I just googled "National Guard Bootcamp" and learned it lasted 9 weeks, and was actually Army bootcamp. Peeps in the thread I hit were bragging though about how really infantry training counts so really it is a lot longer.... if we are adding additional combat training, add 4 weeks of "Marine Combat Training" that every Marine gets after Phase 3, and 10 days of leave. Just like boot camp except your weekends are usually your own time. You still spend monday through friday of every week in the field training. Fired lots more guns, played lots more wargames, spent most nights on a hillside on the ground.
So if we're adding that, call it 16 weeks of basic training for the Marine Corps.
But then the infantry guys get another 6 weeks or so of infantry training. But I don't count that because from MCT I went to 6 weeks of computer entry training, and that was just a drunken party punctuated by 5 mile runs.
But since Guard basic is army basic, now I am just picturing Sgt Hulka and Stripes. That's a fact, jack.
Marines are going to try scopes in Basic
When I was in training, we heard that the air force didn't even issue M-16s!
In basic, no. Once you get to your base, it depends on your job. Also, if you're at certain bases or in combat areas, everyone gets a gun. You are still required to get weapons training, even if you're not carrying one every day.
P.S. We're also the branch with the most jobs that directly equal civilian sector jobs...so yeah, we suck.
The joke about the air force in Marine basic was in the 4 weeks of air force basic, the most important thing you learned was how to fold your underwear.
When we made fun of the army guys it was because they got medals for throwing a hand grenade.
Navy guys were just all gay.
Our jokes were:
Marines - "Body bag fillers", and lots of jokes about their intelligence.
Army - Professional parade marchers and security guards. Most people in the army were there instead of prison.
Navy - Yep, all gay. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!!) There were also a lot of jokes about them being delivery boys since they carry the Marines everywhere.
Coast Guard - Shallow water cowboys
Air Force - Yeah, we're the nerds, but what's wrong with that? Our special forces go through the same training as Navy Seals, and our toys are far more l33t than your toys.
In regards to basic, it's a lot of physical training, screaming, etc., but not to the level of the Marines or the Army. Although, we're probably in line with the Navy. The whole point is to get you to learn how to deal with stress, how to follow and give orders, and pay attention to detail.
Believe it or not, we had someone go AWOL, lost a guy due to lies at MEPS, and lost some folks due to medical (I think one was discharged and one had to sit around and wait for another flight after he healed), but not in the ways Gordon details. Of course, we also had a sister flight. A large group of girls right across the hall, which made basic a lot more interesting.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Ya, 1 or 2 weeks of gear and basic military skills (boots, marching, beds, etc) and 8 weeks of actual training. We had a pit (saw dust and sand) and our q-tips sound like the same as yours. I just couldn't remember the name. We fought one on one in the pit for 3 rounds. First round, I knocked the other guys stick aside and came across his head with the butt end of my stick. Took his helmet off. However, I wasn't fast enough and also got stabbed. Second and third round, he'd just kept jabbing at me to keep me away and eventually his jab would touch me resulting in a 'kill'. But my point is, the eye gouging, boot stomping, anything that's gonna hurt is a weapon kind of fighting you mention would be reality. I doubt ANYTHING covered in basic is going to come into play. It's going to come down to who has the stronger survival instinct. Running drills and playing with 40lb q-tips isn't going to teach you that. Not in a couple of weeks.
We also had a steam room. Heat on full blast, windows closed, PT in full BDU. That was when we were bad. Worst night was after one steam room session, a DI found a live M-16 round on the floor. So, back we went. Over and over trying to get someone to confess. No one ever did.
We marched with full packs as well, but not in sand. I don't remember the distance either. But I do remember the hills. Had the same classes, tests, punishments when you fell asleep, etc.
I do remember the differences from when I started to when I finished. Starting out, packs full of equipment and marching to the barracks. Was the hardest thing I'd ever done. They were so heavy and I couldn't see how they expected us to do it. By the end, making the same march, it was like walking through the mall on a Saturday afternoon. I couldn't believe how big of a pussy I was that first day. Basic training was the best thing I ever did for myself. And I've always said, I learned more about myself, the world and how real life works in 8 weeks at Fort Knox than I did in 4.5 years of college.
