Greetings...new blood here.

Hey everyone,

The name is Alex. I'm an American/Canadian, don't ask which one I am by default, as I really don't know and couldn't tell you. I have recently been honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. I did 4 years and was an Amphibious Assault vehicle operator (AAV) and a vehicle commander for a short while towards the end. I have a strong interest in Russian culture, it's history and their military both current and in the past. I also enjoy Sambo, I would drive off base for a 55 minute trip to a club, but my deployment and field ops got in the way of it and also alas, I cannot find a club in my current living area. Hopefully some day I will get to finish what I started. *shakes fist at sky*

If you think that my input and knowledge of my life experiences can contribute to posts, please feel free to invite me to them. Otherwise I shall just lurk and read away.

If anyone can update me in Russian media culture please do.

I enjoy listening to DDT (I'm very aware they are old school)

I enjoyed the following Russian movies, please if you could recommend more, preferably if they at least have English subtitles available. I do have plans on studying Russian but I just cannot do it at this time, whether its ADHD or lack of discipline.

Brother
Brother 2
Night watch
Day watch
9th company
Stalingrad

I enjoy wildlife and the physical aspect of enjoying nature, ie, trail running, hiking, and exploring. I plan on attending university next year to study environmental enforcement, I have a desire to become a conservation officer/game warden or at least something related to that. I plan on doing work as part of an anti poaching unit in South Africa for the white rhinos before I attend school.

If you have questions for me, please do ask, and thanks for taking the time to read this. (:

I would like to hear more about your work with AAV's from different points, mechanical, personal experience and what else you can share.

  To RMF. 

How was your time in the USMC?

Werewolf wrote:

I would like to hear more about your work with AAV's from different points, mechanical, personal experience and what else you can share.

To be honest I never wanted to be an AAV operator,and hardly anybody initially wanted to do it either that I have met, but that's what you get if you go the combat support option in the marines. Usually if a marine fails his water survival portion in boot camp he gets put into as a tank operator or artillery, I didn't fail. The AAV is currently one of the oldest military vehicles in the U.S. Service. The tallest and creates the largest dust signature. It was in service in the late 70's, and since since then, only minor upgrades have been added to the vehicle. They have long stop manufacturing AAVs, so the "new" ones we get have been refurbished many times over. Even the comm systems are outdated. We had an old M60 tank rusting away at our ramp, I peeked inside one day, and it had the same exact comm system as ours. For every 1 hour of operation, the AAV or Amtrack needs an average of 8 hours of maintenance. The turret houses a 50 cal. machine gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher. And smoke grenade launchers which I have never ever used my whole time in service. The turret design/style has been changed 3 times over the course of its history. What really sucks about the turret is that its very cramped. I have heard rumors that the engineer built the thing around his wife at the time. So I guess you could say it was built for a woman to fit into it. Interesting fact about the amtrack is that its not actually water proof, what keeps it floating in the ocean is the 4 pumps located in the vehicle. which can pump out about 420 gallons per minute. To be honest I think it would be a death sentence to fight against a modern professional military force in that thing. The hull of an AAV is like some kind of aluminium steel, so that its light enough to float sort of thing. We can install what is called EAAK armour, which basically the same material as the hull is, but its great for deflecting anti armour rockets fired at it. Compared to tankers, amtrackers are responsible for minor to semi moderate maintenance where as tankers aren't really authorized to do much on their own. We are responsible for fixing the tracks itself and generally assisting the mechanics. Basically, we are not allowed to take apart the engine, do circuitry and all that serious stuff. The average amount of operational hours an AAV has to do before being sent off to be refurbished to "new" is 700 to 800 hours. So between that time and towards the end, the AAV gets some serious maintenance issues. When the AAv is in the water, all but the driver's hatch and VC hatch is closed, so it is really dark in the troop compartment, add...lets say an exhaust leak somewhere in the engine compartment, which is quite common and usually has a blind eye turned to it, you get a very nasty unpleasant trip for the grunts (infantry troops) The job of the 3rd crewman is to sit right next the entrance hatch while holding a stick or metal pipe and knock out anyone who loses their shit and wants to open the hatch in the middle of the ocean. All and all I very much enjoyed driving the amtrack...on land. In my opinion it is truly an all terrain vehicle.

