A few questions

[QuasiMofo]

Hello Marines,


I had a few questions about life in the Fleet.

I love surfing, and it is a big part of my life. I'm hoping to get Infantry in my contract when I enlist in a few days, and was wondering if there are any Surfing clubs, or a good amount of Marines that enjoy surfing on the West Coast/Hawaii. I was also informed that Infantry Marines are not stationed overseas. Is this true? A buddy of mine said I'd have a better chance of being stationed in Okinawa if I went recon. I'd also love to pick up diving. :D

Is it generally easy to enjoy your other hobbies on weekend liberty, or is it training/being stuck on base most of the time.

I'd be heartbroken if I was stationed at Lejeune, as I've been told that you dont spend much time around the ocean there. I understand the needs of the corps blah blah.

Thanks

[QuasiMofo]

EDIT: Sorry for the double post, I couldn't figure out how to edit my original one.

Do I have permission to post in the Poolee Hall, even though I'm not a poolee yet?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

I'm not sure about the Poolee Hall and you posting there. There should be a set of rules posted, check them out and see if you can.

I've never done the surfing thing, but I have NO doubt that if you are in places that have 'surf', there will be a club on base (and plenty off) that will hook you right up. Plenty of on base diving courses too.

Plenty of Infantry Marines on Okinawa. No time to surf in Afganistan or Iraq though...think of that LOL.

[QuasiMofo]

No time to surf in Afganistan or Iraq though...think of that LOL.



I'm sure the Taliban could hook me up with some good surf spots. :marine:


Thanks for the reply Sergeant.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

"Charlie don't surf"

Couldn't resist that one.

Good luck. Stop in from time to time and let us know your progress!

[doc h fmf]

Surfing When Do We Have Time To Surf. I Was Out In The Fields Mon - Fri Morning Went To The Bars Because There Was No Time For Surfing. Wake Up And Smell The Coffee Son!!!!!!!!

[Lisa 23]

And when using the word Corps, it will be capitalized at all times.

[Rocky C]

Afghanistan Surfing Club.......... HA!!!!.....Couldn't Resist...........

Try the Army............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8OddLSMdz0

[Lisa 23]

Do I have permission to post in the Poolee Hall, even though I'm not a poolee yet?
The Poolee Hall is for Poolees only. If you've noticed, Marines can't even post there.
You may also want to familiarize yourself with the site rules in the poolee and Ask A Marine forums too.

[QuasiMofo]

Try the Army............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8OddLSMdz0

No Thanks :banana:


And when using the word Corps, it will be capitalized at all times.

:thumbup:

[Supersquishy]

> (http://<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aLEjr4eg8rA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aLEjr4eg8rA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>)

[Supersquishy]

"Charlie don't surf"

Couldn't resist that one.

Good luck. Stop in from time to time and let us know your progress!

You beat me to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEjr4eg8rA

[HereandThere]

Jesus H. Christ,Surfing!!!! Join the Coast Guard and try to get stationed on the north shore of Hawaii.

[QuasiMofo]

Jesus H. Christ,Surfing!!!! Join the Coast Guard and try to get stationed on the north shore of Hawaii.

Found an interesting article:

CAMP PENDLETON - The waves are big here. Not Hawaii big, but large enough to coax Ted Handler, a Marine major and special forces instructor, from bed well before dawn.
His outings go beyond mere indulgence in an adrenaline-fueled hobby - for Handler, surfing means survival.
"When you are surfing in bigger surf, you have to remain calm and make quick decisions and commit to those decisions," says the veteran of a combat tour in Iraq.
Surfers who go into the water unsure of themselves can be seriously hurt, says Handler. That, he adds, makes riding the waves a natural training maneuver for someone who is preparing for what Handler calls "the naturally chaotic environment of combat."
Indeed, the 37-year-old self-described surfing addict credits his pastime with helping keep him and his fellow Marines safe when, without maps and only limited communications, his platoon ran into enemy gunfire on the outskirts of Baghdad in 2003.
"A lot of people were freaking out," recalled Handler, who was a captain at the time. "But I found myself getting calmer. It's strange."
As he philosophizes about riding the waves, it is 11 a.m. on a warm July day and Handler is making his second visit to the surf. After his pre-dawn session he went about his duties on the base. Now he's on a break, which means it's time to surf again.
Handler is taking "the fish" into the water with him this time. Five-feet-10-inches long, with a cutaway tail that gives it its name, it is Handler's favorite of his seven surfboards.
Accompanying him in the water is his friend and surfing partner, Gunnery Sgt. Eric Franklin.
The Marines stride into the ocean and paddle their boards hard to get to where the water is rolling. Franklin stands up first, his 10-foot longboard latching onto a 5-foot wave. Handler is next, cutting tight turns.
The men are smiling, but back on shore Handler explains why surfing is important.
"In order to have a very violent and warrior-like mentality, you also need to cultivate the other side," he says. "The yin and the yang - you need to cultivate both, and surfing really does that for me."
For Franklin, joining the military and not surfing was never a consideration.
"I joined the Marine Corps to surf," says the 33-year-old communications specialist and Jacksonville, Fla., native who enlisted 13 years ago.
"I wanted to be closer to the beach, and to surf better waves than what Florida has," he said.
Camp Pendleton is the Marine Corps' largest West Coast expeditionary training facility, located between Los Angeles and San Diego and home to some 45,000 Marines and sailors.
The base spans more than 125,000 acres of rugged terrain, including 17 miles of shoreline that is dotted with some of the best surf breaks in the United States.
When people enlist in the Marines they are given a wish list of bases they want to be stationed at. In Franklin's case, he got his first choice and he's been here ever since. Handler joined him two years later.
Camp Pendleton's best waves are found at San Onofre Beach, one of two stretches of sand bookending the base. Del Mar Beach, on the southern end, is the other.
Both beaches (which are different from state and city beaches with similar names) are closed to the public, and only visitors accompanied by a service member are allowed on.
That limits the surfer population and makes both beaches perfect places to practice new moves or pick up skills.
"I can come out here and fall off my board in any direction and I won't hurt anyone," says Capt. Brian Cary, 32, a Cobra helicopter pilot about to deploy to the Marine Corps' base in Okinawa, Japan.
The number of Camp Pendleton surfers varies as troops are rotated on and off the base, but Franklin estimates there are currently about 150.
To boost camaraderie among them, and exchange surfing information, he founded the Camp Pendleton Surf Club three years ago. It now has about 40 members and has hosted surfing competitions that have attracted military personnel from around the country.
Sgt. Seth Cittel, whose father would send him surf magazines while he was stationed in Iraq in 2003, joined the club as soon as he got back to California.
"It helped clear the mind, it meant I didn't have to think about (Iraq) for a while," he said of surfing Pendleton's beaches.
As for Franklin, he'll soon be standing down as club president because he's being transferred from Camp Pendleton.
Fortunately for him he's going to an air station on the Mokapu Peninsula on Oahu, Hawaii, where the surf will still be up.


http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_bc120d65-4b69-5c22-bb97-6415450425b5.html

[HereandThere]

Found an interesting article:


http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_bc120d65-4b69-5c22-bb97-6415450425b5.html
Must be a bunch of Hollywood Marines.Damn I hate the Internet.LOL

[Lisa 23]

You know, I see to many young men and women coming here and worrying about what they can do after a days work is done with instead of worrying about becoming a Marine. Yeah, it's nice to ask those things, but EARN the title first.
First and foremost, you're a Marine 24/7. You may have an MOS that might not leave time to enjoy things that you would like to do.
Instead of worrying about where you can surf, talk with a recruiter first. After you meet with a recruiter, you'll have to take the ASVAB if you already haven't. It's not like you take the ASVAB, sign papers and your off to boot camp. There's a process to go through first. Do you have any medical or criminal problems that might require a waiver? Be honest and DO NOT lie. If you do lie, it will only catch up with you and you'll be in big doo-doo for fraudulent enlistment.
Take it one step at a time.

