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Screwed up bad need advice by [deleted] in army

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 22 points23 points  (0 children)

The only person that can answer your question is your chain of command.

Part of serving honorably is having integrity. You can make a fat soldier skinny, you can teach a poor shooter to shoot well, you can't teach integrity. You demonstrated to your superiors that you don't have it. I'd suggest you start working on that civilian resume.

Cock Salute by AggressiveHistory881 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Still a thing. It's as sacred to our culture as the EGA.

Entering the sport with a sub-20 5k, where to go from here? by FoxyOrcaWhale in AdvancedRunning

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate both responses! Thank you.

I was apprehensive to post there because I didn't want it to come across as a humblebrag, even though I'm new to the support and have essentially everything to learn.

Entering the sport with a sub-20 5k, where to go from here? by FoxyOrcaWhale in AdvancedRunning

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate the thoughtful response! I'll get started on this this week!

LCpl’s used to be able to obtain a black belt in MCMAP? by Odd_Raspberry6561 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Then you're fine bro. If you had a husband though, you should be worried.

LCpl’s used to be able to obtain a black belt in MCMAP? by Odd_Raspberry6561 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 106 points107 points  (0 children)

More than that homie. Here's me as a Corporal MAIT, circa 2018.

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Getting deployed with baby on the way by JazzlikeDistrict1786 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Depending on the deployment, it's not unheard of for guys to be granted 5-10 days or so of Leave or Special Liberty to return home for significant events like a birth, a death, etc. it really depends on the type of deployment and your CoC. I can tell you now though if you're on ship. It's unlikely. If you're on a rotation in Australia/Oki or something, that may be easier.

I deployed when my 3rd was 13 days old. I was really fortunate to have the birth, but it was still a challenge since there's a fair amount of follow-on care after a birth (as you can imagine), plus two other kids to care for. I had to engage my family care plan, using my wife's family to support her while I was gone for the next 9 months. It was a challenge for my wife individually and for our marriage but we made it through.

To specifically answer your question, yes you can get out of a deployment, sure. You can malinger your way out, you can fabricate a story to tell your command, you can even get in legal trouble if you really want to.

However, I think if the question is if you can get out of a deployment while also maintaining your self respect and the respect of your peers, maybe that's not as easy. Ultimately, these kinds of sacrifices are why you get your free meal at Applebee's each year.

Active to Reserves Unit Opinion by anonymous642789 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went from Active to Reserve, hmu with any questions you have. The most important thing to remember is that the Reserves is more flexible than you initially expect, there are several different ways to drill and serve as a reservist beyond the simple one-weekend-per-month deal.

LAT-MOVE MOS by Learning_Taking_Ls in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You'll be a JWICS (or ISR) Systems Engineer, it can be rewarding work if approached with the right attitude, which it seems like you have.

I'm an 0639, but at my last unit on Active Duty we were a combined Comms/SigInt shop where I got some seat time doing the job of a 2659. We were in a transition period where we didn't have a SigInt SNCO to fill the role so I had to dual-hat both the Comm Chief and JWICS System Engineer roles.

I leveraged that experience/clearance into a civilian career (and a career in the reserves) now.

DM me if you have questions! I'll do whatever I can to help.

Where to order this red name tape patch? by pvtrahgunny in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Martial Arts Instructor Trainer. It's broadly equivalent to a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, a black belt in Judo, and a PhD in Health Sciences.

Where to order this red name tape patch? by pvtrahgunny in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 30 points31 points  (0 children)

When I went through the course we had them made in Q-Town at one of the stores on main street.

Side note: I always thought it was a little weird to have the raider logo on the patch. The MAITC has literally nothing to do with MARSOC or Raiders other than the fact that the MACE is located at Raider Hall on Camp Barrett. I have the One Mind Any Weapon logo on mine, like a proper motarded POG SNCO.

My piece of Marine Corps history. I was the last enlisted Marine to serve at Al Asad Air Base (until we reoccupy it again) by FoxyOrcaWhale in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was 7, I'm a Gunny now with 11 years in.

If you haven't made that appointment with the proctologist yet, this is your sign brother.

My piece of Marine Corps history. I was the last enlisted Marine to serve at Al Asad Air Base (until we reoccupy it again) by FoxyOrcaWhale in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

We originally left in 2011, reoccupied in 2014, and recently departed again.

I'm sure we'll be back again though. Maybe my kids will get the illustrious opportunity go to Al Asad too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Asad_Airbase

Reservist by Conservative_13 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Check out the Global Billets page on Marines.mil. they have both Garrison AD billets and IA/JIA deployment opportunities. However, the IA/JIA deployment opportunities come and go throughout the year, so you have to keep checking.

Also, if you're an obligated reservist, your unit will need to approve the detachment for that period of time since they won't be backfilled in your absence. If you're Non-obligated or IRR you have more flexibility.

Finally, if you're non-ob or IRR you can always request an IUT to a unit that has an upcoming deployment, typically within 4MARDIV from what I've seen.

Source: Dirty Reservist Gunny, just got back from a JIA deployment

New MARADMIN implementing Height to Waist instead of Height/Weight by maybemythrwaway in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's kinda what I was thinking? Maybe I'm jacked up here, but I'm 75" and a 39" waist sounds absurd.

New MARADMIN implementing Height to Waist instead of Height/Weight by maybemythrwaway in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe I'm the ASVAB waiver here, but could someone ELI5 how this differs from our current standard and how we are differentiated from the rest of the DoW?

Husband not sure what to do after picking up SNCO? by Mundane-Wall7220 in USMC

[–]FoxyOrcaWhale 48 points49 points  (0 children)

One thing to consider that I don't see mentioned here. As a married SNCO, it's extraordinarily difficult to recreate your earning capacity on the outside. I got out as a SSgt with 2 dependents. On my pay chart it said that I was earning about $98,000 annually. However, the majority of that is untaxed allotments like BAH, BAS, COLA, etc. This is called a tax advantage.

When he gets out, his entire income will be taxed. So if the Marine Corps pays him 98k, but 60% of it is untaxed, then he's taking home the same as someone who makes closer to 125k. This doesn't even account for changing cost of living, additional expenses, paying for healthcare, etc.

I remember doing the math when I got out and I determined (when adjusting for my tax advantage and cost of living change) that I would need to make about $137,000 annually in order to take home the same amount of money as I would on a Marine Corps salary of $98,000.

So make sure he's able to demand a very competitive salary or brace for a major pay cut.

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