Any of my fellow Marines get jealous on here?

2014-05-28T22:23:35-04:00

While I absolutely love being a Marine I sometimes get jealous of all the places (OCONUS) that members of the other services can be stationed. Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, England while we get Japan. Granted we do have MSG and MarForEur but those billets are hard to come by for the majority of folks.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 10:38 PM

2014-05-28T22:38:51-04:00

I know I'm not a Marine, but I'll admit to some jealousy of other branches duty OCONUS duty stations. I would love to spend time in England, but it's primarily Air Force, so it's like finding a needle not in a haystack, but a whole wheat field. And Korea from what I've seen is overrated. It's great if you're a young buck straight out of school, but from what I've seen the best way to come back from there as an E-5 is to go there as an E-6.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made May 28 at 2014 10:43 PM

2014-05-28T22:43:47-04:00

I spent all my time in the Marines in the Pacific region. After doing a WestPac my first deployment, i never had the desire to visit any European countries.

I am mostly glad I had a chance to see as much of the world as I did.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 11:47 PM

2014-05-28T23:47:25-04:00

Im currently at MSG school Ssgt just gotta get here, their are 22 SNCOs here in my class currently and thats a small class according to the school. Not only are we opening up new embassies but the marines have been asked to send more. they are wanting marines like you and me! RAH!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 12:14 AM

2014-05-29T00:14:49-04:00

Are you sure you are not just jealous of our sweet uniforms.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 10:09 AM

2014-05-29T10:09:22-04:00

But you guys get to vist all these wonderful ports while on liberty.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 7:48 PM

2014-05-29T19:48:03-04:00

So, if these words mean anything to you, you might be a Marine: "East coast, West coast, or Overseas?" ...and by overseas I mean Okinawa! :)

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made May 30 at 2014 1:42 PM

2014-05-30T13:42:29-04:00

Has Subic Bay Naval Base opened to Marines yet? I'm jealous that the Marines and Navy get to enjoy that place. I'm sure the base itself needs some work after so many years of being closed, but that seems like a nice place to be.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made May 30 at 2014 9:46 PM

2014-05-30T21:46:16-04:00

I wasn't a Marine, but I have fond memories of Okinawa and the 6922nd RGM at Kadena Air Base.

Response by Cpl Peter Martuneac made Oct 3 at 2014 1:05 PM

2014-10-03T13:05:45-04:00

All I wanted to do was go to war, and that's all I did haha. So no, not really jealous. Don't get me wrong, it'd be cool to go to some places, but honestly the fun would be severely hampered I think by being there as a military member and not just a tourist.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 6:31 AM

2017-01-24T06:31:46-05:00

cruises and Embassy duty do what you have to do

Response by Cpl Joshua Caldwell made Jan 24 at 2017 7:10 AM

2017-01-24T07:10:27-05:00

Yeah that is the ONLY downside to being a Marine is that Marine bases are usually built on land nobody else wanted, and our overseas posts suck compared to the other branches.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jan 24 at 2017 7:44 AM

2017-01-24T07:44:22-05:00

You mean you don't think Jacksonville NC, Oceanside CA and anywhere on Okinawa are world class duty stations?

Response by Cpl Bryan Clark made Jan 24 at 2017 8:22 AM

2017-01-24T08:22:53-05:00

I am more envious of the other branches opportunities to go to schools (Sapper, Airborne, etc) than duty stations. I know some people in the Army and they are envious of our duty stations because they are on the coast and in some instances my barracks room was a few hundred yards from the beach. While I do think that being stationed in Europe would be cool, nothing will beat my ship board time due to the fact that I felt linked to our history as Marines.

Response by LCpl James L. (Jim) Samuelson made Jan 24 at 2017 9:58 AM

2017-01-24T09:58:41-05:00

Ah yes, I remember being upset by the unfair distribution of OCONUS assignments but my Gunny told me that was because Marines go where the action is first. Action being defined as where we could be of maximum support to the Navy as their force that ensures the policies of the US can be implemented.
In other words he said Marines are amphibious enforcers that enable the fleet to function.
In my tour (71 to 81) I got to visit several scenic assignments - Camp Pendleton, Camp Hansen, Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Phnom Phen, Saigon, Futenma, Subic Bay and even Cubi Point.
As I understand it the potential OCONUS opportunities may constrict soon or they might expand that depends on the needs of our Leaders in WDC and the Fleet.

Response by LCpl James L. (Jim) Samuelson made Jan 24 at 2017 10:05 AM

2017-01-24T10:05:56-05:00

yes

Response by SSG Dr. John Bell, PhD. made Jan 24 at 2017 12:35 PM

2017-01-24T12:35:27-05:00

I loved my time in the Marine Corps; I got to see Vietnam on 3 different tours, Okinawa on separate tour, and Japan (Iwakuni) on separate tour. All in just 8 years. I jumped services and got to see Mcchord AFB while in USAF. Then finished my 20 years in US Army. Got to see Wash Dc, Germany, Fort Irwin for 2 years, and finally Fort Sill. Enjoyed all time I spent in the military. Met a great bunch of friends some of which I still have today.

