Life as a Marine

essence · 02-21-2005, 08:28 PM

Hello, I'm a high school student interested in becoming a Marine (03xx), 0311 is my 'dream MOS'. I have a few questions pertaining life as a Marine.

Are the barracks similar to a college dorm, where you room with a fellow Marine or two? Or is it one long strip of bunks (a la Gomer Pyle?
If the answer to the above is yes, can a Marine put a computer or TV/VCR with a console (Xbox, GCN, etc.) in his room?
How often/how many Marines get deployed to an aircraft carrier? How long is the average stay on one? Any personal experiences you'd like to share?
A random and pretty foolish question, on another forum I read the issue or a 1911 to a Marine is standard, is this true? I was unsure of it's validacy.

Any former or active Marines care to share? Thank you very much for the input.

Hoss68 · 02-21-2005, 09:07 PM

LMAO! ~breathe Hoss breathe~

Question for you~ Have you not seen any of the videos out about Marine Corps Boot Camp? The Learning Channel, Discovery...

You will live in a squadbay with 60+ other men. No computers, not tvs, no phones, nothing but what they issue you~ Uniforms. PT gear, learning materials, BC's and hygiene products.

As for your aircraft carrier question. Generally all pumps are 6 months. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one Gents, it was not an option for me, but enough of my company went on them or I was given guys to work for me who were on them...

0311Marine · 02-21-2005, 09:10 PM

Answers to your questions

Normally you will be put in three man rooms.
Yes to all
Ive never been deployed to an Air Craft carrier, the one I was on was a step down from that class.
Im guessing you mean a .45 if im wrong tell me what you mean, if you do mean a .45 the answer is NO as the new guy depending on how big you are, you are more than likely to get a SAW, you probably wont get issued a pistol your first couple years, unless your real lucky/unlucky.

USMCRET6391 · 02-21-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by essence

Hello, I'm a high school student interested in becoming a Marine (03xx), 0311 is my 'dream MOS'. I have a few questions pertaining life as a Marine.

Are the barracks similar to a college dorm, where you room with a fellow Marine or two? Or is it one long strip of bunks (a la Gomer Pyle?
If the answer to the above is yes, can a Marine put a computer or TV/VCR with a console (Xbox, GCN, etc.) in his room?
How often/how many Marines get deployed to an aircraft carrier? How long is the average stay on one? Any personal experiences you'd like to share?
A random and pretty foolish question, on another forum I read the issue or a 1911 to a Marine is standard, is this true? I was unsure of it's validacy.

Any former or active Marines care to share? Thank you very much for the input.

Answers

1. You will start out with 65-75 young men living ala Gomer Pyle.....oh and there will be 3-4 screaming guys in Campaign hats in your face most of the time you are there. After that it depends one where you go, but generally it will be 3-4 man rooms. What you can install will depend on your room mates. If you go aboard ship, which you seem to be interested in, it will be in 50-75 man living areas, living out of a rack that is stacked three high.

2. If you are an 0311 about the only carrier you are going to be on is an LPH (that's Landing Platform Helicopter) unless you get sea duty on a ship as part of a Marine Detachment. I did two tours on Aircraft carriers with Marine Squadrons and they deploy aboard the big Carriers all the time.....my first trip was 10 Months in the Mediterranean, the second was 7 Mos, came Sea.

3. The model 1911 is no longer standard issue, the Barreta 9MM is, and if you are enlisted you will not carry one as your TO weapon until you make SNCO.

USMC0861 · 02-22-2005, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by essence

Hello, I'm a high school student interested in becoming a Marine (03xx), 0311 is my 'dream MOS'. I have a few questions pertaining life as a Marine.

Are the barracks similar to a college dorm, where you room with a fellow Marine or two? Or is it one long strip of bunks (a la Gomer Pyle?
If the answer to the above is yes, can a Marine put a computer or TV/VCR with a console (Xbox, GCN, etc.) in his room?
How often/how many Marines get deployed to an aircraft carrier? How long is the average stay on one? Any personal experiences you'd like to share?
A random and pretty foolish question, on another forum I read the issue or a 1911 to a Marine is standard, is this true? I was unsure of it's validacy.

Any former or active Marines care to share? Thank you very much for the input.

