Contracts

[JordanB]

WAIT FOR THE CONTRACT YOU WANT TO OPEN UP. Dont trust your recruiter to change your contract for you, wait a couple of damn months to get what you want cause your gonna have to live with it for atleast 4 years. YOU ARE ****ING RETARTED IF YOU SIGN A OPEN CONTRACT. This means that you will be put into a job that ither nobody wants or recruiters had a hard time filling. Can you say blue water specialist?

-Knew a guy who signed an airwing contract because his recruiter said no infantry contracts were open at the time, but that he would "get him while he was in bootcamp" Yeah now hes a helo mechanic.

-Had a buddy dep in for a year and about 8 months into it get a dui, his contract was voided and now hes a blue water specialist.

-Please stop signing up for the gunts unless you REALLY know what you are getting into, were tired of getting ****bags!:marine:

[egbutler1]

WAIT FOR THE CONTRACT YOU WANT TO OPEN UP. Dont trust your recruiter to change your contract for you, wait a couple of damn months to get what you want cause your gonna have to live with it for atleast 4 years. YOU ARE ****ING RETARTED IF YOU SIGN A OPEN CONTRACT. This means that you will be put into a job that ither nobody wants or recruiters had a hard time filling. Can you say blue water specialist?

-Knew a guy who signed an airwing contract because his recruiter said no infantry contracts were open at the time, but that he would "get him while he was in bootcamp" Yeah now hes a helo mechanic.

-Had a buddy dep in for a year and about 8 months into it get a dui, his contract was voided and now hes a blue water specialist.

-Please stop signing up for the gunts unless you REALLY know what you are getting into, were tired of getting ****bags!:marine:
Well put PFC well put. Enough Sh!t bags in the 03 field forget them *****es. Let em' go be open contract and **** up their lives. Keeps em' out of the 03 area. Oh yeah and your 2nd LAR we used to wash our humveees in your motorpool when i was in. I was with ATBN out of French Creek. SO OOH ****ING RAH!

Ohh and Rugby rocks i played LOCK and 8 man during my HS years. **** wrestling gay as hell lol. Rugby rocks! i don't know how many broken bones i have to thank from Rugby.

[Darrell B]

WAIT FOR THE CONTRACT YOU WANT TO OPEN UP. Dont trust your recruiter to change your contract for you, wait a couple of damn months to get what you want cause your gonna have to live with it for atleast 4 years. YOU ARE ****ING RETARTED IF YOU SIGN A OPEN CONTRACT. This means that you will be put into a job that ither nobody wants or recruiters had a hard time filling. Can you say blue water specialist?

-Knew a guy who signed an airwing contract because his recruiter said no infantry contracts were open at the time, but that he would "get him while he was in bootcamp" Yeah now hes a helo mechanic.

-Had a buddy dep in for a year and about 8 months into it get a dui, his contract was voided and now hes a blue water specialist.

-Please stop signing up for the gunts unless you REALLY know what you are getting into, were tired of getting ****bags!:marine: Don'tcha know PFC everybody wants to be that BAMF that has 12 MoH, 2 Purple Hearts, 6 Navy Crosses, and single handly saved his squad from a 20 man ambush using 3 grenades and a KA-Bar :bunny:

In all seriousness though wait for the contract you want. I got the contract I wanted (security forces) and I'm damn glad. All I had to do was wait and "harass" my recruiter about it and I got it. After all it is a four year commitment if you get stuck with something you hate you turn into a ****bird and ****bird's get drop kicked.

-Poolee Brown

[HurricaneRJ]

Security Forces huh??

At SOI-ITB-E. After MOS breakdown,

we did different types of ranges, room clearing, patrolling, and VCP/ECP exercises all the time. By the end of training everyone of you are gonna wish you went regular infantry. If you have a FAST contract go for it. If not, stand by. It's going to be a long 2 years, then your going to come to the FMF and be treated like a boot all over again. Not remember anything about fire and maneuver, machinegun DS&AS, or how to patrol.

I'm a private showing LCpls, and Cpl. how to do these things. Kings Bay ain't a "fun" duty station to say the least, but it is the most important one.

[bgsuwoody]

Well I am glad someone else seems to understand the advice I have over numerous occassions pointed out. Maybe people should heed the warning. Oh and just as a side note I am amazing lol.

[Parks]

I'd just like to point out the going Open Contract isn't always a death sentence. I went Open Contract. I told my recruiter that I just wanted to be a Marine.

