The Daily Life of a Marine Rifleman

[nightwolf]

Hey everyone,
Seeing that my Internet Provider seems to hate the majority of Marine Corps Related Websites and therefore preventing me from contacting Recruiters I thought I might try my luck here.
I was just curious as to what the daily life of a 0311 (or an Infantry Related MOS) Marine is like in the Marine Corps? i.e. What they're daily routine is like and such.

[lima33doc]

Honestly Sean it depends on whether you are in the field, in Garrison, overseas, or on a ship. The basics that are around them all are: PT, Training, Training, and more Training.

[DOCWILLEY]

good answer doc.i think the only thing you left out is cleaning your weapon over and over and over and over...LOL...

[lima33doc]

good answer doc.i think the only thing you left out is cleaning your weapon over and over and over and over...LOL...Oh yeah...and add Field Day on top of that too...lol

[DOCWILLEY]

oh yeah thats right.your mission marine wether you like it or not is to find every dirt turd in your peremiter and neutralize it...rofl...usually bout then id hold sickcall.

[lima33doc]

oh yeah thats right.your mission marine wether you like it or not is to find every dirt turd in your peremiter and neutralize it...rofl...usually bout then id hold sickcall.
Considering where I was at, we used a lot of training areas at Schofield Barracks and a couple other Army training areas. We always had to make sure we left the training areas more clean than the slobs (aka Soldiers) before us. I always did Sick Call about the time they started hunting for brass...lol

[DOCWILLEY]

not sure i know where Schofield barracks are.the only time i had the pleasure of working with our army medics was in Korea.got into a big argument with an army nurse who said i wasnt authorized to do sutures on one of my guys.we walked out of the clinic and i sewed him up back at the barracks just before the mps arrived...lol...he tried to write me up but my co poopcanned it(clean version)i think it was camp casey...anyway to make it all good i had to work a 48 with the army to create a better liason with the medics and corpsman.what fun that was sorry to say but back then i wouldnt have wanted to be an army grunt,those medics couldnt do nothing.sure hope times have gotten better:banghead:

[lima33doc]

Not to hijack Sean's thread (which we have answered by the way...lol), but Scoffield Barracks was on Hawaii, which is where 3rd Marine Regiment and also 3/3 was out of. I had to deal a lot with Army Medics, as on Hawaii, the only Military Hospital was Tripler (aka Crippler) Army Medical Center, and any case that we could not handle at the BAS level was sent there. MCBH was no where as big as Lejeune or Pendleton, so we did not have enough space to have our own training areas. As a matter of fact, the main rifle range we used was next to a Navy Weapons Loch and we had to use their chow hall for meals, which always made for some fun...lol

[DOCWILLEY]

oops sorry Sean.didnt mean to take over your thread.guess we got a little sidetracked.hope we helped some with your question.everyday marine life can be totally different day to day you never know what to expect so prepare for the worst.

[nightwolf]

That's okay, I'll just be a bit more specific with my question:

Okay, what would be the average routine for a Marine Rifleman stationed at say... Camp Pendleton?
What time they would commence doing a certain thing and -I apologise if this question sounds stupid- what hours they work etc?

[lima33doc]

That's okay, I'll just be a bit more specific with my question:

Okay, what would be the average routine for a Marine Rifleman stationed at say... Camp Pendleton?
What time they would commence doing a certain thing and -I apologise if this question sounds stupid- what hours they work etc? it still varies Sean. For instance; our normal first muster (PT) was USUALLY at 0530. Of course if we had Operation Golden Flow (otherwise known as drug testing), then we were awake at 0330. Morning Formation was at 0700, and we would typically expect to be off at anywhere from 1600-1700. However, that could change depending on what we were doing. What we did during the day changed as well, and of course mine was a bit different from the rest of the plattoons because I had Sick Call to do. Otherwise my schedule and routine was the same as theirs.

