Looking To Join US Military/Marines, help! (not sure where else to put this)

[ChaosPotHeadNYC]

As of today I fucked myself out of a union job, prior to this I was considering joining the military but wanted to see if the union would work out first. As is hasn't I was wondering if theres any potheads on here who have served in the military or are serving and if they can give me any tips or share some experiences so i know what I am getting myself into (not sure if it is final yet). As well as some advice on what not to get into, and what is best suited for what types of people.

Please i would appreciate it if this was kept only to those with experience in the military and not just people opinions on weather its a good idea or any of that crap. I have that decision to make on my own.

Happy Tokage Eveyone :rastasmoke:

[geonagual]

How come you already got a red dot? LOL

I was in the Marines and the Army and the National Guard..In the Infantry in all 3..
DO NOT go into these services and become an Infantryman...Unless you like to KILL, be killed or injured or love crazy adventure..remember we are in a time of war and you will go there. if you want to go to war, join those..if not, then you should consider the Air force or the Navy..maybe even the Coast Guard..Good luck and dont die.

[yokinazu]

i was in he army , m1 tanker , so i got to serve on the lines with the squishies (infantry, because they squish as you run them over) but i toked the whole time i was in execpt for basic of course. make and become good freinds with your drug and alchohol nco. he will be able to give you a heads up when ever your gonna have to take a piss test. also dont sweat the test at the meps station, i was hot for mine and they " lost custody of the sample" so i just had to take another.

if you want to stay out of combat go into postal or supply. tanks, infantry, artillary, engineers, medics, truck drivers, mechanics, recovery get to see combat.

if your lookin to travel and see some foreign country join the army or the airforce. they have bases all over the world. where as marine and navy just get to see the ports and dont always get off the ship

good luck and have some fun

[Innominate]

I respect your courage, but what are you fighting for?

[geonagual]

i was in he army , m1 tanker , so i got to serve on the lines with the squishies (infantry, because they squish as you run them over) but i toked the whole time i was in execpt for basic of course. make and become good freinds with your drug and alchohol nco. he will be able to give you a heads up when ever your gonna have to take a piss test. also dont sweat the test at the meps station, i was hot for mine and they " lost custody of the sample" so i just had to take another.

if you want to stay out of combat go into postal or supply. tanks, infantry, artillary, engineers, medics, truck drivers, mechanics, recovery get to see combat.

if your lookin to travel and see some foreign country join the army or the airforce. they have bases all over the world. where as marine and navy just get to see the ports and dont always get off the ship

good luck and have some fun


good advice on being cool with the drug and alcohol NCO...they always told us a month ahead of time when there was a random..I pretty much smoked the whole time I was in the Army too. Never popped on a test either.

[Coelho]

Man... my own advice is to re-read everything people already said... again and again... then think if its REALLY what you want to...
Do you want to give your life in a war started by someone like bush? Are your life so worthless? Are you so dumb? Or what?

[Fotokopie]

Yeah, don't enlist then decide it was a mistake when they're shipping your ass to Iraq.
Because they will, they basically have no regards for your life, you're there to fight, and you will fight.

Think this through, for your and your family's sake.

[psychocat]

They don't cal marines Jarheads for nothing.

[mattisnotonfire]

If you really want to then go for it.

Just don't be fooled by all these attractive looking brochures etc. that they give you about military life. They make it seem glam and fun for obvious reasons - otherwise nobody would join!

A few of my mates are in the army and they cannot wait to get out, they have made good friends. But they are treated like shit day in-day out.

Just think long and hard man...

[TheGreenBuddy]

I thought about joining the marines...but im a daily smoker... so i couldn't NOW be fit enough to run and stuff...but i used too...before i started smoking. I always wanted to be the military...but i dont agree over the war... support the troops though!

