Desire Guidance from a USMC Veteran

[DevinD]

Kid, you know what your problem is today?

I really don't

1. I'm sorry for posting in the wrong section.

2. If i knew how to delete this thread and post it in the right section I probably would

Guess I came to the wrong place to find the right way to something I'm going to achieve regardless.


Thanks for the help everyone.

[joseywales]

Still too fresh. Helo on its way anyway

[Tennessee Top]

Read the rules for wannabes (that's what you are). You are not an old salt and do not belong on this thread. You probably do not know but an old salt is an individual who has served a long time on active duty...and that's not you.

You have not earned the right to use one of our mottos (Semper Fi)...so don't. It means nothing coming from you. It means the world coming from one of my brothers.

Your heart appears to be in the right place Valor1. But, the reason you're getting so much grief is because you come on our forum breaking all kinds of our rules either through ignorance or arrogance...we can't tell which. So, go read all the rules and live by them. Then, maybe you'll be accepted the way you want to be.

[Old Marine]

I don't think the elevator is reaching the top floor.

[DevinD]

Read the rules for wannabes (that's what you are). You are not an old salt and do not belong on this thread. You probably do not know but an old salt is an individual who has served a long time on active duty...and that's not you.

You have not earned the right to use one of our mottos (Semper Fi)...so don't. It means nothing coming from you. It means the world coming from one of my brothers.

Your heart appears to be in the right place Valor1. But, the reason you're getting so much grief is because you come on our forum breaking all kinds of our rules either through ignorance or arrogance...we can't tell which. So, go read all the rules and live by them. Then, maybe you'll be accepted the way you want to be.

I understand. I appologize for any disrespect. There's a thin line between confidence and arrogance and I dont want to be perceived as having the latter. One day soon I'll be able to use that motto

[Wyoming]

Now that you have manned up, check this link -

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=59314


... after you have it memorized, go to the Ask A Marine forum.

[DevinD]

Rule One you are not a Marine and this is a Marine site therefore you have no rights and are merely a guest that we wish to help achieve your goal!

Rule Two before you post a thread make darn sure that you have researched the forums so that you are not embarrassed by the fact it was asked a week ago!

Rule Three when using the words Marine or Corps on this site they will be capitalized at all times!

Rule Four make sure that you have a completed profile less than that is unsat and will get you banned for a period up to and including permanently!

Rule Five be courteous at all times with your peers and especially with Marines, if you verbally attack someone you will be dealt with severely and disrespect to a Marine will not be tolerated!

Rule Six never use the words Semper Fi, Semper Fidelis or OORAH you do not rate that here until you have earned the title of United States Marine!

Rule Seven the forums are not social a chatroom if you want to speak to a peer in that way do it on PM or by email or in the chatroom!

Rule Eight when you post make sure that it looks like you are submitting it to your english teacher for their determination whether you pass or fail!

Rule Nine make sure when you post a thread its in the proper forum, you do not rate to post in a Marine forum at any time prior to earning the title. Read the headings over the recruit forums for a guide!

Rule Ten there will no political threads or posts of any kind in the recruit forums, you are here to concentrate on the yellow foot steps not politics!

Rule Eleven be ready and flexible to accept any and all new rules and criticism at all times. Use your time here to prepare yourself for the greatest challenge you will ever face!

Rule Twelve your profile must include your ship date. This is to validate you against some wannabe that calls him or her self a Poolee. Only Poolees have ship dates not wannabes.

I've read these rules and understand. Thank you for direction. I'm intelligent enough to understand these simple rules. Sometimes my ambition gets me into trouble.

[Wyoming]

Now that you have manned up, check this link -

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=59314


... after you have it memorized, go to the Ask A Marine forum.

Read and Heed!!

[DevinD]

Now that you have manned up, check this link -

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=59314


... after you have it memorized, go to the Ask A Marine forum.

Thank you for this link. This is exactly what I was looking for.

[USNAviator]

Now that you have manned up, check this link -

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=59314


... after you have it memorized, go to the Ask A Marine forum.

That's an outstanding post, I had never read it before

[Brianhipwell]

Geez kid, I don't think you can hack it. Your Brain Housing Group isn't quite up to par with the Marine Corps ethos. you really need to go out on your own for awhile, experience life as it really is, without mommy holding your hand. If not Parris Island will eat you up and spit you out into the swamps.

If you do make it to PI, never quit, never show weakness, never lose your spirit. Your Drill Instructors will weed you out if you're not quality material. I hope you can understand what 'we're' talking about.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Moving this to it's proper place in our little world.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Now that we are where we are supposed to be, I shall elaborate. You asked for a "Marine Veteran" opine, and that is what you shall get. Strap yourself in.



First off Thank you for viewing my thread.

You are welcome! Thanks for having good grammar, sentence structure, and a small command of the English language. Refreshing. And, rest assured, had you not, this would be going a different direction.

I made the commitment to become a Marine on 2/7/2011, a little over a month ago.

By seeing, in person, a recruiter? Or just 'deciding'? From your posts, I'd say the latter. That is fine, but you need to 'do', rather than 'think'. Go and DO.

Since then, I've made leaps and bounds in an effort to achieve this goal, I've gotten into the best physical shape I've ever been in, and I've gotten into the position of being able to go back to school, obtain 15 credits so I can enlist (I only have a GED). I've done more with my life in the past month than I have in the past 3 years.

In a month? (Physical shape). Either you weren't that bad to begin with or you are fooling yourself. How fast can you run a mile and a half? How many pushups, crunches, and dead hang pullups can you do?

GED...which tells me you dropped from HS. That...isn't good. 15 credits is the 'minimum' required to enlist, just so you know. You will NOT (read that again) be a priority enlistment. Know this going in.

but I want more though. I want to be a Marine before I become a Marine. I want to push my mind to its limits, and surpass them. I want to break every limitation, physical and mental, that I've ever placed on myself in the 20 years that I've existed.

