Enlisting USMC. Things to focus on/practice awareness of during training?

LaV-Man · 2017-11-17T21:28:14+00:00

I was in the Marines and the Army. And I'll give you the advice I wish I had before I went in:

Learn your job. Know how to do your job. Lives may depend on it someday. Even if you're a cook or administration, the guys in the field don't need to be concerned about getting paid or fed.

Do you job. Nothing else matters. Your MOS is your reason for existing and you're a small cog in a large machine. Check you ego, and get the job done.

You're command probably won't give a shit about any of that. They will want to look good to the higher ups. PT scores and inspections will be what they focus on (and guys not getting DUIs/doing drugs).

Finally, you get out of it what you put in. I heard that before I went in but it never sunk in until I got out. You will get out of the military what you put in to it. Devote yourself to succeeding in the military and you will. Devote yourself to 'getting by' so you can party and you will.

Get an education while you're in (they paid %50 of the cost of college while I was in). Then use your GIBill to go farther when you get out.

Drink the cool-aide in boot camp. Give yourself over to it completely. You are going to think "this is bullshit", or "they're playing head games with us" and they are, but the best way through is to embrace it mentally. After it's over (boot camp) you will see the benefits.

RPAlternate42 · 2017-11-18T01:25:00+00:00

The Reserves are not "the environment of the military." You will be nothing more than a little boy playing at being a Marine. Active Duty has no respect for full reservists because they never do their job right, they are undisciplined and unindoctrinated which means they have zero cohesion within active ranks. As a reservist, you will always be a boot.

All this nonsense about leadership and being effective is all dick-in-your-mouth shit talk unless you're going Active Duty; your promotions will be slow as shit. Assuming you do the 8 years, you MIGHT come out as a corporal... meanwhile your contemporaries in Active Duty are getting Corporal around 2 years in (depends on MOS.

You claim you lack discipline and planning and then expect my Marine Corps to help fix that and then you go all wishy-washy with it and join the reterdists.

Maybe grow some gumption, go Active, learn a job, make some awesome friends (that you will know for the rest of your life), become the leader you claim you want to be.

So assuming you swallowed the cum in your throat, and decided Active Duty is a better option, I recommend you first pick a job that translates to the civilian world.

oh, but I want to stay in for 20 years.

Even better... 20 years in with all that experience in the same field, retiring at 42 with 50% pay, and then getting a job with a contracting company that wants you because you have that experience... offering you 4 times as much as you made, plus your USMC retired pay AND getting all the bennies, including the EXTRA retirement for later.

If you want a job that translates, ignore the following MOS fields:

03xx (caveat at bottom)
08xx (artillery) There are no jobs int he civilian world that require you to send a 155mm explosive ordnance over 5 miles away.
18xx (tanks) No translation to civvie life.
21xx (Ground Ordance Maintenance)
33xx (food service.) There is translation... but it would be far below you once you are out.
55xx (Music) unless you play an instrument already, this is a limited-duty option anyways. You're in for about 2 years, then you have to lateral AFAIK. waste of time.
57xx (NBC) This was my job and there are very very very limited translations tot he real world. I have a friend who does well in civilian life doing this job, but he is like 1 out of a very, scant, few.

Here are some realities of the other MOSs:

01xx (admin) you do office work. You are the POG of the POGs. you frustrate other Marines and rarely see real field work.
02xx (intel) Specifically human intel. This MOS deals with recovered intelligence from people. It requires a high GT score and if you make the right friends there are numerous civilian contractor and govt positions for all levels. Bonus points if you stay in long enough to become a 0291 (Intel Chief.) The CIA is a human intelligence agency.
04xx (logistics) The civilian world, especially with large companies, REQUIRES logistics. In the Marine Corps you either look at computers that have lists of things that are being moved, or you are on-site directing the moving.
05xx (MAGTF Plans) I think this may be a secondary or non-initial MOS (meaning you have to lateral into it.)
06xx (Communications) deals with all matter: wire, satellite, radio, comm security, networking, and anything that requires data to move from A to B in some form. This has heavy carry-over to the real world.
09xx (used to be 85xx: Training) You need to lateral to these positions and they are secondary MOSs. They include Drill Instructor but include all instructors too.
11xx (Utilities): basically electric, HVAC, Water. IT's a pretty important MOS field since bases, mobile or otherwise, require all of these things to keep Marines alive. It has carry over.
13xx (Engineer) You build shit int he field. It has carry over tot he construction field.
23xx (EOD) this is a secondary MOS. You blow up bombs and disarm misfired munitions, IEDs, mines, and the like.
26xx (Signal Intelligence) Where 02xx is human intel, 26xx is signal intel. It deals with gathering intelligence electronically. the NSA is a signal intelligence agency.
27xx (Linguist) This is a secondary MOS and requires you to know a second language... even Spanish can get you a 2768 MOS. Certain languages like Arabic, Russian, Korean, Chinese and a few others can get you pay boosts.
28xx (ground electronic repair) you fix the electronic shit from equipment when it breaks. Could be artillery targeting, or it could be a radio. It depends on where they fit you in MOS school.
30xx (supply) You store the stuff 04xx (logistics) needs to move. It's like 01xx, but with specificity.
31xx (traffic management) No idea, sounds boring as shit.
34xx (financial management) I believe this may be a secondary as well. 34xx do inventory audits and FSMO inspections.
35xx (Motor T) Bunch of fuck ups and hooligans. Lots of vehicle maintenance. You will get licensed for a great deal of equipment. If it has wheels, you'll touch it at some point (except planes.)
41xx (MCCS) I think it's secondary and it's stupid.
43xx (Public Affairs) basically Marine Corps propaganda. These guys work on air for in-country TV news. I think they work with the embedded civilian correspondents too.
44xx (legal.) It's legal. nuff said.
46xx (Combat Camera) Sounds boring, and it can be, but these guys also take pictures for the 02xx guys. Mostly it's making propoganda for your side or printing psych stuff for the other side.
58xx (MP) has a lot of carry over, but mostly when you've gotten E-6 or higher. Up tot hat point, you are either PMO (base police) or a field MP, which deals with rear-area security and POW processing.
59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66xx (All airwing stuff) Planes, fast and slow, Helos, fast and slow. There are a lot of jobs in this MOS range because the equipment is expensive and important. A fair amount of carry over, though I don't know to what capacity.
68xx (METOC) weather shit
70xx (air field services) field maintenance and oversight to include fire and rescue (this last part is a huge get if you want to be a firefighter.)
72xx (Air Traffic Controllers) I think there is a civilian shortage of these.
73xx (in-flight nav and crew) If I joined again, I'd be this just because it would be fucking fun. Specifically 7312: C-130 specialist. Those guys get to operate the Spooky gunships armament. This field also includes UAV operator. As airwinger jobs go, I think this field is the tops.
80xx (all other misc jobs.) All of these are secondary, pre-fleet, MOS's, or special duty MOS.

Seriously, go Active. Don't half ass shit.

Now as far as Recruit Training goes, there are some rules to follow and remember:

everything... E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G is planned and scheduled. Your hair cuts, chow, drill practice, this that and the other is all planned out. This means if you have time to fill because you are early, getting fucked with is part of the schedule.
nothing is personal. The DIs hate everyone equally, until they like some more than others. If you want to be one of them, be fast, be strong, be loud, be instantaneous.
PT, eat, sleep, drill, learn. These are your primary missions in boot camp. Everything else is extra.
lock your shit. You leave your foot locker to piss, lock it. You get called tot he drill instructor hut, lock the foot locker first.
always be aware of your surroundings. DIs will fly from the sky and catch you doing some shit you didn't think was wrong, but was, because they said so.
Get good at something and demonstrate that shit regularly.
Don't be too smart. Most marines, especially in a group, are pretty fucking dumb. being too smart in boot camp puts a target on you as a "guy."
don't be too dumb. As dumb as they are, they know a fucking idiot when they see one. Being dumb makes you a target, again.
Never be first, never be last, never volunteer. If a job is good (not shitty) and the DI likes you, they will pick you for the good job. If they hate you, they will pick you for shit jobs. If they ask for volunteers, they are doing so because it's faster than picking (the idiots always are quick to try to slide some DI dick down their throat.)
Get good now. Read about recruit training. Read about your MOS field. Read about USMC life (go to /r/USMC and ask some shit there.) Get good at pull ups now. Get good at running, now. Get good at sit-ups now. Make sure you can swim, now. If you have the time, start learning some BJJ/grappling (the athleticism and combative movements translate to MCMAP pretty well.) In other words, be proactive NOW.

