(Part 2) Best products from r/USMC

I'm not going to get into an argument about the semantics living your own life, but what I will say is that you have the power to choose what you do.

I understand the job market in many sectors is difficult, but no one is forcing you to work in those areas.

Saying "my boss won't let me" isn't productive. What I'm offering is that if one saves up the money for a trip, they won't have to worry about what their boss thinks anymore.

Extend this thought out to its logical end, and you find that if you're not in debt, and have enough cash on hand, no one can tell you what to do anymore.

This is probably too big to discuss in an ongoing Reddit comment thread.

If you're interested in a bit of freedom, financially or otherwise, check out this book. It's not one of those gimmicky "I've got all the monies let me show you how to do it!" books, merely solid financial advice for those who want it.

https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Surprising-Americas/dp/1589795474#top

You'll have to try but these ones may fit under the kevlar.


If you are ever shooting in soft covers I highly recommend these ones. Super comfy.

I did two WTI's in Yuma, never saw one do anything vertical. I'm sure they do but they seemed to operate at 45 degrees on the nozzles most of the time. [A Nightmares Prayer] (https://www.amazon.com/Nightmares-Prayer-Marine-Harrier-Afghanistan/dp/1451608071) is a pretty good look at the operations at Bagram. At that altitude it did good to leave the ground at all and used up all the runway doing so.

One thing I would recommend is a book called "War Slang: American Fighting Words & Phrases Since the Civil War" it can give some insight into how guys talked back then. It's basically a dictionary but is still pretty fascinating and it's also cool to see how much is still in common usage today.

Are you already a Marine Reservist or are you thinking about joining?

I'm trying to shape my response to the right audience.

Your post history sounds like you are ANG, so forgive me if my response tells you things you already know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Light_Armored_Reconnaissance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Light_Armored_Reconnaissance_Battalion

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Expeditionary-Clancys-Military-Reference/dp/0425154548


http://www.marforres.marines.mil/Major-Subordinate-Commands/4th-Marine-Division/4th-Light-Armored-Reconnaissance-Battalion/


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> What job codes do they have at that unit?

Grunts. Armor Mechanics. Radios. Intelligence.

> What vehicles do they have at their disposal?

LAV's; LAV retrievers maybe; 5-tons; Humvees

> Do they ever work with aircraft from other units?

No organic air assets in a LAR Bn to my knowledge.
They are not prepared to assist with Air either.

I've been out a long time. I suppose it's possible they have access to lightweight drones now.

> Are they considered a good unit?

LAR elements are good units, in the general sense.
I was active duty. We generally hate reservists.

LAI / LAR are light weight Tanks. They are generally more mobile than big fat Abrams, and are savagely lethal against Infantry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAV-25

Our LAVs are completely outmatched by any proper tank, since unlike an M2 Bradley, the LAV doesn't have a TOW Missile Launcher.


> Do they ever go overseas for their AT?

AT as in Annual Training? Not likely. USMC has a HUGE training facility at 29 Palms California.
LAVs are expensive toys to move around.

> How do people make it there during a winter shitstorm?

Make it where?
Standard USMC procedure for enduring cold weather involves a woobie and shivering, combined with "sucking it up".
The Marines are NOT known for well-funded logistics. Marines make do with what we have.


> I imagine some people live quite far since there aren't too many units in New York. Will they put you up in a hotel if you're >3 hours away? Please feel free to throw anything else in.

Those are all legit reservist questions, and I'm sorry I have no idea.

Been using the Jerkey Xpress for a few years now. Never used the "jerkey gun," don't trust that part of it really.

How to make Pemmican. You can take just normal parchment paper and line the dehydrator with it, cutting a hole in the middle for the dryer itself. Put fruits you prefer into a food processor and puree it as best as you can. I add some chia seeds for bulking and additional micro nutrients. I also bought beef tallow from Amazon as well, since it's already rendered and ready to go (and I dislike pork). I did a bit more than 2lbs of beef jerkey, a dozen apples and two little baskets of blackberries and made a stupid amount of pemmican. I coached a rifle range and ate about a Cliff's bar worth of pemmican for the whole day, feeling full the whole time. 10/10 would recommend tinkering with it yourself to find a flavor combo you like. Use the food processor to grind up the jerkey too.

