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TRLewis
02-02-05, 10:56 AM
Since I am leaving in less than a week alot of old memories have been popping into my head. Stuff that I couldnt remember last week. So here is my advice for you poolees:

-dont buy the savings bonds they're evil, and dont give too much of a return.

-get the GI bill, and dont let them screw you out of it like they did me. Make sure its on your LES every month if its not goto your admin section in the fleet.

-don't blow all your money every leave you get, boot leave, mos school leave

-be the best, you have to be there might as well make the best of it

-in boot camp you are told to do something, and you have no clue. either sound off as loud as you can that you do not know how, or be motivated as hell attempting it

-during family day switch to navy federal if you're active. I have had them ever since and they are far better than FSNB. and set up an allotment for $100 a month to go into a savings account.

-PT all the time, show up early, and be motivated. You would not believe what a difference that makes in the fleet. I used to run thru the officers housing then thru the NCO's housing, while its nice to be humble I would rather people see me doing something than hearing about it

-when you drive thru the gate and its not christmas, give the MPs some cookies. you never know when it might help you.

-love your armorer, you never know when you may need them

-love your supply sergeant, again you never know when you may need them

-dont ask the same damn questions at MCT, everyone asks what their MOS school will be like. Just stop asking, its all the same you always get libo.

-keep all your paperwork, every single bit of it. even if you have to fold it up and stick it in your pocket.

-if you can do it, goto school. alot of Marines do not have the chance to do it. And besides normally they'll let you off of bull**** duties to goto school.

-dont burn bridges.

-it is not expected of you, but when most of you get to the fleet you will all be PFC's and maybe LCpl's. and if you are somehow a Private be motivated and address everyone by their rank, for example i am LCpl Lewis, and if there is another LCpl Smith I would still say, "Lance Corporal Smith do you have..." and only use their last name when you first begin speaking to them.

-at MCT do not call everyone sir or ma'am. You know your rank structure, you will stand out for calling people their rank but its far better than getting the class on how to address people by their rank, you're Marines by now you should know that.

This is mainly what I learned, some of it cannot be typed out. If anyone wants to add to it feel free.

jinelson
02-02-05, 11:05 AM
Wow Lewis great post, we are going to miss you try not to be a stranger. Excellent advice I wish you could have talked to me before I made all those mistakes.

Good Luck
Semper Fidelis
Jim

HardJedi
02-02-05, 11:10 AM
Only other advice I can really add is this. Even in the Marine Corps, pick your friends in the fleet carefully. There are some guy's ou there, who may seem nice, but they can get you into ALOT of trouble.

TRLewis
02-02-05, 11:20 AM
^ the Lance Criminals! Thats what our SDI always told us.

If they follow most of that advice it wards the Lance Criminals away because they dont want to hang out with someone who is motivated.

Namvet67
02-02-05, 11:36 AM
Good post Lewis....you may be going in the army but you are still a Marine....and Marines don't have to go to army basic training...if i recall correctly! Stay in touch and good luck!

LivinSoFree
02-02-05, 11:37 AM
love your armorer, you never know when you may need them Make me really happy, and I just might decide to 'accidentally' replace your bolt cam spring with a slightly worn down one for the next field ex... nothing quite like unexpected full auto :marine:

Sgtj
02-02-05, 11:51 AM
lol.. Nice!


TRLEWIS, Good luck bro, you have some good advice. I am sure you will, but take all that with you into the Army. I have a cousin in the Army (Rangers) -actually his name is SSGT NASH was on ESPN2 for winning the ARMY RANGER Challange last year... Anyway he is one of the most squared way men I've ever known.

Take care and semper fidelis.

TRLewis
02-02-05, 01:21 PM
LOL I am taking my seabag with most of my gear a quick run down on what im bringing with me:

-uniform marking kit
-ICB's
-green jungle boots
-alice pack(large)
-my cable lock from boot camp
-and all 3 of my combo locks from boot camp

My main problem is that the Army combines basic and AIT for what they call OSUT. I'm jumping in with a basic class that has been there for 4-5 weeks. I just gotta remember not to say, "No Sergeant my Drill Instructors were alot scarier than you."

Alot of those things on the list I did personally or seen people do them.

