Weapons Platoon

[Hudson]

In a bit of "Finally, it's about damn time news", our Squadrons two Weapons Platoons were formed today.

For the moment, as the highest ranking Marine, I am the Platoon Sgt for the Head Quarters Company Weapons Platoon. There will most likely be higher ranking (Time in Grade) Cpl's and Sgt's coming in, and I will get the boot. But for now it's me and my team of Ultimate Bad Asses.

Tomorrow we draw our weapons, and get some familiarization. Thursday we hump a few miles with them. Monday we start exercises and drills. On the 16th we do live fire, and get to blow some shit up. We have a Mk19 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, two M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Guns, two M240G medium machine guns, and 6 (including myself) m249 machine gunners. And live ammo for all.

And don't be surprised if I have a black eye or something in the pictures. Tomorrow we are boxing for our Grey Belt Martial Arts class. Marines, given permission to pound the crap out of each other. It should be a fun day! :lol:

I will be taking plenty of videos and pictures, and plan on sharing.

[PanzerMeyer]

"fuc*ing hardcore man...hardcore". ---- Full Metal Jacket.

[KODIAK]

Yeah? Well don't forget to pick the biggest, baddest mother you can find! That way, when you get the crap beaten out of ya, cos you probably will, at least everyone will think you're still bad ass for taking on the biggest bad ass around! You may not even get the choice, LOL:! :shock: :lol:

[PanzerMeyer]

That way, when you get the crap beaten out of ya, cos you probably will, at least everyone will think you're still bad ass for taking on the biggest bad ass around! You may not even get the choice, LOL:! :shock: :lol:

Hudson is part of the USMC. Therefore, he will never come across anyone or any other organization who will beat the crap out of him.

[KODIAK]

Oh really? That's rather dillusional don't you think?! And I refuse to mention any names! :roll:

[Grifter]

Yes, something tells the HMS Royal Army may take exception to that boistrous claim. hehe. Hey Hudson, glad to see you're finally having some fun at your new job. I know you're psyched man. Awesome.

[KODIAK]

Her Majesty's British (and Commonwealth - must be PC of course! :lol: )Army please! And of course we do - take exception that is.
But I was actually referring to the activity he was doing, and referencing what we used to refer to as 'milling'. Usually during a PT session every now and then (during what you guys might refer to as 'beat-up' - basic training to us Brits), which at the time was 4 months for us, and we weren't even infantry! There would be a milling session, where two soldiers would be pitted against each other, bare fists and crack on. Sometimes it was own best mate, sometimes and in most for me it was about the biggest guy in the platoon. I shat a brick every time, it was all about personal courage they said, it was blatant stupidity in IMHO! If I bumped into that guy on the street, and I wasn't carrying a weapon - there'd be a blinding flash of blue light, a large cloud of smoke, and I would be GONE! :shock: :lol:
But it IS nice to see someone who is enthusiastic about wearing a uniform - over here there is a lack of pride in general, more amongst the younger ones who are still learning to appreciate what the uniform should really be about. Some of them will never learn. But that is the new soldier bred by a society which is in danger of losing all that previous generations have fought and died to preserve for the future.

[PanzerMeyer]

Great post Kodiak. Not trying to be flattering in any way but you simply made some great points in your post. All of which I happen to agree with!

[Hudson]

Yes Yes, The Cpl I went up against was big; much bigger than me, and mostly beat me about the head and ears. I learned a valuable lesson: Some people are bigger.

But then again next week is a new lesson: Crew served weapons are the great equalizer. :shock: :lol:

[KODIAK]

I learned a valuable lesson: Some people are bigger

Very true mate - but usually you'll find that the bigger the individual, the bigger their weak point, or the more numerous. Defences are always probed to discover weak points on which to focus the main assault. But like I said, given the choice, I'd be "avoiding the confrontation", a tactical withdrawal :shock:
Oh yes, we do like balancing the odds . . . . . :lol:

[PanzerMeyer]

But then again next week is a new lesson: Crew served weapons are the great equalizer. :shock: :lol:

LOL. So true. Not matter how big and strong you are, well directed/suppresive machine-gun fire will always win in the end.

[KODIAK]

Yes, suppressive fire is a winner!! Problem is someone needs to tell the AI that suppressive fire is actually scarey, and they shouldn't be so damn suicidal!! :roll:

[Hudson]

You mistake me Kodiak. I do not have much enthusiasm when it comes to this uniform. I enjoy a lot of the more physical aspects of what I do. The martial arts, the getting my ass beat by a 200+ lbs. bubba, the wrestling, firing my rifle and crew served weapons. There is something that makes you feel distinctly alive when you do these things.

I have a complete lack of respect for the United States military. I have seen multiple counts on all cases with my own eyes, cheating, adultery, staff nco's and nco's fraternizing with anywhere from pvt's-lcpl's, sgt's and cpl's buying alcohol for marines not of age, blatant disrespect towards superior NCO's, SNCO's, and Officers, and on, and on, and on. My Sgt is among the worst, having been a party to every single one of the offenses I mentioned above. Some offenses are on the books too. And the worst part is, he doesn't even hold a candle to the sgt that just left.