Mike E wrote:  To RMF. 

How was your time in the USMC?

It was a love hate relationship. I didn't get any combat action during my deployment, so I felt kinda cheated on that. But I did get to live in Hawaii for 3 years so that was something. I met my best friend in the military, him and I are pretty much brothers. If there is one thing that the recruiters didn't lie or exaggerate about,is that the Marine Corps truly is a brotherhood. And that's what I really miss about it, is the camaraderie. It was one big dysfunctional family. The thing I really hated about it, was that everything was a competition with your peers. Since the Corps is a smaller organization then the U.S. Army, opportunities for training and advancement are much more competitive. And with competition, brown nosing, and sucking up went with it hand in hand. "Hey staff sergeant, can I attend the green belt mcmap course?" "Not this time, pfc powers may have only arrived to our unit for 3 weeks now, but he says good morning and offers to buy me lunch every day, so I like him more as oppose to you who have been here for 3 years now" That kind of crap happened alot unfortunately.

Thanks for all welcomes everyone.

Trexonian wrote:

Mike E wrote:  To RMF. 

How was your time in the USMC?

It was a love hate relationship. I didn't get any combat action during my deployment, so I felt kinda cheated on that. But I did get to live in Hawaii for 3 years so that was something. I met my best friend in the military, him and I pretty much brothers. If there is one thing that the recruiters didn't lie or exaggerate about,is that the Marine Corps truly is a brotherhood. And that's what I really miss about it, is the camaraderie. It was one big dysfunctional family. The thing I really hated about it, was that everything was a competition with your peers. Since the Corps is a smaller organization then the U.S. Army, opportunities for training and advancement are much more competitive. And with competition, brown nosing, and sucking up went with it hand in hand. "Hey staff sergeant, can I attend the green belt mcmap course?" "Not this time, pfc powers may have only arrived to our unit for 3 weeks now, but he says good morning and offers to buy me lunch every day, so I like him more as oppose to you who have been here for 3 years now" That kind of crap happened alot unfortunately.

Thanks for all welcomes everyone.

Welcome to the forums!

I have a coworker who served in the Canadian Airborn before it was disbanded, and he said the same thing, you get to meet some really awesome people who become very close to you, even after your service. I am glad you didn't get to see combat as we may not be talking as of today. I respect those who go in to protect their homeland.

So you got to be stationed in Hawaii eh? You decided not to stay in Hawaii? Man, I would love to live there. Tropical paradise is a heck of a lot better than what I am experiencing right now here in Calgary Canada!

[quote="sepheronx"][quote="Trexonian"]

Mike E wrote:  To RMF. 


Welcome to the forums!

I have a coworker who served in the Canadian Airborn before it was disbanded, and he said the same thing, you get to meet some really awesome people who become very close to you, even after your service.  I am glad you didn't get to see combat as we may not be talking as of today.  I respect those who go in to protect their homeland.

So you got to be stationed in Hawaii eh?  You decided not to stay in Hawaii?  Man, I would love to live there.  Tropical paradise is a heck of a lot better than what I am experiencing right now here in Calgary Canada!

I guess I just missed the snow and pine trees. Staying in Hawaii is easier said then done though. Housing is almost impossible to get unless your at least upper middle class. And to find a job you actually enjoy doing...that's another whole challenge. Stuff is also way more expensive since virtually everything is brought overseas, Plus I've had too many crazy ex girlfriends...and since its an island...your bound to run into them eventually XD No need to say anymore about that, I'm living in Alberta too! I haven't seen snow for 4 years until now!! lmao!

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions, they are always appreciated! 

I have a relative with former USAF experience who was stationed in Diego Garcia.

Trexonian wrote:

Werewolf wrote:

I would like to hear more about your work with AAV's from different points, mechanical, personal experience and what else you can share.

