New HBO TV show: Generation Kill

[Cogz]

I can't believe nobody corrected this already...

The Marine Corps has done just fine for the last 332 years with the things the way they are.

232 years Devildogs...

 

[RobMoore]

Haircuts have gone up since I got out. They cost $4 in the late 90s. Even $10 a week isn't too much to ask to not look like a squid.

It's an easy task to stop outside the gate on Sunday afternoon coming back from libbo to get one. Of course not so much if you're one of those Marines dragging yourself (or being carried)home at 2am Monday morning hoping to be ready for morning formation.

..back to the show, I enjoyed the 2-3 episodes my wife actually sat through, because of all the questions it sparked in her that she never thought to ask before. The non-marines at work have new questions every week as well (5 out of 16 people in my section are Marines, 4 of which, including myself, were infantry.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

The Marine Corps has done just fine for the last 332 years with the things the way they are.

232 years Devildogs...

Wow.

I guess I failed the "Math for Marines" course...

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

It's this simple. Uniformity means logistic simplicity. There are hundreds of reasons, both logistical, and combat related for uniformity Corps wide.

Yes, I understand this, and I completely agree, but your example highlights procedures born out of necessity. I'm talking about variations in terms of tactical flexibility, like placement of magazine pouches. That's the type of thing that should suit the individual operator, and not the commander's want for uniform appearance. Just like the traditional marksmanship range is a poor gauge of shooting under stress. Nobody goes to combat with a looped sling, shooting glove, data book, and sight black even though this is considered the "proper" way to shoot accurately.

Even $10 a week isn't too much to ask to not look like a squid.

So what you suggest by this comment is the haircut is the only thing that makes a marine look different from a sailor? If you get a haircut every 2 weeks instead of every one week, you won't look like a squid. and you'll save 50%/month. That's like one box of .308 match right there. I get a medium reg and have my top grown to about 2 inches. I look like a dork with short hair, and I don't care if I don't look like the guy on the recruiting poster.

Look, it comes down to this: I'm a cynical guy. I consider myself to be intelligent enough to understand the purpose behind lawful orders. But I also know when I'm being given orders for no other purpose than to follow them. In my opinion, some of the policies that are traditionally instituted are no more than the equivilant of a drill instructor screaming "RUN THIS WAY RIGHT NOW, RUN THAT WAY RIGHT NOW". Yes, there's a purpose for that too, and that is to instill discipline and loyalty, but I think as an operational force, we should be beyond that. It is my firm conviction that a unit will operate better when it doesn't get wrapped around that axle.

 

[siglite]

In my opinion, some of the policies that are traditionally instituted are no more than the equivilant of a drill instructor screaming "RUN THIS WAY RIGHT NOW, RUN THAT WAY RIGHT NOW". Yes, there's a purpose for that too, and that is to instill discipline and loyalty, but I think as an operational force, we should be beyond that. It is my firm conviction that a unit will operate better when it doesn't get wrapped around that axle.

It's my personal experience, that on base, the "do everything our way, yes, EVERYTHING" stuff is the norm. But in a combat theater, those rules relax quite a bit. When we went in-country in '91, a lot of that stuff the Sgt. Major is yapping constantly about in this series was just ignored. We didn't have anyone that fit that character. Oh, we had guys like that on base. But once we got off the boats and into enemy real-estate, that stuff was out the window and it became 100% about combat effectiveness.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Yeah, I guess that's just garrison life for you.

 

[RobMoore]

Just like the traditional marksmanship range is a poor gauge of shooting under stress. Nobody goes to combat with a looped sling, shooting glove, data book, and sight black even though this is considered the "proper" way to shoot accurately.

That is why you have SOI or MCT after boot camp. Like learning how to shoot most any weapon, you have to learn precision before you can learn combat. I'm a pistol instructor, and students learn to do bullseye before they start drawing and shooting man-sized threats on the clock, multiple threats, moving shooting, ect.

 

[3pairs12]

For those who do watch the new episode is about to start.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

I guess that was the last episode.

It had alot of potential but came up way short.
Seems like that had a good budget to work with but they make it seem like it was just a long drive with some shooting every now and then.

Band of Brothers it was not.
I have heard a show was in the works about the pacific theater. The same folks that did BoB are doing it so it should be well worth the watch.

 

[highorder]

I guess that was the last episode.

It had alot of potential but came up way short.
Seems like that had a good budget to work with but they make it seem like it was just a long drive with some shooting every now and then.

I found myself wondering if a second season was in the works...