Jarhead Online

Veteran’s day is just around the corner, Nov 11th to be exact, and there are many discounts and deals to be had not only by active duty members of the armed services but also retirees.  Here is a list of some of the things that I have come across either online or in my email from the SgtMaj and 1stSgt.

-Free Applebee’s meals on Veterans Day
 

-McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Sunday, November 8

-Golden Corral Military Appreciation,  Monday, November 16,

-Knotts Berry Farm, November 1 through November 26

-Lowes – 10% off on Veterans Day

-Home Depot - 10% discounts

-Disney’s Armed Forces Salute at Disney Parks

-Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks - free park admission
Veterans and Armed Forces personnel can receive one free general
admission ticket or a Buy-One-Get-One-Free offer on reserved seats (up to 4
total tickets) to the UCLA vs Washington football game on Saturday, November
7th at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.  Present valid identification or be in
uniform at the UCLA Central Ticket Office M-F 10am to 4pm or at the Rose
Bowl on Game Day 11/7/09; or call (310) UCLA-WIN during business hours to
purchase tickets over the phone, pick up tickets at Rose Bowl on game day
with valid ID or be in uniform; or purchase tickets online at UCLABruins.com
<http://UCLABruins.com>  using  Pomo Code:  GOBRUINS.  Don’t miss the
pre-game Veterans and armed Forces Exhibit Fair in Lot H of the Rose Bowl.

*****Clippers will host a Military Appreciation Night on Friday, November
13th at 7:30 pm.  Service Men and Women and their families will be honored
and all military personnel in attendance will receive a commemorative
T-shirt.

If any of you have any other deals that can be passed on please leave them in the comments and I will make sure that they make it into the main article.

Just when it seemed that I had goten bck into the groove of things the Big Blue Diamond (1st Mar Div) decided to go play in the desert for a couple of weeks.  I must admit that this was one of the most boring field ops that I have been on in recent memory as it seemed like we did a whole hell of a lot of sitting on our asses.  We did get some good training in but not all that was needed.  I guess that I am partly to blame for this as I am a SSgt and I wasn’t really able to coordinate any outside training but hey we did what we could.  Now it is back to the grind here in the rear and make sure everything that got broke now gets fixed.  That and gotta make sure we get all the training that we need as looks like I will be headin to asscrackistan some time in the spring.  I should get back to a semi-normal posting schedule now that I am back.

A few months go I posted about the Marine Corps’ Selective Re-enlisment Bonus (SRB) for fiscal year 2010.  I mentioned that Marines would be eligible for up $90,000 to re-enlist.  Well it seems that the money is starting to run out.  In fact MarAdmin 471-09 listed several MOS’s that would not have a bonus available after 1 Oct.  Now MarAdmin 590-09 states that even more MOS’s will loose eligibility for a re-enlistment bonus in the next 30 day.  The MOS’s that will soon be loosing eligibility are:

Zone A:
————–
5942
6223
6253
6322

Zone B:
————–
0411
0619
0629
0659
1316
1371
2141
2171
3537
6283
6672

Zone C:
————–
0491

If you are in one of the above MOS’s and you want to re-enlist I suggest that you hurry up and get it done so that you do not loose out on some good money

 As my regular readers know I recently purchased a new home for me and my family.  I used a VA Loan for the financing and it was wonderful.  My new mortgage payment is actually less than I was paying for a 3 bedroom apartment.  I would not have been able to buy this wonderful help without the benefit of a VA loan.  Below you will find a guest article about the benefits of a VA loan.

 
VA loans represent one of the last remaining avenues for qualified borrowers to purchase a home without a down payment. And these low-cost lending options are becoming increasingly popular as government loans continue to grab a greater share of the overall lending market.

The Veterans Administration provides qualified veterans and their families with one of the most flexible and high-impact loan programs on the market. VA home loans come with an array of financial benefits and can help veterans without sterling credit or huge incomes achieve the goal of homeownership.

The VA guarantees home loans issued by commercial lenders. That protection basically replaces the need for a down payment and often allows borrowers to obtain excellent financing rates. Government-backed loans offer lenders a degree of protection that conventional loans often lack.

VA loan recipients can also forgo monthly private mortgage insurance, which is a requirement on conventional loans for borrowers who fail to put down at least 20 percent. With a VA loan, that’s another monthly cost savings that can go toward paying down your principal.

Some other benefits of VA loans include:

# Negotiable interest rate.
# Ability to finance the VA funding fee
# Closing costs are comparable with other financing types (and may be lower).
# An assumable mortgage.
# Right to prepay without penalty.
# For homes inspected by VA during construction, a warranty from builder and assistance from VA to obtain cooperation of builder.
# VA assistance to veteran borrowers in default due to temporary financial difficulty.

