I have planned out my entire life with enlistment as a foundation. Oh, before I continue. I have thought out all of this and considered every consequence I could concieve of, death, dismemberment, the fact that a military contract is selling your soul, having to kill people in any manner, depression, home sickness, etc. But, enlistment is what I want. After I graduate this year I going to have a job for about a year so I have some extra time to screw around. Then will come getting shipped off to basic. I am aiming toward a twenty year career until retirement. But for my first your years, I have found myself interested in becoming a recon sniper. Yes I do understand the stigma behind being a sniper. Being seen as an excecutioner, maybe even a coward. I also have considered the mental issues behind such a profession. (don't answer until i have finished with all the details, it will be rather obvious as to when I have done so, but it's gonna be alot to finish typing)
2006-09-09 17:24:21 · 12 answers · asked by Cyrus 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The expression on the marks face as they die is something that burns into the back of your brain and haunts you. Of course there's more honor in it than bombers that fly safely miles in the air and press a button to drop a bomb that can destroy a town. But frankly killing is killing, no matter how you slice it. I feel that snipers are undervalued, there's no one I'd rather have covering my back that a battle hardened sniper. I also find the possibility of wielding a Barrett XM-109 25mm payload rifle quite exciting. Back to the subject. After that time, considering that after four years of combat with no personal expenses, I will have at least sixty thousand dollars in my bank account. Ten thousand will be put to forward to a new motorcycle, and the rest will be put in an account with CD's so I can draw interest and have that money placed back into that same account to build on and I'll follow that cycle for the rest of the twenty years. To be continued.......
2006-09-09 17:33:02 · update #1
But after that first four years or maybe eight I would like to go to Wyotech throught the Montgommery G.I. Bill and be certified to work on motorcycles and diesel engines, that way I can be in motorpool and work on Humvee's and the multi-fuel dirtbikes meant for the special forces. Also with that, I will be able to get a civilian job after retirement from the military. Then I can retire from that job and have two retirements and not have to worry when I'm old. Also while I'm a civilian mechanic I'll try doing racing at the gran prix track in Houston so maybe I can get into MotoGP racing. Is that a hell of a plan or what? I'm probably one of the few teenagers you will ever meet that has put that much thought into a possible military career and then considered civilian life afterwards. And yes I do realize that everything I do will in the end be governed by the needs of the Corps. Okay I'm done.
2006-09-09 17:39:45 · update #2
I SEE YOU LIKE THE CHALLENGE, and The Us marine Corps will afford you This challenge recon sniper are in a class of its own when compared to other fine military special forces so you want to be a scout ah? the training for force recon is exhaustive and not many will cut it .The wash out rate is about 80 %th training is very grueling but rewarding in having them gold wing upon your left breast awesome knowing it was you that bore the heartaches muscle pain and often enough the humiliation to push on, i went trough it in 1969 the old Corps in looking back there was nothing more rewarding then to walk proudly knowing i made it happened with willpower and determination, if i may suggest while this is fine and dandy to contemplate joining, why not continue your education get 4 yrs college degree and then join and go into OCS (officer candidate school )to became an officer once you have that under your collar you can still become a scout, in your shoes i would became helicopter pilot since you like the challenge of killing, think of turning loose with a mini gun 6000 rounds per minute or the chain gun Son there is no more guilt then taking a human life and if you plan on joining MY Marine Corps for the adventure of taking someones life enemy or not i suggest you eat more Wheaties and veggies and stay close to home and please stop watching RAMBO and fantasize SEMPER FI
2006-09-09 18:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by aldo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You haven't answered a realistic concern what happens if you don't make the cut? Are you an EXCELLENT long range shot ? Are you capable of living of the land with just you and your spotter? Did you consider what will happen to you if you are spotted ? There is no back up for a sniper most of the time. Are you in awesome physical shape or just a dreamer thinking they'll make me into Rambo ? As for this grease monkey stuff you seem to have divided loyalties, either your a weapon or a wrench ? Old snipers usually become police snipers or maybe even CIA snipers but never gear heads.