Response by Cpl Rick Leonard made Jan 24 at 2017 1:43 PM

2017-01-24T13:43:41-05:00

Yes but your Title will carry you through life.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 7:19 PM

2017-01-24T19:19:13-05:00

Yes, there are other unknown places that Marine can deploy to but I can't tell you where. You just have to be in that particular unit at that given time. South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Iceland, Egypt, South America. You get my drift.

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 13 at 2017 9:12 PM

2017-02-13T21:12:24-05:00

interesting ...
i Spent 5 years in Okinawa and Japan... not to mention PI Thailand Korea... and Italy and all over the Med
Don't Feel discouraged or Jealous... hang in there...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2017 9:26 PM

2017-02-13T21:26:07-05:00

SSgt Gregory Guina I am not jealous. I volunteered for the road with more potholes. Marines are tough and do not need nice duty stations or comfort. I did go through Boot Camp and Field Radio Operator School in San Diego, which was nice, but you can not have too much nice.

Response by CPL Nikolai Pawlowic made Aug 1 at 2017 6:04 PM

2017-08-01T18:04:14-04:00

Well, at least you guys don't get to go to the ever so lovely installation of Fort Drum. XD

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Aug 1 at 2017 6:07 PM

2017-08-01T18:07:04-04:00

Funny I always thought if I had to do over I would have joined the Marines as a young guy for the adventure, then switched to AF as I got older.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Aug 2 at 2017 9:17 AM

2017-08-02T09:17:32-04:00

Not really. The Army moves their families around too much. In 20 Years I only had to move my family 3 times. That was hard enough on my kids.

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Aug 2 at 2017 10:28 AM

2017-08-02T10:28:04-04:00

Can't say I was ever jealous about anything other than chow.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2017 11:12 AM

2017-08-02T11:12:50-04:00

I don't know, Hawaii, Okinawa, and Japan sound pretty good to me.
So does Guam, Diego Garcia, and all those sweet embassy gigs.

Response by CPO John Magill made Aug 2 at 2017 7:28 PM

2017-08-02T19:28:42-04:00

As much as I respect the other branches I never wanted to be anything other than a Sailor.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2017 12:01 AM

2017-08-05T00:01:11-04:00

Being joint for part of my career I've had the privilege of working with other branches and even other countries. While there are things I hate about the Army, I think it has the most to offer for everyone. It has the most potential, and for that I'm glad I picked the Army.
I think most soldiers agree that we hate out uniforms and wish we had any other branches uniforms. The Army's Velcro fetish needs to go. Why in the world would I want my branch and last name Velcro for easy removal? Those don't change very often and always wear off. Stupidity at high echelons.
So don't worry Marine, I think the grass is always greener.

Response by LCpl Roy Stevens made Aug 10 at 2017 1:45 PM

2017-08-10T13:45:50-04:00

Mainland Japan would have been better than being on the Rock. Spent a year stationed on Futenma. The problem is that there isn't anything to do there.

Response by Cpl Rick Leonard made Aug 17 at 2017 3:53 PM

2017-08-17T15:53:18-04:00

But they will never have the Title and bragging rights you have. "Earned not Given"

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2017 4:02 PM

2017-08-17T16:02:22-04:00

I was lucky enough as a Marine to get MSG duty. That is probably the best military duty I've ever had or will have. But yeah, being in the Army now I see how many more options there are. Not just in places to be stationed but schools as well.

Response by SPC John Decker made Oct 4 at 2019 7:40 PM

2019-10-04T19:40:34-04:00

What are the requirements for and duration of Embassy Duty? That's something none of the others get.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2020 7:15 PM

2020-01-17T19:15:14-05:00

Well I hit two of the Paradise spots. 18 months on one and 9 months on the other. Service life was good.

Response by Sgt Charles Reeder made Jan 19 at 2020 8:38 AM

2020-01-19T08:38:57-05:00

Jealous? What’s is there to be jealous about? Do other branches have a better supply of crayons?
Oh sure the Air Force has great chow halls and the Army gets new equipment not hand me downs oh and the Navy has all those pretty boats but what’s there to be jealous of?
We are an elite fighting machine, we don’t need good chow halls because we are in the field and on the front. We don’t need fancy new equipment because we destroy EVERYthing except our weapons and we damn sure don’t need big boats we have the Navy for that.
Jealous of forces in other countries? Negative ghost rider because and night when they close their eyes and fade off to there safe places they either dream about being Marines or have nightmares about Marines coming for them.
Nope I have zero reasons to be jealous, we are the best trained, have the best dress uniforms, and can out drink, out shoot, and fight better than any other force ever.
We are By God United States Marines and don’t ever cheapen that by saying your jealous!
Semper Fi!!!

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Jan 2 at 2022 11:14 AM

2022-01-02T11:14:48-05:00

I spent 10 years in the Navy. Volunteered for everything that sinks, swims, or flies. Had shore duty my whole career. Farthest the Navy sent me was Puerto Rico.