[grunt0311]

ok ill answer this, on a typical day in garrison it could go like this
0530 wake up do your morning thing
0600 clean you room and common areas and go to chow
0700 formation this is when you'll find out whats going on for the day regardless of what they told you yesterday. if they need a working party this is when it will be picked.
0730-0900 pt
0900-0930 pt recovery
0930-1100 classes this could be from squad to company level. squad tactics, company tactics, first aid, how to set up a claymore in a daisy chain, how to search some one , hand to hand combat or what ever floats the boat
1100-1300 chow
1300 formation, gunny comes out and informs you that hes tired of having his ass chewed out by the sgtmaj cause your common areas are not being cleaned good enough in the morning and you will get up at 0430 tomorrow for the next week and clean the common areas that he will inspect until he stops getting yelled at. then you'll find out whats going on for the rest of the day.
1330-1530 weapons cleaning
1530-1600 hang out in the barracks get you mail wait for 1600 formation
1600- formation you'll be notified of all the thing gunny was pissed about, he may even come out and show you the rock that was out of place. and a few rake lines that didn't match up in the dirt. and hell be their in the morning to show you how to rake dirt to the sgtmaj standards. get an over view of what you might do tomorrow ussally the same as you did today the classes will change. and sense you cleaned weapons today you wont tomorrow and will be replaced with company sports or more classes or working parties.
1630-0530 day ends, get drunk, go to the gym, +++++ about the gunny and sgtmaj ect. lol that's what its typically like when your not in the field. three formations a day with pt, company pt, company sports, classes of all kinds, hurry up and wait, or just sitting around waiting for some one to tell you to do something.

[DOCWILLEY]

ill tell you .im dissapointed in you young guys(marines and you too doc).
what about morning and evening Colors...WHAT THE ####....roflmao...
how could you ever forget that.i remember seeing guys run just to avoid it...it was as funny as seeing some dumba$$ get caught outside without a cover...just glad it was never me..

[DOCWILLEY]

and please dont tell me they dont do that anymore...

[grunt0311]

lol yea we did the same thing lol they still do colors, but i was referring to a schedule of things colors is a given.

[DOCWILLEY]

they better...i swear i saw more fun watching guys run to get out of colors ,when all you had to do was stand there and get it the f### over with ...when i wasnt deployed it was hilarious to watch ....

[nightwolf]

lol, Docwilley.
Thanks for your answer grunt0311, I appreciate it.

[grunt0311]

np trying to tell you what goes on in the field would be something i wouldnt care to try to type out, to much to type about. its alot of phyical activity and little sleep.

[DOCWILLEY]

yes really night wolf,its something you;; never forget andsomething none of us can predict.its different day to day.
feel free to inquire and i promise you .its something youll never regret.
semper fi

[gjusmc]

Just wondering, what exactly is colours?

[lima33doc]

Just wondering, what exactly is colours?Colors is the raising and lowering of the flag. There is always a bugle call prior to/during each (morning and evening) and if you are in uniform, you are supposed to turn in the direction of the nearest flagpole and salute. If you are in civvies, then you turn in the direction and stand at attention. Getting caught not doing so will earn you a chewing out AT THE LEAST.

[gjusmc]

Sounds like a good thing to know of ahead of time, thanks. I'm down to about 48 days til shipping.

[BrotherMick]

just wondering, what exactly is colours?
ok----get down and give me twenty. Lol

[V8403]

Sounds like a good thing to know of ahead of time, thanks. I'm down to about 48 days til shipping.

For as long as I can remember, I have held our nation’s uniforms in the highest regard. It is an honor to be able to serve, and to do so with no other motive than to simply serve. The American flag has stood as a symbol of freedom and justice throughout history. The sight of the flag has given notice that democracy lives. No other symbol captures the power and glory of our nation like the American flag.

From time to time we need to be reminded of the customs and traditions we are bound by in honoring this national symbol – one for which many men and women before us fought and died.

The playing of the national anthem each day shows honor and respect for our nation’s symbol of freedom. We must do our part in honoring our symbol of freedom.

Aboard Marine Corps bases and many other military bases , I have witnessed actions that were not within keeping of military standards and customs — behavior that displays a total disregard of honoring and respecting our national flag. Individuals walk while the national anthem is playing and motorists do not halt when the flag is being raised in the morning or lowered in the evening.

As a reminder, a warning is sounded five minutes prior to the raising and lowering of the flag. At the sound of ‘‘Attention,” individuals will stop and face the flagstaff or the direction of the music and stand at attention. If in uniform, render a salute on the first note of ‘‘The Star-Spangled Banner,” ‘‘To the Colors,” or ‘‘Retreat” and terminate the salute on the last note. Remain at attention facing the flagstaff⁄music until ‘‘Carry On” is sounded. Occupants operating vehicles during morning or evening colors will halt their vehicles until ‘‘Carry On” is sounded.

