Good God, I want out

[Panzerman]

So, the MEU is conducting a training excersize for the next two weeks. It seems like it's going to be a pretty weak MEU Ex - there's nothing hard on the training schedule, and we'll be back in the barracks every night, and should get a chance to eat chow in the chow hall two meals a day. But they couldn't leave it at that. Today we got word that "to simulate being on ship" we will be restricted to base liberty for the duration of the excersize and the only authorized attire will be cammies with sleeves down and green-on-green PT gear (with the goddamn reflector belt, of course). This will last for the next two weeks, including the weekend.

What the fuck?

Naturally, this doensn't appear to apply to officers - platoon commanders can be seen driving around base in their fucking cars wearing civilian attire. Doesn't seem to apply to H&S Company, either (take note: one more reason for me to hate on the team players over there).

Anyway, shafted again, and for no good reason. And my platoon sergeant wonders why I'm resistant to the idea of reenlisting.

[Vulture6]

I hear you, Panzer. A lot of that shit doesn't make sense, and all too often it's some pogue on the MEU staff. It's easy to take it out on the H&S weenies, but it isn't like they had a choice. Quite frankly, it's this kind of bullshit from the MEU staff (& BLT staff) that finally pushed me over the edge to leave active duty as well.

Be patient. This'll pass, and hopefully you'll have a SNCO or officer who'll effectively raise the bullshit flag with higher.

[SpongeJuan]

Well that woudln't really effect me much cuz we get that all the time. I kinda got used to it. Well except for the whole only cammies and green on green (with the bitch strap). I am surprised they didn't do that to us when all those fights broke out at the E-Club.

[KARL THE GRUNT]

Panzerman.

There is NO difference in the BS factor between the World and the Corps.

The longer you are in a profession the deeper the BS gets.

In the teaching profession over the last 20 years the BS has reached the chin.

Unless you are born rich there is no getting away from BS on this earth.

For example, I spend months evaluating new history books and then they gave the money to the math dept!!

At one time, you could just keep Billy after school if he did not do his HW. Why didnt he do it?He is a boy, he wanted to play ball.

Now the doctors have to evaluate him for 'learning disabilities" to see why he preferred to play ball and I have to "share in the consultations". They don't always like what I "share".

I wonder why. : )

Paperwork--meeting..brainless requirements....bah.

The Corps is not alone in it.

I will say that a good platoon leader/ Company commander would share the restrictions of his people. That bit of RHIP is not worth the lost of trust and respect.

karl

[AmericanGirl]

I can't compare the two, but I can empathize with the whole WTF - people have their head up their behind thing... have been dealing with alot of the BS factor in the civilian world lately... no one wants to take responsibility for anything any more.

[Grimmy]

If you havent had to paint dry grass a nice shiny green, the sidewalks white and the roads black, all in prep for in inspection, I guess it could still get worse.

Now, mind you, I never saw the above actually done but I had heard it was done and I had seen enough totally dumbass shit to not even discount that it was true when told to me that it had been done.

On the officer front. There's ways and then there's ways to get even. Ways to make the point that "as it is for us, it damn well better be for you too!"
Your NCOs should have a decent list of ways and means to correct that slack.

Shit rolls down hill, but stink rises.

[KARL THE GRUNT]

Officers:

I knew a few that the Corps could have done without.

I also had a plt. leader who came around the bunkers in a Monsoon and gave us a drink of Rum.

One Company commander, I knew was so gungy that he would WALK POINT with a .45!!!!! and he would NEVER eat or take a break till the last PVT. had his.

Before anyone can say it, They did not do this where anyone higher up could see. Were we were, they WERE the higher ups.

If the either one had said " Men, We are going to Hanoi, who wants to come"?

Everyone would have stepped forward.

karl

[RR691983]

Panzer, it ain't just the Corps brother. We do the same shit in the Army. And one thing you have to realize, nothing that we do EVER applies to our officers. I could give examples of it on my side until I get blue in the face.

Grimmy,
I've had to paint grass green before ....

[Grimmy]

Alot of this comes from the nonsensical hold over of the days of fudalism and aristocracy.

Officers are a "class apart" from selection, through training and their entire career lifespan.
This is a practice that really is long overdue for an ending.

[RR691983]

"Class apart" my ass. I agree with what you're saying but it's bullshit. What ever happened to LEAD BY EXAMPLE? Like I said I could produce examples all day, but there is nothing we can do to change it they're going to keep doing their thing and we will have to learn to live with it as such. :/

[Panzerman]

Originally Posted by Grimmy

If you havent had to paint dry grass a nice shiny green, the sidewalks white and the roads black, all in prep for in inspection, I guess it could still get worse.

You know, stupid shit preparing for an inspection is one thing. Yeah, you do some dumb shit all day, and maybe all night if there's a time crunch, but it's still work. Having your libo secured when it's all you have left to live for and not even having the option of getting out of cammies to "simulate being on board ship" for two weeks is a whole different ball game. Again, having libo secured because somebody fucked up is a different thing, too. We've been working our asses off to make sure there's been no liberty incidents, and we've been successful so far - not a day of punitive restriction yet. And then we get this nice big "Fuck You" in return.

As for the real world being able to match the Corps in the bullshit factor, no offense, but you people are smoking crack or something. I don't want to get disrespectful and dismiss your greater life experience out of hand, but I didn't go straight from high school and mommy's house right into this gun club - and nothing I've seen out there rivals the Corps for the simple fact that you can always tell a civilian employer to stuff it and go find something else to do. Also, not being able to punish Billy because the system is too soft is probably a little less infuriating than being told you can't leave your place of work for the next 15 days...to prepare you for when you can't leave your place of work for 15 days.

I'm seriously getting turned off to being an active duty Marine. Discipline sucks, because no one wants to hold anyone personally responsible for anything - they just immediately resort to mass punishment. People show no regard for troop morale, thinking "Tell them to suck it the fuck up," or, "It'll make them harder" is the answer to every question. The end result is that your most talented first termers flee the service, basically leaving the people that don't know how to make it on their own in the real world to re-enlist (this is a gross generalization applying to the small section of the Corps that I see in my daily life - for you lifers around here, please don't take offense).

For everything I do or see that makes me proud of my decision to join, it seems like there's ten demeaning, stupid, or downright embarrassing events that make me just want to get the fuck out.

Oh well.