Royal Marines - attitude advice

Hi all,

Being a young lad (23) who's currently a bit unsure as to what career direction I might be heading since graduating from uni, I've come back to looking at the forces again, more specifically the Royal Marines. It's not a completely idle whim, I've done 5 years in the Army Cadets in the past, progressing up to Colour Sergeant. I know that's not the 'real thing' but I reckon it means I have a better idea of what the task may really involve on a day-to-day basis than guns & glory. I can't honestly say I'm one who would be doing it as a 'lifelong ambition', more as a reasoned choice of a career that offers some of the best training in the world, varied and interesting challenges, serious responsibilities & a chance to 'do something positive'. I wanted to ask a question aimed at anyone on here who is in the forces, and there seem to be a few of you.

I am a person who considers myself to be a 'strong character' or individual, whatever that may mean. I would probably classify myself as an extrovert, one who enjoys standing up for what I believe in, challenging people to defend their arguments and beliefs, engaging in debate. I don't take any nonsense from people just because it is the easy option, and I like to hear reasoned justification for something. I will make it clear if I think something is wrong, or could be done better.

Would these characteristics make me unsuitable for a miltary career?
Is individuality seen as a positive, or something detrimental to the military ethos that needs to be broken?

If it's of importance, if I pursue this further I would be looking to enlist as an officer. Does this make any difference in that individuality is more tolerated in those in command than it is in the men they must lead?

Much obliged for any opinions anyone is willing to express, one way or another. It's the major stumbling block for me atm, wondering whether I as a person am simply not tailored to fit the lifestyle.

You will go through an interview process to see if you are what they want not the other way round tbh, saying that though if you want to be there thats half the battle, good luck with it all the same.

the fact that you've asked the question of yourself probably shows that you will have an understanding of when to and when not to question what you're being told.

the balance you'll have to find is between questioning orders and clarifying them.

I sound like a similar character to yourself and I passed the PRMC about 8yrs ago. Couldn't complete basic training due to injury and ended up leaving under mutual decision which sometimes I think was the best thing that could have happened and also the worst as I was really 'up for it..'

Been in offices ever since but its never been enough.

Start with Gwent Police in April

take out your brains and mush them up and put only a few back in and you will have the right mentality for a career in the marines. Hope I dont offend any marines on here. I was in the wrns for 4 years and had to work with marines from arbroath and they were all mad, seriously unhinged. saying that they would do anything for each other which I think in their line of work is more important than being able to sit and have a pint without having to drop their trousers and stick their willies in each others drinks. im sure you will love it lol

Originally Posted by kitkat

take out your brains and mush them up and put only a few back in and you will have the right mentality for a career in the marines. Hope I dont offend any marines on here. I was in the wrns for 4 years and had to work with marines from arbroath and they were all mad, seriously unhinged. saying that they would do anything for each other which I think in their line of work is more important than being able to sit and have a pint without having to drop their trousers and stick their willies in each others drinks. im sure you will love it lol

Now you see that was the stereotype that I was trying to refer to without saying it quite so directly As it happens, I met a few of that 'willies in pints' bunch in my college at uni who were thinking of heading into the Marines and who conformed to the ignorant meathead pattern quite well.

I was just hoping that was the exception not the rule.

im sure they are not all like that. just the majority of the ones I met lol. The officers were not as bad as the oiks. We just referred to them all as green meat. The beret will get you lots of sex no matter what you look like lol

[timwilky]

My neighbour across the road was once the youngest to complete the commando course in modern time. He left school on the friday and was on a train on the Sunday.

Stories he tells me is that the Neanderthal is alive and well within the Royal Marines. He tells people he was not a marine. They are soft yanks. He was a Royal Marine and emphasises the Royal bit.

Nasty stories about sticking their fingers up their **** and then wiping them under another's nose. Soggy biscuits and throwing new recruits out the first floor windows etc.

He did tell me though that when out together they fight other squadies for pleasure. He did time in a military nick for thumping a navel officer in portsmouth that wouldn't give him a chip. Bit unfair as the officer was ****ed.

Other thing is he liked was about 2 years spent in Norway on artic warfare. Although he reckons the cold/damp has left him with arthritis. And a thunderflash in the face has left him with only one eye. but a military pension

Not meaning to sound like a gimp, but I probably wouldn't be interested in the sort of women who are up for it because of the beret

Yep, that probably did sound like an oversensitive/overpicky gimp. Gotta work on that technique

Originally Posted by MeridiaNx

Not meaning to sound like a gimp, but I probably wouldn't be interested in the sort of women who are up for it because of the beret

Yep, that probably did sound like an oversensitive/overpicky gimp. Gotta work on that technique

think you would need to change that attitude before considering joining up. You will be required to stick your best pal in all sorts of places a double bagger will be the least of your problems

in case anyone hasnt heard of the phrase a double bagger is a member of the opposite sex who is so ugly you put a paper bag over their head and one over yours just in case theirs falls off during the act. lol