most dangerous branch and career in the military?

[Donald]

You look at the daily reports of Marines killed in Iraq

[Sir_Krahn]

I think the grunts are in the most dangerous area. They don't really know anything about actual combat yet and in most cases die alot. They are usually younger and aren't that mature so they don't listen to orders that well.

[Donald]

It does not matter about how much you know about combat. If a round has your name on it then there's nothing you can do about it. Fate decrees it.
Are you saying that US Marines are sent into theatre not combat - ready ?

You find that the young ones will do as they are told by the SNCO's while under fire. That is drilled into every recruit during basic and infantry training.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by sir_krahn

I think the grunts are in the most dangerous area. They don't really know anything about actual combat yet and in most cases die alot. They are usually younger and aren't that mature so they don't listen to orders that well.

You are in for one rude awakening if you plan on joining the Marine Corps. About day 1/2 of Boot Camp you will find out what "not listening to orders that well" results in.

[Spitfire101]

I fully agree with Donald on this issue. In my husbands unit, we had a bunch of guys straight out of AIT and only a few months to train up before they deployed. Our boys and gals learned to take orders and are performing very well. You see, it doesn't matter how long you've been serving in the military. What matters is to stay focused and listen to orders. That's what keeps you alive.

[Sir_Krahn]

Yea I guess I really shouldn't say anything. I really don't know enough to say much on the matter. But the grunts do die alot, am I right?

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by sir_krahn

Yea I guess I really shouldn't say anything. I really don't know enough to say much on the matter. But the grunts do die alot, am I right?

I am not going to say it, I was going to, but I am not. I'll leave this one to Covert or someone.

[cincymarsdad]

Originally Posted by USMCRET6391

You are in for one rude awakening if you plan on joining the Marine Corps. About day 1/2 of Boot Camp you will find out what "not listening to orders that well" results in.

While picking up my daughter on The Island, she wanted to show me the Yellow Footprints. I have a photo of her standing on her YFs. I took a photo of her at the receiving building, those aluminum-looking doors. In coming back through, a platoon of new recruits were standing in line getting on a bus. I stopped to let them board, but PFC. Sarah just barged on through and said "We don't stop for them; they stop for us." As we passed, one of the recruits complained to the DI (I don't know if they were already joined with their training plt or not) that her boots didn't fit.

The DI was not amused, needless to say, but I did learn that the bus was in fact her bus, as she said something like "I don't give a crap - GET ON MY DAMN BUS!". Interesting that the DIs have their own buses. ha. Pfc. Sarah was highly amused but commented that she didn't want to go back through receiving for anything. Then she thought a minute and said, "We'll, if that's what it took to get what I have now, I'd do it again.".

I recalled this later about how Pfc. Sarah was akin to a High Rank amongst new recruits, and then a week later was in a reception with somewhere around 8 bird colonels and a one star and was the lowest of the low - it's all relative.

This has something obliquely to do with the 'notion' of grunts being young (compared to what? they are the same age as Marines in every MOS) and not following orders. As Top points out, you know not whereof you speak. Grunts complete "Basic" training and then School of Infantry and then have unit training (MOUTS, CAX, etc.). The last thing they want to do is screw up and let down their squad mates. A fire team is just that - a team, and in general closer than brothers. Ignoring your corporal or sergeant ... in the field?

In WWII, Army units were often in combat for weeks or months at a time in the ETO. Marine units were often in assaults with high casualties but only for 4-5 days at a time early in the war. Even on the 'Canal, they were there from August through December before being relieved, which was plenty long considering endured hostile fire from battleships on several occasions firing 14" shells, the only time I can think of that U.S. forces were under fire from such heavy ordnance. Mebbe some German Big Berthas came their way in WW I. But, I digress.


So, Force Recon or Scout/Sniper? What a quandary. I presume they will give me time off to play QB for the Bengals in season too, right?

P.S. Sarah wants Laura and me to come out to 29 P (The Stumps) for their birthday, 5 July. Any suggestions? She said she would have 300 mile liberty that weekend. They will be 18.

P.S.S. Sarah obviously can handle an M-16; she can't buy one (a rifle), can't vote, can't drink. She can't even legally sign a contract. She ordinarily could be deployed after MOS/MCT etc. When I'm in charge around here, that is going to change.

[Spitfire101]

Originally Posted by sir_krahn

Yea I guess I really shouldn't say anything. I really don't know enough to say much on the matter. But the grunts do die alot, am I right?

Why don't you just start reading some of the statistics????? And what's it matter to you anyways whether grunts do die alot? Fact of the matter is lives are lost - unfortunately. RESPECT that. Those men and women who have died in comment earned that darn respect because they gave it all - and it doesn't matter whether they were grunts or not. They were part of a TEAM!!! Kiddo, you may want to seriously start thinking about Boot Camp and how it may effect you. I give ya a week - and you'll be so ill of it all. Oh wait - you won't have time to be ill of anything cause you'll be the one exhausted from the extra situps and pushups, etc, you're having to do.

Learn how to chew gum and walk at the same time first before putting out nonsense!!!!!
Sorry to the rest of peeps on here, but this just gets my blood boiling...can barely look over the sidewalk but sure as heck knows it all...

[Vulture6]

But the grunts do die alot, am I right?

No, you're wrong, they don't die alot. Like everyone else, they only die once.

[Spitfire101]

Originally Posted by Vulture6

No, you're wrong, they don't die alot. Like everyone else, they only die once.

LOL I was gonna put that in, but decided to restrain myself....Good comeback.

[Sir_Krahn]

Very nice you guys. You do know what I meant.