(Of course, with my math scores I don't think the Corps wants me doing mechanical stuff, so....)

[Anding]

Well said PFC. I was lucky enough to get my desired mos without having to wait for an opening. Open contract sounds pretty risky. Id wait for an opening or really find out what you want to do and not have the Corps make that decision for you.

18xx, Cant wait till tanker school.

[bgsuwoody]

I really doubt you guys really understand the Marine Corps and how hard it can be and how much of a life changing experience this is going to be for you all. I can just say I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't get to do exactly what I wanted for two reasons. A) when the going is good I can be like **** yeah this is awesome, I'm so glad I chose it or B) when the going is bad I can be like well ****, why the hell did I choose this.

This isn't a party or some kind of regular job you can just quit when you don't like it. It will be a lifestyle and your life will be defined by what you do in the Marine Corps...especially if you are a grunt. Don't do anything you don't want to do...you have at least 4 years of your life that you have to prepare for.

The Marine Corps will NEVER give you anything...it will be loaned to you or you have to fight tooth and nail to get it. It starts here gentlemen...be prepared for the long road ahead and the rest of your time, no matter how long, will be everything you ever wanted it to be, but don't expect to just get through bootcamp (if you do this first) and expect to go to magical fairyland where everything is gumdrops and roses...The Marine Corps never promised a rose garden and they mean it. Living the rough life means loving the real life.

[Parks]

I really doubt you guys really understand the Marine Corps and how hard it can be and how much of a life changing experience this is going to be for you all. I can just say I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't get to do exactly what I wanted for two reasons. A) when the going is good I can be like **** yeah this is awesome, I'm so glad I chose it or B) when the going is bad I can be like well ****, why the hell did I choose this.

This isn't a party or some kind of regular job you can just quit when you don't like it. It will be a lifestyle and your life will be defined by what you do in the Marine Corps...especially if you are a grunt. Don't do anything you don't want to do...you have at least 4 years of your life that you have to prepare for.

The Marine Corps will NEVER give you anything...it will be loaned to you or you have to fight tooth and nail to get it. It starts here gentlemen...be prepared for the long road ahead and the rest of your time, no matter how long, will be everything you ever wanted it to be, but don't expect to just get through bootcamp (if you do this first) and expect to go to magical fairyland where everything is gumdrops and roses...The Marine Corps never promised a rose garden and they mean it. Living the rough life means loving the real life.
I'm going to attempt to reply to this in a very respectful way, and I hope that no one sees it in any other light.

First, I may not have the encompassing understanding that you have gained through time spent in the Corps, but I do believe I have a great understanding of the life I've chosen to pursue for the next 4+ years. This decision was not made in a day, or week, or even months. Anyone who signs their life away for four years without having an understanding of their future is an idiot.

Second, and I'm going to pull your quote again for specifics sake, "I can just say I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't get to do exactly what I wanted for two reasons," you wouldn't have joined if you couldn't get exactly what you wanted? Am I the only one that sees something wrong with that statement? (And I say this with sincere respect.) Serving your country isn't about what you want, it's about saving lives, protecting your family, and keeping peace.

And lastly, who asked for a rose garden? If I had wanted to join the magical army and play around, I would've just dressed up for Halloween and left it at that.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Parks, I don't believe you are being at all disrespectful. But, I do want to mention one thing- and I want you to know that I am not trying to disrespect you (or any other poolee on the forum) when I say this.

You all can read and study about the Marine Corps every free moment for years. You can talk to Marines about the Marine Corps and life in general. You can know every moment of our history, all of our traditions, and everything that is out there for public consumption. But, until you've gone through what Marines go through it is never really possible to understand Marines or the Marine Corps.

While you are correct about enlisting to serve your country and all the other idealistic reasons we can name, it is your life. There are numerous opportunities out there, and many ways that you can serve. There is no reason to be forced into an area that you don't want. That is why you see us telling people over and over to get all the promises in their contracts.

And even though you will see those of us that are now out of the Marines telling people to suck it up, that the needs of the Corps come first, I promise you that we were all complaining when it was happening to us. As an outsider looking in you can see the big picture. When it is happening to you, it is a little more difficult to do.

One last thing, Jordan it isn't just the infantry. Those people are there because that is what they really wanted to do. But, there are always those that perform below expectations. You would be dealing with the same things if you were a motor-t driver or a cook. That's one place where the infantry is no different than the rest of the Marine Corps.