To be honest I never wanted to be an AAV operator,and hardly anybody initially wanted to do it either that I have met, but that's what you get if you go the combat support option in the marines. Usually if a marine fails his water survival portion in boot camp he gets put into as a tank operator or artillery, I didn't fail. The AAV is currently one of the oldest military vehicles in the U.S. Service. The tallest and creates the largest dust signature. It was in service in the late 70's, and since since then, only minor upgrades have been added to the vehicle. They have long stop manufacturing AAVs, so the "new" ones we get have been refurbished many times over. Even the comm systems are outdated. We had an old M60 tank rusting away at our ramp, I peeked inside one day, and it had the same exact comm system as ours. For every 1 hour of operation, the AAV or Amtrack needs an average of 8 hours of maintenance. The turret houses a 50 cal. machine gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher. And smoke grenade launchers which I have never ever used my whole time in service. The turret design/style has been changed 3 times over the course of its history. What really sucks about the turret is that its very cramped. I have heard rumors that the engineer built the thing around his wife at the time. So I guess you could say it was built for a woman to fit into it. Interesting fact about the amtrack is that its not actually water proof, what keeps it floating in the ocean is the 4 pumps located in the vehicle. which can pump out about 420 gallons per minute. To be honest I think it would be a death sentence to fight against a modern professional military force in that thing. The hull of an AAV is like some kind of aluminium steel, so that its light enough to float sort of thing. We can install what is called EAAK armour, which basically the same material as the hull is, but its great for deflecting anti armour rockets fired at it. Compared to tankers, amtrackers are responsible for minor to semi moderate maintenance where as tankers aren't really authorized to do much on their own. We are responsible for fixing the tracks itself and generally assisting the mechanics. Basically, we are not allowed to take apart the engine, do circuitry and all that serious stuff. The average amount of operational hours an AAV has to do before being sent off to be refurbished to "new" is 700 to 800 hours. So between that time and towards the end, the AAV gets some serious maintenance issues. When the AAv is in the water, all but the driver's hatch and VC hatch is closed, so it is really dark in the troop compartment, add...lets say an exhaust leak somewhere in the engine compartment, which is quite common and usually has a blind eye turned to it, you get a very nasty unpleasant trip for the grunts (infantry troops) The job of the 3rd crewman is to sit right next the entrance hatch while holding a stick or metal pipe and knock out anyone who loses their shit and wants to open the hatch in the middle of the ocean. All and all I very much enjoyed driving the amtrack...on land. In my opinion it is truly an all terrain vehicle.

Thanks for the information. The problems sound very familiar with lot of militaries and their older APC's (amphibious).

Looking forward for more stories you can share.

Heres a pic of me a few years back. If you guys want to see more pics I've taken or got taken for me while i was in the military...not just of me cause that would be gay... I've got a video of an AAV running over a car, or when we were at the firing range with the AAV's

Cool picture... I'd join the forces if our government (**** one at that) didn't control them.

I almost joined the Canadian Army, but their recruiting process is just way too slow. You have to really want to join them. Long story short, it took them 6 weeks to reply to my application form...when I got to the interview, I asked how long until I would see basic training, the interview officer told me it take up to a year, maybe even a year and 6 months. I said screw that, called the marines...6 months later I was in boot camp. However if I joined the Canadian Army, I certainly would have been paid more...

Trexonian wrote:I almost joined the Canadian Army, but their recruiting process is just way too slow. You have to really want to join them. Long story short, it took them 6 weeks to reply to my application form...when I got to the interview, I asked how long until I would see basic training, the interview officer told me it take up to a year, maybe even a year and 6 months. I said screw that, called the marines...6 months later I was in boot camp. However if I joined the Canadian Army, I certainly would have been paid more...

Talking about slow, actually more lazy than slow, recruitment personal in military, you never should try Bundeswehr, it took 9 month for a friend of mine until they replied to his application and invided him to basic physics check.

Marines is nicely.

Lots of newcomers recently.