I feel like I’d have stayed in if it was coed ass eating all the time

This is some stuff I'd expect seeing in like MARSOC (raiders, recon), but.. these are for grunts? What's the big idea?

"No one warned me how much weight I would need to learn how to carry" ...bro...

But to avoid the whole, "only boys allowed" circlejerk, I do think there is room to discuss marines pushing themselves past the point of don't be a bitch and permanently fucking up their bodies. The female marine in question is now a fitness influencer and says she is stronger now than she was back then. Does she make a good point on train smarter not harder? And what are your thoughts on pain is weakness leaving the body?

*Disclaimer, I was a filthy pog who worked on a flightline. We didn't go to the field but our job was incredibly taxing, both physically and mentally. 12 on 12 off, switching to nights on a whim, missing/short chow breaks, etc. Meanwhile we still had to meet the same fitness standards as the S-shop marines upstairs who worked a 9-5 schedule with 2 hour chow breaks. (Still love them though)

Had a couple of encounters that made me seriously question whether some guys actually served.

One dude couldn’t even name the Marine Corps birthday when I asked him where he went for the ball.

Another guy showed up to work with a big “Semper Fi” tattoo, so I asked him what unit he was in, he gave me his boot camp company. Who the hell identifies by their recruit training company?

I saw a YouTube video yesterday of this guy claiming to be a marine but called a corpsman a “course-man”.

What are some other dead giveaways that someone is clearly lying?

Recent video, so they're just checking in.

Edit: This post has been viewed over 52k times. Good luck young Devil Dog lol

Yes I know it’s Reddit.

But have y’all noticed all the civilians using the conflict in Iran as nothing more than karma / engagement bait?

I literally saw a post regarding the Iran war the other day in a TECHNICAL SUPPORT subreddit.

“OMG HOW MANY CASUALTIES IS TOO MANY!”

“US SERVICE MEMBERS, HOW LONG WILL THIS WAR LAST DO YOU THINK??? 🫨🫨🫨”

“VETERANS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS CONFLICT???????1?1?1?1”

“MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY, WILL THERE BE A GROUND INVASION?”

Like bro… the average service member knows approximately 1-2% more than you do. We’re practically working w/ the exact same information until about five seconds before an op starts.

Not even mad, I just find it comical.

Just a random core memory:

Was having noon chow in the MCAS Miramar chow hall in 2017. There was a Staff Sergeant clamped in irons being dragged around by a small female Corporal who had one hand clamped to this leather belt around his waist where his cuffs were chained to.

I didn't feel any sympathy whatsoever and couldn't help but wonder what this guy did to be dragged around like that in full view of everyone.

This made me giggle. I can totally see this happening. For you non-trekkers out there, this is the flag of the Klingon Empire.

So what’s the weirdest thing you ever saw in an inspection that got gigged or became a thing to deal with? Glory to the Empire!

As a recruiter I have kids literally crying in my office saying they need this more than anything then fail the IST when they were fully capable of passing it while in the DEP when they get to boot camp and not even trying and getting discharged for not trying to get better in PCP or passing the IST. Like I don't see how you'll tell me you would never be one of those quitters when you get to bootcamp then give up as soon as you start getting yelled at. I guess todays generation doesn't give a fuck in coming back to their family proving they were right when they said they couldn't make it and go back to working at Mcdonalds telling their friends some lie about how they got screwed over or something when the only person who failed them was themselves

These were the prettiest barracks I saw out in Pendleton and I worked or saw every single part of that base in 2019 cause of my job. These got demolished in 2020 before i EASd. They were long abandoned by march 2019 when these pics are from. They looked like an incredible place to call home. Any stories ??

Pix for attention

My father was a Vietnam War combat vet. He passed away during the pandemic and we weren’t able to do a real service for him or travel so his USMC belongings were not passed along. I’m putting together a shadow box for my house and wondered what is appropriate for me to buy or request since his actual belongings are probably at a Goodwill or landfill somewhere.

Things I’m considering:

1. Requesting his service record and any duplicates of his medals and ribbons
2. Cover and sword (he was an officer)
3. Flag
4. USMC official portrait. I have a damaged version not sure if they have the original archived

Short version of mine: served in the Corps 05-10, worked as a LEO for most of the next decade, went to school at night, used GI Bill and VRE, and obtained my bachelors degree and law degree, passed the bar. Worked at a couple firms over the years as an associate and was a prosecutor for a couple years, now I’m solo owning my own firm practicing veterans law and on the board of a non profit called Military Veterans Advocacy. Long road getting here, but have finally found my place. Love to hear your stories as well. Also would love to help any of yall in need, even if you just need to chat. Rah!

This weekend, I attended the funeral of an Army LtCol. The ceremony included military honors: a bugler, body bearers, 3-gun volley, and a senior coordinator. It was moving, especially the moment when the flag was presented to the family with the words, “on behalf of a grateful nation...”