[HurricaneRJ]

I really doubt you guys really understand the Marine Corps and how hard it can be and how much of a life changing experience this is going to be for you all. I can just say I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't get to do exactly what I wanted for two reasons. A) when the going is good I can be like **** yeah this is awesome, I'm so glad I chose it or B) when the going is bad I can be like well ****, why the hell did I choose this.

This isn't a party or some kind of regular job you can just quit when you don't like it. It will be a lifestyle and your life will be defined by what you do in the Marine Corps...especially if you are a grunt. Don't do anything you don't want to do...you have at least 4 years of your life that you have to prepare for.

The Marine Corps will NEVER give you anything...it will be loaned to you or you have to fight tooth and nail to get it. It starts here gentlemen...be prepared for the long road ahead and the rest of your time, no matter how long, will be everything you ever wanted it to be, but don't expect to just get through bootcamp (if you do this first) and expect to go to magical fairyland where everything is gumdrops and roses...The Marine Corps never promised a rose garden and they mean it. Living the rough life means loving the real life.

Woody, you hit the dot on that one. I knew it was going to suck, but I didn't think it would suck this bad. You have to take it with a grain of salt. I don't have it easy, easy was in Boot Camp. Now I'm responsible for my own actions, if I don't wake up early enough for the chow hall, thats my fault, if I don't have all my gear, it's my fault. While some LCpls will treat you like grown men, others will treat you like ****. In all honesty if I had to say I'm glad I joined the Marine Corps. I can't honestly answer yes to that question at this moment.

It's a real rough life, it's going to be a lot of "Aye LCpl, Aye Cpl, or Aye Sgt." If you show weakness they will break you. There is no more SDI, your on your own out here in the fleet. There are Marines who will bend over backwards to take care of you, but if you show no motivation or some heart to stay in, you'll will be just in the shadows on all the ****ty working parties. The Fleet is a tough place, and I'm still growing, still gots lots to learn.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Hurricane, it does get better, I promise. Being a boot is being a boot. We all expect the world, and then we all end up in the same place. Two years from now you will have a totally different view of the entire situation.

Hang in there man. And if you need someone to talk to or lean on, you know every Marine on this site is here for you.

[Reagan]

While we're on the topic of Open Contract stuff, I was talking with my soon-to-be-brother-in-law (who's a Marine) and he mentioned that you should never sign Open Contract with your recruiter, ever, even if you're going to be in DEP for like a year and plan to switch to a new contract once your MOS opens up. But he was kind of vague in explaining why.

But then I've heard from other Marines that it's normal to temporarily sign on as Open Contract for part of their DEP, then switch over to their preferred MOS once a spot opens up, so long as you make sure that you sign on BEFORE bootcamp for the job you want.

Can anyone shed some light on this? I tried doing a search but couldn't find anything addressing this specifically, so if I missed a past post, sorry bout that.

[Darrell B]

While we're on the topic of Open Contract stuff, I was talking with my soon-to-be-brother-in-law (who's a Marine) and he mentioned that you should never sign Open Contract with your recruiter, ever, even if you're going to be in DEP for like a year and plan to switch to a new contract once your MOS opens up. But he was kind of vague in explaining why.

But then I've heard from other Marines that it's normal to temporarily sign on as Open Contract for part of their DEP, then switch over to their preferred MOS once a spot opens up, so long as you make sure that you sign on BEFORE bootcamp for the job you want.

Can anyone shed some light on this? I tried doing a search but couldn't find anything addressing this specifically, so if I missed a past post, sorry bout that.
When in DEP you sign open contract and then you go back to your RSS and pick the MOS you qaulified for, but this is just your DEP contract. When you get ready to ship you go back down to MEPS and sign your final contract and if that contract is open contract and not the MOS you want and your to stupid to read over the paper work you get f*cked and get stuck with open contract.

-Poolee Brown

[bgsuwoody]

I'm not going to take the remarks as disrespect, but let me explain this to you with the attitude of the wise.

You cannot say that the Marines on here have not done their job honorably and without sacrifice. These Marines on here will constantly tell you that the decision to sign an open contract. Why you may ask...EXPERIENCE!!!!!!

