Dragonz, I resent that implication.
A Marine IS a Marine IS a Marine, and that's not some mis-quote from a recruiting poster. You might find some wimpy looking ****z who faked their way through Parris Island (or more likely San Diego!), but I guarantee if you push that ****z' buttons, he will go off on you. I watched a 5'3" runt go after another Marine who was about my size (6'2" 225) over in the gulf. Funniest thing I ever saw :D
I was actually supposed to be a pencil pusher in my battalion. But every weekend (ok, I was a reservist, bite me :P) we ran, went out into the field, qualified on the m-16, and performed force marches. Only the WM's got off easy, and that wasn't all the time. Most of them that were healthy or whatever had to do whatever the male Marines were doing. Over in the gulf, I ran patrols, performed rear area security, and escorted supplies to the front lines while carrying an M-60. And every now and then, I had to man the .50 cal.
Why you ask? (ok, maybe you weren't ASKING) Because EVERY MARINE IS A BASIC RIFLEMAN. Every Marine has to pass certain basic health, fitness, and weapon qualifications, or to not so eloquently put it, they bounce your a s s out of there in a heartbeat. In the heat of combat, everyone who can walk or at least pull a trigger is part of the security of the camp, or wherever one might be stationed.
And that's the fact, jack :cool: