Posted on 05/14/2016 8:16:15 PM PDT by Silly
I wonder, would it better to show up with a gung-ho haircut and attitude, or to show up with long hair and civilian attitude and allow oneself to be "trained"?
“but any medical information about someone is ending up in D.C.”
There’s no doubt that 23andMe intends totally nefarious usage of the dna information it collects, but that is not the case with ancestry.com, which will hand over specific data only when served with a legal search warrant.
On the other hand, I think that we can all assume that all data on the Internet has been (or could be whenever desired) stolen by the U.S. government.
Nonetheless, whether my DNA information gets stolen by the U.S government or not, I find the benefits to my own personal health to FAR outweigh any paranoia regarding clandestine government activity.
I’ve been on the internet since it existed and have a very large amount of information about my purchases and usage online at various websites and a large amount of medical information contained in various hospital and doctor databases, so I figure a little bit more won’t make any difference.
We gave our Marine a fine watch. He also received a professional-type pair of Oakleys and a beautiful knife. The boys generally like to get iTunes gift cards or games. They do not generally love the “moto” Marine clothes and gear; those things will make everybody laugh at them, since they’re really intended for the mommies and daddies.
Tell him “Rah!” from our family.
I would say one of the very few things that you could bring with you that would put you ahead is to have the haircut he even if they yelled at you for it.
but it is true that if you have many forms of technical knowledge like Marksmanship, etc. then It is wise to completely conceal it except for your final score.
a gung-ho, highly motivated attitude is fantastic but the wise thing is to try not to get noticed except for high scores.
Maybe get a short haircut two weeks before boot camp so it has a chance to grow out a bit and look natural, not like you’re trying to brown nose.
Don’t know your price range but a fairly good pair of compact binoculars would be nice. If a jeweler could engrave his name it would be a plus.
Okee doke.
When I was in (long time ago) we were allowed personal weapons, don’t know if that is still true.
If so; a good 9mm or 45 cal. engraved with his name, branch of service, and service number.
If they frown on personal weapons now (likely); get him a good folding Buck Knife, also engraved as above.
Not just a good weapon, but also a good, useful all around tool.
A couple of 24-packs of premium Gillette razor blades. Razor blades are expensive.
If he doesn’t have a decent watch, I’d buy him a rugged watch. Casio G-Shock around $100 is plenty.
I’d also just give him cash in the form of a pre-paid gift card.
Give that outstanding young man a box of Nubs.
--
If you do this, just be sure to wait until after he graduates to give them to him.
My cousin also told me that when he was at Parris Island, some guy's girlfriend sent him some cigars,
and the DI made that recruit eat the cigars while drinking a canteen full of hot water.
Of, by, and for Marines. Profits go to support Marine programs.
That said, all Marines go through the School of Infantry short course, and then on to their career training. If they’re going to be a full time combat person, they go on to more combat training. Graduating SOI isn’t as big a deal as boot camp.
He will go straight from SOI to Marine Occupational Specialty school. After MOS he will get a break and then go to whatever base he’s assigned to.
Marines have to pay for their own uniforms; it comes out of their boot camp pay. They are expensive! And they need replacing. https://www.marineshop.net/ has uniforms, so a gift card will go to good use. My son got a nicer dress hat, called a cover, for wearing to the Birthday Ball. The Birthday Ball is a Really Big Deal to Marines.
So that’s my input. See tag line.
Ironically, if he lives in the barracks, he won't be able to keep it with him. There are also constraints for base housing if he qualifies for it.
Pretty sorry state when our warriors aren't trusted with personal weapons.
What branch of the service does he identify with?
Ooo rah!
Not myself a Marine, but several of the most influential adults in my young life were, and from them I learned that a Marine’s best friend was his KABAR. Followed closely by his rifle, a P-38 can opener, and plenty of clean dry socks.
OS
WRM,MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
USMC Kabar knife.
I got a pair of Gortex socks and life got good. If they got wet inside, I just took them off and wiped them down and put them back on. Well worth the $30 dollars I spent. The GORTEX boots- they were retired.
Easy.
Ka-Bar knife. One of the classic ones with the stacked leather handle. Not the plastic version available these days.
I was gifted a Ka-Bar when I was a young lieutenant. It went with me on every deployment and still serving in my retired years.
And I’m an Army guy. Those Marines have a good knife.
I’ll caveat this and say the Ka-Bar is a good utility and fighting knife. The best all-around survival knife is probably the USAF pilot knife. Both made by Camillus if I remember right.
FReegards!
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