quote:

But why Iraq?

that's where the fighting is, that's where the Marines will go

middle east = sandbox or alternatively cat box

I think he means sand=middle east IG.

I don't think it is right to say that the people who fully know what they got into by joining are being questioned in this manner of way. They are making some sacrifices that we all should be proud of.

But why Iraq?

I guess you have to be pretty brave to do that - I don't think I could do a job if I had to get up every day wondering if I would live through it, or if the people I was working with would. I guess it just doesn't make sense to me that someone would volunteer for that, but I'm glad you are willing to.

quote:

the world's favorite sandbox

What?

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So what exactly was it that made you volunteer to go to Iraq? Does the thought of fighting scare you at all?

I joined the Marine Corps, by that simple act I volunteered to be in combat my entire career and it will be combat in some of the worst shit-holes in the world including the world's favorite sandbox

Sides even if I had the ability not to go how could I when my presence could save the life of my brothers-in-arms? how could I remain behind when the whole reason I signed up was to fight and die in defense of my loved ones and my beloved homeland?

The fighting in the end doesn't scare me, one my MOS is not a infantry job so I'm not pounding sand, I'm riding a helo all day dropping off the boys and providing airsupport. But even if I was, it's the job that I have receieved the best training in the United States military to do, I'm surrounded by high-moral, well trained, hyper-motivated men and women who want to be there and want to do the job to the best of there abilities.
Besides that point statistics wise Marines have the lowest casualty statistics of the ground combat involved military forces. So the number are on my side there.
In the end regardless of how I feel it's the job

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yeah, I volunteered

So what exactly was it that made you volunteer to go to Iraq? Does the thought of fighting scare you at all?

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You do know that you're going to Iraq

yeah, I volunteered

US Marines are like any other soldiers, mainly brainwashed killers, or sell outs who will kill people for money. Sorry.. that's how I perceive them.

Actually, you couldn't be more wrong. Our US military is highly TRAINED to be battle ready. Have you ever been to a military base? Have you ever seen a military DVD about the training our soldiers receive? Have you even talked to someone about what they learn and how they learn it? I highly dought it or you wouldn't be making statements like the one above.

What will you say when a war is brought on American soil and you are running for your life because some crazy person from some foreign land is trying to imprison you or kill you because you won't conform to his demands? That war is already here. It came in the form of jihad on a Tuesday known as 9/11. Unfortunately, for Americans we have our heads in the clouds and keep telling ourselves that no one can or will ever dare come to fight us here or be able to beat us on our own soil. I'll bet when some man straps a bomb to himself like the doctor in Glasgow did and tries to blow up innocent men, women, and children you won't mind the "brainwashed killers, or sell outs who will kill people for money" as you call them rescuing your butt from those fanatics of Islam who are told that they will receive 71 black-eyed beauties in heaven that will do what ever they want to them because they martyred themselves for Allah.

Wake up America! Muslims are buying up churches all over the world for millions of dollars more than what they are worth. Britain has a parallel government to their own - a Muslim government. Do you think it can't happen here? The Australian Prime Minister gave Islam the boot. That's what the US should do, but we are too politically correct. There's an Islamic internet site that states that in three more elections there will be enough Muslim teens turning 18 in the US that they (Islam) will be able to put a Muslim in our Presidential office. Do you really want someone like Hilter as our president? Because that is what we will get. Do the research. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines as we know them won't exist if this is achieved. We will have someone far worse than Saddam Hussein and Hilter combined and we will no longer be free to make any statements like the one you made or the ones I"m making.

So instead of ripping on our military, start thanking them for keeping you free to speak your mind.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR MILITARY BRANCHES!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!

P.S. Ampmaster...I'm praying for you. You do know that you're going to Iraq, right? My son left for Iraq barely 2 months after basic. He's in the "Triangle of Death", just north of Baghdad...He's Army, but he knows you are all on the same team...USA's.

When I think of marines I think of people who can handle a lot of shit. Marines are always stuck in the worse areas. They are strong in more than one way.

Okay. On one hand, I don't like the idea of people going out and solving problems by killing others, but it's nice to know they are protecting us. I had absolutely no idea there was a difference between the Army and the Marines - it's all the same to me. A bunch of guys with guns all shoot at each other. I realize that's not really how it is, but that's how I picture it.

quote:

My
Ass
Rides
In
Navy
Equipment

Damn straight, US Navy: world's most expensive taxi cab

You know what marine stands for?

My
Ass
Rides
In
Navy
Equipment

I work with marines, well the airwing marines at least. Only problem is that some people (usually the upper echelon) forget that they are not on the ground side and that the airwing is a totally different mentality. But then again they do say "Once a marine, always a marine". I just cant stand their hair cuts

All joking aside, I really respect anyone brave enough to join any branch of the armed forces. Being willing to risk your life to protect the others is a amazing.

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I'm sure the Royal Marines would kick their assess though

we should run some war games and find out, it would be intresting to see who's marines are best

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Sorry.. that's how I perceive them.

Don't be, different opinions especially from our international community are what I was looking for

US Marines are like any other soldiers, mainly brainwashed killers, or sell outs who will kill people for money. Sorry.. that's how I perceive them.

From what I have seen on popular TV and films is a sense of superiority of the US marines over the army, the army guys being poked fun at by the marines and so on.

Outside of films however I have little idea what they do differently to the army. I'm sure the Royal Marines would kick their assess though

if you do want an example of all the armed forces combined you want to speak with the Marines, they have their own: tanks, troops, aircraft, artillery, ships, special forces, etc

Nope, the Army is its own thing. All of them put together (Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard) make up the armed forces of the United States, which is probably what you were thinking of.

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To me, they're just soldiers. Yes, their uniforms are fancier than, say, the Army, and they have swords, but I've never really seen a difference between the Marines and the Army.

Wait, they aren't the same thing? I thought the army was just, like, all of the army-things-people-ish-stuff (Marines, navy, air force, etc.) put together...

*smacks forhead*

I'll share my own perception now

On some level I've always hero-worshiped the whole US military establishment (jokes on airforce/navy besides) but I've always viewed the marines as a step above, the "best and the brightest" and from the 8th grade or so on I dedicated myself to meeting that highest standard, The Marines were always different, the army, navy, and airforce invited you to join, the Marines challenged you to join and I've take that challenge, we'll see if I'm up to the task

To me, they're just soldiers. Yes, their uniforms are fancier than, say, the Army, and they have swords, but I've never really seen a difference between the Marines and the Army. Of course, I'm speaking from a primarily Air Force background (both my parents were children of AF officers), so that might explain why I group the two together.