Why do people want to join the Marines?/Infantry?

[Geoff]

well...? some of my mates think im nuts if i want to join...and get shot at etc...but i dont care.

what are your reasons?

mine is to see the world.

[Cobalt]

A lot of people keep telling me to join the Army and get a trade instead of the Marines. I ask them why would I want to be bored for 20 years so I can be bored when I get out.

The lifestyle, travel and self achievment of the Marines (plus having family attachments) is what attracts me to the Corps.

It's better to have a great time for those 20-odd years than to have a bad time just so you come out with a HGV licence.

Plus you can reach alcoholic drinking level in the Marines and still stay healthy!

[Defiant]

What happens if u suffer a injuiry where u have to leave the marines. If u have a tech trade then there will be a chance of getting a job outside EVEN if it's boring. Face the fact that life is boring and jobs are boring. Its what u do with your spare time that makes armed forces life exciting.

[BullDog]

Defiant - I can see why you have chosen to join the Pongo's mate. If you believe what you have posted above you are definately one of the 99.9% who need not apply for the Royal Marines!...

So why do you hang out here?

[Yorkie Malone]

You join what you think is best for yourself.
I left school at 15 but one thing I was taught was to use the English language; ie you, not u. I not i. I'm not im.
When you post these messages can you please use the correct form of English. It is so beneath yourselves to lower your standards of ones with no education.
Thank you.

[John_D]

Mike
As yourkie has stated the choice is yours,
no matter what trade you take up once the training is over, how you go about it is up to you to make the best of it and go as high as you can,If you get bored with what you have chosen then there is nothing stopping you from putting in for another trade,
As for the alchohol state that comes with experience the difference with a Bootneck getting P--d is that he does it with style and dedication,
Aye
John_D

[Defiant]

I always knew Marines do not mix with army. This image of 99.99 does not even bother me. I joining the pongos the thing u call them is that ive studied my arse off to join up and i dont need some marine telling me that 99.99% I would join IF i wanted too

[Nomad]

Defiant, don't take offence, if you have seen or heard the adverts you will be aware that the:

Army adverts says "Be the best you can be"

Marines Advert states that "99.9% need not apply"

The Royal Marines mix with all services from all nations, Many of my long term friends besides Marines are Army and Navy I also have many R. Sig's friends and served closely with 264 for 3 years and still keep in contact with them.

In the services the humour is a bit more keener, and sacasm is it's name. You will never know a harder humour than that enjoyed by service people.

_________________
Yours Aye
Tony L


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nomad on 2002-02-11 08:16 ]</font>

[Geoff]

what is a 'Pongo' as in hes joining the Pongos?

thanks.

[daveitfc]

I believe that many of you have not got your facts straight about joining and becoming a royal marine.
I think that some of you should listen to the marines in here who have experience and know what they are talking about.
The best thing about becoming a marine is the pride in yourself not what your goin to do when you get out. The marines are a so called family and anyone who has passed basic training is accepted into it.
Lots of passing is to do with your attitude! If you have a bad attitude and go in there thinking your hard and nothing else you will people will instantly take a disliking to you.
You have to keep an open mind (dont have the blinkered approach)

[Defiant]

Geoff its what bulldog quoted at him me at the top of the form.

[Drum @ Bass Solider]

I wana join the Royal Marines because i wana do something with my life and joing up and fighting 4 your country is about the best thing u can do
(well 4 me it is). I wana have the chance to make me my family, friends proud of me, I want respect and the Royal Marines can give u that among with many other things.

[Si Capon]

what is a 'Pongo' as in hes joining the Pongos?

thanks.

"Where ever the Army goes the pong goes too"

Because they are all smelly, dirty, unwashed, crabby, stinking soldiers.

They don`t get taught the finer points if personal hygiene in basic training





And they smell anyway!!

[voodoo sprout]

A few people have posted their motives in another thread, viewtopic.php?p=11037&highlight=#11037 . Mine are also pasted from that thrad, complete with spelling mistakes .