[QuasiMofo]

You know, I see to many young men and women coming here and worrying about what they can do after a days work is done with instead of worrying about becoming a Marine. Yeah, it's nice to ask those things, but EARN the title first.
First and foremost, you're a Marine 24/7. You may have an MOS that might not leave time to enjoy things that you would like to do.
Instead of worrying about where you can surf, talk with a recruiter first. After you meet with a recruiter, you'll have to take the ASVAB if you already haven't. It's not like you take the ASVAB, sign papers and your off to boot camp. There's a process to go through first. Do you have any medical or criminal problems that might require a waiver? Be honest and DO NOT lie. If you do lie, it will only catch up with you and you'll be in big doo-doo for fraudulent enlistment.
Take it one step at a time.

I understand where you're coming from Ma'am.

The way I see it, this is four years of my life that I will be living, and just wanted a general idea of how it will be(deployments, barracks life, weekends, etc). Hundreds of thousands of people have gone through Recruit Training, i'm not too worried about it. I've done my fair share of research on it, and have a basic understanding of whats going to happen. The biggest thing I'm worried about right now is securing an Infantry contract.

I see other poolees asking about Scout Snipers, MARSOC, and other stupid sh*t that they see in video games, and get hard-ons for, so I see why you would think i'm getting ahead of myself.


I got an 89 on the ASVAB, and have no history of any medical, or criminal problems.

Thanks again for the replies.

[SGT7477]

Hello Marines,


I had a few questions about life in the Fleet.

I love surfing, and it is a big part of my life. I'm hoping to get Infantry in my contract when I enlist in a few days, and was wondering if there are any Surfing clubs, or a good amount of Marines that enjoy surfing on the West Coast/Hawaii. I was also informed that Infantry Marines are not stationed overseas. Is this true? A buddy of mine said I'd have a better chance of being stationed in Okinawa if I went recon. I'd also love to pick up diving. :D

Is it generally easy to enjoy your other hobbies on weekend liberty, or is it training/being stuck on base most of the time.

I'd be heartbroken if I was stationed at Lejeune, as I've been told that you dont spend much time around the ocean there. I understand the needs of the corps blah blah.

Thanks Well shoot you are only 16, does hurry up and wait apply to you?:D

[Lisa 23]

Well shoot you are only 16, does hurry up and wait apply to you?:D
Ahhh man, I missed that one. http://www.theofficialsoulpatrol.com/forum/Smileys/Lots_O_Smileys/conf45.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:void(0);)
Well, it looks like you'll be waiting a couple years before you can join the Marine Corps.

[QuasiMofo]

I'll be 17 in a couple weeks, and graduating(early) in a few months.

Too young? :cry:

[Lisa 23]

How do your parents feel about you joining the Marine Corps?
And will you have a high school diploma when you graduate?

By federal law (10 U.S.C., 505 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00000505----000-.html)), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and 18 (without parental consent).

[QuasiMofo]

How do your parents feel about you joining the Marine Corps?
And will you have a high school diploma when you graduate?

By federal law (10 U.S.C., 505 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00000505----000-.html)), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and 18 (without parental consent).

Took a while but my parents are willing to sign. I will be taking the 2 classes I have left to graduate this year, so yes I should have a High School Diploma sometime during the summer.

[Phantom Blooper]

I'd be heartbroken if I was stationed at Lejeune, as I've been told that you dont spend much time around the ocean there.

Recon Marines at Courthouse Bay at Camp Lejeune are as close to the water as you can get without following into to Onslow Beach.....

Granted the NC waves are not as high and fun to ride as the North Shore of Hawaii or Okinawa but they are passable depending on the surf conditions....

Plenty of surfers at the beach when I stay at the RV park at Onslow Beach....

