That Sir, is a Yuma Yummy special 😂

Ok get this I was watching “The Rock” with Nicholas Cage where the Marines are the bad guys and the Seals sacrifice themselves to save the country. Well like any other 17 year old I feel a lump in my throat and a burning desire to also die for my country. This is pre 9/11 so I didn’t jump on that bandwagon like many of yous out there.

Call the Navy to become a Seal they’re like sure come see us on Monday (it was Friday evening). Not sure how but coincidentally the Marine recruiter calls me Saturday I tell him I got an appt with Navy and Sgt says come tomorrow and I’m like but it’s Sunday. Ol’ Sgt then says “we’re the Marines son, we never close” so bet I was sold.

Time comes to pick a job I tell them I want to be a grunt and shoot stuff the recruiter tells me oh yah I was a grunt too but you have to go open contract and after boot camp you tell them you want 0311. Ship off to boot camp after crucible I ask my DI when do I get to select my job, they start cackling like hyenas and laughter tears coming down while I’m standing at parade rest confused as hell.

This is before Google machine was invented. Turns out the honor in honor courage and commitment doesn’t apply to recruiters. I spend the next 4 years turning wrenches at Lejeune.

Good times!

He was just eighteen when he raised his hand, Swore an oath to his country, proud and unplanned. A boy with a dream of fighting for right, Chasing the echoes of freedom’s bright light.

Boots hit the sand in a world far from home, A rifle in hand, through the desert he’d roam. At twenty, he laughed with his brothers in arms, Swapping their stories, still blind to the harm.

The years rolled on, but the laughter grew thin, The war stayed behind, but it lived deep within. He wakes in the night to the ghosts of his past, The echoes of gunfire, the shadows that last.

He tucks in his children, kisses their heads, But lies in the dark with the weight of the dead. He whispers their names, those who never came back, The faces still walking that sand-painted track.

A piece of him lingers where the sun burned his skin, Where the battles were fought, where the blood ran thin. He can still feel the steel, the grip of his gun, Still smell the gunpowder long after it’s done.

He made it home, but not all of him stayed, Somewhere in Iraq, in the dust, he still wades. The war is long over, yet inside it won’t cease, He prays for their souls—may they finally know peace. Author unknown

I am writing an essay for PME and I am looking for examples of things that prevent Marines from engaging in tough realistic training that did not necessarily exist in the past.

How long does it take to reserve a live fire range now compared to in the past?

How hard is it to get flight hours now compared to the past? (I have no experience with the wing so if this is a dumb question or if there is a better question please let me know)

How soft has MCMAP gotten compared to the past?

What kind of redundant or ridiculous paperwork might be required to engage in certain training that wasn't required in the past?

Any input on these questions or other examples is much appreciated, thank you.

Is there a way my wife can pcs from Okinawa to the states to deliver our baby and be able to live there with us without having to separate and not having to do a tour conversion

Looking for some advice from the community.

I got HSST'ed and it's looking like recruiting orders might be coming down. I'm considering signing an RE3O and going to the Army, but part of me just wants to give recruiting my best shot and see if it works out. I've heard good and bad things from dudes in my unit. I figured the worst case scenario is I would either get GOS or RFC'd if it didn't work out and you can always retire as a SSgt or go to the Army after since the Army doesn't care if you have an adverse fitrep. But I've heard horror stories of dudes getting administratively reduced in rank or adsepped as a part of their RFC. Is this true or just sailor stories?

Is the safer option just to go RE3O?

How do you do it. What’s the magic. Fucking hungry and wishing I had me some ham and cheese omelet (one of the few good things from the chow hall - hope it’s still as good)

Y’all are gonna make fun of me for this. I come down to Camp LeJeune every so often to pick up liquor and other items from the PX. Now, I’ll pay one of you chow hall card holdin silly wankers $20 and a bottle of liquor for a fucking Gas Chamber sandwich from the chicken shack. I’ve really been fucking fiening for one. If I can get one of y’all motivators to DM me, I’ll let you know the next time I’m heading down y’all’s way.

I got out mid December and I’ve been on the hunt the past few days for an apartment after living with my dad since I got out. From my understanding most places want to see your last three paystubs to make sure you can afford it but I’ve only been working for about three weeks and my dumbass never thought to build my credit while I was in so that’s a fuck up on my part. I’ve got over 22k in the bank and more coming in so I know I can afford what I’m looking at but I’m not sure how they’ll see it. I’m touring one tomorrow then applying if it’s not to bad so I’m just wondering how I should go about it. Like could I just smack 6 months rent on the table and hope that they trust I’m good for the rest or am I fucked until I’ve been working for 2 months. How did you guys do it?

If you were to volunteer for recruiting duty and be given the choice to go anywhere you wanted, where would that be and why?

I can think of a few good places. Maybe somewhere close to home where I can be close to my friends and family. Or someplace where I'd imagine myself planting my feet when whenever I'd get out. If I could go anywhere, maybe I'd go some place where I hear the recruiters only come to work twice a month because they effortlessly make mission every month.

Where would you spend your golden ticket?

Any boot recommendations for rucking /everyday?

Had a question for any of the Marines who have just got out or have been out for awhile. Friend of mine in Cali just got out and is now homeless. He says he's fine and will get VA benefits soon. He's going a long distance across the US to stay with a friend. It seems from messaging he has a real positive attitude about the whole thing, but he says it happens alot. I'm an aviator O side so I'm years away from even being able to leave, so I wanted to get some perspective from the E dogs out there. Does this happen alot in your experience? Is there anyway I can help?

Can you ship Your car to Okinawa japan if your pcsing there I Haven’t been there in over a decade.

I got out recently, and I’ve been drinking more and more. It helps me sleep and helps not making me feel like shit. I think I’m done for now, but I hate knowing I will always go back to it.

I propose we form a satirical secret society on top of our already weird secret society, wrapped in a secret society of seriousness that only we know the jokes to. He have to act like it’s sacred, but inside we know that it’s all just BS and just an excuse to drink and have our First Annual Meeting of the Smoke Circle at the new Tun Tavern.

What are the rules?

We wear poncho liners as boat cloaks. Always wear boot bands… just in case. “By the Blood of Chesty” like Aloha is used. Strippers…

Got word we have a surprise PFT Wednesday for CGRI. Haven’t really been training for PFT yet. Anybody have some last minute tips or tricks? Am I cooked ?

Hi, I recently got out of the marine corps. I am getting a few calls from marines on IRR duty. Any personal experiences from the IRR? Pros-cons? Things to beware of. Anything helps, thank you.

The Ball gift from Marine Barracks Subic Bay in 1975!!! Too cool!!!

If any of you out there were there then and would like this, dm me. But. If you are not at least 68 yrs old don’t bother!!!!

Where are my spooky gurus and story tellers? Who else employed this technique to keep them on their toes on watch? I used to tell messed up stories from back home and about Staff NCOs that came and went and what they did to make us miserable. Anything I could think of to keep them going while half asleep. What stories did you tell?

Can anyone drop their experiences and/or information on the FAST companies? Deployment cycles, training, duty stations etc. Not finding a ton of information online and in previous posts. Looking at possibly pursuing FAST as a B Billet. Currently a Lt looking at Captain, 0203. Appreciate all the responses.

I’m marrying a local in Okinawa and PCSing to mainland in the next few months. Is there a way to get our household goods moved through the marine corps without having done a tour conversion in Okinawa?