As some of you know, I became disabled in the Marine Corps. They literally add insult to injury there, claiming “No Marine is ever injured, all Marines are faking it” and other such statements. It really makes you feel like less of a person and getting processed out of the military was, hands down, the darkest time in my life.
When I was in, there was an unofficial command to process out Marines using different separation characterizations. I won’t go into it too much, but basically commanding officers were told to administratively separate a Marine with less than an honorable discharge, meaning that Marine is not guaranteed medical care or their GI Bill (money for university). This is completely illegal and was thankfully exposed after I got out, but at the time I was in I had to fight this.
I was working a second job at the time and I was alone. I hated my life. I contemplated suicide. I would drink vodka before work to fake a smile and would emotionally break down at least once a week. My life and career were over, that’s how I saw it, but I fought against the nonsense so I could ensure my rights would be given to me.
Someone fighting with the commanding officer tends to get noticed, and the fatties came to me asking for advice. They told me their “medical problems” and asked how they, too, could try to get a “fair” shake at being discharged. Thankfully, this being the Marine Corps, I could be a shitlord openly and I said, “For starters, stop being so fucking fat. That makes you look like a lazy sack of shit that’s just trying to get out because he’s a lazy sack of shit.” Just because you have medical problems is no excuse to be a bloated whale with screaming buttons on your uniform. I was pretty sure they didn’t have medical problems at all. Some of the stuff they said made no sense, but I tried to set that aside because I know I wanted people to take me seriously so I tried to take them seriously. The problem is that being obese pretty much sealed the deal about it being malingering. Their laziness is what had Marines like me ostracized for actual medical problems.
Then I saw other Marines and civilians who weren’t medically struggling like myself, but were overeating. Here I was, trying to take care of my body the best I could, and then some folks with totally okay bodies were eating themselves into medical problems of their own. That’s what added to the depression, that these people didn’t even appreciate their bodies but they still got to have them without disability (at least at that time).
I was reminded of this from reading about another shitlord’s encounter, and just wanted to share how deeply I hate obeasts and the HAES/fat acceptance movements. It might sound more depressing than enraging, but my rage meter was so high…that’s why I relished being able to call them out as lazy, fat fucks.
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[–] Leelem0n [S] ago
First, get your contract set up with what you want. Don't go in under an open contract.
Second, remember that your job isn't guaranteed, only the job grouping. That means they can place you specifically in another job.
Next, you want to remind yourself that this is YOUR CHOICE and you WANTED to be in there. Some people can get bitter and get mad at other Marines, the Marine Corps itself, or the Drill Instructors, but nobody forced you to enlist. It was your choice, remember that. Stand by it, work hard to accomplish your goals.
Next, be your own medical advocate...no one else will be. I was hurt and had to still do work because none of the docs cared enough to pull me to the side. I really messed up my feet from it. Always keep a copy of your medical paperwork. It may become cumbersome but you will be glad you kept it.
Next, you're human, you'll make mistakes. Never take it personally when someone corrects you. If they directly insult you, don't take that personally, either.
Finally, and this is big, keep your ducks in a row and make sure you speak tactfully...then you can pretty much talk shit to anyone as long as you do it properly. For example, when you want to say, "It's in the fucking black and white" when referring to a rule or regulation, you can say, "To my understanding, it is X".
[–] Prettypurplepatterns ago
Thank you so much, was not expecting a reply. Definitely will remember this.
[–] TSlim ago
I find it really fascinating that there's some sort of contractual basis for enlistment; I'd have assumed that the agreement was uniform across the board, at least within a given specialization or whatever. Do you mind elaborating on that for a non-American at all?
Thanks either way!
[–] Leelem0n [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The agreements vary because some people come in under different circumstances. The biggest reason is to try to secure your desired MOS (Military Occupational Specialty...aka your job) in the military. An "open contract" means they can put you where ever they want. But there are other factors for contract changes. For example, some people want to enlist with a friend, so they have the "buddy program" to make sure they are stationed together. Other people want to finish school, so they enlist, go through training, then they are set as reservists (only do military work twice a month and two weeks per year) so finish their degree, and then after that they go to Officer Candidate School (OCS). Other people have families when they sign up so they want to make sure their families are able to have money to move. Other people already have degrees but don't want to be officers, so they get extra rank straight out of boot camp. These are some of the variables that are reflected in the contracts.