Job of a Lifetime

wow, thats awesome dave!! be very safe, get as much experience from it as possible. document everything and keep us posted!!!

god speed, and have fun!!!

 

post pix please...and don't get your balls blown off...though, if you do, post pix of that too!

 

Dave:
I am sure I will get the heat for it but ...

Although it may appear as a great opportunity the danger you put yourself into is great. Shooting with a camera and shooting a gun requires the same vantage point. That, in Iraq or any other place that has life amo flying, is neither safe not fun.

I think there are plenty of other oppiortunities out there to get a great photography intern ship other than with the Marines. I hope you read VERY careful what you signed. One you put your Dave on the dotted line...you are doomed. The "but the recruiter said..." line does not fly when the drill sergant tells you to do 50 push-ups in the mud. Nothing is guaranteed in the military. There are no certain positions. I hope you realize that.

When the German military asked me to serve (it was mandatory) I said, great...I want to fly jets. They said no, we can only guarantee you the airforce but cannot guarantee you certain positions. In the US armed forces it is exactly the same. They lure you with a promiss of higher education and then let you hang dry. Thanks to "W" who cancelled most of those programs to save money for Haliburton's $1000 toilet seat-no-bid-contracts.

If you have not signed yet....read it again and again. Have a lawyer read over the contract. It is the most important contract you will ever sign. It means your LIFE. You should have legal representation and ensure that what you were told is actually in the fine print.

Good luck and stay safe. If you ever feel you have no choice but to desert...you have my email. There will always be a job for you at our new project in Argentina and they do not have extradition treaties

 

Hate to tell you Martin but "W" had nothing to do with it. The military has been that way in the enlisted ranks from the Roman Army on. As a matter of fact, as far as sheer compensation is concerned, the military under "W" is better off than it has been since Washington. Health care is now better (you actually get to go off-base in the States and NOT have to see military doctors!) and you can even put money in the government's version of the 401K (Thirst Savings Program) so if you don't stay until 20 you actually have a retirement account. Plus the GI Bill now lets you send your KIDS to college if you don't use the money for yourself. Not to mention the pay is better than under previous administrations. The downside is, of course, longer deployments. But is a VOLUNTEER force.

I have to assume from his profile that he is a civilian on a contract job to the military for a 3 month rotation. He is not subject to the same structure as the troops. He ass will still be in danger even if he isn't doing combat photography though.

However, to echo Martin, make sure you know what are signing. You certainly could get a safer internship somewhere else.

 

Dave, I wish you the best of luck, and I am excited for you. BUT, I am really glad Martin posted a lot of the things that initially came to my mind while reading your post. Dude, Iraq isn't a resort - you may be put into situations where you will wish you had a gun to shoot with instead of a camera.

Really, think about things seriously and decide exactly what you expect to get out of this, and where it leads you relative to your future goals. I don't say this to rain on your parade, and I am sure Martin didn't either. Instead, this is coming from people who care and are concerned for you.

 

Good luck Dave! I have a friend that went into the Air Force and learned all about computer systems while there. He was previously a big time slacker. After he finished his 4 or 5 years he had a great knowledge base to build his small business off of. I hope the same thing happens for you! Be careful, and stay safe bro! Don't sign up for the thing where they freeze you for a year....(Idiocracy)

BT

 

Martin, be careful with what you put in writing. I heard that "Big Brother" reads FChat.

 

Dave, best wishes and congratulations. Stay safe.

 

Should have said, 1 year. My bad. BTW, are you a civie or military?

 

Actually it read like you were contracting to the military to me. OR, (on a waaaaay outside chance) that you were joining up and your first assignment would be for a year deployment. (BTW, civilian contractors tend to make a butt-load of money over there. Too much sand and lead for my taste though!)

 

Good luck, Dave! Despite the negativity of some here, you can put yourself in harm's way or have less of a career just by staying here. So GO!!!

You are incorrect.

 

As a Marine Veteran, I did not find it very funny.

 

Dave:

I have forwarded your notice of interest to my buddy Adam who is a Major in the Corps. He is working on your recruitment package now. As soon as it is complete, he is sending a couple of leathernecks down to your house to pick you up and pack you off.

Scottie

 

I'm sorry, what was funny about that?

 

i hear ya buddy, ya were a day early on that one

 

I now what to get Dave for the holidays



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a freakin calendar

April fools day is April 1 NOT March 31st
I am glad that you will be still hanging with the gang. However I can say that I could see you in the middle of all that and taking great historic pics

 

I thought it was funny Dave. And glad you really aren't going.

 

What was all this about? Dave, could you go over it one more time?

 

personally I thought it was funny but I can see where some military background people would not appreciate remarks like " Im not THAT stupid to sign up" ect...

-Pretty much it was an April fools post one day early just saying how Dave enlisted to be a photographer for the Marines and was leaving for Iraq for 1yr.

 

FAIL