I don't know what the Marine Corps once was, but today it is complete rubbish. Based on the experiences my wife has shared with me the Navy is the same.

My wife called me up practically in tears because a Petty Officer was trying to tell her she cannot wear her engagement ring, which is utter bullshit, and NOT, a Navy regulation. A wedding ring, and engagement ring can be worn by a woman, and that does not even count against the one ring they are permitted on each hand. Why is my wife being harrased about something as sacred as that.

Now, I usually keep mum about the things in the Marine Corps that I do not agree with. I believe that silence and action are the best approach, not doing those things that I do not agree with, and trying to make a positive impact without showing the services ass. But I have had a particularly BS weekend, and am in no mood to call it in any way, but the way it is.

As it is I am to see the doctor sometime soon, and I can only hope that my stomach is as F'ed up as I think it is, because I will about be discharged faster than it can make my head spin. I could only hope for such a blessing.

[KODIAK]

Obviously I DO! Which means you should get out of it as soon as possible.
However, adultery is as widespread in civvy street as it is anywhere in the military - it just isn't quite so obvious, nor is it noticed so easily. Let alone the rumour mill! Which has been the cause of many a good marriage that's broken up, never mind the talk of what was actually going on.
Actually if you have such a medical problem, you should be wishing to be well and healthy, never mind anything else. I'd do another 22 years in the army if I could release myself from the sheer worry of cancer. There is no comparison.

[Hammer]

all that stuff is everywhere. it is not just the corps, the navy, or the military. like Kodiak said, it is rife in the civilian world as well. i think one reason adultery stands out in the military is the absence of one partner from another - which makes adultery fairly easy to hide. i was a victim of it during my time when i was on border tours in the cold war, as well as when i was stationed at ft knox. you can do nothing except keep yourself out of it. everyone gets what is coming to them in the end. it may seem like it takes a long time, but it happens...on both counts - good and bad.

however, i do not get the disrespect thing. how is that tolerated? it never was in the Army. maybe it is the MOS, since it is not combat arms? i have observed very relaxed standards in non-combat MOS'es in the Army.

and any NCO with article 15's on the books would not go anywhere much beyond E5 in the Army. ever.

[Hudson]

Except that these people raise their right hand and promise to stand proud as the representative of the nation. They choose to stand on the higher morale ground, and live by a code. And you're damn right that a lot of the stuff goes on in the civilian world, as I have seen it in corporate environments as well. But those in the military knew what they were signing up for, and should have had the foresite to realize that in a lot of cases it was going to straight suck.

My problem isn't so much with the military. My problem is the people in positions of authority commiting these offsense, and those in higher positions of authority turning a blind eye. I am sick and tired of it. I have met some good people, and am grateful for that. By far and large though, they are scumbags. And as I said (and no I do not care to discuss it) some things transpired, and I have finally reached my wits end.

[KODIAK]

I'm not going to ask you to discuss anything - what yopu want to say you'll undoubtedly type, and that which remains untyped, remains unknown. The only meat I have with people in those positions is that they profess one thing and do another, nothing more. One rule for them and one rule for anyone else. But joining the military doesn't place anyone on higher moral ground, representing their nation or otherwise.

[Hudson]

I disagree with that. At least as far as the United States military and especially the Marine Corps is concerned, we are supposed to live by a code of moral and ethical conduct beyong reproach.

http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/corp_values.htm
"Honor requires each Marine to exemplify the ultimate standard in ethical and moral conduct."

I have calmed down a bit since I lost my damn mind with the events of this weekend, but I am routinely reminded that the majority of people I am surrounded by think the Marine Corps is a brother/sisterhood, more akin to a fraternity/sorority, than the brotherhood that it is supposed to be. We are supposed to be above reproach. And we are not. That needs fixing. And I work on it, but sometimes I feel like myself and my wife are the only ones living to that higher standard.



[/b]

[KODIAK]

EVERYONE on the damn planet is supoposed to live by a code of moral and ethical conduct, but the military use it as bloody sales pitch my friend. That is not to say, there are NOT those among us who DO live by the word of honour we swore by, for I am one of those. There are those who spread the good word, do the deed that sees another right, protect the innocents and so on. But whilst we do so, others around us are employing underhand tactics to achieve their own aims - stealing from the poor because they daren't try it with someone who can fight back, backstabbing their own colleagues to get one step ahead, it's all part of life unfortunately. My advice to you is only the following - do unto others as they would have done unto you - but do it FIRST!! Nevermind that it came from the bible, it's true enough - if someone gives you a fair crack of the whip, honour that by giving them the same opportunity. If you see some f*$k-wit who'd sell your soul for the price of penny caramel, screw him over before he does it to you!! :shock: A harsh reality, but the truth.

[Hudson]

First pictures here. I'll take some pictures Thursday when we fire on the range Thursday. Those should be a little more exciting than static pictures of us goofing off before getting the day started.

http://www.montleon.com/images/weaponfamiliarization