But ya, I still think scopes are good. It's the next natural progression for the weapon. You can't stop improving on it just so the kids don't stray too far from the 'basics'.
Oh, and until just now, I always thought the 'no M-16 for the Air Force' was just a joke. I never actually believed it!! No girls in sight until AIT (skill training), and even then, we were separated, but could intermingle at chow and whatnot. No classes together. And I knew the other stuff about transferable skills, etc. I was just going for the college money. I pumped gas for the NG. Which, technically is somewhat transferable to real life as well! And honestly, I went NG because I had a friend in it already. Otherwise, I'd have been ANG in Toledo. As it was, I was Air Cavalry in NG. I loved flying shit. Still do.
I got to fire live M-60 rounds from a helicopter at old rusty cars. Fun.
Edited By Cakedaddy on 1310416088
We also had a steam room. Heat on full blast, windows closed, PT in full BDU. That was when we were bad. Worst night was after one steam room session, a DI found a live M-16 round on the floor. So, back we went. Over and over trying to get someone to confess. No one ever did.
We marched with full packs as well, but not in sand. I don't remember the distance either. But I do remember the hills. Had the same classes, tests, punishments when you fell asleep, etc.
I do remember the differences from when I started to when I finished. Starting out, packs full of equipment and marching to the barracks. Was the hardest thing I'd ever done. They were so heavy and I couldn't see how they expected us to do it. By the end, making the same march, it was like walking through the mall on a Saturday afternoon. I couldn't believe how big of a pussy I was that first day. Basic training was the best thing I ever did for myself. And I've always said, I learned more about myself, the world and how real life works in 8 weeks at Fort Knox than I did in 4.5 years of college.
But ya, I still think scopes are good. It's the next natural progression for the weapon. You can't stop improving on it just so the kids don't stray too far from the 'basics'.
Oh, and until just now, I always thought the 'no M-16 for the Air Force' was just a joke. I never actually believed it!! No girls in sight until AIT (skill training), and even then, we were separated, but could intermingle at chow and whatnot. No classes together. And I knew the other stuff about transferable skills, etc. I was just going for the college money. I pumped gas for the NG. Which, technically is somewhat transferable to real life as well! And honestly, I went NG because I had a friend in it already. Otherwise, I'd have been ANG in Toledo. As it was, I was Air Cavalry in NG. I loved flying shit. Still do.
I got to fire live M-60 rounds from a helicopter at old rusty cars. Fun.
Edited By Cakedaddy on 1310416088
Ooooohhh that reminds me.Cakedaddy wrote:We also had a steam room. Heat on full blast, windows closed, PT in full BDU. That was when we were bad. Worst night was after one steam room session, a DI found a live M-16 round on the floor. So, back we went. Over and over trying to get someone to confess. No one ever did.
During Phase 2 we qualified in the gas chamber.
Wasn't a huge deal.... we just learned all about the gas masks we had been carrying around, learned how to live in them for long periods, how to change the cartridges without inhaling gas and dying, etc, culminating with a trip into the gas chamber.
First they marched us into the active chamber with our masks on, to show us that the masks WILL work and to give us confidence in using them.
Then they had us remove masks, take a deep breath of the CS gas, and whoever panics gets their asses kicked and we all have to stand in there breathing it until the spaz calms down. Fortunately nobody spazzed, and we all breathed deep for a few minutes, all of our respiratory mucous membranes in overdrive trying to handle the gas molecules.
When we exited the chamber we all had snot-cicles. And yes, I now know I can stay calm if I get tear gassed.
Anyway, here's the funny part: we speed march back to the barracks, a mile or two... and the DIs take us into the shower room and turn on the hot water spigots, getting it nice and steamy. Now, don't get excited guys, it isn't gaysexual... but they had us strip off our cami tops, and shake real hard... the CS gas molecules that had been clinging to our clothes went free, and we were gas-chambering all over again except now in a steam chamber getting yelled at and bent and no masks.
Good times.
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