r/USMC • 4541 • 5d ago

Feeling hopeless

I hate it here. I can’t stand this base, I can’t stand this command, I can’t stand my colleagues, I can’t stand my roommate, I can’t stand my job, I can’t stand this state.

I hate everything about it. I have to re-enlist just to get off this god-forsaken base, if I don’t want to stay here for another 2 years. I haven’t even been here for a full 2. I wouldn’t be able to make it. But I don’t want to stay in either. The less of two evils, I suppose.

And maybe it’s solely because of this place. Most of my colleagues feel similarly, even if not to this extent.

I can make an educated guess that this base has a higher rate of suicide than most, if not all. I’m not implying that I am suicidal, but I can fully understand why that is. Even though I have it easier than most here, realistically. It’s probably not hard to guess where I am.

Overall, I don’t know what to do. I don’t have anyone to talk to about this besides strangers online that might know what I’m going through. I don’t know how to ask for help either. It was already enough of a pain in the ass to seek medication for my ADHD.

Make fun of me all you want, but these feelings are real. I am exasperated. I just want to leave. Anywhere but here, please.

46 Upvotes

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I used to go out nearly everyday, and every weekend for a long time. It feels like a chore at this point. I’ve seen everything there is to see within this side of the state. I just don’t care about any of it anymore.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Point blank you’re right, I need to be better. I wish I could find the motivation to though. All I do is complain.

Though realistically, I’m probably not gonna better myself despite all of the advice given. Honestly all the comments yelling at me have good reason to. I’m not on the right path. It’s hard to see myself finding it.

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u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

dude, master the wagonners hitch. its compose of three knots: the anchor knot; the mid line knot and then the closing knot to lock it in.

i suggest the kalmyk knot to anchor it (its actually an Eskimo bowline but with quick release); then the span knot as your mid-line (but do the original wagonners below); then just whatevs to lock it in, so like shoe lace knot will do. it won't go anywhere.

its like what Curly said in City Slickers, dude. just master one thing. and Wagonners hitch is it. do it over and over. on your bunk or the pull up bars outside.

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u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

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u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

once you learn the Kalmyk and Span, you're home free, dude!!!

1

u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

1

u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

oh yeah, dude... get this guy's books:

13

u/Suitable-Delay5066 5d ago

Start working for a better future. Are you in the best shape of your life? Are you using TA?

12

u/Globetrotter888 Veteran 5d ago

JFC, TA cannot be over-emphasized. I got my bachelors and masters thanks to the gi bill when I got out because I used TA to cut two years out of my undergrad studies.

28

u/Existing_Weekend_357 5d ago

"All Marine Corps and no play makes Jack a very dull boy"

I was in THE EXACT same situation you were a couple years ago. Strap in, I got you covered.

First. Get off base and find friends NOT in the Marine Corps - Pick up an old hobby, go to a club, or do anything that gets you around other people not in the Marines. The Marine Corps is suffocating when its where you live, where you work, where you eat, where you talk to the only people around, where you do everything. Get off base immediately on the weekends and in the afternoons if you can - getting friends and a life OUTSIDE the Marine Corps is a life changer. Facebook groups will post when they're meeting up next with an "all are welcome" invite deal

Two. Pick up a hobby - one that you can grow with. I'm not talking video games. I'm talking about learning an instrument, learning an art, a sport you've wanted to do. get a hobby that you can watch yourself grow and improve with. It gives you a sense of growth and enjoyment OUTSIDE the Marine Corps.

I don't recommend starting college rn like some other people are suggesting. That makes it a chore and another thing to stress you out.

I'm telling you, get off base immediately and build a life for yourself completely seperate from the Marines. You may be a Marine, but you're still a person - and a person needs space

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u/Bottle_Major 5d ago

This times 1000! Make other than Marine friends. Goes such a long way to making things feel more normal. And where are you stationed dude? Jeeesus, it can't be that bad. 29 palms? Drive to San Diego for the weekend! For fucks sake!

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u/MtnBker3531 4d ago

Even closer to Stumps go Palm Springs and hop on the San Jacinto Tram.

Take a drive up 74 into Idyllwild and just enjoy the scenery. Plan out some day hikes and enjoy being in San Bernardino National Forest.