OK I thought of a few more things:

-dont give away one of your dog tags to your girlfriend, you need both.

-if you want to get laid, dont have standards, go ugly early.

-not everyone is your friend, people live around military bases to take your money

-dont marry the first person you date, I dont care how good she makes you feel. remember there are warning flags, 8 kids by 8 different Marines should wave one. if you date a woman, you need to introduce her to your 1st sergeant, and he will interview her for you. she may be known around the base as an ID chaser

-the LCpl/PFC network is very strong, if you leak information you will receive information. if you are confused by this you will soon learn about it.

-i dont think i can stress to you guys how important it is to watch your cash, be responsible!!! you never know when you might have some extra cash saved up to go on a cool trip, for example lejeune you would goto like myrtle beach, san diego would goto tj, kaneohe could goto another island or hit up the ki's and get a hotel room and pick up some really hot local chicks, okie i have no idea where you guys go for fun

-dont get the star card, if you're married dont let your wife get the star card.

-follow the uniform regs when off duty. you have no idea when you might be meeting a new NCO or officer while off base, better to be sharp and looking good.

-PT. nothing is more embarrassing than having a Marine with a weight problem. its bad for the unit, if you have a slow metabolism you better eat well because there is no DI to yell at you in the fleet.

HardJedi
02-02-05, 03:34 PM
LOL , you got another one right TR!

watch out for the girls around base who know more about whats going on than YOU do. No matter WHAT she say's you are probably closer to her 10th Marine than her first! ( and thats being nice)

Welbaum
02-02-05, 06:39 PM
Thank you for the advice Lance Corporal!

Good luck in the Army, bet you'll feel wierd wearing a different uniform huh?

Oohrah...

TRLewis
02-03-05, 06:34 AM
Yeah I'm trying to work out all my vocabulary.

4 days. its a tough 4 days too.

TRLewis
02-03-05, 06:36 AM
Originally posted by HardJedi
LOL , you got another one right TR!

watch out for the girls around base who know more about whats going on than YOU do. No matter WHAT she say's you are probably closer to her 10th Marine than her first! ( and thats being nice)

I will not be surprised if I have some 1st sergeants calling and emailing me about having to conduct interviews.

bigwalt
02-03-05, 06:59 AM
Great advise!

One thing to add, if you go to the Rock or overseas for your first tour. Save that money. In my first unit (MWSS 171) we could have phones hooked up in our rooms. You could get a service to call just on base or to call anywhere you wanted. Be carefull. I say way to many Marines getting plastered out in town and then calling every girlfriend and family member they had back home. Some of the phone bills ranged as high as $ 2500. They made you sign a sheet stating that you would pay the bill on time. Marines would go knock on every door to ask for $ 5 to help them out. Lots of Marines lost pay and rank over it.

lprkn
02-03-05, 01:20 PM
Speaking of phones...

You do not need a cell-phone. You don't need every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Suzie calling you at every hour of the day. The damn things just get you into trouble anyway. You'll be talking on it when you're not supposed to, and get your a$$ chewed.

If people want to talk to you, they can talk to you when you want to talk to them. Nothing stupider than a Marine walking and talking on his cellphone like it's cool, and an NCO coming out of nowhere and fixing his trash. Actually it's pretty fun to watch. It's just not fun when it happens to you.

P.S. You'll save money, too.

TRLewis
02-03-05, 03:37 PM
i kept a cell phone from my area code only so my parents wouldnt have to pay long distance. it was quite helpful since i was in hawaii i left it in the barracks.

lprkn
02-06-05, 04:30 PM
As long as you're smart about it, a cellphone can be a useful tool, but as we know, there are always those out there who have to screw it up for the rest of us.

CAR
02-06-05, 08:01 PM
Good luck Lewis. Help square the Army away, Always a Marine my brother.

TRLewis
02-07-05, 06:43 AM
*last post*

Bye. :)

HardJedi
02-07-05, 08:17 AM
good luck Lewis!

yellowwing
02-07-05, 08:22 AM
Take care, keep safe, keep your team motivated!

jinelson
02-07-05, 08:30 AM
You will always be a Marine brother no matter what uniform you wear. Dont be a stranger let us know how it is.

Semper Fi
Jim