Jul 10
Dear Readers,
Kindly remind me of all that was unpleasant about being owned by the US Government? Mr. H has been in for 18 years (last February) and with this economy, I find myself worrying about job security should he decide to retire. And then I start missing the field.
How many more times will I need to hear about how retarded I am?
At least once more.
Always.
Much obliged,
Barmy and Friends
July 10th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Well, you never made it shipboard did you? Can you imagine being in the Persian Gulf. Got it? Now you are in a compartment with how many other marines? 50-60?…you with me?…ok it’s 130 degrees outside…still there? Ok…first thing that happens is an evap goes down (that makes fresh water people). So, they stop ALL non-essential use of fresh water…that includes showers? Sound fun so far?
Now the fun really begins…the AC goes down (could be the water level got too low for chill water).
It’s time for bed…you go down to the compartment where x number of marines are berthed. it’s way over 100 degrees in the compartment. People have rigged de-smoking fans (that are loud as hell) for ventilation.
You find that the head has a CHT over run (yes, that’s sewage), so it’s closed and locked, but didn’t get cleaned because there is no fresh water.
Did you get all that?
Now imagine the smell of all those un-washed socks with a hint of sewage.
Raise your right hand and repeat after me.
This is not just a story, it has happened to me personally 3 times. Once aboard the USS New Orleans, and twice aboard USS Denver. Both are Marine taxis.
OBTW the AC will still be on for the weapon systems, and shipboard computers. We can’t be losing those to the heat. The crew and the Marines come after the equipment.
Hope this helps.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Actually, the H and I were discussing joining up with the Army NG. I’m stupid, but not stupid enough to even consider going back to the USMC. *L*
Ugh, and now you’ve reminded me of the several times where we did have to put up with those sorts of conditions. However, I’ve never had to live that way for more than a few weeks. Unless, of course, you count the student barracks at Cherry Point.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
There are LPHs in SOCOM….manned (God help us) by the Army.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Do I need to call in the Marine Moms? Of course, Gunny T’s daughter decided to go Army. The family is in mourning. LOL.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Mr H assures me that he plans on staying in until they make him go.
So that could be… next year or in twenty years. Hell if I know.
That being the case, there is no way I would join back up if he were still in. It’s why I never fought the separation when they dumped it on me in the first place. Hell, if I’d fought it, I could have hid in the legal paperwork for years, but I’d seen what dual mil did to all the marriages around me and I realized that perhaps (if there is some sort of higher power) I should take the hint.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Barmy,
I should have you talk to my little bro. He just joined the National Guard, at 35. He’s hating life. How about someone younger and dumber than you being in charge? Telling you to do push ups? How’d you like to live in a tent?
Oh and any sort of injury you had before WILL come back. Usually worse than before.
But honestly here’s the deal from where I sit with 19+ years in the Navy. I’ts NOT the same (duh). It’s gotten way to much like a “nanny state”. To intrusive into what should be your personal life.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Don’t be a not so big dumbhead.
Says the big dumbhead.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:29 am
eh, i always had more fun in the field, but then again, i am only marginally in the military ^^
July 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
poo and Chief: It’s the threat of a desk job that scares me away. NMCI, NALCOMIS, and anything to do with accountability, TPL, S3, or TAD orders (requesting them, sadly I never got to escape on TAD) haunt my dreams. In waking life, I’ve managed to block out 99% of what I learned about them. I’d rather be kicked repeatedly in the thighs than spend an eternity behind stacks of paper and folders. Oh… wait… *remembering the degree I’m currently working on*
Fuck.
T1G: If I work really hard at it, I think I can get down to a 123 lb dumbhead. I fit into my these-run-a-little-small size fives yesterday and just about broke into dance. Still a little tight for that, so the world was spared my random flailing gyrations for the mean time.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Cool! Very cool!
BTW… do your flailings resemble Carlton or Elaine’s dances?
July 12th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
It’s kind of a one sided Perfect Strangers kind of dance.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
B Mama-
Be careful in what you choose, that’s all I’m saying. One minute your military job skill (MOS) is greatly desired by the Army and next thing ya know you get a new Commander in Chief and a Congress that wants to down-size the military. Then you are again treated as a-dime-a-dozen piece of crap. It’s cyclical but true. Whatever ya do make sure Hubby gets his 20 years in.
I had a break in service for 2 and a half years, and went back in for about 6 more years of Active Duty. It was great except for all the crap I don’t remember…and don’t want to remember. My Dad told me- “The grass is always greener and it’s usually at the bottom of a gawd-damn cliff”. He was right. Also I remember some words from a very wise Drill Sergeant- “Remember this, people. The last place you left is always better than the one you’re at.”