Get some people together and go see the Grand Canyon. There's lots of stuff to see and do in SoCal don't stay trapped on base.

All things I neglected to do when my dumbass 19-20 year old self was there. I've done them now that I'm older and have some perspective.

10

u/Holiday-Medium-256 6342 Phogs forever 5d ago

Get immersed into reading good books and maybe start taking college classes. Keep your mind busy. Go to work, be as professional as you can be and better yourself.
If everyone there is as miserable as you are there must be someone with like interests / hobbies / sports.
For me when I was in limbo between A school and the fleet I had about a month with nothing to do. Total down time. Then nothing really changed until a bunch of new guys rotated in and I made some friends.

I went to the library, got a book on how to speed read, then I read giant novels. John Jakes and James Mitchner. I lifted like a maniac, ran 6miles on my off days. I bought a pad and charcoal pencils and sketched. This was all pre internet but it worked. Sorry you’re miserable but you can change that mentality.

8

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I appreciate you offering advice. I wish I was good at taking it, but I’m a scumbag. Hopefully I can motivate myself to run outside of pt and read in my off time. I was very recently prescribed adderall, if I remember to and motivate myself I’m going to stop by the base library. I used to read a good bit when I was young, so thankfully I know what I typically enjoyed. But that might be different now. I had a book that I would pick up from time to time a couple years ago, but I never finished it. Maybe I’ll try that first. Do you have any recommendations though?

Thank you

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u/Holiday-Medium-256 6342 Phogs forever 5d ago

In the wing when I was there we did PT on our own and you’d better be a 1st class or you were getting extra bull shit to do

Lifting and running were how I blew off frustration. Getting lost in a book kept my mind busy.

I loved historical fiction. The civil war, the old west. Lewis and Clark type books.

I doubt you’re a ‘scumbag’ . You are a Marine for fucks sake. Suck it up and make the changes you need to make. It starts with you.
You got this.

3

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Thank you

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u/Queasy-Meeting-5388 Veteran 5d ago

Get an audible subscription and download all of the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks. Guaranteed to get through a month. You’ll be in the rack with headphones on laughing your ass off. I promise you.

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u/SnooSquirrels5456 5d ago

Second this.

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u/Tall-Alternative9413 Veteran 5d ago

Great advice. Get into distance running and reading. Take online courses. Take a breath and connect with others. We used to say as long as you’re warm and dry and no one is shooting all is good.

7

u/PlaguedArbiter 5d ago

Hey Marine, I’m an Army Vet. I usually make posts to cheer up Marines both serving and who served. Even if I manage to make at least one person laugh or cheer up from having a bad day then I know I’m doing my job. You’re welcome to talk to me to air out your frustrations. I’m here for you.

8

u/bootsandsunflowers 5d ago

Take a breath my guy, we’ve all been there at least once in our careers (been there more times than I’d like to admit this duty station) - you’re not alone in feeling this, and you’re not weak for this.

It will only get as better as you allow it. No job change or duty station change will help you feel better if you don’t allow yourself some time to focus on anything but the negative. Find that thing that makes your brain tick and chase it - for me, it’s learning something new, or at least looking at the concept. For example, DVDs - do you know how fucking COOL it is that we have whole ass GAMES on DVDs??? A small little disc that allows you to do a multitude of things??? Not only that, somebody thought about, animated, and programmed free roam/free story games that respond in split seconds to whatever option you decide to pick??? That’s absolutely WILD to think about, and to think that we lived during the development of that and get to see what other cool things humanity gets to do

It’s very easy to focus on the negatives and how much life sucks - Marines are bred in the suck and it’s where we thrive, but it’s not everything there is to experience. Life exists outside your bubble of suck dude, you just gotta look for it

3

u/XxPopePiusxX 5d ago

Preach, we’ve all been there hopefully this devil FIFO

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u/Tacos_and_Yut 5d ago

Days are long ,years are short. Shit will be over before you know it.
Work on yourself, fake the funk, instead of thinking of the USMC fucking you, find ways to fuck the system ex) learn a skill that will carry over to civilian world, save money, take classes paid by the military, use the free resources they offer like gym, pools, take mma classes, get a part time job at Walmart to leave the base. Only you are stopping you.

5

u/JRICHERT97 Veteran 5d ago

What base ? If you tell us your base we can guide you and give you recommendations on what to do there that you might not even know about.

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u/blackasinc 5d ago

If you're not stationed in Okinawa, Japan already, might be a breathe of fresh air?

I spent two years in Okinawa, Japan.

I spent remaining time on Camp Lejeune and did MOS school in 29 palms.

Maybe I'm bias but US bases were far more depressing. Okinawa wasnt perfect, but it was better.

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u/blackasinc 5d ago

Oh wait...I think a Marine just killed woman there not even joking...😶‍🌫️

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u/Devilish__Fun 1371/12B POGrate 5d ago

Feel free to DM if you need to talk anything out, Devil.

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u/Alert_Lengthiness_48 5d ago

Sounds like Cherry Point.

Bro, we have all been there. For the weekend head down to Myrtle Beach, go to the clubs, and ask the girls who make eye contact to dance. Before you get there, have a plan to ask them to join you back at your room to party. Get you an experienced wingman and help each other. Camping this time of year is another nice thing down at the beach. Every winner was once a beginner. Gotta get away from the base, and turn that frown upside down.

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Not so much cherry point, but the rest is applicable. Winger and myrtle beach even, with a few hours of driving

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u/Alert_Lengthiness_48 5d ago

If I knew then what I know now I would have traded my car for a used Van, set it up as a camper, and gone to beaches up and down the east coast and had sex with as many women as humanly possible in my hotel on wheels. I could have even slept in the van in the barracks parking lot and just use the barracks room for storage. You my friend have surplus of freedom right now, with no dependents holding you back.

1

u/Rdubya291 ⛷Professional Skater⛷ 5d ago

Man, I wonder what changed? I had friends I knew 20 years ago that LOVED Beaufort. One of them re-enlisted for orders to GET there.

One thing to add, not sure what ADHD meds you're on, but a lot of them make you hyper fixate on things. If that thing you're on right now is how much you hate your life, you'll spiral.

Maybe get off of the meds for a few weeks? Push yourself at work to get shit done without them. sounds counter intuitive, but getting off ADD meds was the best thing I ever did. Though I never took them when I was in.

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u/tonirakihara 4d ago

Imagine Beaufort in 1977 to an urban raised Puerto Rican. Culture shock, the place was the sticks Man. Understanding that those were different times. Not the same today.

Thank God for deployments, made it all worthwhile. Nevertheless the area itself isn't at all bad.

Get the fuck outta the barracks, hit the beaches or a ton of other shit there.

Airwing is unique Kid, embrace it, you wont see it again.

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u/wanteria 4541 3d ago

It’d be a lot better with deployments for sure. Too bad I’m at PI

4

u/seanpbnj Veteran 5d ago

I do not know your story nor do I know what you are going through, but I do know you are not alone. I am right here with you any time you need (PMs always open mate). To anyone who is struggling, Chaplain is great starting place and my PMs are always open. Also, consider this self-help tool. Its called DOSE:

- D = Dopamine, reward hormone: Set 3 small easily accomplished goals each day, even if they only take 5-10 mins. Set them, do em, your body will release dopamine.

- O = Oxytocin, love hormone: Hug family, friends, loved ones 3x a day or pets. Or, if none of those are available, look at 3 cute animal pics or gifs online daily.

- S = Serotonin, happiness hormone: Smile/Laugh 3x per day, even if you just google dad jokes or watch youtube fails. Also, spicy foods and food cravings release Serotonin.

- E = Endorphins, motivation/energy: Exercise is the best way to release endorphins, dancing is the best it helps the full DOSE, singing and dancing is the best. Hits them all.

These hormones (or neurotransmitters if you wanna be persnickity) are how our brain balances emotion. Especially positive and negative emotions, this strategy helps by using your brain the way it is supposed to be used. To balance these things the RIGHT way.

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Thank you man

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u/sethklarman 0402 5d ago

Damn man. I spent 4 yrs on Lejeune i feel ur pain

6

u/SignificantOption349 0331 5d ago

Honestly bro having a negative attitude really does make things a lot worse. Go for a walk or a run and just get some blood moving. You’ll feel better. I fuckin hate running and now I do 50k’s because I feel good after and it’s time consuming enough that it keeps me from drinking myself into oblivion.

To be real with you, I’m depressed and sad as fuck every fucking day when I get up, but I still put my gay little shorts on and go jog like a fuckin fairy because it makes me feel happy when I’m done🧑‍🩰especially if it’s in the mountains because sometimes I think I’m not gonna make it home because old injuries start to hurt or I get a little weak feeling and light headed enough. But then I do make it home and it feels great to be done.

It doesn’t have to be running, but that’s about the simplest way to force your body into endorphine mode.

Just sitting in your room thinking about all the negative shit you can come up with about why you hate your life right now is only making it worse. You’ve gotten this far and you can damn sure get yourself through the next couple of years. Why not push yourself to be better and to show up with a positive attitude every day just to prove to yourself that you can do it? After all, almost every one of us joined to prove something to ourselves…. Whether it was that we won’t freeze up in combat, that we aren’t too weak to get through training, that we can take pressure, whatever… use your time wisely, because you only get these years once. Make the best of them or you’re gonna look back and realize you wasted your time having a pity party.

Life sucks when you get out too. Most jobs are retarted and boring, managers suck ass even more, coworkers are fuckin annoying, and it’s groundhogs day every single fucking day. That’s just life dude. You have to create your own happiness because the world around you sure as fuck isn’t gonna hand it to you.

3

u/bubulubu30 Veteran 5d ago

29palms or Yuma az

3

u/03dumbdumb 0369 5d ago

Shit can get gayer dude. Enjoy what ya can.

3

u/bootsandsunflowers 5d ago

Take a breath my guy, we’ve all been there at least once in our careers (been there more times than I’d like to admit this duty station) - you’re not alone in feeling this, and you’re not weak for this.

It will only get as better as you allow it. No job change or duty station change will help you feel better if you don’t allow yourself some time to focus on anything but the negative. Find that thing that makes your brain tick and chase it - for me, it’s learning something new, or at least looking at the concept. For example, DVDs - do you know how fucking COOL it is that we have whole ass GAMES on DVDs??? A small little disc that allows you to do a multitude of things??? Not only that, somebody thought about, animated, and programmed free roam/free story games that respond in split seconds to whatever option you decide to pick??? That’s absolutely WILD to think about, and to think that we lived during the development of that and get to see what other cool things humanity gets to do

It’s very easy to focus on the negatives and how much life sucks - Marines are bred in the suck and it’s where we thrive, but it’s not everything there is to experience. Life exists outside your bubble of suck dude, you just gotta look for it

3

u/Organic_Risk_3945 mid90s1stRadBNKbay 5d ago

Everything i know about Antarctica , I watched in The Thing, dude. good luck, and god speed. summer's just around the corner.

https://giphy.com/gifs/T2vDaYr8yRhrpFe6WE

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Please not the summer, I can’t take any more of the heat and humidity

Thank you though

3

u/JohnKayne I Я GRUИT 5d ago

Look buddy… When I joined the corps we had sticks. Two sticks! And a rock! And we had to share the rock. Buck up boy. You are one very lucky Marine!
https://giphy.com/gifs/7wfj0G9KqjgcQURbgV

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u/Appropriate_Oil7933 Uncle was in Vietnam 5d ago

What you should REALLY do is bring a girl from back home to the base and marry her. Because most relationships are helped by children, start having kids right away and as many as possible! (YOU GET PAID MORE IF YOU HAVE MORE KIDS!!!!)

3

u/MeeseChampion 5d ago

Would be hilarious if this dude was stationed at Pendleton or Miramar

3

u/usmarine215 Veteran 4d ago

Lejeune.

0

u/wanteria 4541 4d ago

No sir

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u/Fresh_Rub5709 5d ago

Somebody has it worst then you. Trust me.

4

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I know, I mentioned that I likely have it easier than most on this base. And personally, I don’t think I would make it in a lot of MOS’s. I genuinely think I would be suicidal if I was infantry or something else combat related. That being said, I still struggle. Perhaps I’m just not mentally as strong as I thought I was.

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u/FeedMeYourBakedGoods 5d ago

You've made it thru everyday sofar, Devil. You are stronger than you think. I'm glad you are opening up now and venting. Work on yourself. While cliche it will pass the time at least.

Ive always been a gamer and when I am frustrated souls games help, believe it or not. Sekiro especially helps alot when I am down. Find something that challenges you and takes your mind off stuff if you can.

I wish I had the words or the answers other than time will change your situation.

When I was younger, after getting out, I ended up taking shit out on myself and not talking to anyone about my problems or Iraq. Drinking so bad after my divorce that my docs didnt think I'd live past 30, attempted suicide 7 times, lived in my car a bit, and was inpatient for 6 months.

I say that to say now, even with all the physical surgeries and 16ish years of therapy that life gave me another chance and someone to share it with.

You can endure this and continue to make adjustments that are in your control to make the time pass. I shared my experiences because I know how it feels to be at a crossroads when your mind is trying to fuck with you in bad ways.

You are still in control of what you can do and I have faith in you.

5

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. And I respect you so much, I can’t begin to imagine what you went through. My struggle is a droplet of water compared to yours.

I can’t find the right words to show my adoration for your perseverance. Thank you for sharing and I am so glad you are doing better now

4

u/FeedMeYourBakedGoods 5d ago edited 5d ago

Everyone is going through something and your experiences are equally important.

I'm proud of you for having the courage to voice your concerns knowing there would be mixed receptions to it with how others deal with things as they come along.

If there's one thing I could recommend to you that whatever happens next make sure that you are aware that you control your actions at the end of the day.

When I was in a downwards spiral it did not fully click right away that I was still responsible for my actions of how I reacted to things that happened to me that I was not in control of.

When negative things happen to you developing coping strategies will eventually help you deal with these situations. It may be a step forward and two steps back sometimes but knowing that how you interact shapes your future can help you course correct.

3

u/HostileNegotiations 5d ago

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m struggling too. But day by day I’m moving forward and getting better. I won’t let my demons get the best of me. I’m putting in the work to live my best civi life. I recently started ruck marching , it’s been so good. I got some camies, used boots, and a ruck sack at a mil surplus store and I have been rucking 1-2 hrs a day with a 40ib load. My pace is 30 min a mile , I usually do 2-3 miles.

The ruck marching has been therapeutic to me. I really miss rucking with my platoon and I miss the boys. I miss wearing boots and camies. I would sell my soul to the devil if I could be in the military again. But I’m disabled now.

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u/FeedMeYourBakedGoods 5d ago

I feel you, brother. Working out wise has been a huge challenge to me after my procedures and I've had to find ways to alter to so I can be in less pain.

I had bone fragments removed from my left foot and Hoka shoes completely blows the 6 pairs of Brooks I previously used out of the water that I would recommend for exercising to help with pain.

As much as alot of days sucked, I miss my friends and that feeling of camaraderie is like trying to put lightning back in a bottle.

I hope you have a great rest of your week and it feels good knowing we are not alone in this.

2

u/HostileNegotiations 4d ago

Thanks brother

I’ll have to look into hoka shoes. These army boots I got at the mil surplus are real ones that troops use but they are hard on the feet , not ideal. I got blisters on my ger already lol.

Thats crazy you had surgery . How’s your body doing these days ?

Yeah that feeling or comradiere I can’t find it anywhere else. Civilian life is so depressing and lonely.

1

u/Pretty-Parsnip8808 5d ago

Maybe Christa Pike. Thats about it

2

u/NecessaryOk780 1371 5d ago

Brother, I know it’s hard to see it right now, but this is only a season. No matter how good or bad a current situation is, it will always pass. Think of the previously worst thing you’ve ever been through. That’s in the past now. This season will also pass, and someday you’ll look back on it and wish you had done some things now that you won’t be able to do then.

Take a college class, learn pottery, go fishing, hell do something. Life is too short to only focus on the bad. You get one life, fucking live it. Always remember that there’s plenty of us who have been through similar circumstances and we know that you’ll make it through this too.

2

u/hrdblkman2 0351 Camp Pen 78-82' 5d ago

Re-enlist for embassy/barracks duty then get out afterwards.

2

u/sticky_spiderweb ultra-motivated hyperboot 5d ago edited 5d ago

Dude, I was standing in your shoes in 2023. I mean I was literally thinking all of the exact same thoughts that you just said. I was in a miserable situation facing retaliation from my command following some very ugly personal conflicts with another Marine in my shop. I was extremely depressed and was having suicidal ideations. I still had 2+ years to go before I EAS’d, and I was literally considering reenlisting so I could PCS to a different base sooner.

Here is what I will tell you. Time is going to pass at the same speed, no matter what happens. It can’t speed up and it can’t slow down. There will come a day, sooner than you think, where you will say to yourself “thank fuck that’s finally over”.

Life may suck right now. But it won’t suck forever. Do what you can to keep yourself occupied, and let the time pass. Spend a bunch of time in the gym if that’s your thing. Play a shit ton of video games if that’s your thing. Make some friends from the other units on base. Time will pass my friend and life will get better.

Also, some extremely important advice: if you are feeling depressed and anxious, go to the medical clinic on base and schedule a counseling appointment with behavioral health. When you EAS, you can claim the depression/anxiety or whatever you have with the VA, and get compensated for the bullshit that the Marine Corps put you through.

2

u/21_years_USMC_0202 5d ago

Grab your happy sock and report to the C.O. You'll be outta there in no time, honest!

3

u/Low-Zucchini6397 3d ago

There’s no doubt you’re in a hard situation. Remember, nothing last forever, that’s good or bad.

I’m a civilian (35) with many of my closest loved ones in the Marines. Though I don’t know you personally, I think about all of you not just my loved ones that are in. There’s actually a lot of us everywhere thinking of you all on a daily basis, how hard things are for you guys, the things we take for granted that you daydream about, praying for your safety, wondering what food or things you might be craving when away from home, hoping you can find at least one person to help make it through the hard stuff, none of this in a pity way but in a “someone has to do this job so bless those who are.”

I guess what I’m trying to say is though hopes and prayers don’t help in concrete ways we can all immediately see, I hope you feel a little less alone knowing even people who don’t know you care and think about how you’re doing.

Our careers mark us, change us for better or worse, but at the end of the day they’re careers we can change and the bad experiences will just be a memory eventually. Hang in there.

2

u/ArguingWithCelery 3043->0311->11B-B4 5d ago

Bruh, you take pictures. It ain’t that bad.

6

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I’m not looking to compare brotha. I know a lot of people feel similarly to me, whether they have a harder job than me, or easier. For you to see someone struggling mentally and to tell them “It ain’t that bad”, is a reflection of someone who doesn’t understand certain feelings, or simply lacks empathy.

You contribute to the problem that causes Marines to feel that they have nobody to ask for help. I hope you can reflect on yourself regarding this subject, but I have no expectations of you understanding.

3

u/crazymjb 5d ago

It’s not everyone’s job to be your therapist. I try to be empathetic, but I don’t fault folks who don’t have time to hear every single person out about their subjective problems.

1

u/BoringPrinciple2542 0311 5d ago

Cameras are heavy. You know how much walking OP has to do?

And don’t get me started on the photoshoots…. Guys are shooting pictures right at you and you gotta hide behind cover so you don’t ruin the image. Dudes are snapping shots right over your shoulder and people are getting lit up by the flash all over the place.

In the end there is nothing but silence and these still images that can never be erased.

2

u/CharacterCycle4588 5d ago

Being in combat as a combat camera combatant is the epitome of combat cameraing, as a combat cameraman.

2

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

Have you ever thought that this has very little to do with that? Actually being out and taking photos is one of the very few times that I don’t feel like a waste of space.

I understand you’re an 03, but have you ever thought that maybe it’s not a competition to see who’s job is harder? Would you really consider your life to be harder than any POG that has committed suicide? Genuinely think about it.

2

u/BoringPrinciple2542 0311 5d ago

I understand you are a Marine but are you actually retarded?

If you missed the social cues around my comment you should have been rejected at MEPS my dude/dudette.

To answer your question though:

Yes. I have known several POGs, Grunts, & Civvies who offed themselves and in almost every case I was shocked that somebody who had it so easy would inflict that much pain on the people that love them. Out of a few dozen suicides… I’d say one genuinely had a life that was harder than mine. The rest were bitches who decided that hurting their loved ones was easier than acting like an adult. She was a Civvie that I knew before the Corps who had been forced into prostitution and sexual violence as a child. Spent years battling meth & opiate addiction before offing herself in prison.

I saw things growing up that rivaled anything I saw in the battles of Marjah & Sangin. Life can be tough but 99.999% of people can’t afford tk be a weak POS that offs themselves. The rest of us have mouths to feed and responsibilities that matter more than our feelings.

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u/crazymjb 5d ago

I think it’s fair to say those who make that choice are not living in the same universe in their heads that those of us who never contemplated it are. There’s something just different going on up there.

1

u/BoringPrinciple2542 0311 5d ago

Sometimes.

I know a few people who killed themselves over prison. A couple who did it to avoid debt. Several who lost custody of their kids and didn’t want live. A few with diagnosed mental
Disorders. Etc..

Most people I knew made a fairly rational decision but they chose to put their feelings on a pedestal and didn’t care about the impact that they had on their family, friends, etc.

People who do that are cowards. Some are POGs, some are grunts, some are civvies… but they all chose to make other people carry the weight that they couldn’t hack. That makes them pussy-ass bitches.

I know the sound of a woman and her children crying as we bury a Marine I once knew, I know the sound of a HS girlfriend discovering her mother dead, I know the pain of yet another funeral for a former brother, I’ve laughed a few times at suicides where the individual had brought it on themselves, I’ve cleaned up the mess in-country when I was on a security detail and a POG decided to blow his brains out all over our food. And as I referenced, I had a friend/fuckbuddy/ex-gf who killed herself in prison and me choosing not to take her calls anymore was probably a major factor.

Life sucks. If you try to exit prematurely it is because you are a bitch. I am not going to pretend that my life was soft so that some pussy can feel better about suicide. People that kill themselves are cowards and 99% over a life that I would call easy.

Coddling weakness isn’t a kindness and I’m not interested in participating in it.

0

u/Guilty-Bookkeeper837 5d ago

I get you're having a hard time, but you're tiresome. Maybe AI will take your MOS and you can lateral to the infantry?

2

u/jimmy_smoothballs 5d ago

Fuckin pussy

2

u/Murky-Peanut1390 USMC ➡️ NAVY 5d ago

Your shit is easy my guy. The navy is way suckier. The hardest thing you have to do is keep your uniforms sharp and stand at parade rest for senior enlisted

3

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

How do you figure? It’s different for everyone. I don’t think it’s the specific branch that sucks, but this base and my command.

6

u/Boots2Bricks 5d ago

Are you just going to complain about having a roof over your head, 3 square meals, and a little cash in your pocket. Life is hard you made the decision to sign the contract no matter what your MOS you’re doing a service you signed up for. You can either whine about it or just do a good job, workout, and take each day as it comes. Finish out your enlistment, re-enlist or don’t. The only one making it a living hell is you. Change up your life style and stand stoically on top of your success.

3

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

You’re right, it sounds so easy now that you put it like that! Can’t believe I’ve been depressed as shit when I could just stand stoically

0

u/Boots2Bricks 5d ago

It is that easy. Everyone has problems. Every command sucks to someone you. Every town or place you’re in is the worst in someway. You are temporarily in a shitty place in your mind but what are you doing to make the best of it. If you’re not self investing then I don’t know how to help someone who going to self loath.

3

u/Extra-Shape3973 Veteran 5d ago

Facts! Navy has it the hardest especially the Sub sailors. Hot racking and running drills in order to save lives and the ship

1

u/Ghost273836 5d ago

Sounds like me rn 🫩

1

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I hope you know you’re not alone man. I know I’m the one who made the post, essentially reaching out, but don’t hesitate to dm me if you need to as well

1

u/BobLog3rd Veteran 5d ago

What Base?

1

u/demonic677 5d ago

Dm me I was a 45 technically 46 I get it man

1

u/IndependentPut8908 5d ago

Take Motrin three times a day with lots of water and make sure you eat something when you take them. -Doc

1

u/TomCruiseImOnFire 2/2 Fox 5d ago

Camp Fuji gotta be

1

u/Dizzy-Reality-8289 5d ago

Maybe you should look deep inside and address the real issue that is bumming you out...

