How will being a USMC grunt change me?

2018-01-10T11:39:29-05:00

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 10 at 2018 11:43 AM

2018-01-10T11:43:24-05:00

You'll be a more confident individual and be more confident.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 10 at 2018 11:46 AM

2018-01-10T11:46:44-05:00

My oh my in so many ways and that’s the perspective from an old Army grunt

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2018 11:48 AM

2018-01-10T11:48:33-05:00

PV2 J M That is impossible to answer as we all have different experiences and prior backgrounds. In general, you will be tougher, gain confidence, and leadership skills. If you experience combat, that will also change you. Being a Marine is for life, and I guarantee that you will undergo significant change.

Response by LCpl Shane Couch made Jan 10 at 2018 12:14 PM

2018-01-10T12:14:23-05:00

I can't speak as for how being a grunt will change you. But, I can assure you that becoming a Marine will give you confidence where there once wasn't any; you be highly disciplined in so many ways; and in general you will become a better person overall. Whatever you do, do not let your confidence go to your head, it's a good way to be viewed as a cocky douchebag as well as get yourself either injured or killed. Good Luck!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2018 12:26 PM

2018-01-10T12:26:42-05:00

Swagger

Response by Cpl John Barker made Jan 10 at 2018 12:29 PM

2018-01-10T12:29:15-05:00

Good man, if you're not 03 you're navy-0311

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2018 1:08 PM

2018-01-10T13:08:10-05:00

Well if you don't smoke or dip you will probable start. You will get tattoos, and use the F word at least 5 times in each sentence. You will also be able to clean any room, weapon or vehicle better then anyone else you will ever meet for the rest of your life lol.

In all seriousness you will get to push yourself harder then you have ever done in life. Being part of the infantry in the FMF is wear the rubber meets the road. After your time in service you will always be able to look back with pride in knowing you were part of something very special. You will also meet people who you will share a lifelong bond with.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jan 10 at 2018 1:55 PM

2018-01-10T13:55:52-05:00

If you keep your pie hole shut and follow orders, you will become part of something much greater than yourself. That brings honor to yourself and family name. In this world honor and loyalty is everything. Eventually, you will become an example to others.
Just don't expect to become as handsome and as smart as me. Not everyone can be the smartest enlisted Marine of all time and Greatest Barbaric Christian Infidel in the world.
Regards,

Response by Sgt Corey Anderson made Jan 10 at 2018 3:05 PM

2018-01-10T15:05:37-05:00

It all depends on your mindset. Some people change for the better, some for the worse. I wad not a grunt myself but many of my buddies were. Some have serious issues they are having to work through now while others seem affected very little. One thing is for certain though, you will find out what kind of person you are deep down very quickly. Good luck to you. And Semper Fi.

Response by Cpl Tim Thornton made Jan 10 at 2018 5:21 PM

2018-01-10T17:21:02-05:00

I am a Marine and was grunt because I chose to be, i served in 1/7 Marines was it tough Yes and it was worth it, because anything with having is going to be tough. The Marine changed my life it may me the well disciplined and hard working man that I am today. Good luck to young man.

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Jan 10 at 2018 10:02 PM

2018-01-10T22:02:18-05:00

I suspect in 4 years you will have become a angry, disgruntled, short tempered guy that is questioning his decisions. Once out you will again be moto and only remember the good stuff.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 11 at 2018 2:27 PM

2018-01-11T14:27:48-05:00

PV2 J M Marines Some of the Smartest Folks I Know from My Father to My ADP Chief on Adak to the Gunny that was My Basic Typing Instructor (Even though He was an Arrogant Asshole). Even the Victims (I Mean Students) of Riot Control Procedures that I got to Conduct "Graduation" on.

