As for joining the Marines.. No. I'm planning on the Army. My step dad really wants me in the Navy.. But I don't know... I'm not really one for water... Well boats really... Meh though it may or may not help, I've already started training myself.

So no worries there Airwinger. I'm not going into the Marines.

The irony here of course, is that the three people who seem to be at odds with absolutely everyone (except each other) are all non-military types.

The various posts from these people reek of arrogance, and a kind of petulance only found in those of very little life experience.

Example: it would seem commonsense to most adults, civilian or otherwise, not to come to a forum dominated by military personnel and take the moniker of “warrior” if they had not yet been in the military.

Likewise on the pet question. Certainly harmless enough, but very silly nonetheless.

And so, if either of the two women in question (Pearson has already proven himself incapable of grasping certain things) can get past their self-importance enough to see their own impetuousness, they might do okay.

We do have a fairly accurate sampling of military personnel here. Some older folks, some younger. For those that are thinking that perhaps the military is different today, guess what, most of your superiors are going to be about my age (mid 30s). And what you’re getting here; answers to silly questions, flak for puerile attitudes, is what you’re going to get in the military.

Just ask Pearson, he failed to make it because of such behavior on the part of others.

We Staff-types have pets. We call 'em Privates and Specialist. They are sort of a mongrel breed, but fun.
I'm flattered by rrpearso's statement that most of us were recently released from straight jackets. I find most of the Forum to be well-versed, witty, with a splash of cynicism, opportunists for the quick jab all in good fun. Is that the definition of crazy? Informed, educated, experienced? What do I know, I'm a dumb ground pounder right rrpearso?

I am refering more to the actions of drill sergants, and some of the comments made by some regualar members are flat out insults and personal attacks, which is how drill sergants operate, but they make sure not to refer to creed or gender because then they would get in trouble but all other forms of abuse or hazing is acceptable.

I just still dont understand why forceing people to stay in is ok but your angered when you have an ate up platoon member you cant get rid of, no one has been able to provide an adaquate explanaion other than they signed the dotted line. They may have signed then and then relized its not for them, yet you insist on forcing them to stay and then being pissed because there still there.

quote:

Originally posted by rppearso:
...them to stay and then being pissed because there still there.

Its because they just don't listen. Rather than do the right thing, they'll invest more energy doing the wrong thing. Then cry

Well, I'll direct this more outward than at Pearson seeing as he has already made his bed so-to-speak.

But all of the supposed insults that DI's hurl towards the recruits are meant to break down a person's thinking. Not brainwashing, but a crumbling away of the little boy.

It is very close to what people go through in genuine religious experiences. There is first a breaking down of the selfish, outer person. Here is where the child comes to the quick realization that the world is bigger than their little sphere of knowledge or circumstances.

Only through this breaking down, can a person begin to really see outward, outside of themselves, beyond the "self."

And then, in boot camp (excuse me as I switch back and forth here, and these are not metaphors, but similies ) you begin to realize that these seemingly sadistic DI's are role playing. Then you realize the psychology behind it, then you see the overall pattern, and then it's easy.

No offense, but Parris Island was much more difficult than anything you ever saw Pearson, and once you figured out their game, it really was easy. But, and this is the important part, when you saw the "game" you also understood it. It made sense. A platoon full of individuals, would get themselves killed in combat, and quickly. But a team, . . but no offense again, you really can't understand that from where you're sitting.

And they can't let guys out as soon as they feel like they want to quit. It would be counterproductive to the whole process. By definition of what the purpose is, the recruit needs to be brought to the point of wanting to quit, or at least wishing very badly that it was over.

Back to religion; a person grows spiritually through the breaking down of the spirit. Proverbs speaks of "instruction" quite a bit. Do some word studies, that "instruction" actually means chastisement, as a father would chastise a son, but the rabbis considered it not intimate enough in the context of Proverbs to simply say as much. So it is instruction.

Whatever a person may do in life, or hope to become, if it is of any lasting value, it will come from some degree of brokeness.

Apparently, these two women learned more in bootcamp than rrpearso..

Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch have written a women's self-help/career guide book based on what they lived and learned while in the Marines.

Leading from the Front [ McGraw Hill 199 pages/ about $ 30 bucks or so ]

" the most valuable lessons we learned as Marines weren't how to fire a rifle or how to destryo the enemy. The most valued and lasting lessons were how to lead others to victory...In the CVoprs we learned how to make sp[lit-second decisions based on minimal information, and the importance of meeting the standards we held our troops to, ande how to improve our team's performance by addressing the individual needs of each of its members. we also learned how to listen, how to command, and how to protect."

These weren't gung-ho dyke females..Ms Morgan was forced into military service by her dad to keep her from partying away her university years so ROTC was the ' after hours 'rec activitiy .. nad Ms Lynch was looking for an ' easy pay day ' to a university education...

Seems to me the girls got more than they bargained for and are the better for it.

You can hire them - they run a consultantcy business focussed on leadership development for women..[maybe rrpearso could get some ' remedial ' assistance ?? ]

I don't know about the other branches, but the Navy let my daughter have reptiles for pets in her room when she was stationed at 29 Palms. Her roomie was a frog fanatic, so they didn't have any issues with it.
Now that she is married to an Army grunt and they are stationed at Ft. Carson, they live in base housing and have 2 large dogs.

C-Mom

we kept rattle snakes in our barracks.....but only to deter stereo thieves.....

Yup...that would work, Gunny...lol

CM

C'mon Gunny, we all know there is only ONE thief in the military. Everyone else is just trying to get their stuff back.

Theft: Never, we used to call it "Strategic Reallocation"

If it was for personal use, it was liberated.

If it was for unit use, it was procured.

Airwinger I do love talking to you, God does chastise his followers for turning away into sin. Acts 2:38,39 explains how to be saved and it involves turning from sin, and the consequences for sin have spiritual and real world consequences. It also talks about selfishness, which I admit I am guilty of (BTW, selfishness has nothing to do with departing the army, it is very hard to stay fruitfull when you are in the constant company of thoes who spew hate and anger for the sake of "training" or a "game". I would like to chat with you on email airwinger if you dont mind, it seems we have more things in common.

Being broken and built up spirtually by God is much different than tolerating a DI who spews rage, anger and hate in the name of training and I think God is much more qualified than a DI. As humans we are all weak and fall to sin, but you must ask for forgiveness and ask God to help you turn from your sinfull ways, because we cant do it on our own, I cant just become unselfish under my own strength it has to be Gods hand.