The base honor guard raises and lowers the flag each day. It is raised at 8 a.m. every morning and lowered at sunset. I expect all Marines, sailors and civilian Marines aboard any Marine Corps Base , or Naval to lead by example and to set the standards for others to follow. I would like to remind everyone that this is the proper procedure of paying tribute to our flag,while aboard any military installation. We must do the right thing, even when no one is looking, all the time.

[gunga55]

Colours is the raising or lowering of the American Flag

0800 the flag raises and the time for lowering is adusted to the setting sun.

Oops didn't see the page 3

[Guide Plt.2129]

Considering where I was at, we used a lot of training areas at Schofield Barracks and a couple other Army training areas. We always had to make sure we left the training areas more clean than the slobs (aka Soldiers) before us. I always did Sick Call about the time they started hunting for brass...lol

God Bless the Medic, one and all.............

Rusty :rankm-lcpl:

[DOCWILLEY]

thanks for the sentiment Rusty.just to let you know for future reference Navy corpsman hate to be called medics.
there the army guys and we all know what army stands for" Arent Really Marines Yet"

its almost as bad a calling a Gunny sir...LOL...i only made that mistake once
Semper Fi

[Guide Plt.2129]

thanks for the sentiment Rusty.just to let you know for future reference Navy corpsman hate to be called medics.
there the army guys and we all know what army stands for" Arent Really Marines Yet"

its almost as bad a calling a Gunny sir...LOL...i only made that mistake once
Semper Fi
Umm...Uhhh...Oh...Semper Fi Brother....that...uh...well...that was for the lay-man...yeah thats it. No, we called "Medic up",my cousin was a "Corpsman" when he was "blueboundandchoaking" (and a medic when he turned green), during the fire on the Big E in '69. Most of it is exposure I supose. Sorry -(I wont call you sir)-Doc. And Doc was usally their name. The best care anywere, thats what I call you. I'll take my spanking.
Rusty :rankm-lcpl:

[DOCWILLEY]

:schilder017: thats okay Rusty.i think its just this dang weather making me grouchy.no harm no foul.plus the fact that FMF corpsman are about to become obsolete seems to have my feathers ruffled.

[Guide Plt.2129]

:schilder017: thats okay Rusty.i think its just this dang weather making me grouchy.no harm no foul.plus the fact that FMF corpsman are about to become obsolete seems to have my feathers ruffled.
:grouphug: NO WAY !!!! (on both counts):grouphug:
See, the closer we creep towards 60, the more life as we know it vanishes. (Younger pups need to pay attention here, your next)
We are Old Corp now?
We are Old Corp now!
We are Old Corp now.
Dont know which one to pick.......................whos gonna come runnin when some one is down? The Daily Life of a Marine Rifleman will surely change. I lost my job because of politics of peace, but this makes no sense at all.
Now I'm grouchy.
Really, Semper Fi, and thanks for all the stuff you Doc's did. Doc Greenman does not know how far he reached into the world, even when he was not around. Alot of those basic Marine fighting units-The Grunt-owe alot, hell, I owe.

Now the short answer to "The Daily Life of a Marine Rifleman" yet to the point.

Get up before the sun, protect the world, go to bed at taps, unless you pull rovin patroll. Shine brass in spare time. Buy Doc Willey warm socks.


Rusty :rankm-lcpl:

[DOCWILLEY]

i know what you mean brother.it reminds me of that buddhist quote"I wish i were a teenager again and knew all the answers"
whos to say what time will bring,i kind of worry about it, not so much for myself ,but for my grandaughter.as much i myself enjoy the conviences we have in society today i still believe we shouldnt forget the old ways,because someday probably not us but someone down the line is gonna need that knowledge to survive.i know i will as will you and all like us but im gonna make it a point to teach little Bella(grandaughter)everything i can.
lol...im starting her young so bewarned all you fellow grandparents raise your young marines well cause im sending them one tough future WM whos gonna kick their butt....
semper fi

"just cause a dog shows you his teeth,it dont mean hes smiling"a quote from my old man.

