Where would the military put you?

[Deleted]

Haha, no I actually have a degree.

Also, for relevance:

I was considering finding that clip

[Aeula]

Flat footed, outverted hips and a disease which infests the bones in my hands and feet.

Probably disqualified unless they find something to help me travel long distances and shoot the enemy. Like nuclear-powered wheelchair with a missile launcher taped to the back.

Or they'd just hand me one of those briefcases with a drone controller inside and tell me to aim for the baddies.

[McFuu]

When I began the enlistment process I wanted to go Infantry in the marines and then transfer to Recon, potentially becoming force recon in the long run. I could already pass all the swimming qualifications, running quals, and fitness tests.

When I went to meps and took the asvab I scored a 99, proceeded through the physicals, bloodwork, piss test, height weight, vision, flat foot tests and went to the marine recruiter onsite at meps. (Your local recruiter drives you to meps) guy looked at my preferred mos as infantry and damn near laughed me out of there. Said he'd never seen someone so smart so dumb. Ended up switching to 8156 after declining an intel job. mos 8156 refers to marine embassy guards.

It's not good to lie when so many other people are Marines/former-active duty.

[prwraith]

It's not good to lie when so many other people are Marines/former-active duty.

Notice I never said I actually joined the marines. I said "when I began the enlistment process" "when I went to meps"

People who've been on here for years know that I've posted having never been IN the military. And if you must know it's because of an accident that occurred after I went through all this into the delayed entry program out of high school.

The thread is about where the military would put you, and that's where they would put me because that's where they were about to put me lol

[Doomislav]

My eyes rolled out of their sockets.

OT: They wouldn't put me anywhere, but if they did... I really don't know. What use would they have for soil microbiologist?

You won't roll you eyes for long, I'm afraid. A lot of people confuse the path of righteousness with pacifism. The simple fact of the matter is that killing, for example, "terrorists" is not a long term solution to the ills of our civilization. The US did that in Afganistan and Iraq and to no surprise to me, something called ISIS rose up.

Another example is Korea - 50 years ago, the US decided to fight the Korean war to "end the spread of Communism". Hrm that didn't work out so well.

My point is that the era of solving the world's problems through proactive use of the military doesn't work. We need a better long term solution, which is being a beacon of hope and light on the hillside in the face of unspeakable evil. The US needs to be an example of doing the right thing in the face of adversity, for the worlds sake.

[McFuu]

Notice I never said I actually joined the marines. I said "when I began the enlistment process" "when I went to meps"

People who've been on here for years know that I've posted having never been IN the military. And if you must know it's because of an accident that occurred after I went through all this into the delayed entry program out of high school.

The thread is about where the military would put you, and that's where they would put me because that's where they were about to put me lol

Well I don't know what your recruiters were feeding you, but...

You can have a recon contract that if you don't pass BRC (Basic Recon Course) you get dropped to a line unit (infantry) because you have to go through ITB (Infantry Training Btn) to be able to go to BRC. There really is no "transferring" to recon, unless you re-enlist and lat move to an 0321. But if you are re-enlisting might as well just go straight to Marsoc 0372. Training can be comparable, but Marsoc gets way more opportunities to further specialize.

As for them laughing at you for wanting to go Infantry... it's more nuanced than that. Every country boy wants to be in infantry, problem is they aren't smart enough. Yes not smart enough. USMC requires a higher ASVAB score than the rest of the services to get into infantry, 55 I believe. Also the people that meet this score fill up the available boat spaces very quickly. So unless you are there in January, you can't get a straight up infantry contract. Now if you are an idiot and have a low ASVAB score and you want to join infantry, they will hook you up, with a Ground Option (Open Contract). Basically you are available to go into numerous MOS fields, but if you don't meet that 55, you aren't going to be an 03xx. They'll say you will be, but you will wind up as a Motor T operator, Arty, or Cook, all which require the lowest ASVAB score (35 is the minimum for even joining the USMC if I recall *before wavers*.) And if you have a higher ASVAB score you will wind up as an 06xx or 28xx both of which are commo's to some extent. Maybe one lucky person will get to be infantry because someone in bootcamp gets dropped to a lower platoon or they don't make it to bootcamp etc...

