View Full Version : Does fleet life sucks?
Hi, i plan on joing the Marines in a year but i dont know wether to go active or reserves, i have a long time to think about it and their are alot of other factors involved I know but i just wanted to know if anyone here hates or does not like wakeing up early and going to there job. Also if anyone is in ther reserves and likes it alot.
Also i wanted to know if you go active is it hard going back into civilian life.. going to college, then getting a job, etc.
Thank you in advance.
SlingerDun
12-27-11, 10:03 PM
Making a living is hard. Does "fleet life suck" compared to what, being a high school student?
Omegaham
12-28-11, 12:31 AM
Depends on the day. Sometimes it's the greatest job in the world, other times you feel like killing yourself.
I would say that on average, things suck more in the military than in civilian life. But it's not universal; there are units that are awesome, and there are civilian jobs that suck. I know a guy who works IT tech support; he has to log his bathroom breaks. That's freaking crazy.
You haven't felt rage until you get punished (heavily) for stuff that other people do. You'll watch your entire unit get its liberty secured because one guy got arrested out in town. You'll tear your shop apart looking for a hex key because PFC ****stick lost it out in the desert and your gunny feels like making everyone's life miserable. You'll go to a six-hour suicide prevention brief because someone IN ANOTHER UNIT decided to off himself. Oh, the games...
At the same time, typical life is usually not that bad. It's just that things turn really, really crappy when stuff goes wrong.
Zulu 36
12-28-11, 06:02 AM
Life, in general, is what you make of it. This applies to life in the Marine Corps as well.
Want it to suck? It will. Want it to be OK? It will be that. Your choice.
lamanognr86
12-28-11, 06:38 AM
If you can take being away from home for long periods of time, then you should be good.
irpat54
12-28-11, 06:42 AM
my daughter is in supply at 29 palms,, and she really likes the corps most of the times,, but there are times when some one fails an inspection in another billet and the whole unit pay for it,, but even in the fleet you are one unite and a team not a bunch of self centered people,, you are a team and that will be driven home every day in the corps,, that's what makes the corps special and elite.
Phantom Blooper
12-28-11, 07:25 AM
"Fleet Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Sometime you get the creamy cordial and sometimes you get the shiat disk!
doc h fmf
12-28-11, 07:56 AM
FROM CORPSMANS POINT OF VIEW I SPENT 5yrs in the fleet I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!! IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN IWOULD JUMP AT IT< I MADE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS. BUT THE MOST MEMORABLE WAS HAVING THE HONOR OF HAVING CMOH WINNER RETIRED GENERAL THEN COL. JAMES LIVINGSTON AS 8th MARINES REGEMENTAL COMMANDER A REAL NICE DOWN TO EARTH MAN.
SEMPER FI MY BROTHERS
STEPHEN DOC HANSEN HM3 FMF
SGT7477
12-28-11, 08:56 AM
It's what you make of it it, if you can't take of what has to be done and do it quickly just stay home, as I can say for my myself I served 3 years my only regret is I SHOULD have stayed for 30 years,OOHRAH, Semper Fidelis.
FoxtrotOscar
12-28-11, 09:09 AM
my daughter is in supply at 29 palms,, and she really likes the corps most of the times,, but there are times when some one fails an inspection in another billet and the whole unit pay for it,, but even in the fleet you are one unite and a team not a bunch of self centered people,, you are a team and that will be driven home every day in the corps,, that's what makes the corps special and elite.
Kind of like being a civvie.. when one idiot has done something totally stupid and then our lame Politicians make a law effecting everyone... sounds familiar.....
Old Marine
12-28-11, 09:23 AM
Welcome to the real world vs the X-box game world.
MOS4429
12-28-11, 12:14 PM
Zulu summed it up. Life is what you make of it. Life sucks - sometimes - not just the Marine Corps generally, fleet life specifically.
My greatest memory of this was on Okinawa. Younger Marines used to biatch all the time about anything and talk about "the suck" and "f*** the suck," and while it was NO bed of roses, I always felt, "well, if you didn't sit around sucking butts all the time doing nothing, maybe you'd have a different outlook."
If you want it to suck, it will. If you don't, it won't.
Yeah, I met my share of idiots who would make life miserable because they could, but on whole, that was not the case. 99% of the senior Marines I worked with and for were great, 1% were idiots.
Assimulation back into civilian life and college? Depends on the person. If you go back into the world wanting people to respond to you like you're a Marine, guess what, ain't gonna happen. That ratio I mentioned above...in the civilian world it is more 60% great, 40% idiots. Don't make your comparisions to high school. High school is a microcosm of the real world and bears no reflection on reality.
Tennessee Top
12-28-11, 12:26 PM
There is no better job in the world...every day is a holiday, every meal a feast, and every paycheck a fortune. But, I am a little biased, I kept reenlisting and stayed for 22.6 years (they call career Marines like me "lifers")!
You will not spend all your time in the fleet. There are periods when you'll be away at a formal school or assigned to a base unit (that's not considered being in the fleet). If you stay in long enough, you'll have the opportunity to serve outside your primary MOS in "B" billets such as Drill Instructor, Recruiter, Inspector-Instructor, Embassy Duty, Marksmanship Instructor, Martial Arts Instructor, etc. Some Marines are more comfortable being in a fleet unit and others are more comfortable being out of the fleet but you have to do both in order to have a successful career.
Thank you all for the quick replies, I did not mean any disrespect by asking this question just trying to get as much info before I start Dep.
MOS4429
12-28-11, 03:52 PM
Thank you all for the quick replies, I did not mean any disrespect by asking this question just trying to get as much info before I start Dep.
Can't speak for others, but none taken here.
I see you are 16, b-day September 26, so in the meantime, stay on your fact-gathering mission, keep your nose clean, get good grades, focus on completing school, and I recommend to any young man wanting to join the military, play sports, and the more aerobic, the better: running, cross-country, swimming, basketball, etc.
If you turn into a giant bag of ass then fleet life will definitely suck for you. Be a pro and stay motivated and you'll have a blast.
Littlegraybook
12-28-11, 06:14 PM
I am new Fleet Marine and I just wanna tell you that the Marine Corps will make you appreciate life a whole lot more. In fair comparison... yes, Fleet life sucks compares to being a civilian (in general). But after bootcamp, MCT/ITB, and MOS school, you realize... WOW! This is great! Marine Corps definitely has made me realize how good we've had it as residents of America. No wonder Marines hate whiners.
Sgt Leprechaun
12-28-11, 07:10 PM
Best....answer YET.
And there you have it.
Asked/answered/closed.