USMCRET
Active Member
I have been ruminating on this for a while, recent post of disillusionment with Corporals and Sergeants, Quitting after the Képi March while at additional training post farm, I'd call it MOS Training, and the complete and utter lack of understanding for what Military Service means, not what is glorified or imagined.
1st, weight Training, Running, and other forms of physical training. Yes, there are drug problems in every military unit in the world. Some worse than other, some drugs a blind eye is turned; however, drugs like meth, crack, or other drugs have a very real impact on the person, the unit, and the service in general. Others, steroids, seem to not have the hard eye looking at it. If the steroid use becomes a problem, discipline, or it manifest itself in other deleterious ways it has to be addressed. Weight Training, Strength Training, Endurance, and other forms of Physical Training are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. It is the NCO, the senior legionnaire Officer that know this well, COMBAT TAKES IN ORDINATE AMOUNTS OF STAMINA AND STRENGTH. As I am sure it is the same in the Legion, there is Organized PT for the Squad, Platoon, Battalion, and Regiment; however, that PT is more motivational and for Esprit de Corps. The individual has to do their part, a much larger part to become the warrior required. Everyday in the Marine Corps, Garrison time and to an extent while deployed, a Marine usually has lunch from 11:00 to 13:00 or so. The average Marine is not at the food court on base, he or she is either running again, weight training, or doing a combination of weights and aerobic training. Generally 2 to 3 times the amount of organized training. But what have we been hearing here, the Corporal, the Sergeant, the Adjutant is abusive. Did you ever stop to consider that on the battlefield any unit is only as strong as its weakest member? The Legion has it right, "March or Die!" This is harsh for some of you snowflakes to understand, but is necessary!
2nd, Oh, so you complete your Kepi March, Graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, All Marines know Marines are Made at San Diego and Female Marines at Parris Island, inside joke, and now you are a damned Field Marshall and ready foe command and authority, HA! I will show that dumbass Russian Sergeant or whatever nationality he is how it is done. Listen to me, you are a DUMBASS, HEED THIS, YOUR SKULL IS MUSH AND IT IS BEING FORMED. Why oh why do we have to sweep the parade deck, why do we have to march and learn the Legion and Unit Cadence? It is for discipline! It is not meant to make you happy and all feel good inside. Drill (Marching) is PURE DISCIPLINE! Things like by the Left Flank or Column Movements have their roots in ancient combat, think of the Napoleon era soldier or a Civil War Soldier, those Drill Commands were and still are COMBAT MANEUVERS. Even the worst NCO has something to offer to the formation of your military bearing, and the most favorite NCO is not doing you any favors by letting you slide, he is grooming you for failure, you are just to damned stupid to know it yet and you want to quit and renege on your contract because it is hard. If you do quit, you will one day and I absolutely know you will hate yourself for quitting, see your commitment through to the end. Go home or reenlist, but do so with your honor.
3rd and Final Diatribe, EVERYDAY IS NOT WHAT YOU IMAGINE MILITARY LIFE TO BE. There is the hurry up and wait routine. Example, if there is Battalion Formation at 06:00 that means your squad, your platoon and your Company will have already determined and be ready to report at exactly 06:00 to the Battalion Sergeant's Major Command Report! Company A, All Accounted for. This means if you arrive any later than 05:30 we would consider you UA, Unauthorized Absence. The Barracks have to be clean, you live in a community environment, your mom is not there to pick up after you, you can not live like a damned animal. There will be mundane things that have to be done. Weapons maintenance, vehicle maintenance, uniform inspections, and the list is never ending. You are not there to play Legionnaire or Marine, you are there to be one and all it entails. How much time do you aspirants think it takes to get all of those outstanding legionnaires to look perfect in uniform, to march down the Champs-Élysées avenue, and to hear the roaring expression of the crowd "Vive la Légion étrangère!" You are the main event, and you will forever remember it until you die.
Don't F it up! You will have more regret than you even know is humanely possible!
I will leave it at this. Most Marines have had someone from the Army, Navy, or Air Force come up to us and say "you know, I was going to join the Marine Corps... But"
I know Legionnaires hear the same.
Aspirants, be a man, honor your commitment. Military service is not FOR ALL; however, your word is and if you pledge to do so, honor your contract and the Legionnaires that have lead the way since the 1800s. It takes a special breed to be a Legionnaire. You have it in you, you have to choose to want it, work at it, and succeed. Because, if you do not learn the values life is going to chew you up and shit you out for sure.