[stinkyattic]

I spent some time in the Coast Guard. While I love ships and the sea, and enjoyed my time in, the military isn't really a good fit for my personality career-wise, and I actually had a better time of it working the groundfish fleet out of Dutch Harbor AK.
Remember that we are now at war and every guy coming home with military experience (=exact same resume you will have when you get out) is going to be competing for the same dwindling number of jobs.
So if you are serious enough about the military to say that you are interested in making a legitimate career out of it, then go for it. IF it's something you are doing because you have no other option, you'll be unhappy.
There are other similar types of careers such as the merchant marine, forest service, firefighting, etc. that you'd get plenty of satisfaction from and end up with a pretty unique life experience.
Just my sack o' pennies...

[Doctor Whoov]

If you do decide to go in, embrace it. It really can be a defining experience. I would have never been able to see as much of the world as I did if I hadn't enlisted. I definately wouldn't join the Marines though. The Navy was a really cool thing. I lived on fast attack carrier called Kearsarge. I was a Damage Controlman which means I was a firefighter/ chemical weapons specialist. We were fired upon a couple times. Those ships that were attacked in port two summers ago in Bahrain, that was us. As far as smoking while enlisted, I got away with it a couple times myself. We used the same sample bottles for testing AFFF as the Master-at-arms used for whiz quiz and many of my friends were simply non-smokers so it worked out. Also there is the 30 day leave. You'll be in top shape so your system will process THC pretty quickly. Good luck whatever you decide, but I wouldn't do it.

[Staurm]

You have the come to the right place. Clearly you wish to be talked out of joining the army....

Don't do it dude, seriously! Just chill out and smoke some weed with us. Come one man, I mean what's the alternative? Do you really want to risk spending the rest of you life in a wheel chair with a purple heart as consolation? And for what cause? It's all bullshit man, BULLSHIT

... do I need to go on, is it working yet?

[thcbongman]

More power to you if your heart is truly set on the military.

If you are doing so because you think you have no other option, you'll be making a grave mistake. Joining the military is more than just a job, it's a lifestyle.

[ChaosPotHeadNYC]

I'd like to thank all you guys for sharing your experience and giving me some advice, for those of you with the pointless comments such as
"you have the come to the right place. Clearly you wish to be talked out of joining the army....Don't do it dude, seriously! Just chill out and smoke some weed with us. Come one man, I mean what's the alternative? Do you really want to risk spending the rest of you life in a wheel chair with a purple heart as consolation? And for what cause? It's all bullshit man, BULLSHIT... do I need to go on, is it working yet?"
I was not asking for idea's, or to be talked into or out of something, I was asking for real experience and tips, not your opinion on the war or the pro's and con's of joining the service.

Once again I'd like to thank all you that shared you story's, I've got a lot of thinking and toking to do, peace :pimp:

[youwontcatchme]

Who are you "serving"?
The American people?



Before you join just let me remind you that the army is somewhere you go when you wish to kill people to supposedly protect your country....

Would you be able to handle shooting a bullet and ending the life of another human being who could have children,a wife...

[stinkyattic]

There is way to much violence on this ea
Wow, did someone whack youwontcatchme mid-sentence? lol

[ChronicJoint]

from family experience i would say avoid being in the Navy, because everytime you go on the ship you get a drug test beforehand. And if your office just happens to be on the ship, then daily piss tests for you.

also, everyone in my family who went in the military came out a total asshole. i don't think i've had friendly relations with my father since i first got caught and i haven't talked to my brother since he joined. They both think i support terrorism...:wtf:

[youwontcatchme]

Whether you want to hear it or not you should be aware of what your getting involved in.
Just one question: Who are you helping by joining?

[StonedJew]

I was going to join the marines earlier this year. but once i got involved in the pre-activitys I started to see what they were all about. My recruiters were pretty much dicks. Shit, they even tryed taking away half my school money. So I said fuck em and didn't go.

[Nuglove]

keep in mind they have frequent drug tests that you can't get past.

[Cyclonite]

I smoked about once a week and was able to stay clean that way, it only takes a hit or 2 with no tolerance.

I did 4 years in the army and have been to Iraq, if its to be worth while get a good job with excellent training. I was an EOD tech....best school in the world and I learned tons.

