Originally posted by radiooperator05: ive been at 29 palms for 2 weeks going through the 0621 field radio operator school and im trying to figure out what the hell there is to do in this place. can someone please give me some ideas.
what ever you do don't undermine your instructor cause it won't where you finish in class you'll end where don't want to be..
School time is a pain at first, but it's not something you want to take for granted, no matter how easy it seems, nor how bored you are with the school or the area on off time. Sometimes you need to be creative to make things go a little faster and be a bit more enjoyable. It all comes back to one thing though, teamwork. It can make or break a Marine no matter what or where.
Stationed there for 2 yrs. 78 to 80. Stayed stinking drunk most of the time. Fast forward to 1999...wife took a job on base as a domestic violence counselor...stayed real busy. I race offroad so it was perfect for training. I worked behind the Bowladium, that urine soaked hellhole. DO NOT buy a car in the general area, you'll get ripped. Find a reputable dealer. Stay away from the check cashing joints too.
I've been out here at 29 stumps since october going through 2831 school and it ain't that bad. But they do hand out a lotta njp's out here so be careful i.e. if u notice before my profile said PFC not it says private. but u just gotta be creative and smart and stay the hell away from alcohol if you are under 21 cuz u will get caught.
My favorite thing to do there was the class versus class football games we had. Other than that, it was alot of movie watching and being patient till I left.
Well when I went 29 palms we flew there from N.C. a long flight on a C130 this was in 1975 we went for desert training so all I got to see was Tent City and the desert and alot of training it was fun though. Semper Fi
I was there for wire school in nov-dec of 95- i remember (vaguely) drinking, raking the sand and moving rocks around. DEFINITELY befriend some one with wheels... TJ? i'll never touch that place again... we used to head to LA and vegas all the time... is there a Taco Bell closer than Joshua Tree now? nothin like drivin 20 miles for...well...taco bell :-) lol and SKY DIVING?!?! yeah!!!!
Ive been out since 99 and have since takin to the sky :-) obviously as a wireman, there was no need back then, but if you can find a place to do it then YEAH BABY!!!
i wish you the best of luck :-) study... well study plenty and just remember that nothings permanent :-)
Your options on base are somewhat limited, but when you get liberty during the week you have plenty to stay busy. the theater, the gym, and the pool are all pretty good.
on the weekends if you get liberty, get away from the base if you can. there are (or used to be) regular shuttles to Palm Springs. if not, make friends with someone who has a car or rent a car and drive to somewhere else.
get a few friends together and head for San Diego, LA, OC, Vegas, etc.
stay away from alchohol while in the barracks and especially if you are under 21. NJPs are passed out like candy for underage drinking. definitely stay away from women and alchohol in the barracks. it's a NJP waiting to happen.
stay away from grunts looking for a fight. 7th Marines is based there so there will be no shortage of grunts who will want to prove their might by beating down a "pogue" (Person other than Grunt) boot. just remember there are a ton more of them than of you, so watch yourself.
the male to female ratio is ridiculous, so don't bother trying to meet women there. there's nothing much more pathetic than going to the e-club and seeing 6 males trying to grind on 1 female on the dance floor while 10 other males are watching. if you want a woman, go to Palm Springs, OC, San Diego, LA, etc to meet women.
stay up on PT and your job. use extra time to get squared away.
don't buy a car if your MOS school is 2 months long. (radio, wire, etc)you'll be out of there soon enough and you can go buy a car when you get to your permanent station. the car dealers in the area will rip you off because they know you're a jarhead.
while we're on the subject, save your money. time to learn to live on a budget. when you get paid, put some money away for the future. don't blow it all on crappy tattoos and clothes.
when i was in comm school, i had a few friends that were picked to be ushers for the Bob Hope golf tournament in Palm Springs for Thanksgiving weekend.
they got to meet a few celebrities and schmooze with them for a few days.
The Base Pool Bowling Alley Horse Stables (if you can bring your horse) Golf course Gynasium/Workout center E-Club Movie Theater Team Sports (Softball, Soccor, etc)
Off Base you can go to Palm Springs and sun in the morning and ski in the afternoon.
Was there in 1970. Reading some of these post, seems like things haven't change. Suck it up, study and graduate. You'll have plenty to time to party when you get to your next duty station.
