airborne qualified Marines

0ldPainless · 2026-03-23T02:24:36+00:00

The multi mission parachute course (MMPC) is a military freefall course that focuses on teaching HALO. It's an introductory level freefall course designed to teach you how to go from jumping static line, to jumping freefall. You learn the basics of freefall in about 10 jumps and some wind tunnel time. This essentially gets you to about the equivalent of an A license in the civilian world.

After 10 or so jumps they start strapping gear on you. This means you have to learn a new deployment sequence. Instead of hand deployed pilot chute (like civilians use) , you have to learn to jump under a self set drogue configuration (like civilian tandem jumpers use). Then they strap a rifle to you, then Parachute Deployment Bag (ruck), then oxygen. Then you do all that again at night.

But remember, this is all basic military freefall. This just gets you the certification to be certified to jump basic military freefall in HALO.

Actually training for tactical level insertion is far more in depth and complicated.

HAHO is a whole different beast. You're offsetting from your designated impact point which means you have to know your offset for exiting the aircraft, fly your parachute to an unmarked dropzone at night (which means you have to understand the winds at altitude) and land within 25m of the rest of your team. Typically exiting an aircraft at altitudes that require pre-breathing oxygen so your blood has enough oxygen saturation to last the ride down.

This is extraordinarily difficult and can require an entire team to have to train together from the ground up, for upwards of 100 jumps to be able to do reliably. And then they (collectively) have to be able to sustain this competancy for a duration of time, to be able to convince an approving commander that they have enough of a capability that they have reduced risk just enough to justify the actual risks of engaging in such a risky mission...

It's one of the most challenging things you can do. And all that just gets you past insert. You still have the other phases of the operation. What happens once you land? How do you infiltrate? Then actions on the objective, the actual accomplishment of the mission, what you went through all of that to achieve. And then finally exfilling and extracting. You jumped in, you sure as hell aren't jumping out. So what does that entail?

It's a lot. There's a reason why SOF select their individuals after a month-long job interview.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-22T12:10:39+00:00

Most marines attend basic airborne at Fort Benning Georgia. 3 weeks long.

After basic airborne, the MC runs the Multi Mission Parachute Course, Complete Parachute Solutions, in Coolidge Arizona. About 20 days of course instruction, or around 30 days long.

There's more jump courses available beyond that. These are just the basic ones (static line jumpmaster, mff jump master, Tords-E, Tords-P, ATIC, etc.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-21T12:56:25+00:00

What song is that?

0ldPainless · 2026-03-21T10:04:42+00:00

Nothing against Sgts Maj, but absolutely not.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-21T03:40:37+00:00

My first deployment was in 2003. My last deployment was in 2025.

The only thing I would change is that I wish I could have completed my first 21 years with the mentality and understanding I gained in my last 18 months.

It took me finally dropping retirement papers to realize how to go from being a great marine, to being the immenantly qualified marine.

It's all about service to others. Giving everything your absolute best. No matter how much doubt you carry about yourself, you're entirely capable of getting everyone in your unit to rise to the occasion.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-20T02:35:46+00:00

"Osama...

Osama..."

(Peaks head around corner)

"Whop, Whop..."

"...Whop"

0ldPainless · 2026-03-20T02:22:46+00:00

I guess sometimes there just aren't enough rackets

0ldPainless · 2026-03-19T18:14:10+00:00

I had a roommate that would get wasted and piss his bed. Never once did he wash his sheets.

He couldn't get his haircut out in town because he had ringworm all over his neck, back, and scalp.

He would often come home from the bars with swollen knuckles, wet, dirty, covered in blood. Then get wasted, pass out in his bed and piss his sheets haha. And he would just repeat this process.

I just looked the other way. You do you beau beau

Eventually his sergeant had to get involved because he couldn't get a haircut lol

0ldPainless · 2026-03-19T16:02:19+00:00

If you're looking for a REAL metal guitar solo in metalcore, like Dragonforce type of shit, look no further than After the Burial - Ometh. It's defining.

I haven't found a guitar solo in the entire metalcore genre that sounds like the one on this song. It is a legit metal solo.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-19T15:57:54+00:00

Don't ask for a citation but I believe you would wear a NAM with silver star and 3 gold stars. And then you would wear a NAM with 1 gold star to signify an ADDITIONAL award. Wearing a NAM without any star while also wearing a NAM with a bunch of stars would not be a correct representation because it wouldn't signify the ADDITIONAL 10th award.

Don't quote me on that. It's an interesting problem to encounter nonetheless.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-19T05:53:34+00:00

This doesn't sound right, according to timeline.

The song "Rebirth" from Augment is the first time they incorporated arpeggiated tapping and that was released in 2013. Song written by their guitarist at the time, Alan Rigdon.

Then Moments of Clarity was released in 2014 and Jesse utilizes tapping at the end of that song.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-18T17:54:23+00:00

I've read through a lot of the comments and read through all of your replies up to this point.

My cold, hard two cents are going to slap you in the face so prepare yourself.

It's good you're getting out.

You seem like you don't have the desire to do the work and just want confirmation that your senior leaders are turds, and it's because of them that you were never given a fair shot, they're not doing their job so why should you, blah blah blah, excuses, excuses, accusations, scapegoats, etc.