Response by Cpl Brian Ruby made Jan 11 at 2018 8:49 PM

2018-01-11T20:49:13-05:00

I can tell you. It will make you tough. You will be able to endure miserable conditions most people avoid. You will learn to live in the environment, ignore rain, dust, mud, cold, wind or learn how to deal with them. You will be able to outwork others for nonstop hours. Pain will disappear and strength to continue will replace it. You will go beyond normal human limits and achieve things you never thought possible. In short you will become a man in the traditional sense of the word. You will be a warrior and will remain one for the rest of your life. At least that is my experience as a Marine Combat Infantryman. I can't speak for other branches.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 11 at 2018 11:09 PM

2018-01-11T23:09:58-05:00

You will grow up, and become an adult... Discipline...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2018 10:15 AM

2018-01-15T10:15:36-05:00

Becoming a member of the military will change you for sure. I've been In the infantry for over 10 years now and honestly has been one of the worst and best things I've ever done. But everyone has completely different experiences and it all depends on your command, your fellow Marines, where you get stationed, and what unit you go too. Now things that are mostly common for everyone is for sure the confidence factor as many of my brothers are posting on here. But just as they are saying over confidence will destroy yourself and others around you. Learn your job, know your job, and then just do your job. Nobody likes the guy who thinks he is better than anyone, but everyone will follow the guy that is better than everyone. Like I have told every squad I've had there is 2 ways to be respected as a leader. The first being my collar meaning my rank, which Marine Corps Order forces you to follow that is a given. The second is my nametape which no one has to respect, that is the one you earn and in my opinion the one that matters. I've have leaders I did not respect as who they were but I followed their orders because I am a Marine and that's what I do.
Also we train to develop critical thinking skills, because war on the small unit scale is a chess game. Doctrine is a guideline but unorthodox decisions can creating favorable outcomes. We constantly are reading different military publications and playing tactical decision games so we are always developing our ability to adapt and make choices in difficult situations. And discipline is a huge one as well. Because you have to understand hesitation will get someone killed. Sometimes there is no time to question or wait for an answer you just need to make something happen. A poor decision is better than no decision.
But honestly its all in how much you really want to be in the Infantry, but I think it applies to every MOS too. If you truly want to do it and put your heart into it your going to change for the better and your going to progress well. When you choose to take shortcuts or not care about the little things that's when you'll see little to no progress. Every little thing matters, one speck of dust in a Marines room for field day inspection may seem very petty, but that is attention to detail and that is a Marine that misses the guy pointing a gun or an IED planted in a road.

Response by Cpl Coy Pfaff made Jan 17 at 2018 9:19 AM

2018-01-17T09:19:01-05:00

Its gonna suck, and at one point or another you’ll probably wish you never signed up. But, by the end of it, you wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, you’ll come out of it a lot tougher and more capable. And the friends you make are closer than family.

Response by LCpl William Kaemmerer made Jan 17 at 2018 1:54 PM

2018-01-17T13:54:03-05:00

For ever. It is a brother hood. Every Marine is a brother or sister. Semper fidelis

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2018 9:00 PM

2018-01-21T21:00:36-05:00

You’ll see (:

Response by LCpl Daniel Wiebe made Jan 29 at 2018 9:02 PM

2018-01-29T21:02:17-05:00

you learn to not ask stupid questions, really fast

Response by Cpl Quentin Crowley made Feb 28 at 2018 1:06 PM

2018-02-28T13:06:03-05:00

In every way possible. If you never cussed, you will. If you never got dirty, you will. If you never been sandy, you will. If you never got blisters, you will. If you never been sleep deprived, you will. If you never shit in the woods, you will. If you never did PT so hard you cried, you will. If you never gone a little crazy, you will. And if you are willing to take the big green weenie, never quit, and embrace the SUCK, you will be an infantryman. Good luck!

Response by PFC Aaron Cox made Mar 11 at 2018 7:56 PM

2018-03-11T19:56:02-04:00

Marines make you strong enough to face obstacles that would make most cringe. Ever see the picture of the mouse flipping off the bird of prey??? That mouse must have been a Marine.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2018 11:15 PM

2018-05-24T23:15:53-04:00

You will become a different person, with a different outlook on life. You will appreciate the small things while hating the big things. Crowds will no longer be a thing that doesn't bother you,you will drink more than you probably ever have in your life, you will be confident as hell, you will start smoking/dipping. And you will be part of a brotherhood that you will always have pride for.

Response by CW3 Kim B. made Jul 19 at 2018 8:53 PM

2018-07-19T20:53:41-04:00

Grunt is grunt and stop thinking you are better because you are marime.....Army infantry can hold their own against anyone....leave the cool aid alone