Questions to Marines….

The following request was sent to marines via Baghdad Bureau from a student on a course at Illinois State University. Answers at your discretion.

“I’m currently enrolled in a class at Illinois State University titled ‘Cultures of War: The American Soldier’. Throughout the semester we have talked about all types of war spanning from the first civilized groups that roamed their respective areas to the current situation in Iraq. We have read many memoirs and novels all regarding the American Soldier. One recent book we read was Anthony Swofford’s ‘Jarhead’.

I would like to reach out to any current marines who are in Iraq. There are some questions I have raised and cannot get answers because they need to come directly from the source. I’m not going to spend time talking about the book, so what I would like to know is:

“To all the marines who are currently deployed, how much of your time spent over there would you consider downtime, boredom, acts of meaninglessness, or a combination of any of these?”

I realize every answer is going to be different, but I would at least like to hear one marine’s input. More would be great, though. Also, how has being a marine affected you personally? Have you grown into a ‘man?’ Are you looked down upon as ‘jarheads’ when you’re home and away?

If anybody can answer these questions that’d be great. One last one, though, for anybody in the military. Have there been a lot of problems regarding the women in your life since you’ve been gone and do you let the stories and B.S. get to you? I hope somebody can respond to this and I’m interested in the responses.

Thank You.”

Mark F.
Baghdad Bureau