Question: If someone becomes a marine and is trained

[undeterred]

in a specialty like computer networking, does that mean he will not participate in combat? I know of someone in this situation and his parents believe that if he is deployed to Afghanistan he will not be in combat.

[Warpy]

1. Warfare isn't like it was in WWII

where there were clear cut lines between the enemy and one's own side. Now everything is mixed and a stable area can see a firefight in seconds.

I don't think you need to worry his parents, though. Let them live in their little bubble of safety, it's far kinder than telling them the truth.

Everyone is at risk in that country.

[BeGoodDoGood]

14. Every Marine A Rifleman

I read a book about the war in Iraq; some of the rear echelon guys were volunteering for convoy duty to get outside the wire and also to get points towards a CAR ribbon - Combat Action.

But no one is exempt from being a target over there.


Walt

[lazer47]

2. If you are in a Combat zone,, you are subject to Combat,,

[Kutjara]

3. My understanding is that a Marine is a rifleman first...

...and everything else second. During WWII, Marine cooks and clerks stormed ashore alongside grunts with weapons in their hands. It is likely that computer networking specialists will be required to set up equipment in the combat zone (like the radio operators of old), so I don't think that particular specialty would avoid combat.

I think if I wanted to join a branch of the service and avoid combat, the Marines would be my last choice.

[Poll_Blind]

4. Not necessarily. In fact, it's not unheard of for a recruit to go into bootcamp with...

...the promise of being trained in a certain specialization and then having it yanked out from under them. There are absolutely no guarantees that the vocation the military has promised the recruit will actually be what they're trained in once they leave bootcamp.

All promises made to get a recruit into the service, nomatter how or what they scored on their ASVAB, are just possibilities, not realities.

This happened to a friend of mine in the Navy. Some of it also depends on how the background interview goes.

PB

[ret5hd]

5. What was the name of that guy in the Tom Hanks WWII movie...

the slight, meek interpreter that ended up having to fetch ammo for everyone through all kinds of hell?

Well, that's him.

[BeGoodDoGood]

15. Seems Like That Character was named Opfen.

Cpl. Opfen the interpreter.

Walt

[undeterred]

6. This young man became a marine in May

and is in classes (for computers) now in California. He's been through he "crucible" and munitions training. He is the first person to join the service from a liberal, non-military family. He loves it and he has done well. But they told him he is likely to be deployed to Afghanistan at the end of his years training... I just wondered what that entailed.

[haele]

9. The marines have mobile command vehicles that provide network and comms

to the landing or field units. At worst, he'll be traveling in convoy if he isn't assigned to ship support.
He probably won't be front-line like the scouting and patrol units you see on the news, but he does run the risk of injury or death from mortars, snipers and IEDs when assigned to a mobile vehicle unit.
He won't be lucky enough to get shipboard only or a shore billet until his second or third tour. That's just the way it's been going lately.

Haele

[undeterred]

10. Thank you.

It seems like most of the fatalities are from the IEDs.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. Here's what I know albeit

from 1968.
All Marines are first riflemen. That's why we were all taught to shoot the rifle. You never know when the First Sgt might say; 'we're getting overrun on the perimiter. Grab your rifle and follow me. By the way, don't worry about the payroll (in my case I was a payroll clerk).'
So I'd advise your friends to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst........

[undeterred]

8. Thanks.

I think they will need to hook up with some other military families in the area if and when the time comes. Probably nobody else can really understand what its like to have your child in that situation.

[blueberrypickn]

11. they learn how to carry a weapon in Basic, m'dear

dream on.

the only thing they want from the military is to kill folks, herd folks, intimidate folks...

& occasionally ride a joystick to do it remotely.

otherwise? *bleed for the AmeriKan Korporations*, baby!

they'll say *anything* to get someone to get on that bus to basic training... don't believe a fucking word of it!
perspective.

BlueBerry Pick'n
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"Violence can only be concealed by a Lie, & the Lie can only be maintained by Violence." ... "Any man, who has once proclaimed Violence as his Method, is inevitably forced to take the Lie as his Principle" – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire

[undeterred]

12. Welcome to DU!

:hi: You'll fit right in.

[Warpy]

16. Anybody who quotes Volatire is fine with me

Welcome to DU!

[thunder rising]

13. Networking sounds like Commo Wire Stringer to me. Civilians get ALL the non-shooting jobs.

Do they use that stuff anymore?

[rakeeb]

18. It sounds like this kid is an 0651, Data Network Specialist....

that is the kid responsible for installing and maintaining servers, clients, Video-Teleconference gear, miles of CAT 5, and teach the LTC how to forward an email and dial out on his VOIP phone.

These guys work for the S-6 at Battalion level and above, are generally prevented from "volunteering for convoy duty"...they can rarely escape the BN staff area long enough to eat or work out before confused, non-computer-savvy officers come looking for them in a panic.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. All Marines on the ground in theatre will see some action

[westerebus]

19. In the rear with the gear.

Marines stationed in combat zones are all exposed to a degree. Infantry units more so. Computer specialists less so.

All Marines are expected to provide for the defense of what ever base they are on. I know Marines who've spend a year in combat zones on bases and with the exception of a random mortar round, never experienced combat. They were in the rear with the gear.

The majority of Marines are not that fortunate.

[undeterred]

20. Good news: He's going to Japan.

That was his first choice and he got it. What a relief for his parents.