This is like saying you want to be a unicorn. You've seen the pictures, read the books, and now, presto, because they are coooool, you are a unicorn! Just wishing it doesn't make it so. Don't make the mistake of 'thinking' you are a Marine because in your heart of hearts you really, really, really, want it. Our title can only be earned. It's never given, sold, traded, or 'larnt' in books.

Oh, and don't break your mind or your body prior to Recruit training. Let that be the Drill Instructors job.

I want to do that before I reach Parris Island.

See the last paragraph above. Your mission from here is to get qualified to enlist. Worry about all the existential stuff later.

When I realized I wanted to be a Marine, it was overwhelming. A new life flashed in front of my eyes. I was already there. I was already in basic and I was already overseas. Even though I wasn't, in reality. I've never been as passionate about anything in my life as I am about being a United States Marine.


Hopefully this didn't occur while a student of modern chemistry. Take a deeeeeep breath and focus. See my sentence, above.

I want to be a Marine for these reasons.

1. Challenge.

I strive for a challenge. I live for it. I love aiming for what seems to be unattainable, because when I obtain it, the feeling is amazing. I want to prove to myself what I already know, that nothing is impossible, and any preconceived notions of failure is only my mind getting the best of me. I want to obtain complete control over my mind. Dominate it. I will control my mind, it will NOT control me. This is the ultimate challenge to me, and I can't wait to conquer it.


Interesting. This sounds a bit like EST or some other new agey type thing. Hey, whatever floats your dinghy, that's cool. However, (and again), at the moment, concentrate on 15 credits. Seriously. Because without them, you can be a zen master of all things "MOTO", yet you'll still be a 'wannabeee'.



2. Honor, Pride

I want to be a Marine because I want the pride associated with that word. I respect all branches of military, but I want the honor of being a United States Marine. I want the black dress uniform, with all the decorations. I want to make my Mother proud of me. I want to set an example for my 6 yr old brother and my 3 yr old sister. I want to serve this beautiful country. I want to appreciate all the freedoms it gives me 100x more than I do now. I want to serve with Honor, and I want to make it my personal responsibility to have an active role in protecting Our freedoms.

The uniform is actually a dark blue. You don't get those decorations just by showing up, like the army. Ya gotta earn 'em, mostly the hard way. Regardless, honorable sentiments.



3. Heroism

I want to save lives. I want to liberate the innocent from the grips of Tyranny. I want the tyrants to fall. I want their citizens to live a free life, a life similar to the lives we live in America. I want to be a true Patriot. I want this more than I've wanted anything in my life. I want my MOS to either be Explosives Ordinance Disposal or Special Forces. Depending on the experience I get before I enlist in February 2012. I'm considering explosives ordinance disposal because I want to dismantle explosives. I want to be in a position to Protect my squad. My men are not my men. My men, are extensions of Me. I cannot emphasize this enough.


Truth be told, it sounds to me like you've read 'Starship Troopers' LOL. Oh, and if you want to be 'Special Forces', that's the army. They wear green beenies and shout 'Hoohah' all the time. Ain't us. EOD isn't an enlistment MOS, so pick something else.



4. Conditioning

I want to get into the best shape of my life. It's simple. Its Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, and I want to be as fit as I can possibly be. I want to learn how to survive off of the wilderness. I want to endure harsh conditions with a smile. I want to become superhuman.

The only people I ever saw 'enduring harsh conditions with a smile' were the dead, and the mentally ill. Neither of which is a good thing for you. If you want to learn to 'survive off the wilderness', you can take a course for that. Superhuman? Try just being you, and being the best 'you' you can be. And maybe lay off the video games some. Methinks they are skewing your perspective.


Last but not least I want the benefits post-service. I want to be able to go to school for free after I leave. Sure, the money will be good, but that is NOT why I want to be a Marine.

Really? Funny, I thought this was about being 'superhuman/hero/survive in the wilderness etc etc'. NOW you want free school out of the deal? LOL. Heck, people in hell want ice water kid. Money will be good? As compared to what, I wonder? Then again, if you have no job at present, I suppose a private's pay is better than nothing.



I'm looking for anything I can do to put myself ahead of the rest of the recruits by the time I reach Parris Island in February. I want to learn survival skills before I get there, how to read Maps of Topography, Shooting angles, any way I can get my hands on USMC equipment for Weight Training, any way I can get a step ahead on Leadership, and Hand-to-Hand combat. That's why Im looking for a vet to lead me to my goals. I will get there regardless, but I feel like I will achieve more with voices of wisdom to guide me.

Uhhh....in the immortal words of someone famous "Settle down, Beavis". How's about you get to 'poolee' status FIRST, then lets concentrate on other things. And nobody 'learns' survival skills out the gate. Gotta crawl before you walk. Same goes with the rest of it. Once you become an expert at the mundane, day to day 'being' a Marine, THEN the cool stuff comes around. ANYone can take a survival course. ANYone can take a map reading course, or buy a DVD on weight training. But, as I said before, just because you put a baby in the oven, that don't mean it's a biscut.




Semper Fi. My thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me reach my goals.

As stated, at least on this forum, please don't use that particular term. No doubt you had no intention to violate the rules so I'm letting it pass.

Valor.

Pick another screen name and PM me. 'Valor', unless it's an old family name or some such, ain't gonna cut it. Most people with those sorts of decorations will tell you they were simply doing their job. And the only heroes, real ones anyway, I happen to know, are dead.

You have much to learn, young Padawan.

[USNAviator]

Jason I'm reminded of a quote by Gen. Patton

"I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. "

Lets see how high this youngster bounces

[Wyoming]

Good Ending!