Ten years ago I left active service in the Marine Corps

[Recursion]

I still had a reserve commitment which mostly entailed getting people shipped off to their appropriate location (logistics: it's never out of fashion) but this date was it for my official active service. That was a decade ago. The Marines I lost were even beyond a decade ago. I guess that's how time happens.

Anyways. The invasion of Iraq commenced on 19 March 2003, 11 years and one week ago. 11 years and 2 weeks ago I was protesting against the upcoming war along with a lot of people. But, as a Corporal of Marines who believed (and believes) in the civilian control of the military, when it came down to it, orders were orders. Anyways.

I still do believe in the Marine Corps. It's an organization that changed and saved my life. I love that recruiting requirements' most common wavers come from the Marine Corps, and specifically come for criminal conduct. The Commandant in 1999 once said to me "I met a recruit in boot camp who said he had never thrown a punch in his life. We have to fix that." I do agree. But it's a fine line. While we don't want people who will commit atrocities in, we want people who know how to win a fight. But that said, America's streets are tough, and that's where our Marines should come from.

Anyways. Semper Fi, brothers and sisters. As my bumper sticker says, "Once a Marine: Once was Enough".

I still think there should be a Marine Corps, and that it should keep doing what it does. Women should be let in to the full arena of jobs just like blacks finally were. Because guess what? I guarantee every Marine in history would agree with this: when you're facing a combatant enemy, all I care about the person next to me is that he or she can put accurate rounds downrange. Eliminating female, gay, black, Jewish, whatever Marines from that calculus -- if they are able to do it better -- simply means you want Marines to die for your social opinions. The Marine Corps in WWII was one of the loudest to say "no, really, a lot of these black draftees are exactly what we need, and if you don't let them fight, more people than necessary will die". The Marine Corps doesn't care about your political agenda. It cares about winning battles.

I know that here the Marine Corps attracts some negative attention. I'm not someone who pretends the Marine Corps is perfect. It's not. Particularly regarding sexual assault they have followed the Army pattern of deferring to command rather than the Navy pattern of an unlimited request mast. But, my answer is, we have to fix that. Women who are Marines are my sisters, and I owe them that.

Anyways, this isn't about anything in particular. Just something of a statement about the Marine Corps that made me who I am.

[4Q2u2]

1. Semper Fi

The Corps has turned a lot of people's lives in a positive direction, I am glad that it was for you.
Not sure if you ever read this but pretty inspiring read.

http://www.centralfloridapva.org/WIM-11-2011/national%20director.html

R/



A SeaBee

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Thanks for that perspective.

I like the Smedley Butler quote.

"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."

[hack89]

3. I hauled a lot of Marines around the world when I was in the Navy

I have worked with every service and I have always enjoyed working with Marines the most.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Semper Fi from an Army vet

Captain, Infantry, retired. After only 4 1/2 years in. Partial disability retirement after Vietnam. Served as Rifle Platoon Leader, 2/501 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division VN '69-'70.

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Even if you were a jarhead.

[littlewolf]

5. Semper Fi from a retired sailor.

rode a bunch of Gators (among other platforms)
always enjoyed Marines.

[uncommonlink]

6. Semper Fi from a retired Army Ranger.

Met a lot of fine Marines during my time in the Army, great bunch of guys to have on your side when the shit hits the fan.