Jarhead- Post 4

“I know already that he’ll do everything he’s told exactly as he’s told and that if he lives through the war, shortly after we return to the states he’ll ask to leave the platoon for a line company and I’ll never see him again. He is a marine but he’s not a STA marine.
These are the new guys, the men we must bring up to sniper speed in weeks or maybe even days because we have no idea when the war will begin, only that it will begin” (134).


This is the last post on this dang thing. At this point in the book, Swofford and his STA platoon just received new members. Swofford kind of just talks about each new member and believes that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a STA marine. I guess that would be true if these guys weren’t able to scout and snipe. These new guys might not be big enough badasses to do what it takes to be a STA marine. If they aren’t ready then Swofford is right. They must get these guys ready quick, because the war could start tomorrow in terms of the story. I think that would be the toughest part about being a marine. Having to be in some foreign country, knowing you are going to fight, but you don’t know when. I don’t see how anyone can keep their heads straight going through that. I would be so nervous, especially having to stay in the same place, not being able to go anywhere except your own barracks. This book has shown almost everything bad that can happen in the marines, except for the actual fighting. I guess it’s like fighting two separate wars when you are in the marines. Having to survive training and then actually surviving the war, I don’t see how so many people can do it.