Hello, I was wondering if there was anyone on this board who has served in the infantry field in the past ten years, or knows anyone that has, who would be willing to talk to me over the telephone about their experience in the Corps.
I have been researching the Marines for the past year and a half now and I want to get some real answers from those that have "Been there, done that."
I have talked to many prior services members about their experiences and none of their stories really helped in the information pertaining to my questions.

Thanks

-Morgan

P.S. I would also appreciate anyone who has served in armor, I apologize I do not know the correct terminology for armor.

GBM...You'd be better off asking your questions here.

If you're looking to find out what it's like to be in combat, most Marines are not going to share that with you. It'd be nothing against you, you just wouldn't understand.

If you're looking to find out what the day in a life of... is like, there is a search funstion here and some good threads that discuss everything from grunt to non-grunt.

We (the military in general) spend alot of our time training, doing work ups, deploying, etc... the last thing alot of us want to do is chat on the phone during what little free time we get.

You might get some takers to call you but you'll get more answers here.

Otherwise your phone call will start with "what's it like being a grunt?" and move to "tell me about the war"..."have you killed someone?"... "you know anybody who has been killed?"

29P
I thank you for your response, I have read the
" Ya Wanna Be Infantry Here is a ROUTINE Day" by MudRollin03 and it was very informative on what life is like on a base.
I am sorry that I sound ignorant on this topic, I was looking more for information on what it is like to be deployed.
I realize that it is very stressful when being deployed and being in combat. My main objective was to talk to any former/retired Marines who would be willing to share any experiences they had that would help me make an informed decision and not an eight year mistake. I would not want to bring up any bad memories, I am sorry for not clarifying that in my original post. I have a cousin in Iraq right now and I would want anyone deployed to try and get as much "family time" or forms of that they could.

Once again Thanks
-Morgan

GBM...Understand your point.
Maybe someone will take you up on what you're looking for and help you out.

If you don't get the voice conversation you're looking for, feel free to ask your questions.

Well thought and articulated questions will not be received negatively.

I'm not sure what you're looking for in the life of an Infantryman because the system thats been in place since the fifties is exactly what 29P and Mudrollin wrote about.

You join a battalion during a five month stand down phase which means they just came off deployment from somewhere so no one really cares about anything because they're tired and just want to relax. Then you go into a six month "workup" phase where you train like hell to certify to do whatever it is you're supposed to do wherever you're supposed to do it. Then for seven months you deploy to wherever you're supposed to go and do whatever it is you're supposed to do. Generally everyone gets on everyone else's nerves due to the boredom and stress of it all because everyone just wants to get back home.

When you're in the field you eat field rations and walk around carrying heavy loads a lot yet while you're in the rear you eat regular food and stay within your battalion area. No matter what, you hurry up and wait a lot because someone in authority is always figuring out something to keep you busy so you don't get into trouble. Sometimes it makes perfect sense and is truly useful while other times it's mind boggling it's so stupid but you're a Devil so you just do it because someone told you too.

All in all you'll serve with the greatest bunch of humans you'll ever know and you'll consider each other Brothers until the day you die because you've faced some really good and some really bad times where you pulled together just to make it through whether you went to war or just deployed somewhere. It's all the same no matter where you go or what you do because you won't be happy doing what the Corps wants you to do while the Corps won't be happy while you're doing what you all want to do. It's just the simple nature of being an 18-21 year old walking around with the power of life and death in your hands as you're forced to grow up quick in real life situations nothing ever truly prepares you for.

The life of an Infantryman is never exotic, glamourous nor glorious. It's actually quite hard, cruel and very demanding yet extremely personally rewarding when you muster out and go home after it's finally over because you know you're a man of action who made the six o'clock news while others watched it. I guess the best way to express it is Infantrymen go where others don't and step up where others won't because you're too ornery and full of piss and vinegar to quit on yourself or your Brothers.

This is basically the life of every Marine Infantryman past, present and future because the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"They want us to do WHAT???!!! You gotta be shiatin' me!"

"Knock it off, the man wants to play war, we play war today. Okay listen up Devils, heres what we're going to do ...."

And the hits just keep on coming, only the faces change.

Deano,
Thank you for putting forth the time to write that and help me understand life as an infantry Marine. I really do appreciate everyones' responses and help that they offer.

-Morgan