If it came across that I was just coasting through school, I apologize. By using my G.I. bill, I am essentially getting paid to go to school, so I treat that as my job and go at it full force. I say "clear the hurdle" because that's kinda how I see this situation, as a stepping stone to something better. I'm definitely enjoying my time so far though, hell I'm the only guy in my apartment building and I'm surrounded by hot sorority girls, which is a definite change from looking for scraps around Navy bases. As far as the E-5 jobs go, I really have no interest in what they are offering me right now, and that's why I didn't immediately sign up after I was discharged from the Navy. I'm sure the lists that the recruiters are getting are MOS's that are struggling to get filled and they are told to offer those to prior service first, just like they try to get new recruits into certain slots. I've always been suspicious that the recruiters are keeping information from me, hell I almost expect it, and that they'll tell me just what I want to hear. They told me that a guy went down recently and ended up with a job that wasn't on that list, but there is no way I would go to MEPS on a hope and prayer that they will offer me what I want. I'm not going to piss everyone off by showing up and then turning down their offers, that helps no one, especially me. So I'm content with going to school and waiting it out for now. If they happen to loosen up on the prior service, then I'll be the first one to check it out. I do appreciate all the advice you guys give and will always take it into account, so thanks again.
If SOF is what you are interested in, I'd recommend contacting the recruiters for whatever unit you are interested in directly. They have WAY more sway over what can happen than the folks down at your local strip mall, and if they think you've got what it takes, they'll get you a slot. Their phone numbers can be easily found online.
A question Ive always wanted to know (last time I posted on TiB it was in a thread that had ran its coarse and no one answered properly). How the fuck do infantry or anyone for that matter fight around loud gunfire and enormous explosions all the time without going deaf? I get heavy ringing in my ear if I go without earplugs shooting .22 pistols, my left ear is still fucked up from shooting a deer with a .44 magnum when I was 17 with out an earplug. Do you stuff your ears with cotton? If so, how do you communicate during a fire fight? Television and movies have never actually covered this to my knowledge....
Most people wear ear plugs. Where I work, everyone carries a radio, and everyone wears these, which are awesome. You can hear clear as day when you are wearing them, they protect your ears, and the act as a communications headset.
During the start of both wars, no one wore anything. We decided it was more important to be able to hear each other, rather than protect our hearing. All we had back then were really shitty ear plugs. Now there is a wide range of options I personally wear surefire earplugs they are about $13 a pair, and I haven't found anything yet that will ring my bell when I have them in. There is also I new model of them that allows you to plug them into a radio. It works fairly well. Much better than the bulky muffs that make your ears sweat, and give you a headache after a day of wearing them. http://www.surefire.com/EA50-Electronic-Ear-Coil
On and off again I use the Silynx system, and it's okay... but I'm not 100% impressed with the mic performance. It's way more comfortable than Peltors under a MICH helmet, but most of the time I just wear an Opscore cutout anyways, so it doesn't really matter.
This. We use Comtacs, as well as an internal group radio. Within the section we usually just shout during a fire-fight though, since the comtacs allow you to hear normally while blocking out the harmful noise. Normal earplugs work, but you have to have a group that has trained together for a while for it to work effectively in my experience. Despite whatever ear protection you wear, you're going to need to use simple and effective ways of communicating in the situation you described. As a section leader, for example, that sometimes means crawling up to someone, grabbing hold of their leg and pointing, or using tracer rounds/flares to direct fire, gesticulating with your rifle, using hand signals, etc.
Haven't posted in a while....but I'm currently a little over 3 months into a year-long deployment in Afghanistan (Army intelligence). Any questions, fire away.
This MAY be an off topic question, but is there a US Marine dress uniform that involves a kilt? I saw a whole bunch of guys the other day in what looked to me to be Marine uniforms... except instead of the blue slacks.. blue kilt. All the more confusing because it was night, COLD, and quite frankly I've never seen such a thing before. And google has failed me for the first time ever. Can anyone clear this up? Note: It is possible I am mistaken about them being Marines, but I do live near a naval base which would lead me to believe such.
According to the Coast Guard Pipe Band... Members of the Coast Guard Pipe Band wear the uniform and insignia to which they are entitled as active duty, reserve, retired, or Auxiliary members of the Coast Guard or honorably discharged war time veterans of the Coast Guard, as specified in the Coast Guard Uniform Regulations (COMDTINST 1020.6 series) and Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual, modified for wear with the kilt as set forth in the Coast Guard Pipe Band Uniform Regulations. ... the modern era has seen official recognition of U.S. Army pipe bands wearing uniform kilts with U.S. military uniforms organized by the 2nd infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 8th Infantry Division, the 31st infantry Division, the 42nd Infantry Division, and the Sixth Army. The U.S. Army currently recognizes the right of members of the pipe bands of 191st Army Band, U.S. Army Reserve; 59th Army Band, California National Guard; and Oregon National Guard Reserve to wear kilts of a prescribed pattern with their Army uniforms. The U.S. Air Force Pipe Band wore their uniform kilts with articles of U.S. Air Force uniform at the White House and when performing through out the 1960's as does the U.S. Air Force Reserve Pipe Band today. Moreover, the official uniform regulations of all the Armed Forces recognize uniforms worn by members of bands as a "special uniform situation." For example, the red jackets worn by members of the Marine Corps Band have no parallel in the uniforms worn by other members of the Marine Corps and, therefore, would be "civilian clothes" if not prescribed as part of their uniform by the uniform regulations. Members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Bands as well as members of the U.S. Coast Guard Band are also authorized to wear articles of uniform and insignia that differ significantly from those prescribed in their respective uniform regulations for other members of their service.
Definitely dudes, definitely kilts. If I had to venture a guess, might they be part of a marching band or something? Scootah edit: Coast guard academy is also extremely close by, so this sounds like a reasonable conclusion.
Our Marine Corps ball was Saturday for most of the country...but I don't know of any kilts making it into the dress code.
I was a piper in our military band while at military college, and was entitled/allowed to wear Scottish formal wear to our mess dinners and balls. I don't remember it being in the official dress code, but as a band supplementary to the dress code. I have to say, though, wearing a kilt was fucking awesome.