I find that the Marine Corps isn't about protecting others (unless it is that man beside me and only because of the reason that I will state next), but about sacrificing something you have for the sake of others. In this case it was my luxury, my freedom, and if necessary my life. I WOULD NOT have joined the Marine Corps if I could not have been a grunt, and as I told my instructors at SOI I would drop Co. to Co. until I was to be an 0311. This to me was the Marine Corps. As I said earlier the Marine Corps gives you nothing, so you have to take what you can get, and one is to get the opportunity to do the job that you want. You can go to your hometown and say you are a Marine and no one will know the difference between a cook and a grunt or admin, but other Marines will. I WILL. I wanted to be the person that everyone thinks about when they think Marine...the person that sacrifices everything for his buddies, the Marine who puts EVERYTHING on the line for things like "protecting others" or "ideals" or "politics" but we dont care because sacrificing my life is small compared to the things I have been given in this life...oh and **** PEACE...tell me when the world has ever had it...

In my damn opinion...if you aren't a grunt, you live in a damn rose garden...you frolic and relish in that life. You eat, sleep, and work in a rose garden in comparison. I hear it constantly.

I'm not going to lie to you...if you are ready to have it rough and give everything you have to do all those things you wish to protect and to have peace, put the boots on sling that rifle, hump that pack, and get it done. If you want to be the Marine Corps...be a grunt...take it...live it...it will become everything you are. Everything else just supports us...period.

I'm sorry for the rant and though I don't find it disrespectful what you said, I just have the experience (though short) to say this and to be told different by someone who hasn't done it yet just doesn't cut it with me. One day I'm sure I'll see you here trying to explain it. Talk to a grunt...the title is everything, but to be an 0311 is almost up there...I don't see people getting 01xx or 04xx tattoos or being so gung ho about it.

I wish you the best...but don't be surprised if the Marine Corps isn't everything you thought it would be...it hasn't been for me, or anyone I've ever met, but it'll be worse if you're doing something that isn't in your heart.

[Haffner]

Oh Lord, here this **** goes again.


Here, woody, take this pedestal. When you talk like that, you need to be standing on it.

"Everyone else is just support" well NO DAMN ****. They're SUPPORT MOSs. If you want, you can gladly deploy and man your own radios, do all of your own MIMMS, logistics, data, PMCS your own hmmwvs, repair and operate them, do all of your own armory ****, stand guard over all the previously stated gear, do all of the convoys / patrols that were assigned to "pogues," etc etc, I'm sure there are enough hours in the day for that.

Grunts can't exist without EVERYONE else. Everyone else wouldn't be here without the grunts. Simple as that. It's a symbiotic relationship 'cuz god damn just as I tell all of my friends that are grunts when they come to my house and knock a few back: if you think we're JUST support and so low on the totem poll, you're more than welcome to do your and MY job.

I know that's off topic and more a response to woodys post, but I'm just so sick of hearing stupid reasons for all of this same kind'e soap box talk. Heard it all damn day at the range coaching a bunch of grunts. I certainly learned one thing today: grunts certainly don't like when data pogues like me consistently shoot better than they could ever dream for themselves.

End rant. Might catch **** for it. Don't really care.

[JoeSzynal]

But then I've heard from other Marines that it's normal to temporarily sign on as Open Contract for part of their DEP, then switch over to their preferred MOS once a spot opens up, so long as you make sure that you sign on BEFORE bootcamp for the job you want.

Again, don't sign anything until it's got what you want on it. This isn't complicated.

Pressure from the recruiters to join the DEP and become a poolee? Tough. Who cares.

Pressure from within because you want to "prove you're serious"? Do the serious and adult thing and hold out for what you want.

[bgsuwoody]

CPL. I mean seriously though, my point wasn't that the other jobs were worthless. Though we do a lot of the stuff you say. I know we can't do our jobs without you, but again you do it for us, without us, you wouldn't have a reason for your job, but on the other hand.

My soapbox came from the damn pride I have in my MOS and the things we do and how people look at you. Whether its being called a "real Marine" at a church meeting full of Marines or just going to a chow hall and being asked, you're a grunt aren't you.

CPL. my point was that going in there blind and not doing a job that you want to do would lead to excess pain and unmotivation. I have pride doing my job everyday and will say so with pride. I will discuss my pain and what we have to do and express that it is harder period. Anyone who thinks there line of work in the Marine Corps is harder than a grunt is absurd.

My rant again was nothing against the other MOS's, but rather an expression of my damn pride for my MOS, and seemingly yours as well. That is where this whole pogue vs. grunt thing comes from. So to get back to the topic, I must say that if you aren't proud of your job or you don't get to pick it I doubt your pride will be anything near what ours seems to be.