Once you are at the recruit processing center before they take you to the hotel before they wake you up to put you on a bus to go to the airport and fly to San Diego/Savannah, empty your brain of delirious thoughts. Accept all that is thrown at you. Know that what is happening is on a trajectory that ends when it lands and you can do nothing to stop it. And remember that yelling is just talking loudly so you can hear better. The number of grown men I've seen get scared because some dude was yelling is comical.

Get off the bus, get on the yellow footprints, save what you know and make room for some new shit.

DubbleFUPAwitCheez · 2017-11-17T20:37:04+00:00

Might want to consider reading the book "Making The Corps". It's a real life story of a group of new cadets going through training and a bit of what life is like after. I read it when I was considering joining. It didn't change my mind either direction but it did offer insight and was a good read.

Ak_Float_Flyer · 2017-11-18T07:51:51+00:00

Another vote for "active", from one who did both. Reserves is good if you have a serious career or college going on or for after you get out of Active Duty, but it probably isn't the way to get what you are looking for. Don't count on moving to Active Duty if you find you like it, either; it usually ain't happening.

As for your questions:

Keep your attention outwardly focused in boot camp. Don't get caught daydreaming. Stay aware always.

Before, run a lot, swim a lot; and this is awkward, but cut back on fapping as much as you can in the weeks before. You don't get to do that there and it can get a little uncomfortable until your body adjusts. For Christ's sake, don't arrive overweight or unable to pass the PFT.

I would also suggest doing something you think would be cool instead of trying to find something that has a direct civilian application. Use the GI Bill and go to College or Trade School afterwards. Full disclosure: I do the same job now that I did when I was in (Aircraft Mechanic). But most guys end up doing something else afterwards.

RedPillFusion · 2017-11-18T14:51:30+00:00

If you're going to become one of us, then go active. I'm not saying that from a "fuck reservists" point of view, but in context of what you said you're looking to get out of it. If you're going to do reserves, join another branch.

Talk to your recruiter about your ASVAB scores and what all you qualify for. I worked in intelligence and can stipulate what was said above - I made 6 figures in my first job after one 5 year contract.

Use TA (tuition assistance) during your 4 year contract. Get your education knocked out for free without using a dime of your GI Bill. Apply for MECEP or another commissioning program and become an officer. Marine mustangs are widely respected, and much is demanded of them.

If you decide to leave active duty like 80% of marines do after their first contract, use your 36 months of GI Bill to get a graduate degree in something that has a demand in the market -- finance, business, computer science, engineering, business, law (my attorney friends would crush me for recommending that), or even medicine. I don't know what kind of aptitude you have - just going of your self-described "impressive intelligence". Intelligence won't get you anywhere in grad school. I fucked off in high school and undergrad and had to re-learn how to study and learn for grad school.

Obviously I have just painted a general yet somewhat specific path for you, but it is a route that worked miracles for me. Feel free to hit me up with any questions if I can be of any help.

Brickhead816 · 2017-11-17T20:17:24+00:00

Don't be a bitch. Everything that's happening is happening for a reason to waste time. Everything is on a schedule. So when your getting fucked with and all the stupid children are yelling at each other. Remember you're probably 5 minutes early to chow or whatever the next training event is and the DI has to waste some time. You can pm me if you have any questions. I've been out a few years but have friends that a re DIs now.

Retspihi · 2017-11-17T20:37:13+00:00

The reserves ain't shit. Should've went active you little bitch.

You'll be making pennies and get ZERO veteran benefits because you didn't go active duty.

-army vet

Title	Enlisting USMC. Things to focus on/practice awareness of during training?
Author	makeitworkthrowaway
Upvotes	6
Comments	16
Date	November 17, 2017 7:55 PM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/7dnivp/enlisting_usmc_things_to_focus_onpractice/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/enlisting-usmc-things-to-focus-onpractice.118490 https://theredarchive.com/post/118490

Comments