29 Palms

[LCpl Lamm]

Do Infantry units get stationed here permanently? Or is this baed used for training?
I see their website, and I see the 7th Marines, and 3-4 and 3-11 Marines. I'm guessing those are Infantry units, correct? I would like to be stationed at Camp Pendleton, and have always been told thats where I'll be. Any input?
Thanks.

[cincymarsdad]

Seventh Marines is indeed based at 29 P. They are Infantry. First Armored is there also, they have a lot of M1s around, and an old M-48 in an outdoor museum place rusting quietly away. They also have these neat signs "Tank Xing". I would have yielded in my little rental car had there been one Xing.

If someone told you you would be in Location A or Location B. I suspect you can take that with a grain of salt unless you are a Reservist.

Infantry battalions are cycling through 29 P regularly now for what I'm told is called the "Viper package" workup. It's a lovely place - too hot, or too cold, sometimes both in the same day. They also require long sleeves be worn NOT rolled up at all times except PTing etc. They have these Navy Corpmen who were wearing Navy blue work unis wondering around in pairs. It appeared they had been warned not to go anywhere alone. I was thinking about the dude who signed up for the Navy to "see the world" and have an adventure and ended up at 29 P. I'd want my money back. Of course, they were Corpmen - all I saw - and I reckon they knew they would be hanging around smelly Marines in unlikely places from here on, God bless'em may they stay bored.

One parent told me that every Marine winds up at 29 P for a while during their tour. I suspect that is rarely NOT true.

[goose0656]

If you did not get it in writing, anything could happen. Even if you did get it in writing, it probably says something about the needs of the Corps in the fine print, so you really could end up anywhere.

[Vulture6]

7th Marines is an infantry regiment

3/4 is an infantry battalion

3/11 is an artillery battalion


There are other units permanently stationed at 29 Palms as well (I don't think 3/4 is, but who knows?). Generally, 1st and 5th Marine Regiments are at Camp Pendleton; 3rd Marines are in Hawaii; 2nd, 6th, and 8th Marines are based out of Camp Lejeune. EVERYBODY deploys, and most all go through 29 Palms for desert warfare training. It is also our best live fire & maneuver range (until you get in theater).

Every reserve infantry unit that is activated and deployed goes through 29 Palms as well. So, you'll see it eventually.

[USMCRET6391]

Most Wingers end up there at one time or another also. 1. So the Air Crews can use the live bombing range or 2. To partcipate in a CAX (Combined Arms Exercise). I visited the lovely garden spot 4 times in my career for CAX.

[LCpl Lamm]

I got another questions to add on here. Say as an E-2 boot, right out of training, I make $1400 a month, how much will taxes be, rough estimate, for a Marine who is single, living in the barracks, etc. Just curious is all. Someone was telling me, it'd be divided up into two pay checks a month, every two weeks, so you'd ake home $700, if you're lucky after taxes, you'd take home $500. That sound right?
Thanks.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by Lamm

I got another questions to add on here. Say as an E-2 boot, right out of training, I make $1400 a month, how much will taxes be, rough estimate, for a Marine who is single, living in the barracks, etc. Just curious is all. Someone was telling me, it'd be divided up into two pay checks a month, every two weeks, so you'd take home $700, if you're lucky after taxes, you'd take home $500. That sound right?
Thanks.

It all depends on what the Tax Laws are in your Home State (that is, the State where you claim residence while you are Active Duty). Normal Federal Income Tax and Social Security will be taken out.

If your State taxes income earned out of State that will be removed also unless there is an exemption for money earned while you are in the Service. Best check with whatever State you live in and see what their laws are. I claimed CA residence the whole time I was Active because, while the State has an income tax, CA has an exemption for Military Pay earned while you are stationed out of State.

I don't know what the Base Pay rate is for an E-2 under 2 years, but calculating it on $1400 a month, $500.00 seems a little low to me if it is just Fed Income Tax and Social Security. I would figure somewhere closer to $600.00 per payday.

[LCpl Lamm]

Cool, thanks for the information.

[cincymarsdad]

Sarah is an E-2 at 29 P in barracks. She made $608.77 on June 14 and $600.06 on June 30. She tells me she should make E-3 in August, which I'm waiting to see if so. She says she's likely to be her MOS honor grad. I dunno if that counts. She gets to wear her Marine uni on ceremonial occasions, which made her happy. Otherwise, she'll be in a Navy ROTC uni, though with an Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem versus anchors that all else wear. She's about as "Marine" as they come, it seems to me. I guess I'm overly proud, but I'm sure that's a forgiveable "sin". I think Top liked her - they seemed to hit it off.

I got her a shirt that said "The Fewer, The Prouder. Female Marines."

My other daughter Laura told me she was interested in NROTC also. I told her to do what she wanted, that trying it was fine, but not to feel like she needed to do this for me to be proud of her. Since she can try it a couple of years for style ... I try and be positive for her. Service is a good thing. I'm proud of both of'em. All three of'em. Damn. Where do we find these women?

[ColeGyreneJROTC]

I generally get around $590 and change per payday as an E-2.
Then again I invested in both savings plans they offered during Boot and the additional money for the MGIB.
It'll go up or down depending on where you are and what you're doing and where you decide to put your money.
There's a Navy/Marine Corps Aid Organization that will also talk to you during Boot, I highly reccomend sending some hard-earned coin their way, because they help us Jarheads and Sailors out in a pinch.

[SGRock]

$600.00 per payday?!? that was how much I grossed IN BOOT CAMP in 1981! That was 25 years ago though. MAN that makes me feel old.

[LCpl Lamm]

Thanks for the input.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by SGRock

$600.00 per payday?!? that was how much I grossed IN BOOT CAMP in 1981! That was 25 years ago though. MAN that makes me feel old.

I was a PFC under two, taking home $70.00 per payday in 1968. You think you feel old?