I have a fair few reasons for wanting to join, unfortuantely many if not most are probably old fashioned and/or cliched but what the heck .

Reasons for joining the military generally:
1) To serve - Bascially the stereotypical old style wanting to be of help to your country, to defend it, allow it to prosper, and to protect it's interests. But also to do the same for deserving people of other countries, I always say we should be doing more to help in the world and I'm interested in protecting the vulnerable and oppressed.

2) To take pressure off others - Not really sure how to put this, but basically by doing my part I hope to make it that bit easier for others. For instance, if I spend a few hours shivering away in a cold wet ditch, it means another bloke who would otherwise be doing that doesn't have to and is instead snoozing away happily in his sleeping bag or whatever.

3) To be useful - Similar to serving, but in a more social rather than ideological sense. All around the UK, there are (in my opinion) unproductive and destructive people. Some can't be bothered to work and leech off the government and the population who support it. Others make obscene amounts of material wealth by exploiting others, profiting from the weakness of less fortunate people etc. This sort of thing really undermines society, and I hope that by doing something of benefit, I will do a small part in redressing that balance, reducing the degeneration of society.

4) FUN! Simply enough, I am very interested in the work done by the military, and I have enjoyed my limited experience form the cadets, elementary flying and military simulation style games. Infantry work particularly appeals to me (please note: the following is my interpretation with little experience, but is just the way I feel about certain jobs, and is probably complete rubbish but I'll say it anyway), perhaps due to the directness, you ar not pressing a button while sat in a cosy cockpit, not babbling over a radio in a cosy tent, not lobbing shells into the abyss from a comfy (?) artillery piece, and not even driving over the countryside in a comfy tank. With infantry you are on/in the ground, among the bushes and mud, giving you a sort of connection with what's going on, in a sense giving you more control. (quick question - ratings out of ten on "how stupid is this"? )

Reaons for joining the Royal Marines:
1) Moutain and arcitc warfare - I am very interested in this area of infantry warfare, partly because of the specialist nature (not every soldier can operate in rugged terrain like the RM can), the remoteness of mountian and arctic environments, and also because I have a strange massochistic streak in that in somehow like being cold wet and uncomfortable. I think it's down to satisfaction - the knowledge that I can work effectively in conditions where others may not or would be disadvantaged This essentially gives me a feeling of strength and self confidence.

2) Eliteness - This has a few advantages. Firstly, when there is a problem be it conflict or a threat of one, elite troops are the first in. Additionally, they will take on the most dangerous or difficult tasks perhaps utilising specialist skills, which is particularly appealing to me partly due to the challenge (you are more likely to have to use your skills.
The fact that the RM are commandos enhances this; I am very interested in commando and special forces style operations, and the RM are the most likely to be tasked with more unconventional missions, such as amphibious or airborne raids, hit and run missions and so on.
Then you have the skill level - alongside the paras the RM are generally considered to be broadly speaking "better" soldiers than their regualr amry/RAF counterparts, and I want to be the best I can be, I like doing jobs well and there is little point in being of lower standard when it bears no extra advantage other than ease.

3) Special treatment - While someone mentioned that the kit isn't fantastic, the RM certainly seem to get the hands on new equipment first, such as the minimi, SA80 (well it seemed a good idea back then), personal role radios etc. And I wouldn't be surprised if they get the FIST before anyone else, alongside Bowman, SA80A3/4/5/6/Martini Henri A2 and so on. And while new stuff may not be geat fun to play with, anything which enhances your capability as a fighting unit will probably make you more attractive for interesting jobs, so again more chance of getting those in the RM.

4) Options for advancement - I'm not interested in promotions, but the RM does have one particularly attractive option I am interested in, the BPT, which I hope to eventually join. Paras excepted, most other units won't provide tht sort of unit outside of special forces as far as I know, making your choices more limited. As well as that, there seem to be a lot of parachute trained marines, so hopefully I'd have a good chance of gaining useful and interestign skills.