I believe 28xx requires the highest scores to be in, which is electronic repair. Intel... not so much, their entry score is somewhere in the 60s, when I deployed I worked a lot with intel, super nice people, but about as dumb as you could imagine. Many were also about as far from Marines as a Marine could get (scrawny little kids, like Uppem in Saving Private Ryan.) They were basically your average user on this board, thought they knew a lot, completely lacked in any sense for the way things actually work in the world. Which is scary considering they would be the ones briefing us on what was going on in our area of operation.

You also can't just join MSG (8156). It's a secondary MOS like Drill Instructor, Swim Instructor, Combat Marskmanship Instructor (I was a CMI), you have to meet a specific set of requirements with time in service, specific rank, etc... The only real exception to that, although they don't count as 8156 are drill team marines. They are 03xx, untrained Grunts (literally they are grunts GroundReplacementUNTrained.) that they pick and throw into the barracks at 8th and I, they are used for ceremonies. They pick up rank decently quick, than are sent to pick a real MOS usually 0311 (rifleman) and are put into line units with guys who have been doing it for years. They are summarily mistreated for being NCO boots, never get to do anything because they are completely untrained in their MOS per how their unit wants them to fight and they get out disgruntled as shit. So if that's where they were going to send you, you got extremely fucking lucky.

Honestly the reason why the MEPs personnel who was doing the finishing touches on your contract called you a dumb smart person is probably because you have a ground option open contract, and they were mocking the fact you had no idea what you were signing and were trying to save you from becoming Motor T or some other MOS filled with Cleetuses and Jebs.

[Ghostpanther]

Decide whether I will or whether I will take the consequences.

Compliance is not respect. Compliance is decided conditionally.

On the flipside, lack of respect isn't inherently defiance either. Prison is built to deal with that. The military is not.

Oh they are. I know a person when I was in, who did not like what a Sargent said to him, so he slugged him. Spent a few years in a military prison. The dishonorable discharge will be something to haunt him the rest if his life too.

[breadisfunny]

I have a big mouth, so probably on latrine duty.

i think it would fit you perfectly latrine duty.

[sheggaro]

The sandwich booth.

As for me, logistics I guess. Or on the front lines (I hope not, lol).

[Tijuana]

The submarine thread made me curious. So this is mostly a question askable by anyone, and hopefully to be answered by the military nerds out here. If given the military was to put you in a position in any area within the military sector, based on your skills/work experience, what could it be?

For example, as a female (student) archaeologist with computer experience, where would you put me in the military (if given you have to put me somewhere within the military obviously)?

Pls no "in the kitchen" jokes.

The brig.

/10char

[prwraith]

Well I don't know what your recruiters were feeding you, but...

I'm inclined to believe the recruiters were willing to tell me anything to get my to join tbh. The gunney for the region started offering me the moon when I called him from the hospital letting him know I wouldn't be able to run in any capacity for about a year and a half due to an injury

[Deleted]

No, what is it?

A terrible completely inaccurate movie about EOD. No sarcasm intended.

[Deleted]

Decide whether I will or whether I will take the consequences.

Compliance is not respect. Compliance is decided conditionally.

On the flipside, lack of respect isn't inherently defiance either. Prison is built to deal with that. The military is not.

Believe me, they get creative on how to deal with that. Although I have a hard time believing that you wouldn't meet anybody you respect, there are plenty of hard chargers out there that would make you go "...damn".

OT: probably back to convoy security, or maybe as a doctor if they are nice enough to let me finish school /shrug

[Puupi]

You won't roll you eyes for long, I'm afraid. A lot of people confuse the path of righteousness with pacifism. The simple fact of the matter is that killing, for example, "terrorists" is not a long term solution to the ills of our civilization. The US did that in Afganistan and Iraq and to no surprise to me, something called ISIS rose up.

Another example is Korea - 50 years ago, the US decided to fight the Korean war to "end the spread of Communism". Hrm that didn't work out so well.

My point is that the era of solving the world's problems through proactive use of the military doesn't work. We need a better long term solution, which is being a beacon of hope and light on the hillside in the face of unspeakable evil. The US needs to be an example of doing the right thing in the face of adversity, for the worlds sake.

