couple of questions ?

[lkh1989]

I'm recently met with a recruiter. I only had a GED so he told me that i need 15 college credits, so i registered for college,and pretty soon i'll have 15 credits. So my questions are should i start training for boot camp now? and also im a short guy 5'5" (but im in a pretty good shape) will i able to make it through the basic training? am i tall enough to be in MOS 03** ?

[JWDevilDog]

I think this wannabe doesn't get the biggest point discussed here:

Statistically, you will never fail Marine Corps basic training. This is because no such thing as "Marine Corps basic training" exists. So, if something does not exist, then it can never be failed (unless, of course, you're 5'5").

BOOT CAMP or RECRUIT TRAINING. End.

[WalkingMan]

like they would let me do that guess being short is suck !!! but nothing i can do that, should i go for surgery to make my legs longer??? anyway thanks for the advices.

Ok, now that you have survived the hazing... I figure that if your height was going to be a problem, your recruiter would have told you so.

The real stumbling-blocks are Attitude, and Will.

If you have the Attitude that the only thing that will stop you from getting through Boot Camp, is if they kill you, then you will get through boot camp, because your Drill Instructors will neither kill you, nor let you die, because in order to die, you have to first file a request form, and they are all out of request forms.

If you have the Will to Endure MISERY, then Boot Camp will be a no-brainer for you... just suck it up and before you realise it, you will be graduating.

Be advised, though, Boot Camp is the EASY part. After that, come training, which will be more challenging than Boot Camp, and after that comes Deployment, and most likely War.

In War, which is what Marines do, being on the short side can actually give you an edge, in that you are a smaller target, but what will really make the difference, whether you survive or not, will be in large part, all of that Will to Endure Misery and Suffering, that was trained into you in Boot Camp.

All of the specialised training, and all of the high-tech weapons, and all of the big strong muscles are great, but in the bitter end, when you and the Bad Guys are nose to nose, and the air support ain't coming, and the food and water are all gone, and nobody has slept in a few days, there's nothing left but Will.

Whoever's Will breaks first... dies.

[lkh1989]

I think this wannabe doesn't get the biggest point discussed here:

Statistically, you will never fail Marine Corps basic training. This is because no such thing as "Marine Corps basic training" exists. So, if something does not exist, then it can never be failed (unless, of course, you're 5'5").

BOOT CAMP or RECRUIT TRAINING. End.

actually i did get the point, that why i joked back it may not funny, since im not comedians

In War, which is what Marines do, being on the short side can actually give you an edge, in that you are a smaller target, but what will really make the difference, whether you survive or not, will be in large part, all of that Will to Endure Misery and Suffering, that was trained into you in Boot Camp.

All of the specialised training, and all of the high-tech weapons, and all of the big strong muscles are great, but in the bitter end, when you and the Bad Guys are nose to nose, and the air support ain't coming, and the food and water are all gone, and nobody has slept in a few days, there's nothing left but Will.

Whoever's Will breaks first... dies.

you got a point, in my opinion being small doesn't increase the chance of surviving. i just asked about MOS 03** cause im kind of interested in it since couple of my friends are in there. im actually wanna be a Electrician Mos 1411, > my major is electrical engineering (still a long way to go to get a degree though)

[WKranz]

height will only be a problem if you let it. I went through SOI and to my unit with a guy that was 5 foot tal on a good day. If you got the heart for it you'll make it through.

[lkh1989]

height will only be a problem if you let it. I went through SOI and to my unit with a guy that was 5 foot tal on a good day. If you got the heart for it you'll make it through.

5' tall he's really something i want to meet that guy. i got a friend who also a Marine his height is the same as me just he's not 03*** though

[Lateral Grunt]

Why did the mods delete the posts in here? There were some funny posts in here!

[MARINECID]

I you are currently enrolled and presently attending an educational institution that will provide you a tier 1 credential then you can enlist awaiting graduation from that institution. For college credits it has to be 15 credits all above 100 level. And you have to complete them in 270 days.

[NoRemorse]

Ok, now that you have survived the hazing... I figure that if your height was going to be a problem, your recruiter would have told you so.

The real stumbling-blocks are Attitude, and Will.

If you have the Attitude that the only thing that will stop you from getting through Boot Camp, is if they kill you, then you will get through boot camp, because your Drill Instructors will neither kill you, nor let you die, because in order to die, you have to first file a request form, and they are all out of request forms.

If you have the Will to Endure MISERY, then Boot Camp will be a no-brainer for you... just suck it up and before you realise it, you will be graduating.

Be advised, though, Boot Camp is the EASY part. After that, come training, which will be more challenging than Boot Camp, and after that comes Deployment, and most likely War.

In War, which is what Marines do, being on the short side can actually give you an edge, in that you are a smaller target, but what will really make the difference, whether you survive or not, will be in large part, all of that Will to Endure Misery and Suffering, that was trained into you in Boot Camp.

All of the specialised training, and all of the high-tech weapons, and all of the big strong muscles are great, but in the bitter end, when you and the Bad Guys are nose to nose, and the air support ain't coming, and the food and water are all gone, and nobody has slept in a few days, there's nothing left but Will.

Whoever's Will breaks first... dies.

That is just a great post, Cpl. It's extremely motivating and a perfect example of what it is to be a Marine. It's surely not wasted here, just wasted on our errant future poolee.

Semper Fi

[WalkingMan]

That is just a great post, Cpl. It's extremely motivating and a perfect example of what it is to be a Marine. It's surely not wasted here, just wasted on our errant future poolee.

Semper Fi

Thanks!

Now that I am getting up there in years (age 60) I prefer to take the 'easy-going' strategy with the younger guys and gals. I still easily pass the PFT five times a week, just to keep in shape, but I have become a lot less intense over the years.

I think it may be useful for the young Poolees to be exposed to both approaches... tough and easy.

I got this idea from an old Master Gunny who was close to retirement when I met him, and I in my early 20's, full of Pi$$ and vinegar.

His attitude impressed me a great deal... I was just back from Vietnam, and needed someone like him to sit me down and set me straight.

I sincerely wish that I had followed all of his advice then, but I was young, and it took me many years to see the wisdom in what he was telling me.

So I try to pass it on.

Hooyah!

[Zulu 36]

5'5" means you will carry the baseplate for an 81mm mortar or, the M240B. Just the way it is.

Seriously, I served in Vietnam with the smallest pilot in the Marine Corps at the time. He was 5'3", a captain, and flew A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft. His callsign was "Sperm." So being 5'5" should be no problemo.

[lkh1989]

5'5" means you will carry the baseplate for an 81mm mortar or, the M240B. Just the way it is.

Seriously, I served in Vietnam with the smallest pilot in the Marine Corps at the time. He was 5'3", a captain, and flew A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft. His callsign was "Sperm." So being 5'5" should be no problemo.

thanks, no matter what it is i'll keep my back straight, my head up and try my best, with a strong will i think everything will be fine