Recruitment Drive

[dutybandit420]

Im a little late on this forum but Id like to post something due to it being so very close to my hooah heart(sarcasm). Im a member of the citadel team, for those of you not from the deep south thats the military college of S.C.(dont worry I didnt know what it was til I came here either). Now about this whole marine thing. Im around these hardcore killers everyday and I would never discredit them or the marine corps in anyway. They are motivated, honorable, and usually courageous. But on the subject of them recruiting at sporting events and all that, believe me they belong at paintball events. These guys would drink us under the table and in some cases smoke us off the couch. They show up to everything. Ive seen them at punk concerts, skating events, and surfing events. They love the extreme sports and underground world because we are crazy enough to do what they do. Ofcourse they want to recruit from our world... They dont take paintball as a military game any more than we do or they wouldnt be there. They just want the young aggressive, determined, crazy types that the underworld of extreme sports offers. And they might have more luck with us than you might think. We love adrenaline, they offer halo jumps, riding around in cool atvs, and ofcourse blowing stuff up. And one last thing, its better than the air force or army showing up.

 

[Gyroscope]

I forgot all about this thread. I don't think I ever came back to it after the initial post I made. What ever became of those Marines, anyhow? I don't remember seeing them in Chicago, and I didn't make it to NJ.

Originally posted by Baca Loco
1--answers Teej's original question. No, it's not weird. I've been to probably hundreds of sporting events at high school, college and even pro level where a color guard displayed the flag for the singing of the national anthem.
NPPL HB sang the anthem before the finals. This is one extra step in the process of making all the paraphernalia around the tournament into a "traditional" sporting event.
2--y'all are just too hung up on the backwoods warrior thing. This has no relation to that at all and the vast majority of people who will be introduced to tourney PB in Vegas won't have a clue.

Thanks Baca for summing it up/ paraphrasing. I will distill my statements further.

1- It is not wierd in the larger scheme of things.

2- It feels wierd to some of us, because we are sensitive about the whole military-wannabe thing.

Don't they sing national anthems before cricket, or foosball, or whatever sporting events are popular in Europe? Or are the trappings of nationalism still too uncomfortable? You say patriotism, I say nationalism, lets not call the whole thing off yet, though.

Repairman:
I appreciate the personal sacrifice made by anyone who elects to join our armed forces. Giving up a large part of their individual liberty to defend something as abstract as the freedom of their countrymen is a leap of imagination and civic responsibilty that the average American can't even understand, much less make.

On the other hand, one of the freedoms those brave men and women risk their lives to defend is the freedom to criticize and question any government institution, including the USMC. It is ironic, and the conflict between gratitude for the sacrifice servicemen (not gender specific in my meaning) make and the duty to be skeptical of any act of government should lead us to exercise tact. I think TJ has done so here.

I also think his articles in PGI have often been less lucid than his contributions to this forum, but I think the same of Baca's articles. I can only assume that writing articles is tougher than it looks, because these two mods are clearly smart, perceptive guys, even though their articles are often confusing and so stylized that the character of the writer is hard to discern.

edit: speaking of tact... before that foot triggers a gag reflex

 

[tazzhc10]

There is no harm in having the Marines present the colors at a paintball tournament. If anything it gives the tournament more credit as this is a time honored tradition at ALL sporting events in the States. It's done at Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer and even little league baseball games.

The marines being there with a "recruitment" booth is just like Dye or Smart Parts being there. They are there to sell things, it just so happens that the Marines are "selling" a career in the Military. If you don't want to "buy" what they are "selling" then don't go up to their booth. It's that simple.

Anyway, ya'll have fun in Miami...i wish i was able to go.

Tazz

P.S. It's good to be back!!!!