If you weren't clever enough to figure it out, the title basically says "USMC" (sound it out... think about it....), which stands for the United States Marine Corps. Before Shane reads this and kills me for writing about being the girlfriend of a marine, I want to clarify that this isn't going to be an entry glorifying my status as a marine girlfriend nor is it going to be a critique/analysis on military/government issues and their role in our country's current affairs. This is just a slightly humorous entry on why it's not so bad dating a guy in the military.. ladies, pay attention.
I've known guys from different branches of the military, but most were a part of the navy or marines. So, I'm not going to say that one branch is better than the other because that's ridiculous. Maybe I'm being biased when I say this, but there's something slightly sexy about a guy in combat boots, tan camouflage pants and jacket, and a cover (that's "hat" for us civilians). Does that sound enticing enough? If so, read on.
Things I Really Like About Dating a Guy In the USMC (I'll try to include photos for most points, but eventually I'll run out of pics 'cause I haven't taken that many pics about marine-related stuff. Not because you're not allowed to but because Shane will kill me for doing it)
1. You never have to cook again. Recently, Shane gave me an "MRE".. Meal, Ready-to-Eat.
Yeah, everything you need can be found inside that neat lil brown pouch. This particular one had utensils, powdered drink, chicken noodle soup, Reese's pieces, Tobasco sauce, crackers, cheese sauce, and a nifty lil device to HEAT UP your food. The only downside is every meal is about 1200-1300 calories, which is fine if you're in the field doing some cool mission/fighting insurgents stuff and need the energy. Not so much for everyday consumption... but hey. You gotta admit.. never having to do real cooking again? Kinda cool, right?
2. Getting greeted like you did something for the country, when in reality it was your boyfriend who did all the work.
Last month, I went to Disneyland for my birthday, but I went the day after which also happened to be Veteran's Day. Well, when my boyfriend presented his ticket and ID, the admissions clerk started addressing him as "Sergeant" and thanked him for his service for the country and whatnot. He then turns to me and says thanks for all that I've done as a girlfriend holding down the homefront and yadda yadda. I was really surprised and PLEASED at this haha. I get recognition just for being his girlfriend? Cool beans. He then gave us this button that says we're "honorary citizens of Disneyland"... does it really mean anything or have any benefits? Not really. But how many of you can say you own this button? That's what I thought.
3. Discounts.
This is the best picture I could find of the commissary on the Miramar base. A commissary is the military version of a grocery store. The white building next to it is the "PX" which is their version of Target. Anyways, inside both buildings are discounts aplenty. Everything is tax-free and cheaper than if you were to purchase them at a regular store. Is it a lil unfair? Yes, but not when you have a VIP pass to Discount Land :)
4. Realizing that most Asian women who end up marrying a marine probably did it for a green card. Walking around the base, majority of the women there were either white or Filipino or Japanese or some other third world Asian. Hey, that's cool.. whatever works right? But then it occurred to me... when people see me walking around the base, do they think I'm in it for ulterior motives? Am I a green card whore?
5. Learning the lingo. Military life is a whole other ballpark. The first thing you gotta learn: military time. "I'll be there at oh four hundred hours." "What?" Yeah. Don't even ask me to distinguish the difference between a "squad," "platoon," "unit," and "shop" .. or an"M14" and an "M16." The only thing I know so far is the rank order between Private through, I think, Gunnery Sergeant?
6. Seeing him in his uniform.
That's his work camoflage attire. When he's in Iraq, he wears completely different stuff depending on the weather and whatnot. Maybe the novelty of it will wear off on me one day, but every time I see him in his uniform I think it's the coolest thing ever haha.
7. All the paraphernalia dedicated to "motivated" girlfriends of marines.
So, on every website or store that has stuff dedicated to honoring marines, you will find a shitload of stuff marketed soley to girls dating marines. It's pretty ridiculous to be honest. They'll say anything from "Half of my <3 is in Afghanistan" to "Proud Member of the Silent Ranks". I want to buy something super ridiculous and flaunt it, but I'd only be giving Shane another reason "hug" the shit out of me.
That's all I can think of so far of what's "cool" about dating a guy in the USMC. Perhaps later on I can update with another USMC installment. So go visit the MCAS Miramar base one day. It's only 10 minutes away from UTC and who knows, maybe you'll meet someone who can hook you up with a free ticket to the Miramar Airshow happening this fall.
