Ask me anything about being in the Marines/Iraq/combat.
04-15-2010
, 11:25 PM
Damn, brother, I completely missed those questions until I went back through this thread. Sorry...I will answer them this weekend.
04-18-2010
, 02:29 AM
04-22-2010
, 11:51 PM
04-23-2010
, 12:28 AM
Quote:
Cool thread.
My questions:
What is your workout regimen like now? Do you still try to maintain the same type of physical fitness you did when you were in? And is that even possible? I mean, with school and work and whatever it's obviously going to be tougher. But even beyond that, is it possible to keep yourself in the kind of shape you were in without the motivation of being part of a team?I've been pretty athletic my entire life - in high school I ran cross-country in the fall, wrestled in the winter, and ran track in the spring for instance... plus I'm also pretty vain so as soon as I feel myself getting out of shape even a little bit I'm right back in the gym
I also trained MMA pretty intensely after I got out and I still sort of do, though not nearly at the same level that I used to... but getting punched and kicked in the face occasionally does wonders for your motivation to stay fit. Far as my workout regimen now, if I can make it to the boxing/wrestling/mma practice once or twice a week and lift weights 3-4 times a week I'm very happy with myself. I usually go in cycles where I'll do it for a month or two, take a week or two off, do it for another month or two, take a week off, etc.
And another thing. A good friend of mine is an ex-SEAL. He's pretty young as he only got to go on a few deployments before a medical discharge. Anyway, he's about the nicest person I know and soft spoken and polite, and doesn't really seem to get frustrated with civilians lack of motivation/efficiency. I also have a friend that was in the Army national guard that is basically the opposite of my SEAL friend. I've found it kind of strange that the more advanced, highly trained badass is the most calm and patient one of the two, and I'm wondering, do you think that has more to do with training, or just personality variance?I think it has to do with basic insecurity, as in if I can act really tough hopefully no one will mess with me and I won't have to prove it kind of thing. Most genuinely hardcore dudes have no need to prove anything to anybody, they've proved it all to themselves already and don't particularly care about the outsiders' opinions. That's kind of how I feel about it. If I'm cold I'll go and grab a jacket while my friends will try to be "tough." I don't want to be tough, I would much rather be comfortable :P
Do you find that the more hardcore the Marines you know are, the less personable they are with civilians? Or is it really high variance? And where would you fall on any kind of a scale with that kind of thing? Do you have a hard time dealing with people whining or being unmotivated like "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE **** I'VE DONE WITH NO COMPLAINING?" or are you pretty accepting of your situation now v. when you were deployed?See, the thing is, the Marine Corps standard of being personable is so utterly different from the civilian standard that it's hard to even compare or relate. For instance, what they call "Brazilian Jui-Jitsu sparring" in my gym is what we used to do for fun after lunch while waiting to be told what to do for real. It's such a different mentality. So to answer your question I guess I would have to say 'yes,' a hardcore Marine will probably seem to have limited social skills in a "normal" civilian-type environment. That's the adjustment period I mentioned earlier in the thread though. And by the same token a lot of former Marines fall into the trap of thinking "well, I'm a Marine, so they better just respect me for that" and I say bull****, you aren't in the Marines anymore and there's no reason to be like that, so move on with life and readjust. But that is much easier said than done though as I know from personal experience. I guess the whole point is to live in the present and let the past shape you without chaining you, that's the best way I can think of putting it.
Far as being put off by the civlians... yes, it does happen and sometimes I do have a hard time with it. You get used to a very high level of professionalism when you are in - if something needs to get done it gets done as quickly as possible and nearly perfectly, at least in the unit I was in, and your personal feelings about it don't matter even to you. Than when you get out you have to start listening to people giving you a dozen reasons why it's hard and you don't give a **** why, it doesn't matter, just go and ****ing do it... know what I mean? So yeah, it isn't always easy.
Also, were you excited to be able to grow your hair back out?I still keep it short but I get pretty cool highlights now, so definitely enjoying it
Thanks for the thread.
My questions:
What is your workout regimen like now? Do you still try to maintain the same type of physical fitness you did when you were in? And is that even possible? I mean, with school and work and whatever it's obviously going to be tougher. But even beyond that, is it possible to keep yourself in the kind of shape you were in without the motivation of being part of a team?I've been pretty athletic my entire life - in high school I ran cross-country in the fall, wrestled in the winter, and ran track in the spring for instance... plus I'm also pretty vain so as soon as I feel myself getting out of shape even a little bit I'm right back in the gym
I also trained MMA pretty intensely after I got out and I still sort of do, though not nearly at the same level that I used to... but getting punched and kicked in the face occasionally does wonders for your motivation to stay fit. Far as my workout regimen now, if I can make it to the boxing/wrestling/mma practice once or twice a week and lift weights 3-4 times a week I'm very happy with myself. I usually go in cycles where I'll do it for a month or two, take a week or two off, do it for another month or two, take a week off, etc. And another thing. A good friend of mine is an ex-SEAL. He's pretty young as he only got to go on a few deployments before a medical discharge. Anyway, he's about the nicest person I know and soft spoken and polite, and doesn't really seem to get frustrated with civilians lack of motivation/efficiency. I also have a friend that was in the Army national guard that is basically the opposite of my SEAL friend. I've found it kind of strange that the more advanced, highly trained badass is the most calm and patient one of the two, and I'm wondering, do you think that has more to do with training, or just personality variance?I think it has to do with basic insecurity, as in if I can act really tough hopefully no one will mess with me and I won't have to prove it kind of thing. Most genuinely hardcore dudes have no need to prove anything to anybody, they've proved it all to themselves already and don't particularly care about the outsiders' opinions. That's kind of how I feel about it. If I'm cold I'll go and grab a jacket while my friends will try to be "tough." I don't want to be tough, I would much rather be comfortable :P
Do you find that the more hardcore the Marines you know are, the less personable they are with civilians? Or is it really high variance? And where would you fall on any kind of a scale with that kind of thing? Do you have a hard time dealing with people whining or being unmotivated like "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE **** I'VE DONE WITH NO COMPLAINING?" or are you pretty accepting of your situation now v. when you were deployed?See, the thing is, the Marine Corps standard of being personable is so utterly different from the civilian standard that it's hard to even compare or relate. For instance, what they call "Brazilian Jui-Jitsu sparring" in my gym is what we used to do for fun after lunch while waiting to be told what to do for real. It's such a different mentality. So to answer your question I guess I would have to say 'yes,' a hardcore Marine will probably seem to have limited social skills in a "normal" civilian-type environment. That's the adjustment period I mentioned earlier in the thread though. And by the same token a lot of former Marines fall into the trap of thinking "well, I'm a Marine, so they better just respect me for that" and I say bull****, you aren't in the Marines anymore and there's no reason to be like that, so move on with life and readjust. But that is much easier said than done though as I know from personal experience. I guess the whole point is to live in the present and let the past shape you without chaining you, that's the best way I can think of putting it.