Semper Fidelis
1st, weight Training, Running, and other forms of physical training. Yes, there are drug problems in every military unit in the world. Some worse than other, some drugs a blind eye is turned; however, drugs like meth, crack, or other drugs have a very real impact on the person, the unit, and the service in general. Others, steroids, seem to not have the hard eye looking at it. If the steroid use becomes a problem, discipline, or it manifest itself in other deleterious ways it has to be addressed. Weight Training, Strength Training, Endurance, and other forms of Physical Training are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. It is the NCO, the senior legionnaire Officer that know this well, COMBAT TAKES IN ORDINATE AMOUNTS OF STAMINA AND STRENGTH. As I am sure it is the same in the Legion, there is Organized PT for the Squad, Platoon, Battalion, and Regiment; however, that PT is more motivational and for Esprit de Corps. The individual has to do their part, a much larger part to become the warrior required. Everyday in the Marine Corps, Garrison time and to an extent while deployed, a Marine usually has lunch from 11:00 to 13:00 or so. The average Marine is not at the food court on base, he or she is either running again, weight training, or doing a combination of weights and aerobic training. Generally 2 to 3 times the amount of organized training. But what have we been hearing here, the Corporal, the Sergeant, the Adjutant is abusive. Did you ever stop to consider that on the battlefield any unit is only as strong as its weakest member? The Legion has it right, "March or Die!" This is harsh for some of you snowflakes to understand, but is necessary!
2nd, Oh, so you complete your Kepi March, Graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, All Marines know Marines are Made at San Diego and Female Marines at Parris Island, inside joke, and now you are a damned Field Marshall and ready foe command and authority, HA! I will show that dumbass Russian Sergeant or whatever nationality he is how it is done. Listen to me, you are a DUMBASS, HEED THIS, YOUR SKULL IS MUSH AND IT IS BEING FORMED. Why oh why do we have to sweep the parade deck, why do we have to march and learn the Legion and Unit Cadence? It is for discipline! It is not meant to make you happy and all feel good inside. Drill (Marching) is PURE DISCIPLINE! Things like by the Left Flank or Column Movements have their roots in ancient combat, think of the Napoleon era soldier or a Civil War Soldier, those Drill Commands were and still are COMBAT MANEUVERS. Even the worst NCO has something to offer to the formation of your military bearing, and the most favorite NCO is not doing you any favors by letting you slide, he is grooming you for failure, you are just to damned stupid to know it yet and you want to quit and renege on your contract because it is hard. If you do quit, you will one day and I absolutely know you will hate yourself for quitting, see your commitment through to the end. Go home or reenlist, but do so with your honor.
3rd and Final Diatribe, EVERYDAY IS NOT WHAT YOU IMAGINE MILITARY LIFE TO BE. There is the hurry up and wait routine. Example, if there is Battalion Formation at 06:00 that means your squad, your platoon and your Company will have already determined and be ready to report at exactly 06:00 to the Battalion Sergeant's Major Command Report! Company A, All Accounted for. This means if you arrive any later than 05:30 we would consider you UA, Unauthorized Absence. The Barracks have to be clean, you live in a community environment, your mom is not there to pick up after you, you can not live like a damned animal. There will be mundane things that have to be done. Weapons maintenance, vehicle maintenance, uniform inspections, and the list is never ending. You are not there to play Legionnaire or Marine, you are there to be one and all it entails. How much time do you aspirants think it takes to get all of those outstanding legionnaires to look perfect in uniform, to march down the Champs-Élysées avenue, and to hear the roaring expression of the crowd "Vive la Légion étrangère!" You are the main event, and you will forever remember it until you die.
Don't F it up! You will have more regret than you even know is humanely possible!
I will leave it at this. Most Marines have had someone from the Army, Navy, or Air Force come up to us and say "you know, I was going to join the Marine Corps... But"
I know Legionnaires hear the same.
Aspirants, be a man, honor your commitment. Military service is not FOR ALL; however, your word is and if you pledge to do so, honor your contract and the Legionnaires that have lead the way since the 1800s. It takes a special breed to be a Legionnaire. You have it in you, you have to choose to want it, work at it, and succeed. Because, if you do not learn the values life is going to chew you up and shit you out for sure.
Semper Fidelis