PS: I'm CBRN also. Small world.

*Former gunny

Does he like to read? These are two of my favorites, and I'm fairly certain most vets would enjoy them too:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367616641&sr=8-1&keywords=The+forever+war

http://www.amazon.com/Without-Remorse-Tom-Clancy/dp/0425143325/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367616649&sr=8-1&keywords=Without+Remorse

I really hope they make a film on ORW2/Whalers. JJ Konstant & Fox 2/3 really deserve to tell the story, as do many.

IIRC Ed Darack's book Victory Point was selected by the Naval Academy as one of the best books of the year 2009

E* Maybe a min-series even w/broader scope

analog gshock

Analog, solar powered, atomic and the normal gshock standards.

The little lcd screens are impossible to use without an external light at night and are too small to make it a primary stopwatch. The backlight just shines and LED on the watch hands (which isn’t even needed since they have a slight glow).

I just use it for telling time while working/traveling/outdoors and enjoy never needing to set or charge it. Plus it’s analog and all black so it isn’t quite the eyesore that other gshocks are.

I’m also a big fan of the bin laden watch . Super light weight; durable, cheap and doesn’t get caught on things. It was my go to for medical stuff.

Drunk or not, I hope you keep this up.

It sounds like you really gained a lot from your time in, namely: (1) personal growth and maturity, and (2) a broadened world view from experience. Experience as someone actively taking part in US foreign policy, and also just as a young American going overseas and seeing how the rest of the world lives (and how truly fortunate we are here). Just that you called your 16-year-old self "naive" shows this change in mindset. Also, I think that any introspection is healthy and natural, especially for such a serious topic. It's a tough time, especially watching the current shit-storm in Iraq with those ISIS assholes.


I appreciate and generally agree with Nate Fick's view of the US on the international stage:
http://youtu.be/7mBr1UydKf0?t=18m2s

Sure, the US has done some not-so-great things or maybe done well-intentioned things the wrong way. But I don't think we're the bad guys in the broader scheme of things. Yeah, that's up for debate. Also, I'm gonna guess you're not evil on the individual level.

and more along a similar line, specifically about the Middle East and elsewhere:
http://youtu.be/fQu_7hNjPqY?t=3m27s



a serious issue, but a little [British] humor on a related note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY

I wear a Citizen AT0200-05E. Durable, waterproof, solar powered, looks good, and I got mine on Amazon for like 90 bucks.

Looks like its 118 on Amazon right now

External hard drive if he doesn't have one, is a great option. Something like this would be good:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00W8XXYN2/

A good watch. I highly recommend a SUNNTO core. It’s a prize among us army guys. It’s an unofficial part of the uniform

https://www.amazon.com/SUUNTO-Core-All-Black-Military/dp/B001DCEKXM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540507288&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=suunto+core&dpPl=1&dpID=310wuozb1gL&ref=plSrch

Black G-Shock? No no no. That's a field watch -- and an extremely expensive field watch that will probably get lost or broken. Nobody needs a field watch to do anything more than tell time. All the other bells and whistles are for show.

If you're going to the ball buy him a dress watch. G-Shocks are $130. Here's a pretty decent Seiko for $109.

Seikos are very durable watches for their price and good looking. They're like the Honda Accord of watches. Just tell him not to wear it to the field. Just make sure to get stainless steel and not a cloth band. Maybe leather, but I stainless is a sure bet. Also, colored stainless like black or blue isn't hot imo. Stick with straight silver and goal looking bands.

If you want to read a good pirate book look up " Glasby's Fortune" by James Drescher.
I thought it was right up there with " Master and Commander" and " Moby Dick" as far as books on shipboard life go.
I'm a bit partial because he's a Facebook Friend of mine. He's a retired JAG Officer and works as an Attorney now. He has researched the shit out of Pirates and the book is based on a navigator who was Captured .

He's the amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Glasbys-Fortune-James-H-Drescher-ebook/dp/B072N63F3L