1.Squadbays in boot, Cubed off Squadbays in Oki or 3 Man rooms depending on the camp, 3 man rooms in CONUS, berthing areas on ships.
2. Not in boot the guys in the campaign covers frown on Xbox. Maybe at MOS school I wouldn't count on using it much at SOI if your going 0300. In the fleet yeah.
3. LPH 'S Shudder. Carriers unless you get sea duty which is no where near what it used to be having been folded into Security Forces/FAST. You better take a wing MOS. Otherwise it's LPH's, LST's LSD's or other random Gator Frieghters.
4. M9 is standard issue. If your an 0311 well like Top said you won't pack one till your an 0369. But have fun with the 249 when your Boot. Certain Elements of the Corps are issued M1911A1's but not line grunts.

mac324 · 02-22-2005, 02:36 PM

about the pistol question.....
are you allow to bring your own(1911/M9), or is only marine issue allowed?
also, 0311Marine made a comment about getting a SAW, based on how big you are. I was just wondering how big is big or whats the cut off size.
Thanks.

USMC0861 · 02-22-2005, 02:45 PM

No personal pistols. Only what the Corps issues you.

Theres no size limit to carrying the SAW. If it's your T/O weapon you carry it.

rabbid37 · 02-22-2005, 03:25 PM

I would love to be a Marine but Im not made for it. However, I still want to serve my country so im going to be an officer in the USAF.

essence · 02-22-2005, 06:45 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.
Hoss, I know what Boot Camp is like, sorry if I didn't make that clear. I meant life after boot when you head to your base.
0311Marine, USMCRET6391 etc., thanks, that's all that I was looking for.
Good luck Men

0311Marine · 02-23-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMC0861

No personal pistols. Only what the Corps issues you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMC0861

Theres no size limit to carrying the SAW. If it's your T/O weapon you carry it.

What I meant was that the smallest person will usually be issued the SAW, its not a requirement , its just one of the fun games they play, Ive only seen the .45 used by recon and some infantry officers. Ive never actually seen a pouge who new his way around a weapon, unless you count Armores. And it is possible to get issued a pistol before you make Staff NCO, it just depends on the weapon you have, usually havy machine gunners get issued pistols along with the Machine Guns they use, and snipers also get a pistol. The only bad thing about that is its just one more thing to carry and clean.

SpongeJuan · 02-23-2005, 10:02 AM

Now that I'm a Marine I see the annoying questions that civilians post. Was I like that when I was a poolee?

USMCRET6391 · 02-23-2005, 10:04 AM

This aviation poge knew his way around weapons, fired expert with the M-14, M-16, Model 1911A thorughout my career. Was also an expert marksman with the State Department issue .357 Magnum and acted as safety range officer for fam fire of the Mini 14, Uzi and 870P shotgun.

USMC0861 · 02-23-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0311Marine

What I meant was that the smallest person will usually be issued the SAW, its not a requirement , its just one of the fun games they play, Ive only seen the .45 used by recon and some infantry officers. Ive never actually seen a pouge who new his way around a weapon, unless you count Armores. And it is possible to get issued a pistol before you make Staff NCO, it just depends on the weapon you have, usually havy machine gunners get issued pistols along with the Machine Guns they use, and snipers also get a pistol. The only bad thing about that is its just one more thing to carry and clean.

Depends on what you consider a pouge. If you go strictly by the 03 designation then I'm Pouge but all my field time was spent with Grunts of one type or the other. MSG duty can't really consider them Pogues their out there on their own until they can get back filled by FAST or a BLT ask the guys in Burma in 86 when it was goin to shit, Sierria Leon in 96, anybody who ever stood post 1 in Bogota, Lima, La Paz, Mogadishu. Regardless of their MOS MSG ain't Pouge's. Combat Engineers, FSSG Beach and Port especially ADP and Helo Teams, Helo Crews, Field MP's they ain't 03 but ya can't really call em Pouges.

As far as pistols for T/O weapon yeah it's dependant on MOS. 0331, 0351, 2531 can all be issued sidearms as well as a bunch of other MOS's it's dependant on the command. But you know as well as I do an 0311 ain't gettin issued an M9 he's a rifleman.