Friend joining the Marines next year, how safe is he?

[fdsman]

I'm pretty sure he'll be shipped from Camp Pendleton to the middle east or some other installation; however he's going in with the intention of becoming a cook. Is that a bit safer than being Infantry?

[ak70g2]

I think the safest option is to become an Recon Marine

[Treesuit]

Well, it really depends on his MOS or job skill. I'm sure he'll see some overseas adventure.

[dirtbag]

Every Marine is a Rifleman FIRST!

[norge]

US MARINES RECON

cheers ken

[Cracker]

That's not a Recon Marine.. it's just a updated Viking

[Stef]

That's not a Recon Marine.. it's just a updated Viking

Are you sure? I can't see the horns

Certainly the Marines US & Royal, the Rangers, the Legion... are not the best jobs to be safe and I doubt anyone would join those units to be "safe". Anyway friends are friends and can't help worrying, that's normal

[ak70g2]

Cousin, in my opinion an Recon or anyone like this is more able to defend himself, by training and spend more time in the field, not in the base, where he can be at receiving end of an mortar round or lobe bomb trajectory.

[rationtin440]

When I served as an Army medical specialist in Desert Storm, I felt very exposed and vulnerable with nothing but a similar looking M-16 "shorty" as Norge is holding, and a couple smoke grenades along with my hummer ambulance. Sad to think of it this way but your friend would be likely much safer in a job where he can be armed to the teeth instead of his superiors deciding that he does not need much because he's an ambulance crewman and the enemy won't shoot at red crosses (riiiiight! and "The Bedford Incident" was a true story!) I wished we'd been given more firepower or at least more ammo! a scope for my carbine at least?

[rationtin440]

BTW my crew chief carried a 9mm Beretta pistol in a shoulder holster so I guess I had nothing to whine about, lol!