2006-09-13 14:36:26 · answer #2 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever actually spoke with a recruiter? There are a few things you left out. Like taking the asvab. How high is your score? If it really high they are going to want to give you a different job? How is your shooting? If you aren't a shooter, sorry you can't be a sniper. If you can't swim well....well who knows. To be a sniper is a lot of work and most people have to start out as something else (usually infantry) and work their way into the sniper program. My best advice is talk to a recruiter and tell him your plans, then ask what he thinks. Good luck...Semper Fi
2006-09-12 19:23:44 · answer #3 · answered by fin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brother. . . You've done a whole bunch of thinking! Coming out of high school I went to college and took a lot of flack from my retired Sgt Major grandfather who calmly kept telling me "Boy, this family doesn't go to college, we join the military." He was right 3 years later I was in the military, fulfilling my generations duty in the military. Its not for everyone. Long hours, months away from home, endless days. . . but in the end I can look back and say I actually did something with my life. I wish you the best of luck and Semper Fi!
2006-09-10 01:00:22 · answer #4 · answered by LONGHORNS1999 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK don't listen to Clifton. I know plenty of Marines in Infantry and have met snipers before. None of them have gone crazy or have PTSD. If everyone thought like him our country would be nothing. This country was founded by brave men. Puruse your goal, just know that it is hard to become a sniper, and it is not all shooting. Thats why its called scout sniper.
2006-09-10 01:02:54 · answer #5 · answered by Curt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever looked up PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? One of the possible symptoms is disassociation, or think of it as living in a dream world all by yourself, or think of it as misunderstanding everything that happens around you and finally consider what it would be like to go crazy and no one even notices.
Look up the symptoms, PTSD, Yahoo Search. Read several of the medical listings. And know this, few snipers avoid PTSD if you are servicing in a war zone and are actually killing people. It is not what you think it is. It is a whole, or hole that you can not conceive of at this time.
Really youngman, it is not wise to pursue this idea. If you have to go in the service, go into the Navy or Air Force and avoid combat if you can. You will get close enough to it if you are in the military, and you can get your education and make it a career.
PTSD, Yahoo Search.
2006-09-10 00:38:22 · answer #6 · answered by zclifton2 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
its good to have a plan, and the military can be a good choice of life style...but...
do you have any backup plans? what happens if you get injured or washout at mcrd or soi? fail to become a sniper? maybe even fail to become a marine?
whats going to happen when you meet some beautiful sweet girl who wants to be with you? are you going to be able to give up on that? its easy for me to tell mine goodbye up until the point i see the look in her eye that shows how hard it is on her.
about going to work for motor-t...you dont need to go to college for that, the military will train you well enough...if you do want to go to college, go and get your BS. then go officer. would recommend going straight to college, go straight to officer. dont deal with the enlisted bullshit and low pay, its not worth it...
another thing you might not have known about is that if you go to like motor-t most college will give you credit for your mos training, if its a job related skill like that...not many colleges give credit for infantry training...
if you want to work on engines i would say, go to college for diesel mechanics, get your B.S, become an officer, try for flight school (officers are generally pilots or paper pushing managment types...or both, and pilots get more chicks...)
work on engines on your free time until you retire....
2006-09-10 02:51:42 · answer #7 · answered by gooslegeek 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How can you think you want to be a carrier Marine when you know nothing about it. Why don't you see if you pack the gear to be in my beloved Corps as a admin. You seem to excel in typing more than trigger pulling.
2006-09-10 13:57:20 · answer #8 · answered by RottinDog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have given this a lot of thought. Very mature for your age, I'll say. I think whatever you do in the military, you should excel. I wish the best.
Good Luck
2006-09-10 00:33:08 · answer #9 · answered by escapingmars 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
After your first shot of the 50 cal. you will be hooked.
2006-09-10 00:28:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