Proactive, and reactive, military action works. The thing is that you should WIN the war first, though.

[Deleted]

I'm a 68w (popularly known as combat medic.) The army lets you choose from a list of jobs that you mentally and physically qualify for. That's for enlisted at least. You'd enter as an E-4 (specialist rank). Im assuming you'd probably want some sort of light desk job. With that being said you'd likely qualify for more should you score high enough in all mechanical/combat/FA line scores AND if you aren't broken physically.

- - - Updated - - -

Believe me, they get creative on how to deal with that. Although I have a hard time believing that you wouldn't meet anybody you respect, there are plenty of hard chargers out there that would make you go "...damn".

OT: probably back to convoy security, or maybe as a doctor if they are nice enough to let me finish school /shrug

It's about respecting rank, not really the person. With that being said, disrespect is actually against the rules. You can and will be punished in the military for disrespecting people. Whether they're your equal, your better, or below you in rank.

[Shadowsgrace]

DI and a damn proud one.



Did you see Hacksaw Ridge?

Nope, but when I drove my friend to the Marine Recruiter on his 18th birthday, when the Recruiter finished with him, he turned to me and said "And what about you?" When I told him my personal views, he turned around and said, "Oh, you're a conscientious objector..." and walked back to his desk, waving us off.

[McFuu]

Nope, but when I drove my friend to the Marine Recruiter on his 18th birthday, when the Recruiter finished with him, he turned to me and said "And what about you?" When I told him my personal views, he turned around and said, "Oh, you're a conscientious objector..." and walked back to his desk, waving us off.

Generally people who are conscientious objectors make shit Marines. During my time we had more than a couple and one thing they did succeed at was dragging down everyone's morale. Also had a couple people magical become conscientious objectors after they found out they were going to deploy or half way through training to deploy, which then becomes a huge head ache for everyone.
Don't take it personal he wrote you off, he isn't doing it because of who you are now, just the type of Marine you'd become
Yes, some people joined while being active conscientious objectors, probably for the GI Bill. If they didn't get processed out administratively after everyone got tired of their shit ( this happens to the majority, usually after they were in for 3 years or so, so they lose all the benefits of joining), if they did make it through their contract, they had the worst time imaginable.
The Marines really isn't the place to not be on your A game for an full enlistment. Your life will be hell.

[tumppu]

Due to my age, I'm in the reserve, but if push came to a shove, I do know where they would "put me". It's not info that's to be freely distributed, however.

[Shadowsgrace]

Generally people who are conscientious objectors make shit Marines. During my time we had more than a couple and one thing they did succeed at was dragging down everyone's morale. Also had a couple people magical become conscientious objectors after they found out they were going to deploy or half way through training to deploy, which then becomes a huge head ache for everyone.
Don't take it personal he wrote you off, he isn't doing it because of who you are now, just the type of Marine you'd become
Yes, some people joined while being active conscientious objectors, probably for the GI Bill. If they didn't get processed out administratively after everyone got tired of their shit ( this happens to the majority, usually after they were in for 3 years or so, so they lose all the benefits of joining), if they did make it through their contract, they had the worst time imaginable.
The Marines really isn't the place to not be on your A game for an full enlistment. Your life will be hell.

TBH, I would not serve in any branch of the military that would force me into Combat, not that they would take me over my health conditions, or my Mental mindset on War and Violence. If I was forced to sign up for "The Draft" I see 2 outcomes in my Future, either I move to Canada, like my kind did during Vietnam, or I spend my time in jail singing "Draft Dodger Rag" or "Alice's Restaurant" to myself. As the old saying goes, An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will.

[Azadina]

TBH, I would not serve in any branch of the military that would force me into Combat, not that they would take me over my health conditions, or my Mental mindset on War and Violence. If I was forced to sign up for "The Draft" I see 2 outcomes in my Future, either I move to Canada, like my kind did during Vietnam, or I spend my time in jail singing "Draft Dodger Rag" or "Alice's Restaurant" to myself. As the old saying goes, An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will.

I don't see why anyone should accept getting drafted, when there's draft dodger as president. Kind of sets the bar.