Far as being put off by the civlians... yes, it does happen and sometimes I do have a hard time with it. You get used to a very high level of professionalism when you are in - if something needs to get done it gets done as quickly as possible and nearly perfectly, at least in the unit I was in, and your personal feelings about it don't matter even to you. Than when you get out you have to start listening to people giving you a dozen reasons why it's hard and you don't give a **** why, it doesn't matter, just go and ****ing do it... know what I mean? So yeah, it isn't always easy.
Also, were you excited to be able to grow your hair back out?I still keep it short but I get pretty cool highlights now, so definitely enjoying it
Thanks for the thread.
04-23-2010
, 12:30 AM
Quote:
I usually find the tougher the man, the more relaxed they are. Once you've made it to the top of the heap in your chosen field (soldiering and fighting both come to mind) then you have nothing left to prove to outsiders. Its usually guys who haven't made it there that feel the need to big-note themselves, to talk a good game.
All the SF soldiers I've met have been relaxed, friendly and very easygoing (the SF selection process also screens for these attributes). I've also found the seasoned professional fighters I've met to be more humble and friendly than a lot of amateur wannabe's. Ego is a powerful thing.
All the SF soldiers I've met have been relaxed, friendly and very easygoing (the SF selection process also screens for these attributes). I've also found the seasoned professional fighters I've met to be more humble and friendly than a lot of amateur wannabe's. Ego is a powerful thing.
They're coming, I swear, just not until school's over most likely, so give me another month.
04-23-2010
, 12:43 AM
04-23-2010
, 12:43 AM
04-23-2010
, 12:51 AM
04-23-2010
, 01:01 AM
04-23-2010
, 11:58 AM
04-23-2010
, 11:26 PM
04-24-2010
, 01:56 AM
04-27-2010
, 09:40 AM
Sgt here...came in Jan 2003...pouge here though...just got to Camp Mujuk in Pohang, South Korea for a 24 month duty...
I'll catch up with this thread when I get some more time.
Also, I think we are just over/under 200k strong now with the boost in numbers over the last couple of years. Just came off a tour at 4th Marine Corps District HQ....and got to listen to all the numbers of poolees and tattoo waivers and dropouts every month...like I said...pencil pusher here
ooh-rah
Last edited by starscream1101; 04-27-2010 at 09:46 AM.
04-27-2010
, 09:58 AM
04-27-2010
, 02:07 PM
I just read this entire thread and might be affected by it being fresh on my mind. Buti have to say I think this is the best thread I've ever readm
I can't think of any questions just a statement or two. I was in the AF and agree with your assessment of it. I don't really remember anyone in the AF thinking they were some badass. I joined because I had noclue what to do ith my life and tbh I was certainly too scaed at the time to join the USMC. I remember being stationed at a very tough base, Hickam AFB Hi if there was one thing universally loved about was was our chow hall, we actually called it our dining facility. We always had visitors from all over Oahu. There were as many USMC, Army, Navy, and CG as AF.
Thank you for volunteering for a job many of us were too big of sissies to do.
To CDS-The USAF does have their own version of special forces. They have Combat Control and Pararescue. They actually are pretty badass but they have different spcialties and orders than other SF.
I can't think of any questions just a statement or two. I was in the AF and agree with your assessment of it. I don't really remember anyone in the AF thinking they were some badass. I joined because I had noclue what to do ith my life and tbh I was certainly too scaed at the time to join the USMC. I remember being stationed at a very tough base, Hickam AFB Hi
if there was one thing universally loved about was was our chow hall, we actually called it our dining facility. We always had visitors from all over Oahu. There were as many USMC, Army, Navy, and CG as AF. Thank you for volunteering for a job many of us were too big of sissies to do.
To CDS-The USAF does have their own version of special forces. They have Combat Control and Pararescue. They actually are pretty badass but they have different spcialties and orders than other SF.
04-28-2010
, 11:58 AM
05-02-2010
, 03:44 AM
05-02-2010
, 03:46 AM
05-02-2010
, 03:50 AM
05-02-2010
, 04:01 AM
05-02-2010
, 04:03 AM
Re-enlist