There is a good reason why I didn't re-up but im happy to have served and be a vet with the benefits that come with it.

[youwontcatchme]

Remind me please, Who are you guys serving?

[geonagual]

Remind me please, Who are you guys serving?

Is this some kind of trick question?

Of course anyone from any country that serves in the military is serving that country from which they are from..

I would like to hear what your point is on this..I am just curious.

[dragonrider]

Remind me please, Who are you guys serving?

The military serves the country. Without a military, none of us would be safe. The miltary is sometimes misused, but those decisions are generally political, not military.

Moving on...

ChaosPotHeadNYC, you are doing the right thing by seeking advice on this decision. It's a big choice. The miltary is not for everyone. I have known people who have had good experiences and those who have had very bad experiences.

As for whether or not the military is a good place for a pothead, that is probably the least important part of the decision.

[Doctor Whoov]

Remind me please, Who are you guys serving?

The people of The United States of America and others in need all over the world.

I never killed anyone that wasn't trying to kill me first. I also was involved in many humanitarian actions during my time in the service.

Since it's obvious you never served don't dilute this guy with uninformed negativity.

[Doctor Whoov]

Who are you "serving"?
The American people?



Before you join just let me remind you that the army is somewhere you go when you wish to kill people to supposedly protect your country....

Would you be able to handle shooting a bullet and ending the life of another human being who could have children,a wife...

...and a machine gun and some grenades and extra bullets and orders to kill you and (as far as the current war goes) a belief that they will live forever in paradise if they kill ANY American or her allies. (not just military)

[MadSativa]

I have read all of this and had allot of emotions in just a short time. To who asked, about joining the USMC, I gotta say good choice, but realize what your getting into. You will be a grunt (Infantry Warrior [not a soldier]), unless they find a special skill in you and you get shipped to special schools, you will be in the big theater right now, more than likely you will be in sand anyway (Saudi). Not every warrior or crazy basterd can be a leatherneck, but chicks dig scars and the suit is black. And to those that have served, thank you. And to the question who are you serving, how bout each other, war is war if your their to fight then fight, their is always some one in charge and that can be questionable, but to those who carry out orders and get the job done, its just a fight nuthing personal but its a job and the USMC is always open for business and business is good (I wouldnâ??t wana be on the other side of the USMC). And to why? well sometimes the military is all that their is to feed the little ones and the grandmas, or sometimes the military is a learning and life experience like no other, or sometimes a Warrior just wants be at home. Where ever you go the USMC, the SAS, the men in black it is important that you know what is going on for the next 4 years or what ever you signed for, so when your in you will have to embrace it because you asked for it.

..........Oh and I put my colors on the upper right cause Iâ??m proud

[geonagual]

dude never came back and answered my question..just shows that he was just trying to throw some sticks in the spokes..

But honestly, think long and hard about this decision..there is nothing glamourous about killing another human being..

[Nightcrewman]

We should all be very grateful that there are people who are prepared to kill on our behalf.

NCM

[stinkyattic]

We should all be very grateful that there are people who are prepared to kill on our behalf.


I'd re-phrase this:

We should be grateful that there are people willing to BE killed on our behalf.

Sometime you the 'Lousiville Slugger' baby, sometime you the ball. You never know until you know.

[Nightcrewman]

Possibly.
But I am sure when they go into battle they are more prepared to kill rather than be killed.
Nobody joins up to be killed although a lot of them end up that way.


NCM

[Reefer Rogue]

Enjoy not smoking ganja and a higher risk of death ;)

[MadSativa]

where did this guy go Basic??

[geonagual]

He is already in Iraq

[Doctor Whoov]

He is already in Iraq

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
I hope not.:s4:

[ChaosPotHeadNYC]

Nah, I need a good couple months of getting into shape again for anything, as well as the fact that If I go, I want to spend one last summer in my home town before I go.