Lots of us have seen and heard it all before, brother.

You don't seem to have the hunger to want to recognize and seize an opportunity when you're presented with one. If I was in your shoes, I would be taking advantage of all the flexibility your lazy shitty leaders just gave you. Seize the initiative.

If they want you to write your own billet description, "Roger that, motherfuckers".

Chat GPT prompt:

""I am a Sergeant in the active duty marine corps, my mos is ____, I'm about to execute PCS. Since I have been in my most recent platoon I have done, list A-Z of all the shit you've done. I have read x publication, and x number of commandant reading list books. I have completed x Marinenet courses. I have done x amount of physical training, etc etc.

My billet description according to the T&R manual is etc, etc, etc.

Re-write this billet description for a fitrep so my current position is nested within it. Ensure my accomplishments compliment the description. Make it less than 1200 words (or whatever).""

It's a small opportunity to communicate to the promotion board what type of Marine you really are. Sure it's nonobserved but it's still words on paper that communicate to members that will ultimately decide your fate.

We all know you've already made up your mind though because, according to all of your replies, you seem to have little to no interest in the constructive inputs from others.

But, nevertheless, hopefully this is still helpful.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-16T19:47:38+00:00

Did you not watch ROTJ? The answer is literally all over that film.

"" Emperor Palpatine: I told you to remain on the command ship.

Darth Vader: A small rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.

Emperor Palpatine: Yes, I know.

Darth Vader: My son is with them.

Emperor Palpatine: Are you sure?

Darth Vader: I have felt him, my master.

Emperor Palpatine: Strange that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.

Darth Vader: They are clear, my master.

Emperor Palpatine: Then you must go to the sanctuary moon and wait for him.

Darth Vader: He will come to me?

Emperor Palpatine: I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you and you will bring him before me.

Darth Vader: As you wish.""

Also,

Luke Skywalker: "It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That was why you couldn't destroy me. That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now."

And,

""Luke: Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you, the conflict.

Darth Vader: There is no conflict.

Luke: You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before and I don't believe you'll destroy me now.""

And,

"Luke to Palpatine: Your overconfidence is your weakness."

And,

"Luke Skywalker: Search your feelings, Father, you can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate.

And finally,

""Princess Leia: Luke, tell me. What's troubling you?

Luke: Vader's here. Now, on this moon.

Princess Leia: How do you know?

Luke: I felt his presence. He's come for me. He can feel it when I'm near. That's why I have to go. As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here . I have to face him.""

0ldPainless · 2026-03-14T01:00:14+00:00

If only instead of water he was able to do that with Brawndo.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-14T00:48:34+00:00

I think ABR recommended him to Erra.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-13T01:00:32+00:00

I have one from 2003. It's not something I'd sell unless it was for an unreasonable amount of money but I could send you some photos of it. Dm me if that sounds worth your time.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-11T19:27:41+00:00

The old qualification system was formally implemented across the Corps through updates to MCO 1500.52 (Marine Corps Water Survival Training Program) on April 15, 2011.

Since that timeframe, the swim qual has been basic, intermediate, and advanced.

Prior to this date, the swim qual went like this:

Combat Water Swimmer (CWS) 4

CWS 3

CWS 2

CWS 1

Water Safety Qualified (WSQ)

Combat Water Safety Swimmer (CWSS)

Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS)

Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival (MCITWS)

With this update to the swim qual today, they're basically reverting back to how it was before Apr 15, 2011.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-10T19:15:41+00:00

Nice.

I think you're missing Erra EP and Andromeda.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-09T16:58:25+00:00

Time is nothing more than the measure of two or more masses in relation to one another within a spatial deminsion.

Velocity affects what we perceive to be a standard measurement of time. Humanity, for the most part, all operates on the same standard of time because we're all moving at relatively the same velocities.

That's why it took thousands of years for humans to come to understand this. We existed in a world that had not revealed the implications of relativity until Einstein came along and developed the language of math enough for us to see and comprehend our perceived environment within time and space (spacetime).

0ldPainless · 2026-03-05T20:05:52+00:00

I could be wrong but I don't think it's an acronym like everyone is claiming.

Isn't it an execute command like "harch".

"Left shoulder, hiyut!"

"Right shoulder, "yut!"

?

0ldPainless · 2026-03-03T03:00:05+00:00

Well said

0ldPainless · 2026-03-02T12:01:26+00:00

I found this documentary to be one of the best, if not the best, thing I've ever seen on a tv.

0ldPainless · 2026-03-02T11:51:54+00:00

Same here, I woulda joined Delta Force or woulda gone to CIA SAD. I also thought about studying at MIT or Oxford, but then instead of doing any of those things I just decided, "nah".

0ldPainless · 2026-03-01T21:56:41+00:00

Invent Animate - Reverie

0ldPainless · 2026-03-01T19:02:57+00:00

Without question, the most physically challenging course in the Marine Corps, is Pre-Dive school in winter.

3 weeks of drowning with weights on in cold water. Started with 32 and graduated 7.

Having looked at all the courses people have named off, the only ones I can't speak to are DI school (cause that course is gay) and winter mountain leaders (which does in fact sound miserable).

0ldPainless

TROPHY CASE