First off, Im sorry if I come off sounding ignorant and I dont mean to offend anyone by my questions. I ship for MCRD - San Diego in September.

1. Ive always heard that promotions within the USMC come much slower than in other branches; for instance by the time it takes a Marine to reach E-3, he/she couldve been an E-5 in the Army. My recruiter says its not true but I still hear it from so many different sources (including a veteran Marine).

2. Sorry if anyone takes offense at this question, but Ive been pondering it over the past couple of days and need to ask. If I am in a combat-zone and I witness some fellow Marines doing something that is clearly 'criminal', do I report them or turn a blind eye? What am I expected to do? And if I did report them wouldnt I be viewed as a snitch by everyone else?

3. In Boot Camp are the DI's allowed to hit you? Like beat the **** outta you? Im not really worried about getting hit as I boxed for 4yrs and kinda use to it, Id just like to know what to expect. My dad was in the Navy during Vietnam and his CO during Boot Camp was "some sick- sadistic sonofa***** named Gomez" who apparently would take recruits messing-up and beat the **** outta them; knocking them on the ground and kicking the backs of their heads. I know that was more than 40yrs ago but does that still happen?

Thank You for any replies in advance

quote:

Originally posted by Hopefully0300:
3. In Boot Camp are the DI's allowed to hit you? Like beat the **** outta you? Im not really worried about getting hit as I boxed for 4yrs and kinda use to it, Id just like to know what to expect. My dad was in the Navy during Vietnam and his CO during Boot Camp was "some sick- sadistic sonofa***** named Gomez" who apparently would take recruits messing-up and beat the **** outta them; knocking them on the ground and kicking the backs of their heads. I know that was more than 40yrs ago but does that still happen?

Thank You for any replies in advance

I can't answer your first two questions but no they can't hit you in boot. Good Luck.

The Marines allow you to get promoted depending on how hard you work. You work hard you move up, but the Marine Corps is a competition. You can move up all depending on your motivation.

DI's are not suppose to hit you, not saying it doesnt happen, but everything that happens in recruit training is done to make you a better person and a better Marine.

Hope that helps.

Took me 4.5 years active duty to become a SGT (USMC average). Depends on MOS, IMO.

quote:

DI's are not suppose to hit you, not saying it doesnt happen, but everything that happens in recruit training is done to make you a better person and a better Marine.

Hope that helps.

But I dont have to worry about getting beaten so badly I have blood running-out of my ears..right?

I’d just like to offer you an observation from an old timer who still has connections to the Corps. I'm a member of many Marine Corps fraternal organizations, and a Marine Corps veteran who earned the title in 1968; I’ve had the honor to serve with the Marine Corps 5th and 3rd Tank Battalion as a tank crewmember and Tank Commander. I also have a son presently on active duty (doing his 2nd tour in Iraq). In addition, I have 4 nephews who have served in the Corps, or are currently serving in the Corps (1 is an officer all others were Grunt NCOs). I also have two brother in laws who served (one a Cannon Cocker Sgt. the other is a retired Grunt Sgt. Maj.) and of course many brothers who have served or are serving. I'm still “very tight” with the men with whom I served (some were “career Marines”). We often talk to each other and we get together every other year. So you might just say I have some knowledge regarding the questions that have been asked. DI's even in the 60s were not supposed to hit recruits, but they did. I saw it, I experienced it, and all the Marines that I served with sucked it up and moved on. Most do very few don't. What ever a person does regarding the issue is a matter of personal choice. Regarding promotions in the Corps it has been my observation that nothing has changed since I served. Marines still work hard to earn their stripes, and rockers. They also loose them fast when they screw up (been their). Ragarding any concern about being a snitch if you report criminal actions. Marines do not at any time act like criminals. Whenever Marines act like criminals they stop being Marines. They become something else (former or Ex-Marines). Therefore they do not belong in the Corps. When serving as a US Marine one must always remember that the title Marine is always earned and never given. The individual Marine represents the entire Corps. That includes all Marines past, present and future. One must always serve in accordance with the core values of the Corps (Honor, Courage, and Commitment), to do anything less would be disrespectful to those who have and who are currently serving. Before you decide to try to be a Marine be sure that being a Marine is very important to you. If you decide to try to become a Maine it will either be the best decision you’ll ever make, or it will be the worse one and you will truly hate it. So, be sure of what you want as being a Marine is an awesome responsibility in which mistakes can cost lives. What I tell you now is exactly what I told my son and nephews when they were thinking about taking on the challenge of becoming a US Marine Recruit. Recruit training is not now nor has it ever been easy. Not everyone is successful in answering the challenge. If it was easy and if everyone were successful it would not be the Marines. Those who are successful at earning the title Marine often find that boot camp was not nearly as demanding as just being worthy of the title, and wearing the uniform. After boot camp however there are a few things you’ll be very clean on. You will have a much better understand of what is meant by esprit de corps, and you’ll find that Semper Fidelis is so much more that just words. You’ll also understand that with the exception of those who bring dishonor upon themselves and our Corps there are no Ex-Marines. So, never refer to a Marine as an Ex-Marine or former Marine as such a reference is considered by many to be an insult.

Well said.

Well said Belmo.

The only reason I brought up the idea of Marines acting criminal is ever sense I signed-on I keep thinking about that case in Iraq a few years back when those Marines, raped, and murdered that young girl. I keep having this dream that Im in Iraq or somewhere like it and I walk in on several Marines raping a woman...and I dont know what to do; my brain tells me to report the incident to my CO while my heart tells me to raise my rifle and kill them.

Edit: My apologies, apparently that was carried out by Army-specialist, well my dream persist...

1.) depends on how hard you work towards the promotion. i know guys who were 4 year lances yet a buddy of mine got sgt a little over his 2 year mark. but also mind you other services NCO ranks start at e-5 where as Marines start at e-4s. so although my friend in the af came in at the same time as me and reached e-4 before i did. i'm still an NCO whereas she is not...so maybe that helped.

2.)It's all moral man. that's something you have to decide for yourself. but know if you see it and don't report it...well that's your *** if your buddy get's caught.

3.)best advice. expect the worst so you have nothing to fear eh...

1. Like everyone else says, it depends on MOS and how you apply yourself. I got out after 4 years as a LCPL, but the score for my MOS was either ridiculously high or closed for a lot of the time i was in. my last 5-6 months i became a little disgruntled about it and didn't put forth the effort i should have.(short timer's syndrome) my advice to you is to never take your eyes off of the prize.

it's just like the economy. supply and demand. if there are too many Corporals and Sergeants in a particular field, the score will be either really high or closed. if there aren't enough Corporals and Sergeants, then you should promote faster.

2. What do you mean by "criminal"? do you mean if you witness a rape you don't think you should say anything? what if it was your sister/daughter/girlfriend/etc? would you say something then? why wouldn't you? get that stupid "snitch" crap out of your head. if you see another Marine rape someone, what they are doing is dishonorable, and if you don't say anything, you are just as dishonorable. also, more than likely, that kind of thing eventually come out.someone will brag about it, or spill their guts on a lie detector test, etc. now you aren't just an a**hole who didn't say anything, you are now a co-conspirator.

3. Drill Instructors are not allowed to strike you. however, i'm sure that everyone here in these forums who went through Marine boot camp has a DI story or 2 to tell.

emotions run hot, a DI might take a gesture the wrong way, a recruit may have it coming, etc. are all reasons I've heard for a DI to hit a recruit. just remember, they are not supposed to hit you for any reason.

if they really wanted to hurt you, they can do it without lifting a finger. "Recruit get down on my quarterdeck! give me pushups! now give me flutter kicks! pushups! flutter kicks!" after an hour of that, you'll wish you had been hit instead.

also, Drill Instructors are career Marines and they don't want to lose their career for some random recruit.

quote:

Originally posted by Caesar08:
1. Like everyone else says, it depends on MOS and how you apply yourself. I got out after 4 years as a LCPL, but the score for my MOS was either ridiculously high or closed for a lot of the time i was in. my last 5-6 months i became a little disgruntled about it and didn't put forth the effort i should have.(short timer's syndrome) my advice to you is to never take your eyes off of the prize.

it's just like the economy. supply and demand. if there are too many Corporals and Sergeants in a particular field, the score will be either really high or closed. if there aren't enough Corporals and Sergeants, then you should promote faster.

2. What do you mean by "criminal"? do you mean if you witness a rape you don't think you should say anything? what if it was your sister/daughter/girlfriend/etc? would you say something then? why wouldn't you? get that stupid "snitch" crap out of your head. if you see another Marine rape someone, what they are doing is dishonorable, and if you don't say anything, you are just as dishonorable. also, more than likely, that kind of thing eventually come out.someone will brag about it, or spill their guts on a lie detector test, etc. now you aren't just an a**hole who didn't say anything, you are now a co-conspirator.