Although time has taken its toll on my body so I now just use the boogie board when I do get up there.

I agree with the others....you evidently already know how to surf....so surf this site and the internet....and learn all you can about the Marine Corps....

Make sure that your education criteria is all in order since you are graduating early and that your diploma is from an accredited high school.

Until you get to your permanent duty station and established in the fleet after boot camp and schools you will not know where you will be stationed....so unless you watch the travel channel you are subject to life of land and very limited liberty.....until you are in the Marines for at least a year or depending on your MOS and the instructors and the different schools SOP.


I see other poolees asking about Scout Snipers, MARSOC, and other stupid sh*t that they see in video games, and get hard-ons for, so I see why you would think i'm getting ahead of myself.

Worry about yourself...not others....at sixteen years old you haven't had too many years of being treated to hard ons either.

:evilgrin:

[QuasiMofo]

Thank you. :thumbup:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

I don't neccessarily have issues with this question overall. I'm remembering a recruiting pamphlet from MY era that actually talked about 'off duty' recreation, surfing, etc.

I know what we want our 'Ask a Marine' questions to focus on certain things and not be stoopid, I actually thought this question was 'legit'. Hey, I checked out the stables at Lejeune and the off duty Rec. opportunities everywhere else I could, before this site existed. LOL.

Sometimes I think we tend to forget that liberty is VITALLY important to US, so why wouldn't it (as a question, generally) be important to a kid, too?

I'm not trying to lecture but rather enlighten, Marines. :)

I know, 'Who is this typing for Sgt Leprechaun' ? LOL.

[Lisa 23]

I don't neccessarily have issues with this question overall. I'm remembering a recruiting pamphlet from MY era that actually talked about 'off duty' recreation, surfing, etc.

I know what we want our 'Ask a Marine' questions to focus on certain things and not be stoopid, I actually thought this question was 'legit'. Hey, I checked out the stables at Lejeune and the off duty Rec. opportunities everywhere else I could, before this site existed. LOL.

Sometimes I think we tend to forget that liberty is VITALLY important to US, so why wouldn't it (as a question, generally) be important to a kid, too?

I'm not trying to lecture but rather enlighten, Marines. :)

I know, 'Who is this typing for Sgt Leprechaun' ? LOL.

I do agree with you Sgt Leprechaun, and maybe it's just me, but I was never worried about some of the things that are being asked today as to what you can do when your day at shop is done. I was more focused on EARNING the title and getting through my MOS school. I figured I find out all that other stuff out once I reached my duty station.
Oh well....

[Phantom Blooper]

I was more concerned with my hard on...before I joined!:evilgrin:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

WM, I suppose thanks to the powers of the internet, and a 'smaller world', these kids have a broader idea of what's out there and available, (or not) than we did. If I think about it I'll dig out that brochure though. TRAVEL! ADVENTURE! OFF DUTY OPPORTUNITIES! LOL.

[HereandThere]

You know, I see to many young men and women coming here and worrying about what they can do after a days work is done with instead of worrying about becoming a Marine. Yeah, it's nice to ask those things, but EARN the title first.
First and foremost, you're a Marine 24/7. You may have an MOS that might not leave time to enjoy things that you would like to do.
Instead of worrying about where you can surf, talk with a recruiter first. After you meet with a recruiter, you'll have to take the ASVAB if you already haven't. It's not like you take the ASVAB, sign papers and your off to boot camp. There's a process to go through first. Do you have any medical or criminal problems that might require a waiver? Be honest and DO NOT lie. If you do lie, it will only catch up with you and you'll be in big doo-doo for fraudulent enlistment.
Take it one step at a time.
Damn kids!:p

[Lisa 23]

WM, I suppose thanks to the powers of the internet, and a 'smaller world', these kids have a broader idea of what's out there and available, (or not) than we did. If I think about it I'll dig out that brochure though. TRAVEL! ADVENTURE! OFF DUTY OPPORTUNITIES! LOL.
Very true....:thumbup: