| The following is an expert opinion by a | | | | cold. When it rains, you are wet. Being wet |
| Military Tanker: "Being a Marine Corps tanker | | | | and cold can last for days. Wet, cold and |
| is the way to go. Can't go into a lot of | | | | deprived of sleep. Same when it's hot or when |
| detail about how Army Tankers and Marine | | | | it's very hot. You get dirtier out in the |
| Tankers are different, just that the entire | | | | field than you would believe. All of this |
| culture of the Army is so much different than | | | | stuff is awesome, I just said okay this stuff |
| the Marines. Either way you'll go to Ft. | | | | is great, but 20 years?" |
| Knox, Kentucky. I found it to be a drab and | | | | |
| miserable place. I give all due respect to | | | | "The daily schedule of a tanker isn't bad at |
| the Army. Anyone who risks their lives in a | | | | all. The maintenance is no problem. PT is |
| combat field deserves respect. But, I could | | | | about what you would expect. It's just that |
| never have served in an Army unit. There just | | | | darn winter I spent at Camp Fuji in 86. |
| isn't that same Spirit." | | | | Mother Nature had no mercy on the mountain |
| | | | and the mountain had no mercy on us. We |
| "Army tankers go to boot camp at Knox. You | | | | started off most days shoveling the snow off |
| watch how they train and it was laughable. | | | | of our tanks before we worked on them all |
| They'd be sitting around drinking beer on a | | | | day. If we were out in the field for three |
| saturday night talking about how hard boot | | | | days that meant that we were cold for three |
| camp is and how the Drill Sgt. was mean | | | | days." |
| because he made them do 25 push ups. If I | | | | |
| would have went to Army boot instead of the | | | | "Like I said, I wouldn't trade that |
| Marines I may have failed. Not because it is | | | | experience for the world. I don't have to |
| harder but because there just didn't seem to | | | | sleep in the snow or the rain anymore. I was |
| be that motivating." | | | | also never in combat but if you ever do go to |
| | | | Iraq or Iran or North Korea or some place and |
| "Tanks are a great MOS. I loved it. I | | | | get into tank battles and stuff then you'll |
| consider it the absolute best job in the | | | | see that what I thought was a tiny bit hard |
| Corps. I signed up for three years 1984-1987. | | | | is like a girl scout picnic. I'd say go for |
| As much as I loved it I did not want to do it | | | | being a tanker. You will love most of it like |
| for 20 years. It seemed too hard to keep at | | | | I did. Then if you love it, stick with it for |
| it for so long. I had my fill, I loved it. | | | | as long as you can. I don't think that you |
| Then it was time to move on. If you want a | | | | will want to make that career decision though |
| great adventure, a way to be a part of a | | | | until you have finished most of your first |
| front line combat force without some of the | | | | enlistment." |
| more extreme hardships of the infantry, I | | | | |
| definitely recommend Marine Corps Tanks. Only | | | | "Being a tanker or armored crewman in the |
| join though if you can stand the very real | | | | army or marine corp. is a challenge in its |
| possibility of getting sent into combat, | | | | own. Going through your army or tank training |
| killing and possibly dying." | | | | is challenging in its own right. No one means |
| | | | to judge, but it happens when you have so |
| "The army has some outstanding tankers. I | | | | much pride or better words pride in your |
| would like to think our tanking skills are | | | | branch of service. We all strive in one thing |
| about equal, we are better off the tank and | | | | to be a tanker. The goal of every tanker is |
| more disciplined as a hole just from what I | | | | ride into combat on your m1a1." |
| saw. Yes, the army has new stuff and they | | | | |
| will let you sign up for tanks where the | | | | "Marine tanker or army tanker we all are |
| Marine Corps will not. I like the armies' new | | | | tankers. The army guys around us were in the |
| crap but I don't think I could ever join the | | | | final stages of their OSUT training. We |
| army. Tanking' is challenging but very | | | | didn't have many if any at all recruits |
| rewarding." | | | | around us. And the only real difference |
| | | | between marine and army tankers are the pride |
| "All of the combat MOS's have to deal with | | | | in the Corps and the Army Units. The |
| the same stuff though. When it is cold, you | | | | maintained is the same. The long hard hours |
| are cold. When it is very cold you are very | | | | are the same. |