3. Drill Instructors are not allowed to strike you. however, i'm sure that everyone here in these forums who went through Marine boot camp has a DI story or 2 to tell.

emotions run hot, a DI might take a gesture the wrong way, a recruit may have it coming, etc. are all reasons I've heard for a DI to hit a recruit. just remember, they are not supposed to hit you for any reason.

if they really wanted to hurt you, they can do it without lifting a finger. "Recruit get down on my quarterdeck! give me pushups! now give me flutter kicks! pushups! flutter kicks!" after an hour of that, you'll wish you had been hit instead.

also, Drill Instructors are career Marines and they don't want to lose their career for some random recruit.

Thanks Caesar, you made alot of sense.

BTW - I am no longer 'Hopefully' 0300, I just got a call from my recruiter and he got me in Infantry

As far as the moral/criminal question, here's how I look at it:

The other individual is doing something that he knows is wrong, and that he could be penalized for it. Now, he wants you to keep your mouth shut, which makes you just as guilty and deserving of punishment as he is. What kind of friend/brother would put you in this position? One that is not worth protecting, that's who.

Private to PFC in the Marine Corps takes six months. PFC to LCpl is eight more months.

Unless you do something stupid, these are automatic promotions. If you shine above the rest, you may get meritoriously promoted faster than this.

Promotions after LCpl are usually based upon the needs of that MOS. As mentioned above, some promote quick, and some promote slow. As to which ones are slow and which are quick - well, that could change every few months.

The moral issue has been covered at length, and it's unanimous. If something's wrong, it's wrong. And Marines are expected to take the correct actions, not wrong ones (which includes stopping other Marines from doing the wrong things, if warranted).

I went through Boot Camp in 1980, and retired after 24 years of service. I now work with the Marine Corps as a civilian, and spend my entire workweek discussing issues with Marines - from privates to generals. Extreme physical abuse in the form you mention is an aberration, if it exists at all. When I went through Boot Camp, at no time did a DI ever lay a hand on me. They didn't have to. You'll get your fair share of azz-chewings, and punishing sets of exercises -- that's part of the training. But a DI doesn't have to touch you, to train you.

quote:

Originally posted by DakotaG01:

quote:

Originally posted by Hopefully0300:
3. In Boot Camp are the DI's allowed to hit you? Like beat the **** outta you? Im not really worried about getting hit as I boxed for 4yrs and kinda use to it, Id just like to know what to expect. My dad was in the Navy during Vietnam and his CO during Boot Camp was "some sick- sadistic sonofa***** named Gomez" who apparently would take recruits messing-up and beat the **** outta them; knocking them on the ground and kicking the backs of their heads. I know that was more than 40yrs ago but does that still happen?

Thank You for any replies in advance

I can't answer your first two questions but no they can't hit you in boot. Good Luck.

And just how the fuck would you know this Mr.Considering Joining? Shut your yap, what you may think you know, you don't. You've never been to a MCRD, therefore you cannot answer questions because you have no first hand experience.

quote:

Originally posted by AHill_USMC:

quote:

Originally posted by DakotaG01:

quote:

Originally posted by Hopefully0300:
3. In Boot Camp are the DI's allowed to hit you? Like beat the **** outta you? Im not really worried about getting hit as I boxed for 4yrs and kinda use to it, Id just like to know what to expect. My dad was in the Navy during Vietnam and his CO during Boot Camp was "some sick- sadistic sonofa***** named Gomez" who apparently would take recruits messing-up and beat the **** outta them; knocking them on the ground and kicking the backs of their heads. I know that was more than 40yrs ago but does that still happen?

Thank You for any replies in advance

I can't answer your first two questions but no they can't hit you in boot. Good Luck.

And just how the fuck would you know this Mr.Considering Joining? Shut your yap, what you may think you know, you don't. You've never been to a MCRD, therefore you cannot answer questions because you have no first hand experience.

Easy now. This wannabe isn't worth getting upset about. I mean, seriously, look at his profile. He lists an air force junior ROTC unit under unit affiliations!

quote:

Originally posted by Caesar08:
Easy now. This wannabe isn't worth getting upset about. I mean, seriously, look at his profile. He lists an air force junior ROTC unit under unit affiliations!

I'm not upset, he's just posting about something he knows nothing about