Marine boot camp. This is an example of an unfortunate injury due to physical abuse but I also saw some of that while in boot camp. Being a squad leader I'd get beat everytime one of my squad screwed up. I've had one DI stand on my back, while I did push-ups and the other smack me in the ribs with his feet. Luckily I never suffered any real damage but several others did.

I remember some of my fellow recruits whining about one of our DI's and his love of making us hang on the pull-up bars and smacking us in the gut with an M14. If you puked the whole platoon ran 3 miles as a reward. Blanket parties (Code Reds) for misbehaving recruits or those who didn't give their all were fairly common during 1st and second phase. One DI used to love to have us gather in the dirt in front of our qhuts, use the hose to water down the dirt, make us piss in it and do PT (push-ups, sit-ups, bend and thrusts) in the mud and then hit the rack with no shower. Now ...

I'm not complaining. In fact, I think it was a good "weeding out" process and I told that whining recruit and the rest of my squad that was sitting around with us that if I could do what was asked of me, live through the mental and physcial stress then they could too. In fact, damn near the whole platoon heard me give my little speach and there was far less whining afterwards.

I could tell you more but chances are you'd think I was telling stories or blowing smoke up your ass but the truth is Marine boot camp was no fuckin picnic, wasn't designed for pussys and those who graduated damn well earned their Eagle, Globe and Anchor. And ...

I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Are you headed for Marine Corps Recruit Training? Here's the "edge you need."

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Welcome to Join the Marine Corps ...

I just want to thank you for stopping by my little corner of the world and reading about one of the most interesting and probably the most life changing decisions I ever made which was to Join the Marine Corps. Now you might wonder Why Join The Marine Corps and maybe because of today's economy in America you may be thinking of joining the military as a career move. You may be looking at the Army, Navy or Airforce but you may also be considering becoming a Marine, heck you may have already enlisted on the delayed entry program and are looking for some info or an edge to help prepare you for and insure you graduate from boot camp. If you have already enlisted and are wondering what is in store for you at Marine Corps Boot Camp you can visit this site for answers: Marine Corps Recruit Training

By the way I am not a highly prolific writer so I may not add anything to this blog on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis but if you become a follower I believe you'll get notified when I do add material. Thanks again fro stopping by, I hope you like what you read and stop back often. Good luck and have a great day  :-)