It made me reflect on my own decision. I’ve always felt that, because I didn’t retire and I’m not one to peacock that I was in the Marines, I'd just forego all the hoopla. Sure, it was part of my story, but it doesn't define who I am, or was, if I died tomorrow. But seeing the impact it had on this family made me think again.

So, especially those who didn’t retire: Are you planning to request military honors when the time comes? Defend your position.

Anyone here been through both? What are the major differences, obviously marine boot camp is a couple weeks longer, but is it really tougher or is it pretty much the same gist

Ours ended up in the brig with that kid fucker O-6 as his bunk mate. Then eventually kicked out for popping on a piss test twice. JAPANISTAN really does a number on those Marines who are known Libo risk. Our unit set a record for most NJP's within the 1st 30 days on island.

I got chewed out because I kept my wallet in my cargo pocket (it was more comfortable).
I also got chewed out once because I didn't have the chest clip secured on my backpack.

I think its over for me, I really don't want to die, but I can't keep going. I have autism, both types of ADHD, OCD (the type that shows me killing myself and others), and terrible insomnia. Upon EAS, I lost my dream job, passion, purpose, projects, and identity. As well as every friend/coworker. I was suddenly entirely alone, but optimistic for school. Then 6 years of college I have not had a single person to speak to. Not one human to interact with or touch or speak to. 6 entire years of complete social isolation, nothing comes close to this hell.

I went to the hospital and they had nothing to offer. I went to 2 crisis counselors and a therapist at my college, and they had nothing to offer. My psychiatrist didn't care either. It's the same thing, call 988, go to the ER, or take an antidepressant, that's the only options you have. I've tried both, and this is a human issue, but all you get offered is an SSRI. I called the VA suicide line and they didn't even call me when they were supposed to, then they didn't pick up my 4 calls. Then they finally did and said, hey it's Friday let's just do this on Monday. Then they said my honorably discharged ass with 1,000 overwatch missions getting paid GI bill has to prove eligible first, so they will mail me a piece of paper in response to me saying I'd kill myself right then if i had a gun. If I fill out the paper, all I was offered was a 2-3 month waitlist to get a zoom call with a chaplain.

I've lived in a town for 6 years, and not one person has noticed me. I went to cafes/bars/restaurants/events literally over 750 times, and nobody ever spoke to me. I made like 10 posts online. I responded to posts online. About 8 or 9 people agreed to meet up, and every single one backed out or deleted their account. 5 years on multiple dating apps, not a single date. I tried all the generic advice, join a club, groups, put yourself out there, yada yada, it doesn't work when you're autistic with OCD and no one even looks at you or acknowledges you exist. Like 30 classes and hundreds of times sitting in various lounges without headphones in-between, and no one speaks to you. The vet center at school is a bunch of 19 year olds whose parents passed down the GI bill.

I went to an MMA gym and broke like 7 ribs on my last lesson before group classes, cutting that and physical activities out. I made one friend, who failed out of the class and then dropped out of school. I later finally made what I thought was a good friend, who said they wanted true friendship and genuinely cared about me, but in reality it was some girl who pretended to befriend me so I could choke them and severely beat them, which I declined, and they immediately ghosted me.

It's an annoying paradox, feeling the most mentally healthy and emotionally regulated you ever have, with projects you have a desire to do, but because you are so isolated, you are simultaneously the mentally worst you have ever been. And knowing that the solution is so simple and theoretically could be fixed any day is the worst part. It's not naive false hope, when I've experienced having someone around everything becomes manageable instantly. My insides are screaming constantly and can be turned off is someone sees me, but I fade more into invisibility as each day passes.

I reached out to a friend from high school, and a friend from my unit, to no success. It's not even like I'm too weird to make a friend, I had enough friends throughout school and the military, where forced interaction made people see past my retardation. But outside, with no family to speak to, no friends, no partner, begging every entity for help, and being completely invisible, I haven't even had the chance to show myself to one person.

All I need is a friend. A human to speak to in person and I can make it. I'm high IQ with various talents and hobbies, I have things to live for, but simply cannot do it alone. I've witnessed myself slowly go insane from loneliness over 6 years, and can't kick the can down the road any longer. I have money and that unlocked nothing. If I don't find someone to speak to in person this week (that isn't their fucking job) I'm ending myself this week or the next. I extended my life a few years with LSD/shrooms and weed, but nothing makes up for years of 0 human contact.

Semper Fi or some shit, why even let my retard ass in to go hard as fuck in my MOS protecting others, when the richest country in the world has nothing to offer to the 22 vets who kill themselves every day?

EDIT: Thanks guys. Your comments have been helpful and many of you messaged me. I'm thinking I might go to the VA hospital tomorrow.

edit 2: almost deleted this post from my notepad instead of posting it, but some of yall came in clutch fast. one of you knew some people in my town and boom, immediate relief versus any official channels. im still in the fight guys, thanks