I graduate college and commission in the Marine Corps as a Second Liutenant, both on Sunday afternoon. Not sure if I'll have Internet access until then, so I figured I'd break the news to the JPF general audience now!
Of course, if you read my training log you'd already know this :p.
Hoping to go out Sunday night with some friends, wear my dress blues, and get free alcohol. I'll report in on Monday.
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"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
Location: Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on another, the Green Between...
Posts: 5,857
Then you better learn to spell it: lieutenant
KM--HUGE congratulations, brother...Corps Lt. is not something that comes easily, at all. You really need to post a pic in THE THREAD of yourself in the dress blues. Set a new standard for the rest of us.
:p I was in a hurry, it looked like it was going to rain before I got my run in. I can spell 'lieutenant' under most circumstances, I swear. I used to be in Spellbowl!
I'll be sure to make my first photo in THE THREAD one from the ceremony. Hopefully somebody from my family gets a good one.
Thanks to you too, Howie and JJ.
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"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
KM,
I was once asked if I was a Marine, because of my posture and fit appearance. I am not, but it was an honor to be asked that question. How proud you must be of your accomplishment. I wish you all the best.
Semper Fi, my friend.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
Congratulations, KM, on reaching this important goal you set for yourself. You deserve much praise both for so doing and for the service you are giving to your country. Enjoy your celebration.
Rob
__________________
"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right." - Henry Ford
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
Congrajulayshuns lootaynunt Dayun! (in my best Forrest Gump imitation)
Seriously though, that is really awesome. Make sure to take lots of pics. Just one of those events would make for a memorable day. Both on the same day almost seems like getting laid and winning the lottery on the same day!
km: What great news! Congratulations and best wishes. You should be proud. I am for you. What and where next?
Chris (and JP),
I get the summer off and at the end of August I'm driving out to the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia and spending 6 months there training. The training is a school that all new lieutenants attend, learning basic tactics, etc. In fact, one of the field exercises, so I've read, is infiltrating a real town in the area and supporting the "local authorities" in combating an insurgency in the town. Not sure how that'll work out, but I'm looking forward to it.
Then near the end of the 6 months, we put in a "wish list" of desired MOSs, then we get MOS assignment (most people get one of their top choices). Then I'll go to MOS training, wherever that is and for however long, then get assignment to my first duty station. Then I'm on regular active duty for 3-4 years, longer if I want.
BTW JP: good idea, I'll buy a lottery ticket on my way to the ceremony...
__________________
"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Then near the end of the 6 months, we put in a "wish list" of desired MOSs, then we get MOS assignment (most people get one of their top choices). Then I'll go to MOS training, wherever that is and for however long, then get assignment to my first duty station. Then I'm on regular active duty for 3-4 years, longer if I want.
Aviation is the way to go. Zulu model Cobras are some pretty nice birds.
Congrats and good luck. I am not a Marine, so I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but I am going to anyways. Welcome to the suck.
I get the summer off and at the end of August I'm driving out to the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia and spending 6 months there training. The training is a school that all new lieutenants attend, learning basic tactics, etc. In fact, one of the field exercises, so I've read, is infiltrating a real town in the area and supporting the "local authorities" in combating an insurgency in the town. Not sure how that'll work out, but I'm looking forward to it.
Then near the end of the 6 months, we put in a "wish list" of desired MOSs, then we get MOS assignment (most people get one of their top choices). Then I'll go to MOS training, wherever that is and for however long, then get assignment to my first duty station. Then I'm on regular active duty for 3-4 years, longer if I want.
BTW JP: good idea, I'll buy a lottery ticket on my way to the ceremony...
Ah, yes, I knew that about Quantico being next. Just forgot. I was jumping ahead to the next step. Have fun at Quantico!
Congradulations KM! And thanks for serving our country!
__________________ "I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
Way to go KM! I hope your not hurting to bad today. All you military men are doing us a favor. Keep it up. I promise not to complain about my desk job in the AC.
__________________
Past performance is not indicative of future success.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Re: free alcohol. I wish. I didn't see any of the people that I wanted to go out with after the graduation, so I didn't end up going out. However, me and my girlfriend went to dinner at Chili's after my graduation and I was still in my dress blues.
I ate very carefully (I was paranoid about dropping guacamole onto my coat) and when the waittress brought the check she said "this isn't your total" - pointing to $20 - "this is your total" - pointing to $10. They gave us a 50% discount for "uniformed officer." While I didn't complain about saving $10, it's hardly like I was protecting the restaurant like a cop would. Or maybe the waittress was just stupid and thought I was a cop.
I enjoyed noticing the female attention from fellow graduates and family members after the graduation ceremony .
__________________
"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
Aviation is the way to go. Zulu model Cobras are some pretty nice birds.
I have a ground officer contract. My eyes are horrible (20/200 right eye, 20/400 left), so even if I wanted to go aviation I would have to be an NFO and frankly that isn't all that appealing. I must admit though, the helo attack scene from Apocalypse Now is pretty cool.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beachhead
Congrats and good luck. I am not a Marine, so I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but I am going to anyways. Welcome to the suck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gobbla
enjoy your new world
Yeah, I'm trying not to think about the bad parts. Although I've been through OCS, I know it can and will get worse. Thanks gents.
__________________
"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
I was out of town this weekend, and didn't see this thread. Anyway, I'm glad to hear you had a good time. Hopefully, you can have a nice summer doing what you want to do before heading down to Virginia.
Congrats man. Very big accomplishment, but OCS, from what I hear, is where the real men step up--so do just that. What MOS are you thinking, if you don't mind me asking?
-Kevin
Congrats man. Very big accomplishment, but OCS, from what I hear, is where the real men step up--so do just that. What MOS are you thinking, if you don't mind me asking?
-Kevin
I went to OCS the past two summers, perhaps you're referring to TBS? I'm thinking about SIGINT maybe, but there's only a few (at most) slots for that per ~150 Lts. So who knows. Comm looks appealing too.
__________________
"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
I graduate/commission on Sunday!
attend, learning basic tactics, etc. In fact, one of the field exercises, so I've read, is infiltrating a real town in the area and supporting the "local authorities" in combating an insurgency in the town. Not sure how that'll work out, but I'm looking forward to it. 
"I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
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