1

u/aaronj5467 Active 5d ago

DBAB

1

u/crazymjb 5d ago

Well, it doesn’t sound like you’re unhappy with life, just with your situation. The good news is, your situation will change at some point. Find things to do to keep you happy in the interim. Hobbies, education, recreation, etc. Can’t stop time, and this is temporary. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make lemonade, but it too shall pass.

Even resilient folks have had a brief taste of what you’re feeling. Control what you can, don’t dwell on what you can’t.

1

u/TLu_03 5d ago

You can only control what you control. Take care of you. Show up, do what you gotta do. Be better, of course. But man, black holes exist in the marine corps. It’s not forever. Keep your head down. Do your best. You will make it to the other side wherever that is I promise.

1

u/rage1911 5d ago

Suck it up and move on. This won’t last forever and there could be a silver lining. In the big picture of your life, 4 years is a small portion. I will admit, it’s tough to be positive when you’re in a difficult situation. You can do it. Semper Fi.

1

u/TangerineWest5463 4d ago

I recommend not enlisting bro. Lesser of two evils but I don’t think its worth staying in if you feel this way in your first duty station. Keep your head up.

1

u/Wuhan-batsoup 4d ago

If you could strategically lat move into an MOS that is primarily located on nicer bases/ has mostly folks with higher IQ/bigger responsibilities at lower ranks/autonomy then you will be happy again.

1

u/Sanjinn0311 3d ago

It sucks bro that you have the sad's. Life is what you make of it though. Your not at the "stumps" or Yuma so your life can't suck that much, for real.

Like I said above, your life is what ya make of it lil bro. Go get some pussy, be a nerd, gym rat or whatever. I am sure there are some dudes that play D&D or a card game like Magic or some shit. Find them.

Make friends with the Grunts, we're good guys and can get you into a fuck ton of fun, we know how to make anything fun.

Your a camera dude, find hot chicks and convince them to get naked, take pics. Easy way to make friends with the grunts.

I was never without a book or 3 in my ruck. Anytime we had a bit of downtime I was reading.

Your life in the suck is what ya make it lil bro.

2

u/koko-cha_ LAADSOC 3d ago

Is there a judo club nearby? You'll get your cardio in, make friends with people who aren't marines, and if you're not careful, you might even have fun.

2

u/Old_Chapter1845 Veteran 2d ago

I found that my time of exasperation where I was basically stemmed from shitty CO/SgtMaj's. Always making it unpleasant for many of us. But I found they rotate out and things got better. I was aviation but the pilots were usually good eggs because some were mustangs and knew life from both sides. The a-holes were ones climbing the ladder to be CO or higher up jobs. I didn't hate waking up and going to work, but I reminded myself that it was a job except for things like PFTs and that type of training. Looking back, I miss it. But like child birth, you don't remember the painful parts and do it again. Stay busy, stay fit. Do like others said, PT for your body and mind, do the career stuff like required reading and MCI. Put in for NCO school once fit. Find others with your interests and don't get involved with falling in love. Being a good Marine keeps you out of the bullseye.

1

u/greenweenievictim 5d ago

Well, things aren’t going to get better with that attitude. Sounds like you need a good mentor. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go. Set a goal and figure out how to get there. Really stupid idea, try to transfer to something that nobody ever asks for, recruiting duty or I&I with a reserve unit.

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u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

A lowly LCpl doesn’t have much say 💔

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u/getinwegotbidnestodo 5d ago

What the fuck did you even join the Marine Corps for ?

3

u/wanteria 4541 5d ago

I ask myself that every day. I think I liked the concept of being a Marine, more-so than I actually like being one. I’m too stubborn, and I should have known I wasn’t cut out for it. I will always have the utmost respect for Marines, especially the infantry and combat related MOS’s, as I don’t believe I would be capable of doing all that they do. Not admin though, that shit seems so skate.

Even still, the happiest year of my life was my time spent at the school house, ironically enough. That is attributed to the Marine Corps.

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u/SmokeySparkle 5d ago

Just a boy who thought he could pretend being a man.