>>GOP, while on active duty, we ran 30+ miles/week, did far more than pushups and situps, and in general pt'd our asses off. The weight figures you state normally lead to people who make giant targets, are about as flexible as a 2x4, and can't make weight in the army. Hyperbole is one thing, your post has no bearing in reality. << I realize that, I was only joking with Grenadier. In reality, US Army and USMC standards are roughly the same. As far as the weight figures go, I don't know anyone who can lift that kind of weight on the big 3. That is a combo of 2,000lbs, the strongest guy at my gym combines for 1500lbs. I can tell, this guy is big (not as big as you would think, though), and he is very flexible (anyone who can ATG Squat 585lbs is pretty flexible). On a side note, you guys ran 30+miles a week? PT is only 3 days a week, right?

interesting link on USMC/FFL training: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2003/n09172003_200309179.html

here's the recruiting address; i keep it in my Rolodex as a 'back-up' career : 94120 Fontenay -sous-Bois Fort de Nogent FRANCE Telephone 1-48-49-68 and here's a good link about a guy who wishes to join, and people online advise him: http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=149984

"Legionares, they are soldiers: they have the toughness, the honor, the decency. - GV" The second two qualities are normally not associated with the Legion, is it? A textbook I once read attributed the development of the first quality to the lack of the latter two. Apart from this I agree this is a completely silly, yet entertaining discussion.

Legion legend has it that the British recruits are the most likely to try and desert (back in the old days). This reputedly creates a cycle: NCOs are extra-tough with Brits because they have a reputation for desertion, and Brit recruits in turn desert more because the "toughness" crosses into "brutality" many a time. Just a a side note, former US Marines were one of the "readily acceptables" back in the '50s and '

"here's the recruiting address; i keep it in my Rolodex as a 'back-up' career :" Does the FFL have a geriatric division?

No, every unit I have ever been in PT was 5 days/week, normally there was an unofficial afternoon session with several troops and a sixth day was voluntary but "command encouraged"

What does PT consist of? My goal is to join the military (not sure where), but I am not too big into pushups or high rep situps, so I don't want to be caught off-gaurd.

well, 'don't burn your bridges', as they say. never can tell...

I've skipped over most of this thread but I wanted to comment on the USMC AFV numbers. The USMC purchased 401 LAv-25s, 95 LAV-ATs, 17 LAV-ADs, 50 LAV-C2s, 94 LAV-Ls, 50 LAV-Ms and 45 LAV-Rs. There are also a little over 1,100 amtracks(with plans to replace these with about 1,000 AAAV/EFVs) and about 200-300 M1A1s also.