Recent content by Malachy Marine

Infantry(0302) is a requirement to go to one of the Recon Battalions in a recon capacity. MARSOC and Recon still need CSS support and all of those MOSs are able to be assigned in spport of the actual operators. MARSOC's accession pipeline is still evolving; however, you must perform well at your...

As far as the graduation rate from BUD/S, for my class from USNA (2009) all, but one successfully completed the pipeline. The one was someone who lateral transferred from another community after a tour. The rates tend to vary from class-to-class, but I would peg graduation rate from BUD/S for...

This is the center of the argument for female Marines in combat. 3 pull-ups is the minimum required of ALL male Marines. That is for entry and during annual PFTs. However, there is an unwritten rule that a Marine is good-to-go with a High First Class PFT around 270 points and above. There is...

I don't think anyone is under any delusions about this. I am not worrying about "what they are up to." I am worrying about the second and third order effects and how this will effect combat effectiveness. This is my job as an officer. Not *****ing down to my subordinates. Homosexuals are...

I'd hate to have to do that kind of training. This last PTP was heavily focused towards performance at EMV and in theater, so a lot of emphasis on patrolling and counter IED. Also, with your standard mix of annual training (rifle range, PFT/CFT, required classes, etc.) it makes it difficult to...

I would also refer to you to the following article: http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/article/women-combat-issue-hasnt-been-settled Well written, though I think his statements about his personal attractions are are not well conveyed, and therefore appear lacking in professionalism...

I personally take affront that just because someone can be qualified for service that automatically means they are capable of serving in the infantry. Maybe it is because I am a Marine, and we are an infantry-centric organization compared to the branch-centric Army. However, competition to...

Infantry Haven't posted for a while, but here's my two cents. I personally believe the current COIN fight has skewed what people think of war. Granted it is the current fight, but the military trains and still needs to be capable of more traditional force-on-force conflicts. Being deployed...

I don't think the problem is ten years at war... It might be the institution. I'm not trying to get into a pissing match between services, but the Marine Corps has been in this war just as long, and seen some of the heaviest fighting with some disproportionate casualty figures (considering our...

Consider that the Marine Corps has a very low officer-enlisted ratio (close to 1:9) compared to the other services. On top of that a large percentage of the Marine officer corps is company grade. The career designation boards that meet semi-annually are the big hurdle for young Marine officers...

I think my comments were misinterpreted, combined with a overstatement on my part. However, I do believe that within the POTUS's direct control (i.e. can receive direct tasking from POTUS without Congressional or with limited Congressional oversight) there is not much else out there that can do...

In order to be eligible for the full Post-9/11 GI Bill, you must serve 36 months of time on active duty from date of entry. Those from the SAs clock on the 36 months does not start ticking down until after their minimum obligated service is completed. Theres also an amendment pending for the...

Forward force projection is the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) typically embarked aboard naval amphibious shipping. We currently man (7) MEUs with any where from 3-4 always being deployed. Each MEU has (2) Battalion sized elements: a ground force and a logistical element. As well as a ad...

Everyone knows that The Great Class of [Insert Graduation Year Here] had the last real plebe summer... As for me it was 2009. The class that broke the Streak, and set the greased record at Herndon. And remember... Plebe Summer is summer camp. The level of physical strain and mental anxiety...

Try Gate 3. Much closer. Opens directly onto the Ceremonial Area (Stribling Walk) from Maryland Ave. Gate 8 is most definitely much farther when you take into account the route you have to take. Especially from State Circle.