[Guide Plt.2129]

And I still wish I knew all that my father knew. Even at my age the world is somewhat of a scary place to be. Like, I am a Marine, I deal with what ever life throws at me, look unphased and continue on with it. When I was cert. for ACLS/PALS I came to the conclusion that death does not really scare me, it's life that makes me grab the rail. But my kids, and grand kids, you said it right, and we wont always be around, 8 of them to pass this to. 7girls one boy, all potential Marines. But what kind of Corp would they inherate? I guess we cant change things much. Did Marines in the past sit and have this same discussion? Probably. I just fear for the 9 year old who enlists 10 years from now. What is our commander in charge going to have in store for them. The new radio comm: 2 tomato cans and kite string? Corpsman=AAA roadside firstaid kit and a comic book? I guess we sit back and plan on spending a little retirement money to help out as we can........Semper Fi Brother, stay full, warm, and dry.
Rusty :rankm-lcpl:
The dog smiling,my father would of sent me around to the rear to see if it was smiling too!!!

[DOCWILLEY]

i know exactly what your saying Rusty.in the words of George Santayana"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it".
who knows what the future holds for our youth.cloned soldiers,teletransportation, laser weapons.i read not to long ago that there developing an invisibility cloak,shoot ive had one of them for years.cant get the dang thing off.
im sure as you said the marines of old probably sat around and worried about what we would amount to.
i guess whatevers gonna happen is gonna happen.
i have no doubt things have changed a lot since you and i served.their was no internet,you tube,hell even making a phone call was not an option unless i was on the rock and wanted to spend the day waiting in line all day and then spend my entire pay which wasnt that much.
i guess thats why this question was so hard to answer ,the daily life of a rifleman cant be answered because its different every day 365 days a year.
and by the way from behind all dogs look like their grinning:eek:

[Guide Plt.2129]

This really got me to thinking. Things have really changed. I mean really.
The vet that humped and swam the south pacific theater. They saw some amazing stuff as they got older. Hell, we lived some of what they saw over the years. A helo was a flying nightmare, and a jeep wa some thing officers rode around in. They humped. Progress on a beach assault was measured in inches, not kilometers. The rifle, it had "wooden" parts, and one thing has remained a constant. A Marine Rifleman is the worlds most dangerous weapon when provoked.
What we have seen is jungle warfare,evolved,refined,re-evolved,re-refined, and honed.
My friend Doorman, who passed at the age of 80 something (never told me the real 80 part of it) was talking about how glad he was to hump,crawl, swim through his tour. A hummer,a helo, he didn't have any use for them. He was, by the grace of God, a rock creature,Marine, both feet. I was privy to his 21 months in the south pacific, and spent 3 months with him on a daily basis while he was still with us. My wife was in the same nursing home as he was.
Just before he passed he pointed out some thing I didn't realize. We have space Marines. Not the comic book type. Lt.Col. John Glen. It amazed him that the first person to be in real space was a Marine. We had to go first to secure it so the Navy could check it out. So he said.
I dont believe the basic Marine rifleman will ever change in the "basic" area. He will do what is needed, no question asked, up to making the ultimate sacrifice, to make sure this nation continues to be free. Willingly. Even us at our age, we would stand with them if needed.
And that dog,still gotta watch both end's,grinnin or not.
Rusty :rankm-lcpl:

[DOCWILLEY]

i agree with you on everything Rusty except i think the first man in space was a russian Yuri Gagarin.he was also the first to orbit the earth and Alan Shepard was the second man and the first american.ahemmmm and he was a rear admiral USN....:D

[Guide Plt.2129]

:banghead: oops......:grouphug:........http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq88-1.htm
...:grouphug:...American, and went higher, stayed longer and looked better doing it!!!:D!!!!
Rusty

[Guide Plt.2129]

Oh yeah http://www.answers.com/topic/john-glenn-jr
The kicker
Rusty

[DOCWILLEY]

:grouphug:#%$@@%%$$:grouphug:++++$$#%%#$$:grouphug : ok Rusty i learned 35 yrs ago not to argue with a marine.especially when their right.:D

upon further review of dates and times and projectiles ,plus extensive search on wikipedia,2 glasses of wine, a marie callender meal of chicken pablona,and one more glass of wine we here have come to the decision that we are both right:schilder017:
Semper Fi brother

[Marine99]

I was not a 0311 (but of course all Marines are 0311) but when I got to do Marine things getting down and dirty in the mud and sand the day were long and fun very littel sleep but the experance and memories were well worth the pain I mean were else do you get paid to act like a kid play with riffels and Machine gus and explosives walk around in the wood in the dark with NVG doing patrols, of course I was never in a combate situation so it is diffrent when that occures so I might opnion might be diffrent but I sure do miss going on deploymets.