[MadSativa]

^ you dont have to go right away chase some muff and make some money for a year, dont stay parked but PT every minute and enjoy your free year, at the end of the year if you still wana be a Marine they will still be their, kickin ass. I think you kinda said you just got outta highschool? So enjoy life for a minute, mabey go to some junior collage (thats where it's always hotty season).

[Ophistello]

i'm a retired disabled vet, don't join!!! this is not the time and it sounds like a desperation move. close your eye's, think about what you see on the news, breath in and out a few times. open your eye's. it fukin sux over there. are you really ready to die for what's going on over there? if you feel you must, then at least join the air force. that's what i did. in the rear, with the gear! you're still in harms way, but you get better vittles.

[MadSativa]

^ hey whats up Nuevo Mexico, are you in the Burque area?? -Arato-

[geonagual]

Lots of things can change by the time you plan on joining

[kms brown]

What ever you do, dont give them your phone number untill you are sure because the recruiters are worse than bill collectors. They will block their number and say anything to get you to join. I had a recruiter ask me " Are you going to listen to your wuss of a dad for your whole life?" so i just laughed at him seeing how my dad was in the navy, and his dad was in the marines and all the recruiter has to do is sit at a desk and make phone calls, hes a manly man alright.

[stinkyattic]

I had a recruiter ask me " Are you going to listen to your wuss of a dad for your whole life?" so i just laughed at him seeing how my dad was in the navy
How great would this be if your dad retired at a higher rank than the recruiter...
Have Pops make a quick phone call the the recruiter...
"So... I heard what you told my son, did you refer to me as a wuss?"
"Uh..."
"That would be 'Uhh. SIR!"
:D

[kms brown]

lol yeah that would have been great.

[FoTwenny]

I did a few years in the army and I have a lot of mixed feelings. For me, it improved my life, but I still have dreams about the shit 12 years after retirement, and I didn't see near the shit these guys today are going thru. Go into the army or marines now and you're guaranteed a combat tour in some pretty harsh conditions. Just read the Baghdad weather report. It's probably tolerable right now, but in April it will be well over 100 (F).

[SantaClawz]

Its not a good time to join. So dont do it, i'll tell you when.

[ncnavguy]

I guess if joining is what you want to do, have some fun now, but know that your life is gonna change, I smoked a couple occasions while I was in, normally when I went home for a month of leave. But when your in country theres no place for getting high, you gotta have your shit togather and your senses sharp, so be prepared to leave weed behind for awhile. Think of it this way, your gonna have guys in your unit whose life depends on you, so you don't want to get them killed just because your a little slow or stoned. So I say go for it but just say goodbye to getting high for awhile,

[atthepeek]

I wouldnt do it in a time of war... youll be fighting and killing possibly even innocent people
besides you gotta realize that we're at war for all the wrong reasons

[angry nomad]

I was in the Coast Guard for five years. I suggest the Coast Guard because you will probably stay in the U.S. away from harm. The war is bullshit anyway. I volunteered to go to Iraq, by the way, but they said I had the wrong qualification.

[stinkyattic]

I agree, the Coast Guard is a wonderful choice. Their peacetime mission is important. I, too, was in the US Coast Guard and really ended up falling in love with the seafaring lifestyle. I'm so glad I had the chance to do that while I was younger.

[geonagual]

HAHA! My seafaring lifestyle..included some rides to Thailand on a LST (flat bottom ship)...lots of puking, shitty food and terrible sleep on small ass beds.

[stinkyattic]

I don't get seasick. :D
The next stage of my seafaring lifestyle included tiny bunks, fish guts, blood, deck ice, Bering Sea storms, being the only chick on a boat with 30 fishermen or whom on average half spoke passable English, tyrannical ship officers, and not seeing land for a month at a time.
But the food was surprisingly good.

[Chronisseur]

....I just dont understand why we give our lives in the name of allegiance to a government who wouldnt think twice to exchange our lives for money. I have the utmost respect for ANYONE fighting for the right reasons, I'm just not sure what the 'right' reasons are.

Carlos Mencia said it the best; 'It's like white people ran out of people to oppress, so they turned on themselves'


PS: You guys are freakin nuts! It was all I could muster to haul traps in international waters off the coast! You'll NEVER catch ME more than a couple hundred miles out!

FUNK DAT!:D

[stinkyattic]

....I just dont understand why we give our lives in the name of allegiance to a government who wouldnt think twice to exchange our lives for money. I have the utmost respect for ANYONE fighting for the right reasons, I'm just not sure what the 'right' reasons are.'
Very well put. Gone are the days when wars made any logical sense.

[Mississippi Steve]

I agree, the Coast Guard is a wonderful choice. Their peacetime mission is important. I, too, was in the US Coast Guard and really ended up falling in love with the seafaring lifestyle. I'm so glad I had the chance to do that while I was younger.

I did 22 years in the Coast Guard... When I think of all of the training, education, and lifes experiences that I obtained, I feel very blessed, because there is no way I would *EVER* have had the chance to do otherwise, then there was the added benifit of having them pay for my Masters Degree in mechanical engineering, with a minor in Environmental Science. FWIW, I highly recommend the engineering rates as they will keep you below decks when its really cold and nasty outside, and also consider the job oportunities when you get out.

Out of those 22 years, I spent 11 of them at sea. Not too many other people in the world can say they have sailed "Pole to Pole" on a ship that has wooden decks. As far as where I have been, it would probably be easier to list where I have not been.

One last point... in the Coast Guard, the emphisis is on *SAVING LIVES*, not taking them.

There is no high like that of having pulled somebody out of the water in breaking surf after their boat has sunk out from under them.
If it wasn't so dangerous, it would be the best carnival ride in the world.

Please keep in mind that no matter what vocation or service, your gonna start out by sweeping floors and cleaning commodes, then work your way up through the ranks.

did I forget to mention that the only difference between going to jail and going to sea, is that when you go to sea, you have the added risk of DROWNING.

[Chronisseur]

.
did I forget to mention that the only difference between going to jail and going to sea, is that when you go to sea, you have the added risk of DROWNING.

LMAO^^^^:D

[Pathfinder]

Don't do it.

[Doctor Whoov]

Ha ha, all you Coast Guard guys. Is he at least 6 feet? You have to be able to walk back to land to be in the Coast Guard right? :S3:
Just kidding. I have a bunch if friends in the CG. One if my best friends growing up went in the same time I went in the Navy. We bust each other but we're all on the same team in the end right?


HAHA! My seafaring lifestyle..included some rides to Thailand on a LST (flat bottom ship)...lots of puking, shitty food and terrible sleep on small ass beds.


LST eh? I was on an LHD. Flat bottom rock and roller as well. North Atlantic storms rule. Sleep like a baby. I got sick for like the forst 3 or 4 hours on my first cruise but that was it. I haven't slept right since the day I moved off the ship. I didn't mind my rack. I figure death will be no big deal now. I'm already used to being in a coffin.

[Doctor Whoov]

Navy simulator:
Paint a dumpster greay, and live in it for 9 months. Be sure to have all plumbing and wiring exposed. On the day you come out be sure to invite all your family and friends to be there so you can explain that you can't actually come out until tomorrow because you have duty.

[Mississippi Steve]

Ha ha, all you Coast Guard guys. Is he at least 6 feet? You have to be able to walk back to land to be in the Coast Guard right? :S3:
Just kidding. I have a bunch if friends in the CG. One if my best friends growing up went in the same time I went in the Navy. We bust each other but we're all on the same team in the end right?




LST eh? I was on an LHD. Flat bottom rock and roller as well. North Atlantic storms rule. Sleep like a baby. I got sick for like the forst 3 or 4 hours on my first cruise but that was it. I haven't slept right since the day I moved off the ship. I didn't mind my rack. I figure death will be no big deal now. I'm already used to being in a coffin.


Riding 378' high endurance cutters in the bearing sea and gulf of alaska could get pretty bad. When your making turns for 19 knots and only making good 3, you know its nasty out.

in navy speak, the 378' WHECs are classed as an FFG