What is it REALLY like to be in the military, specifically the Marines?

Question

I mean, what do you do all day? Plz answer only if you've been in the military or are currently enlisted.

Answer 1

I just recently got out of the Marines Corps. After 13 weeks of HARD training at Parris Island (I'm assuming your female) earning the title of Marine you will move on to MCT (Marine Combat Training) I believe it is 3 weeks of training. From MCT you will go on to your MOS (military occupational specialty) school. The length of your school is dependant upon your MOS. After MOS school, assuming you make it this far, you will hit the fleet. The recruiter will try to tell you it's a normal job like any other, but that's just a sales pitch. Normally Monday, Wednesday and Friday you are up at the buttcrack of dawn to do unit/section PT (physical training) after PT you will have just enough time to shower in your room that you must share with 1 to 2 other people (hopefully you like your roommates, mine was a lying scheming thief) maybe get some breakfast then get your butt to work because if you're not there by the time your told you're going to get a butt-chewing and a counseling sheet possibly. Then you do your job until about 1130 when you go to afternoon chow, your back by 1300 (1pm) and you go back to doing your work. Most people, again depending on your MOS, are done work by 1630 (4:20pm) Most units don't do PT on Tuesdays or Thursdays and start work by 0730 on these days. If you are thinking of enlisting please remember that it is HIGHLY likely that as soon as you check into the fleet you will probably be packing your bags and heading for Iraq. If you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me, good luck.

Answer 2

My husband is a Marine. I agree with what ncmommaac and lastknight 23 said. It is a lot of hard work and discipline. It doesn't pay a lot (especially for ranks private to corporal), housing is getting better, and most stations are stateside. (As far as I know the only overseas station is in Okinawa.) Your job and what you do all day would depend on which "MOS" you were in. You could be outside all day shooting at the range or "humping" (hiking all day long) if you were a "grunt". You could drive a truck, fly a jet or helicopter, repair heavy equipment in a garage or sit at a computer all day. You may get deployed to Iraq. You may get to go on "floats" and see different countries. You may get to go on peacekeeping missions or work on projects in this country or other countries for a few weeks or a few months.
One thing particlar to the Marines is that while the Army has the "Green Berets" and the Navy has "Seals", a Marine is a Marine and ONLY a Marine. (Meaning they are ALL "lean mean fighting machines".)
Overall, I would say the opportunity is unique and if you are really interested talk to a recruiter - make sure he offers you the best package available suitable to what you want to do. I don't think he can't promise a particular job, but I think he can promise a field at least and you *may* be able to move into a specific job after your in a little while.

Answer 3

My father was a Marine in Viet Nam. When I was going to enlist in 1998, right after high school, he told me to consider all of my options. I joined the Coast Guard, and served as an Active Duty member for 4 years, and as a Reservist for 2 years while I went to college. My primary duties as a Boatswain's Mate was Search and Rescue and Maritime (water) Law Enforcement. I helped save people's lives, and enforced US Laws & Treaties, as they applied to Federal Waterways. It was the best decision I ever made. The Coast Guard IS a military branch, and has an 8 week boot camp (the second most difficult, under the Marine Corps). All the available benefits of being a military member apply. I hope this helps. Check out their web site.

Answer 4

If you have to ask this question on the Internet please think it over if your thinking of in-listing in any branch of the military. Just from your question the Marines, Navy and Army will not be for you. I would think about the Air force it's the easiest and less mental branch of the military.

The marines and the navy is not for you if your mentally week my dad in listed when he was 17 and groomed me since birth so the mental BS is nothing. The hardest part of any branch of the military is the mind games and BS Lie's your their property and you do what your told and no matter what rank you make it to their is always someone over you who is an even bigger ***.

Find another career trust me this is the best advice I could ever pass on.

Answer 5

I served in the Marines for 9 years as a combat engineer and a marksmanship instructor. Basic training is hard; physically it is close to the toughest thing I ever did. However that is not half as bad as the mental games they play. In my platoon we started out with 89 recruits and only graduated 58. We had 2 attempted suicides and a lot of injuries. I myself broke a toe very early in training but did not report it. If I had reported it I would have had to be in boot camp longer (waiting for my toe to heal). It is definitely not for everyone, your pay is the same as the other services but your education benefits are nowhere near as good. Your housing is cramped and you have to deal with a lot of demanding regulations. However, if I had it to do over again, I would still choose the Marines every time. It’s not about pay, housing or education benefits. It’s about being the best, about doing something that many people can’t do, something that most wouldn’t even try to do. Today going to war in any branch of service is dangerous; whom would you rather fight along side of? A fat Sailor, a lazy Airman, a lost Soldier, or a crazy Marine? Chose wisely.

Answer 6

I was in the Navy, but it was pre-war era and things have changed a lot. First of all the military is much easier on you, no hazing anymore. I worked as an Aviation Electronics Technician, I worked on the electronics of E-2 C aircraft. My job was just like any other ordinary civilian job, I went to work at 6:30am and got off at 3:30pm, Monday thru Friday. But my husband was a Marine and he worked crazy hours and would sometimes be out in the field for weeks at a time. It all depends on what your job is.

Answer 7

I spent 2 years in the Army. Basic training is rough, lots of yelling and screaming by drill sergeants and lots of marching, running, and other physical training as well as classroom instruction. You cant fart without a drill sergeants permission and there is little free time during basic. Discipline is tough..u better know how to properly address officers and NCO's unless u want to set the new world record for pushups. After your basic and AIT (job training) its almost like a regular job when theres no war going on. You work your job..do physical training to stay in shape several times a week..and you get nite and weekend CQ and guard duty on a rotational basis. Off duty time is pretty much your own although as a member of the Armed Forces you are always "on call". I was in during peacetime so it was pretty easy. Its a different ball game now. My friends son a few days ago got a call at 2am at his parents house to report back to the post ASAP( he was stationed near his home and was staying with his parents on his "weekend off" Hes on his way to Iraq now. Join the military now and u do not know where u will be the next day.

Answer 8

I'm in the Navy. Once you get into a routine it's pretty much the same every day just like being a civilian. We have stricter rules of course, but the rest arrive at a set time, go home at the end of the day usually the same time, unless something comes up, wear a uniform and do whatever your job is, security patrol stand gates, cook...cook, admin...paperwork, medical...well you get the drill. If you are underway or deployed it gets a little different working hours extended, more expected out of you. But still cool, anything you can do for your nation is worth it.

Answer 9

nicely you extremely could choose to be a marine, they have the least investment so marines have a actual "make do" innovations-set, although considering that they have the toughest coaching and are taken care of like ****, they often have the main camaraderie and delight between eachother you rather sense like brothers. military has over a million,000,000 individuals, there are bonuses for the main complicated to fill jobs, although there are alota infantrymen to maintain music of and maximum of to abode, theres actual horror thoughts approximately barracks etc. there are additionally each and every so often difficulty with pay. additionally they have the least regulations to connect which questions the nicely-known of a few infantrymen military is regularly technical jobs, maximum that contain preserving ships, jets, communications etc. you often could spend a protracted time at sea, so in case you have a kin that could get complicated you in addition to mght sense particularly restrained on ships. airforce has the terrific high quality of existence, bootcamp is the simplest, they are presently attempting to downsize via making it complicated to get in. there are additionally no longer too many selections on jobs. and to no longer point out marines and infantrymen kinda making exciting of you each and all of the time : ) desire this facilitates

Answer 10

Well, I am Air Force, and after basic training, you go to a technical school for a few months to learn your job. Then you get stationed at a base - and start doing your job each day. You also do exercises to simulate your wartime tasks.
The Marines are hard core - not sure exactly what they do all day... Eat nails to stay tough as hell... lol