VA loans do have some restrictions regarding the condition of homes that can be purchased. That can be a problem in some parts of the country depending on the condition and market saturation of foreclosed properties. But VA loans can provide a lifeline for veterans and their families who have less than perfect credit.

Veterans and their families must live in the homes they plan to purchase, which means VA loans are not suitable for rental or investment purposes. The VA uses geographic lending limits that change depending on the location of your home. Currently, the VA lending limit tops out around $729,000 in most parts of the country.

To find out about more VA Loan requirements be sure to visit the VA homepage.

“Do You Trust Me?”

These were the last words that Cpl Matthew Nelson asked LCpl Patrick Malone right before he blew his head off.  Yes you read that right while deployed a Marine was killed by another Marine.  You see these Marines were playing a game.  A game with a loaded pistol that they called Trust.

How to Play

Playing Trust was simple enough albeit stupid.  A senior Marine takes his pistol removes the magazine aims it at a subordinte and asks “do you trust me?”  The subordinate answers (usually) in the affirmitive, and then the superior pulls the triggers and everyone laughs.

What went Wrong?

Unfortunately in this case everything went wrong.  Cpl Nelson didn’t have a safe weapon and when he pulled the trigger the hammer went home on a round.  The 9mm round went through LCpl Malone’s forehead and less than 20 minutes later the junior Marine was dead.

This “GAME” if you can call it that is the stupidest thing that a Marine can do.  It is against every weapons rule that is beat into our heads by our Drill Instructors for 13 weeks of Boot Camp.  Then reitterated by the NCO’s at MCT and SOI and every day that we ever handle a weapon.  Those weapos safety rules are repeated every day that you are on a rifle range.  Those rules are as follows:

1.  TREAT EVERY WEAPON AS IF IT WERE LOADED.

2.  NEVER POINT A WEAPON AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SHOOT.

3.  KEEP YOUR FINGER STRAIGHT AND OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT.

4.  kEEP YOUR WEAPON ON SAFE UNTIL YOU INTEND TO FIRE.

So as you can see the Marines that are out there playing this so-called game are in violation of every rule that we are taught.

How to Stop this Game?

How can we stop this game.  This is something that must be nipped in the bud NOW.  This is a game that cannot keep on going.  One Marine has lost his life and at least three others have lost careers, rank, money etc. with more to be charged.  It is the responsibility of the NCO to protect the Marines under their charge.  Not point weapons at their heads and pull the trigger on a loaded chamber. 

ANY MARINE THAT IS PLAYING THIS GAME NEEDS TO STOP.  ANY MARINE THAT SEES THIS GAME GOING ON NEEDS TO SAY SOMETHING AND MAKE IT STOP.  IF THE GAME CONTINUES YOU MUST REPORT IT.  WE DO NOT NEED TO LOOSE ANOTHER MARINE TO A STUPID GAME LIKE THIS.

TIme has come again for that Marine Corps to promote those well deserving LCpl’s and Cpl’s to the next rank.  On Oct 1st 2009 the Marine Corps will welcome a multitude of new Corporals and Sergeants to the NCO ranks.  Please help me recognize and congratulate these Marines.

The Marine Corps has released the approved selections for Warrant Officer in MarAdmin 576/09.   Please help me in congratulating these Marines in becoming the subject matter experts in their respective MOS’s.

Early last week the Marine Corps released the list of approved selections to SSgt.  Right now there are over 3300 Sergeants that are happier than a pig in shot.  Please help me in congratulating these Sergeants.  The list can be founfound here on MARADMIN 560/09.

So back to my emails and I came upon this and thought that I would share it with all.  This is an actual letter that was received in theater by a unit.  I can’t say that I disagree with this kid but it is kinda disturbing coming from a 12 year old.

So today I got this email and I figured I share it with you all. 

This is a tribute to the Marine Lance Corporal and their peers alike….

Holy fucking monkey shit LCpl, I’m so glad that you checked in!!! Your an
18yr old World of Warcraft Master that barely slimed your way through boot
camp and now think your the toughest thing since a level 37 dark elf with a
bow staff…..congrat-u-fuckin-lations retard you’ve already made my
shitlist!

Perhaps it’s the fact that you checked in 20 minutes late with no shave and
an HM1 haircut wearing the newly acquired “ChAlphas” uniform that has become
so popular within your nasty LCpl cult. Or maybe it’s that your eagles are
flying upside down and your “Welcome to the Corps” ribbon is on the wrong
side of your uniform there genius. Whatever the fuck it is, know now, that
me and you are about to become best fucking friends.

