Leaving the Corps

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Sat 23 Nov, 2002 7:26 pm

Is there a possibity of a section for people leaving the Corps. As a former Royal Marine, I had a lot of trouble adjusting to civilian life, and that was after barely a dog watch of 8 years. I know many former colleagues who still find it hard to cope, but have nobody to talk to who can empathise.

I know the SOP of getting pissed helps, but it is a bit short termist, and civvies do not get it at all.

I have been outside more than 20 years and yet I still get the demons sometimes when I,m asleep. Many a time I,ve woken to answer a ringing telephone and used a callsign as an identifier, it confuses the hell out of the person at the other end.

Royal can make a great life for himself on the outside, but it is not easy, and the continuing support of former comrades would be welcome I think,

Opinions please.

Archie (Capitalist Bastard living abroad)

barryc · Post by **barryc** » Tue 26 Nov, 2002 1:29 pm

I fully agree about the difficulty of adjusting. Initially I found it difficult to settle to any type of job (but was never unemployed) and even once in steady long term employment, although my working performance was generally praised, "cruel sense of humour", or "pointed sense of humour, not appreciated by everyone, although he takes as good as he gives", have been entries on more than one annual report. Thirty years after coming out of the Corps I still refer to bl--dy civvies, considering status to be a mind-set and after all, once a marine always a marine.

I don't think a separate Board or whatever is necessary as long as the existence of this forum is known to the guys about to leave or recently left, after all it has helped me, and I am sure many others, back into bootneck land and I can bear the civvy existence knowing I can escape into a World (literally) where bootie values and humour thrive. It is clear from many of the threads that there is a mutual support attitude where advice is freely given to marine wannabees, wives, girlfriends and fellow marines, with or without the horrors of PTSD. You can even get free (even if you would rather not get it at all) gynaecological advice from resident medical man, ex-egg beater driver and general all round nutter, Rob Parry. What more could anyone need?

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Wed 27 Nov, 2002 1:50 am

I know what you mean about being able to escape back to bootieland via this board, i love it, the craic is one of the things so few civvies can do right. So many civvies take it all personally or get all bitchy, whereas we have been given so much abuse from our oppos over the years, you would think they are after a bite if they said anything good about you.

I recently met an old oppo, Graig Brian at his Pub, The Vine at Stonehouse. I haven't seen him since '78, and the first thing we do is insult each other, where else would that happen, its great, fantastic, you can't beat it!

Adjusting to civilian life is a hard task, but it helps me to remember that if I could get through my stint in the corps, I can sure as hell do the civvie thing.

archie

Tab · Post by **Tab** » Fri 02 May, 2003 11:21 pm

I am still in touch with about about 100 men from my company from the 50's and nearly all of them have done very well for them selfs, we have had a couple become peers of the realm, some of the others have gone into poltics and one of them wound up for a while as Minister Of Defence.
Another became a multi millioniare, and that is just a sample of how the lads have done, but again they were biggest bunch of piss artists you could ever find.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat 03 May, 2003 5:22 am

Archie, Your Corps Pissed Mate!!

Join the Club

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Sat 03 May, 2003 12:46 pm

Bootneck of course I am, why else would I be doing this 30 miler, I mean, do I look that stupid?

barbie · Post by **barbie** » Sat 03 May, 2003 2:13 pm

Archie.. how can you say 'do I look that stupid ' with the picture you have for your avatar? Yes you do mate! I'm hoping your sense of irony will be revealed when I see you in person half way round the 30 miler.

My avatar however suits me perfectly!

I don't know how my other half will feel when he eventually comes out
he has always said 'why come out and work for a living' but with only another 3.5 years to do and then being 55 he's hoping to retire to the sun and never find out what it is like to have to, but I still expect it to be a shock to the system, full time house husband? Meybe I could leave him at home and go swanning off around the world, comming home occasionally for a meal?

Rotary Booty · Post by **Rotary Booty** » Sat 03 May, 2003 2:32 pm

That has got to be the best incentive ever to make it at least half way round the 30 Miler.... the meeting between the Lloyd's Bank talking horse that can operate a computer, and the ironic Rubber Face!

Now that I've met Archie in the flesh, I can assure you all that he doesn't look that sheepish, and he only looked like his avatar when the newspaper photographer asked him to get a bit closer to me. I guess we both had the same expression at that stage.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat 03 May, 2003 4:16 pm

I don`t think you ever leave the Corps!!

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Sun 04 May, 2003 5:58 pm

Barbie, I'm hurt, I thought we were friends.

If you can't wait till May 17th to see the horrifying reality click the www below then look at photo albums and you'll probably see a few familiar faces.

A word of advice, make sure you are sitting down before you start, some of it is not pretty.

Twenty One · Post by **Twenty One** » Sun 04 May, 2003 7:59 pm

Archie, what better way in keeping in touch with your old muckas is using this site.Have you tried spreading the word about it to your mates the more the merrier,and we can all share the ups and doons o military life.I am fortunate that where I live half of my old regiment stay within a half mile of my wee basha.You cannot miss the military that much that you can't keep in contact,we are all your mates on this site.

BIG TAM.

barbie · Post by **barbie** » Sun 04 May, 2003 9:29 pm

Well Archie, The reality seems to be an improvement on the avatar, and

of course we are friends ,your enemies wouldn't treat you like I do would

they?

And someday soon I shall think of a reply for you Mr Rotary booty but at the moment my mind is a blank, much like the rest of the time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon 05 May, 2003 9:56 am

Archie, checked out your site mate, great phots, is that the date you all joined up on, on the flag board behind?

Rotary Booty · Post by **Rotary Booty** » Mon 05 May, 2003 1:01 pm

Barbie

As a damage limitation attempt before you come back with some scathing comment that will reduce me to a quivering lump.

I used to live near Tavistock, Devon, within the Dartmoor National Park, and my son rode a 13.2 part Arab pony .......... I love horses, even though they are dangerous at both ends, and uncomfortable in the middle!

Dave and 'Jester' with 'he who paid the bills' on the right!

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Mon 05 May, 2003 4:03 pm

Aye Bootneck you cheeky bugger, 'twas at 4 minutes past five exactly that I signed up.

Any more wise cracks and I'll not let you carry me on the moor, that'll teach you............

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