M14 Forum

Dare2Think

Okay, we all know that Marines do not steal from each other. However, there is almost a proud tradition of taking abandon, loose, unwanted or unwatched gear from the Army (or other services). Sometimes taking from the rich kids was a matter of necessity for mission accomplishment.

Do you have a story on how your unit “AutoMagically” got that replacement starter for that deadlined humvee while on deployment? Do tell…

Remember, Gear adrift is a gift!

SAPPNASTY

No one in the military or law enforcement steals...the simply Strategically Transfer the Equipment to an Alternate Location!!! LOL

CE1371

Marines don't steal from other marines but they sure as hell steal from the Corps and from any other branch. There's not enough for everyone so the bold, the strong, and the clever who can steal from supply end up with what is needed. This is the standard method of distribution of supplies in the poor-as-#$%@ Marine Corps. Always has been and always will be.

Need that turret control part replaced? Sneak into the Army's motor pool and take your pick.

Need a nomex jacket because winter has hit in Afghanistan and you're stuck up in the turret? Sneak into the Airwing supply tent and steal some fly-boy's aviator jacket.

Marine Corps is Marine Poor.

bsaubin

There is only one thief in the Marine Corps, Everyone else is just trying to get their stuff back!

lawnchair 04

There has been a time or two where I have "borrowed" some parts off army helicopters to fix my own. Its not like they fly them anyway ha. Oh and they really love it when you tag their aircraft with your squadron patch just so they know who took it. Sometimes we try to hide it but usually it was blatantly obvious.

jens5

My old man,(5th Div WWll) with his fellow Marines were literally starving on Okinawa. Army had tons of 10 in one ration's on the beach with one Army sentry. 5 or 6 Marines including my old man approached the young sentry and told him thy were requisitioning all the food. The Sentry asked for order's and heard a M-1 bolt slam shut. The locked and loaded Marine said,"this is it son" The Sentry said,"No problem sir!"

Pro_USA1776

I wonder how asking for some would have gone over?

jens5

I think they tried that.

RandyB45

I wish I had a nickel for every Marine I've heard say that....

I was a Soldier and always told my guys "Never steal for personal gain, never steal from a combat unit and if you pass the Air Force and don't steal something, I'll give you an Article 15."

osokusmc

I used to tell younger Marines that any grunt who didn't come out of the bush better equipped than when he went in wasn't worth his stripes.

willriskit

In my helicopter squadron, when we were flying Navy beer from LPH's to the beach, it was typically a long time before we had to buy any. Sometimes we had so many cases in the tail pylon that the pilots had difficulty, but they didn't mind as long as they got their share. Marines learn to be efficient scroungers early in their careers and it's all a part of the game. The one service that we didn't have to midnight requisition from was the Air Force. They would usually give us what we asked for and more.

Semper Fi!

mtbikerwvu

When you get the nickname scrounger from your team, you know you have achieved record heights of thiefdom. Most of the time though I could talk my way into anything we needed. The military is a true barter system and you only took what was needed. I remember our commander ragging us all because someone was ripping off MREs. We soon found out why as they would sell locally for $5 to $9 each. Can't imagine paying for a MRE. We gave them away like the friggin Red Cross or something.

willriskit

I was in during the C-Ration era and when we were aboard ship with vehicles loaded with the same, they had to be guarded. Due to the marathon-sized chow lines we soon learned that the sailors would trade anything on the ship (with the possible exception of the wheel or compass) for a case of "C's." Needless to say, it wasn't long before we all had new flight suits, survival knives, etc. Except for a few favorites like franks and beans, we detested "C's," but sailors will eat anything and they proved it.

CPTKILLER

The only reason that the Army doesn't steal from the Marines is that we only let them steal what is broken or doesn't work. We didn't want it back. :)

In Vietnam, we "procured" from anyone who had something we needed. Ask me about a new 1/4 ton engine & two new transmissions still in the crate.

lpnracer

during the transition period when civilians were starting to run the bases, I went with my captain to the ASP to draw ammo for a training range. Time was tight as we only had the range for a few hours. A fat , dumb, dirty, GS- whatever refused to give the captain the ammo because he hadnt filled out the right form in five parts. When the captain explained how time sensitive getting the ammo was, the GS got smart and said "what would you do if we were in a combat zone and under fire?" I told the GS that I would shoot him and we would have all the ammo we wanted. Had to visit the Bn cmdr for a get my mind right lecture.