Mommy and Daddy are probably under the impression that you are a bad ass
rough and tough leatherneck, eating nails and fighting wars…don’t they?!?
Well I know the truth! You’re an untested, undisciplined, lying, immature
little weasel who can’t even keep a clean room or a squared away uniform.
You’ll end up going to medical to get out of PT while simultaneously surfing
the web on “Military Love Links” with a stupid ass screen name like
“MonsterMarine” or “Jarhead4Life”. You’ll end up with a laminated light duty
chit for some retarded unheard of medical condition while you try to explain
to me “but Gunnery Sergeant, the doc says that my metamusel ligament is
twisted behind my left calf”. Whatever bitch boy…shut your cum dumpster
and get out of my face.

Here’s the thing bag nasty, just know that when you get off limp dick
duty….I plan on having your little whiney ass drug through the dirt. The
thought of watching you vomit after half a mile while Sgt Waddle and Sgt
Yarbrough make crude comments about your mothers vagina makes me smile! Then
I’ll get some lame ass allegation against me for hazing like I even give a
shit…I hope you choke and die on your own vomit.

You’ll end up with a DUI or you’ll pop on a piss test and give some lame ass
excuse trying to shift the blame while taking absolutely NO responsibility
for your own retarded actions. I can hear it now…”but Gunnery Sergeant,
somebody else cooked the brownies, I didn’t know there was any weed in
them”. You think I’m stupid? You’re the only one here that was born
yesterday shit stain.
That’s because your a useless arrogant LCpl Shithead.

You’ll meet the first skanky, low self-esteem, no self-respect slut that
spreads her Herpa-syphilitis infected legs for you and propose marriage
after the first fuck. I can already hear it…”things are different gunnery
Sergeant, I really love her and she loves me”. The only thing that she loves
are your friends and your paycheck and the only thing that your confused,
inexperienced little dick loves is her nasty vagina…that’s it….and
she’ll probably have 4 kids from 3 different dads (one of which is still
pending the results of a DNA test on some white trash talk show). You’ll
give me some LCpl retarded justification like “Gunny, her kids love me, I
think I’m the first male influence they have had in their lives”. That’s
because all of the other influences were a lot more intelligent than your
dumb ass. That’s good to fucking go though, here I thought you were fucking
a nasty, money-stealin skank and here you are the fuckin hero….my
apologies, I’ll know better the next time around.

You’ll buy two 30,000 dollar cars (both of which need rims, TV’s, and a
sound systems) or a Hyabusa although you’ve never ridden in your nasty
little lifetime. And your going to do it all on a 24,000 dollar a year
salary. Why are you going to do this LCpl shit for brains? Because you’re a
retarded LCpl that’s why. When you get so in debt that you can’t pay your
rent, utilities, cable, or credit cards, your creditors are going to find me
and I will be FORCED kicking and screaming to sit down and do a financial
worksheet FOR YOU (which you’ll lie on, so it doesn’t fuckin help you
anyway).

Then comes the DUI…dumbass. You spent your night at the bar, getting
wasted with the boys and trying to cheat on your wife with some out of shape
barracks rat LCpl cult member, while your wife gets railed from behind by 2
of your friends back in the barracks. Now I’m asleep at home when my
annoying phone goes off at 2 a.m and who do you think it is? Yes indeed it’s
you, sobbing like the little bitch that you are, tossed in the drunk tank
and awaiting me to bail you out….now I gotta call the Master Sergeant to
explain why my leadership failed you. I hate you Lance Corporal….I hate
you!

$12,000, two lawyers, a divorce, and two repo-ed cars later, I see you
smoking a cigarette with your fellow fucking failure LCpl cult members out
at the smoke pit…..complaining about how the Corps fucked you, how you
gotta pay child support, your credits fucked cause you got NJP’ed and lost
money, how you’re an alcoholic and how you blame it all on PTSD although
your retarded ass has never deployed. I hate you Lance Corporal, I fuckin
hate you with all my heart. The fact that you wear the same uniform as me,
grinds against my very being. The fact that I have to walk you through life
like you’re a baby who’s learning how to talk, makes me bitter with rage. I
wish I could kick you in your fucking teeth. I wish I could kick you out
into the street to find your own way and watch you fail at life without the
big brother baby sitting Corps.

You can thank Mothers Of America, which mommy is probable a proud member of,
along with some liberal faggots for preventing me from breaking your ass
down shotgun style and taking a ratchet to your skull while beating some
damn sense into your brain housing group…because lord knows I fantasize
about that ALL day! One day LCpl…one day.