After boot camp and my MOS training, assuming I make it, and after I get assigned to my unit does everyone live in dorm rooms? I'm just trying to get a feel of what the living will be like.
You start off rooming with 2 other people and as you rank up then you'll eventually get a room by yourself. Correct?
As far as items go that you can have in your room, would I be able to have a laptop, or TV, or xbox, etc. in my dorm room?
The reason I listed laptop or xbox because they are both great ways to stay in touch with friends and family. Therefore, I would like to know if those items are allowed?
Change "dorm rooms" to "barracks"; that change will help you out. Use the Marine vernacular, not the USAF vernacular when speaking about junior enlisted single accomodations.
USMC=barracks USAF=dorms
Back in the day, when I lived in the barracks as a PFC/LCpl (3 man room), I had cable, and 2 separate Nintendo systems (NES/SNES), and a Sega Genesis w/ Sega CD. Add a small TV and a Sony VCR to the mix, plus a small stereo system. No phone in room circa 1995,96.
I was in the barracks before the internet was around (1995-96).
Lock you stuff up...there is only 1 thief in the Corps, everyone else is trying to get their sh17 back.
Trust me on that one, and don't lend money out in the barracks.
Back in the day, when I lived in the barracks as a PFC/LCpl (3 man room), I had cable, and 2 separate Nintendo systems (NES/SNES), and a Sega Genesis w/ Sega CD. Add a small TV and a Sony VCR to the mix, plus a small stereo system. No phone in room circa 1995,96.
The only cable we had was to hold up our laundry. You are talking about the Corps, right?
The only entertainment we had was a small b/w TV that someone would keep in their locker. And of course portable radios to listen to AM. Oh! And reel-to-reel tape recorders.
When I made Sgt, I got the luxury accommodations of a quonset hut. Before that, the only time I was in a 3 man room was when 47 Marines went outside.
In the last major funding cycle for upcoming BEQ construction projects, the Marine Corps specifically wanted junior enlisted to live with roommates as opposed to the Navy/Air Force projects which aimed at suite style buildings with single bedrooms, so don't get your hopes up for having your own room until/unless you either pick up corporal or get married.
If you want your own room as a Lcpl, do MSG duty...My room was huge! Only downside was that it was in the Congo, 4 degrees south of the equator...lol HOT and HUMID. AC was nice though. And then I lost it all (above items in my previous post) in an evac of the Embassy....Go figure.
Being in the Air Wing our Barracks had 4, 3, 2, 1 man Rooms. It all depended on who was in the barracks Rank wise and who was in what rooms. I was a Cpl and had my own room, but we had a Gunny (it was not JD, he was just a boot then)in the barracks also. Ranks had it privileges as I could have got booted out of that one man room if a Sgt need one. Don't see that happening in the Air Farce.....
When we got back from Iraq we had guys sleeping on cots and on the floor in rooms. Down the road wingers and arty had 2 to a room in the "dorm" style. All depends on the unit and duty station.
Thanks for all the replies and thanks for the pictures HollywoodMarine. It looks like I'll be alright with a TV and laptop. Is there a lot of stealing going around or something?
Originally posted by KoScooze47: I meant to ask,Hollywood Marine, are those pictures of your room? No. They are someone elses room. But mine was similar. If so, what was your MOS? 03 Infantry.
I'll be going into infantry, will I still get a room similar to those pictures above? It depends where you are stationed, and who you are assigned to.
Originally posted by KoScooze47: Ok, thank you for the answers. Aren't the Marines currently working on "updating" all there bases to have similar barracks to the pictures?
I believe that is what a Sgt. Major said at a recruiting/poolee meeting tonight.
SgtMaj. is correct. I noticed a mixture of new and old barracks for the Grunts at both San Mateo (5th Marines), and Horno (1st Marines). There is also new base housing (where the trailer park use to be) under construction at San Onofre. Hopefully the old single floor barracks will be torn down and replaced with the new 3-floors, by the time you become a Marine.
Another question in advance; would you recommend getting a tv that would fit in the personal secretary. I ask this because I own a 32" and that probably wouldn't fit and I seen someone mention people will steal. Then again, it would be difficult to snatch a 32" tv. lol
Sorry if these seem like useless questions, but why not ask those who would know.
Originally posted by KoScooze47: Another question in advance; would you recommend getting a tv that would fit in the personal secretary. I ask this because I own a 32" and that probably wouldn't fit and I seen someone mention people will steal. Then again, it would be difficult to snatch a 32" tv. lol
The only thing I would bring is the laptop you mentioned.
One thing you need to learn as a young junior Marine is travel lightly since your home will be the barracks. You're not going to have a lot of room to bring all of the things you've had at home.
That 32" TV will be more of a burden as a young Marine, especially when you have to move. I would leave it at home and maybe come back to it later sometime down the road (like in a few years!).
Oh! And reel-to-reel tape recorders. 
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