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zacsanders
10-14-11, 11:11 PM
I hope this is the right place to post this. Well my orders for my first duty station are to Quantico. Can anyone tell me anything about the base, as far as things to do, how the barracks are, ect?
Thanks!

BGW
10-15-11, 01:21 PM
Sorry to hear that, but good luck and try to have a positive out look on things.

Hamelink83
10-15-11, 08:45 PM
depending on where on MCB-Q your going to. I have orders to TBS so I should be off the flag pole, but from what I understand if your on main side, be squared away...moto style. That and affix your right hand to your cover.

Wood5831
10-15-11, 08:51 PM
It isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Unless it has changed since 2002.

BGW
10-15-11, 10:46 PM
Look the base itself is not bad, I mean you got D.C like an hour train ride way. So the night life should be fun, lots of potential fun. Though I have heard that there are quite a few places where they will turn Marines away just to avoid unneccesary problems.

As for barracks, well there are new ones that have been built. Then there are old ones that been built couple of decades ago. Thats up in the air. But the reason why I give you my best of luck is because Quantico is not considered the fleet from what I am told. No units on Quantico deploys at all, its just mostly training for other Marines and the administration work that goes along with it. What I saw with MCESG might be the exception rather then the rule but that place was terrible. I felt bad for the Marines that got their first duty station with that unit. Most of the Marines there just hated it overall and I could give the few reasons from what I saw but again I was there for just the short while.

Go in there with a positive mind set, think about what you want to accomplish and work towards it. Do not let the daily bull **** get to you either or you will turn into those Marines who just drink and play video games every day when they get off work. Thats not the best way to spend your time, even if your trying to numb the pain until your contract ends.

Tennessee Top
10-16-11, 12:23 AM
Enjoyed my time at Quantico. It's a unique setting with all the schools there. The summers are really hot/humid and the winters are really cold/snowy. Northern VA taxes everything and you'll have at least 3 decals on your vehicle. Haven't been back there since they built the new USMC museum so planning on going back to visit.

Quinbo
10-16-11, 12:33 AM
depending on where on MCB-Q your going to. I have orders to TBS so I should be off the flag pole, but from what I understand if your on main side, be squared away...moto style. That and affix your right hand to your cover.

Yea TBS is a long way from the flag pole but is also the highest concentration of commissioned officers you are likely to ever come across. One thing you'll notice about Quantico right away is that every square inch of it is CG inspection ready at all times and the commandant is only an hours drive away. Semper Field day us.

Some good things about the area .... good fishing is near by. Deer hunting is great. Their chow halls are all outstanding. There are lots of non clubbing things to do on your free time. If you land in a fairly routine job you will have an oppurtunity to go to college and maybe even work a part time job.

For some .... Quantico is the place where careers go to die. Depends on you.

tripledog
10-16-11, 08:06 AM
And the golf course is one of the finest in the world.

zacsanders
10-16-11, 10:17 AM
Yea TBS is a long way from the flag pole but is also the highest concentration of commissioned officers you are likely to ever come across. One thing you'll notice about Quantico right away is that every square inch of it is CG inspection ready at all times and the commandant is only an hours drive away. Semper Field day us.

Some good things about the area .... good fishing is near by. Deer hunting is great. Their chow halls are all outstanding. There are lots of non clubbing things to do on your free time. If you land in a fairly routine job you will have an oppurtunity to go to college and maybe even work a part time job.

For some .... Quantico is the place where careers go to die. Depends on you.

What do you mean for some Quantico is where careers go to dire?
Thank you

fl1946
10-16-11, 12:32 PM
This IS the start or end of your career to become an officer of the Marine Corps. Plus, General and Staff College where senior officers attend military programs. My last (many years ago) year in the Corps was at Quantico, and had very nice experience. Gave me the chance to attend University of Virginia. Q-town was our local hangout; Alexandria and DC for FUN. Oh yes, HMX-1, presidential helicopter squadron there.

Semper fi,

weapons124
10-16-11, 07:04 PM
you a 3531 Im guessing?

kxcasey
10-17-11, 12:27 AM
You may find information on this website helpful. It's called USMC Life
http://www.usmclife.com

temarti
10-17-11, 07:33 AM
And the golf course is one of the finest in the world.


Every Thursday afternoon!

fl1946
10-17-11, 09:54 AM
Negative. 4691, motion picture film editor (go straight down MCB main drag just before Basics school, to your right). My office in '67! :-)

Lisa 23
10-17-11, 11:09 AM
There's also Modern Day Marine, which is held every year towards the end of September.

EGA1957
10-17-11, 12:15 PM
For someone's who's a Civil War buff, the "Show Case of the Marine Corps" is an ideal station, (but not necessarily for the Show Case part).

But other than that, I really can't think of any "memorable military memories" there.

As earlier mentioned, you will get the opportunity see the largest gaggle of 2nd Lt's at one moment in time (therefore, several times while you're stationed there), so you get to practice "proper" saluting over and over (and over again) to your heart's content (the new Lts' wives loved the attention when they were driving their car with that new blue decal).

I should point out that I was there in '57-'60, so things may be somewhat different (when I was there, the golf course was noteworthy, but so were the tennis courts and the Quantico Marines BB team was well-known). So my recall ain't necessarily pertinent or relevant.

thewookie
10-17-11, 12:49 PM
Use the trains and public transit as much as possible cause the traffic in and around that area can be brutal.

