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[martyfan]

8 US soldiers charged in death of bullied comrade
By Chris Hawley

Even before the Army sent him to Afghanistan, supporters say, Pvt. Daniel Chen was fighting a personal war.

Comments

[erunamiryene]

(Advance apologies if this is rambly/not helpful at all.)

Overall ... I like the military in general. For the most part, as long as you do your job and give your 100%, it's not that bad, and you meet some awesome people (plus travel, woo!). It brought me out of my shell a lot - in high school I was quiet, and timid, and very much "don't look at me, I'm just over here being quiet, don't mind me". I also think that I picked the most misogynistic branch (the Marines being 95% male and all), so it's unlikely you'd hear much of the "you don't belong here/you're not a real Marine/you're not a real NCO/etc, you're a girl" bullshit that I heard all the damn time. From what I've heard, the Navy isn't quite as bad as the Marines.

Most of what I know about officers and the Navy are "I saw docs when I went to the Naval Hospital" and the Tailhook scandal, so I unfortunately can't tell you much about the officer side of things. I do have a couple people I can ask, though. :)

My best advice, TBH, is "don't let the fuckers get you down". Be prepared to have to give 150% to be considered 75% as good (although, again, it may not be as bad in other branches and on the officer side). When I went in, I was very much in a "FUCK YOU I'LL PROVE I'M BETTER THAN YOU IF IT KILLS ME" mindframe; that lasted about three years, and then I wondered why I gave a single fuck about what those assholes thought of me, and just did my job and acquitted myself honorably and said "fuck you" to the haters.

I'm totally fine with answering questions anytime; I'll just add a disclaimer that I can get long-winded about it. XD

[temperance_k]

This is actually really helpful!

I was actually wondering if you knew whether or not female docs could deploy green side! If I choose to take one of the medical school scholarships for the Navy, I might end up having to do a GMO tour, and I hear the best one is with the Marines (partly because it only lasts a year), but I'm not sure women are allowed?

It's nice to hear the military doesn't have to be all bad. I'm partly considering joining just because I feel as if I do need the attitude adjustment being in the military would give me (along with wanting to serve my country, understand the military better, etc.), but I would hate to go in and be miserable + inflict my misery on everyone during my repayment.

[erunamiryene]

Yep, they can. The only caveat on that is if you go with division (the grunts), you won't be lower down the chain than regiment (example, under the 2nd Marine Division, you could be in the 2d, 6th, 8th, or 10th Marine Regiment, but you wouldn't be with, say, 1/8, which is one of the battalions in the 8th Marine Regiment). You could also end up with group (like 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force), or the wing (like 2nd MAW). The only thing you might have to do would be to go through field med school, but you may not have to do that as an officer.

Honestly, without all that misogynistic bullshit, I really liked the military (even though I hate, loathe, and despite PT). I learned a lot, I got to go to Okinawa, I met awesome people, I learned how to work with all kinds of leadership/managerial styles, and I got some super-sweet uniforms. :D I did have my share of time going "WHAT THE FUCK WAS I THINKING, WHY DID I DO THIS, OMGGGGG", too. XD