Couple of questions to soldiers?

Question

I am about to join the Marines and I wanted to ask couple of questions...
1.Are the helmets uncomfortable?
2.How much weigh do you carry?

Answer 1

ok...this isn't from today...just my experience a long time ago..things change...but..i always hated helmets...but you dont want to be without them...they tended to fall off your head when you ran if you didn't use the chin strap and i hate anything around my neck or chin...but it beats shrapnel in your gourd. As far as weight, it depends..depends on your job. You carry your personal gear plus extra ammo for yourself plus special weapons. Heres an example...I carried a radio(prc-25) , extra battery, 3-60mm mortar rds or a box of M60 ammo, flak jacket, 3 bandaleers of ammo plus an assault pouch, 3 canteens, any rations I felt like humping, 2 frag grenades, 1 wp grenade, message pads, flashlight, strobe light, pencil flares, and my rifle...sometimes I carried a .45 too. All in all it was quite a bit of weight and I had to stay leaning forward on the move. It was hard to stand straight up or the weight wanted to pull you backwards. That was on the move in an infantry company. For smaller size patrols I would travel lighter than that...no extra battery, no mortar rds...basically just my radio, my personal weapons and ammo, and canteens.

P.S. I would guess depending on your job the weight you hump could vary between 40 to 80 lbs.

Answer 2

The newer kevlar helmets are a bit uncomfortable and useless for anything else, but the alternative of a bullet in the brain makes the tradeoff seem worth it. One could use the old helmet to carry water, as a sink, a cooking pot or a hammer. The new kevlars just protect the top of your head.

As far as the weight, the other answer is right, it depends on the mission. If you want to get an experience of how much weight you'll be required to handle, find a 10 year old kid, put them on you back or up on your shoulders, then climb ten flights of stairs without stopping at each landing.....and that's a start. The load does get lighter as the mission continues, you're eating the rations you carry and drinking the water and using up the ammo. Then you stop, resupply, and continue the mission.

Answer 3

Yes, the helmets are uncomfortable. But they make a "doughnut" that you can put in there and it's not bad. I just had a folded up washcloth in mine and was ok.
As for the weight. I don't know. I never had to carry anything. I'm in the Navy. I had the helmet when I was recalled and sent to Kuwait. But from what I hear, the pack weighs in around 70 pounds.
Don't worry, they'll get you in good enough shape.

Thanks for your service.

Answer 4

The Kevlar helmets are heavy but you get used to them after a while, as for the weight you can carry... It depends on the mission, but 75 to 100 Lbs is a good guess of the ruck and equipment and food necessary to get a job done...

Answer 5

Kevlars (helmets) are uncomfortable, but you get used to it. Pack weight changes depending on the training evolution or mission. Don't sweat it for basic, you will be conditioned to everything you do. Boot camp is much more mental than physical. You need heart more than muscle.

Watch Full Metal Jacket. Training is more advanced and you aren't likely to be punched like in the Vietnam era, but it is still a pretty accurate depiction of basic training.

Answer 6

Hey im in the military but not the marines and ive never worn a helmet and well we do carry alot of stuff. Semper Paratus if u know what i mean.

Answer 7

just join them, there the best

Answer 8

if those are your only worries go for it
when you get out you wont care about any of that


hhhhuuuuuuurrraahhh!!!