And don't speed or roll through stops signs if you do drive on base. Last time I was there, a year or so ago to visit my 1st Sgt buddy going through a CAO course, they nailed me for rolling through one.

Funny thing is I rolled through it to get to the MP to ask him directions....:)

06yz125
10-17-11, 06:31 PM
What was the question again..oh yea...

Quantico will work if you can deal with the brass.

It is a cool place but not the fleet.

Be prepared to kiss some ass.

iamspartacus
10-17-11, 06:54 PM
I spent 4 years there. Personally, I didn't get inundated with officers and saluting. It's not that bad.

Pros:
1. DC is an hour away with every major sport represented, tons of free attractions, tons of nightlife and decent public transportation.
2. Great mountain biking trails, on and off base.
3. Plenty of hiking/camping/outdoor stuff in Shenandoah National Forrest.
4. $30 (or cheaper) round trip bus rides to New York City from downtown DC.

Cons:
1. Not much to do on base. It's kind of small when you take away TBS, OCS, WTB, and the FBI Academy side.
2. The base itself is kind of in the middle of a dump. You have to drive to Fredericksburg or DC to have any fun.
3. Old buildings and old barracks
4. Traffic on or off base during rush hour is horrendous.
5. Traffic in general around base is horrendous.

06yz125
10-17-11, 07:14 PM
How did you get Quantico as your first duty station?

ecfree
10-17-11, 08:30 PM
Quantico was my last duty station..
Did my 30 day leave after Nam and reported to SDT that was located across the rr tracks from HMX-1..
Was there last year,ever thing changed and what got me was the civilian guard on the main gate...
CID office changed to NCIS.....
Good liberty to DC,Alexandria and G'town,we did not have the trains....
Good luck..
SEMPER FI:iwo:..................Ed

Parks
10-17-11, 08:40 PM
I'm currently stationed at Quantico. I've found that there's only two opinions of the base. Either people hate it or people are okay with it. No one loves it.

There's a lot of saluting. Then again, with all the candidates around, I've been saluted once or twice here. ;)

The barracks suck. They're actually in the process of renovating the barracks on main side because there were so many complaints of black mold. Yeah. No fun.

But life isn't all bad. It's not the Fleet, but it could be worse. If you ever need anything admin wise, let me know. I work at the PAC. (My name's Keith now though. lol)

EGA1957
10-17-11, 09:48 PM
I'm currently stationed at Quantico. I've found that there's only two opinions of the base. Either people hate it or people are okay with it. No one loves it.

There's a lot of saluting. Then again, with all the candidates around, I've been saluted once or twice here. ;)

... .
As an MP in Khakies we had gold collar emblems and there were a lot of "nervous encounters" (both us MPs -anticipating by the other's unsure movements- as well as whomever was approaching us) until they got about 10' away.


By that time it was often too late.

Either a salute had been started in an upward motion or a salute was crisply rendered BEFORE the 10.'


More than once a fresh 2ndLt was pis$ed that he BEGAN the salute thinking he was encountering a major. Ah, ces't le vie in le Corps.

zacsanders
10-18-11, 07:20 PM
Thanks for the responses!

So it seems the good thing about it mainly is its close to lots of things to do and the bad part is crappy barracks and lots of saluting.

Oh and im an MP (I know i know MP)

FistFu68
10-18-11, 07:40 PM
:evilgrin: Stay tha Hell outta Tha TITTY BARS On Rt.1,especially tha One in Arlington across from Crystal City!!! Oh and If HILLBILLY HEAVEN has not been Burnt Down Yet...Tha next time I roll back into Lorton,I'll Burn that Meth Lab down for tha Good of Tha CORPS!!! Semper Fi.GoodLuck :beer: :iwo:

Parks
10-18-11, 07:40 PM
I wouldn't expect lots of free time. The MPs here are incredibly short staffed and from what I understand they work serious hours, even by MP standards.

EGA1957
10-18-11, 10:41 PM
Thanks for the responses!

So it seems the good thing about it mainly is its close to lots of things to do and the bad part is crappy barracks and lots of saluting.

Oh and im an MP (I know i know MP)
When you've been there a while, would it be possible to see if there's any photos of the base when the PMO was located just on the base side of the tracks at the point where the street that goes from base to Q-town?

The building was just south and west of the point I'm talking about with EM Club at the far end of a large parking lot.. (The Provost Marshall when I was in was a Major Britt just in case someone knows of an old-tines roster list by command.)

Also, I would like to get pics pf MPs doing traffic control at the "original" Main Gate with an MP standing on the "box" and the "island" where the other MP would stand in a windowed enclosure to answer the phone and otherwise handle duties, such as receive phone messages or salute (and the "outside" Marine was required to only salute a General passing thru, otherwise all other ranks were "ignored" and left to the "island" MP to deal with).

BTW, there were only 3 "manned" posts in my day that were in Uniform of the Day:
1)Main Gate (2 MPs),
2)Back Gate (1 MP) which led directly onto base from Q-town toward where WM's barracks were and,
3)At rush hours (1 MP), the intersection of near the motor pool and the entrance to the Commissary.

Other Highway 1 accesses to the base were done by patrol (in UD and white gear) and a static watch in utilities at some outlying points (under arms, but not white gear as best I recall).

I've looked for postcards that might show the base then, but the best I can come up with is the barracks we lived in. Other postcards generally show the base before WWII.

Appreciate if you can, nothing lost if you can't.