Military & Veteran

Welcome to the Military and Veteran page of my blog. As a former active duty Marine, military and veteran issues are important to me. Most of the time this page will have funny shit, but if there are important issues, I will post those as well. 

I joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school, stepping on the yellow foot prints at MCRD San Diego in 1988, graduating in May. After a weeks leave at home, I was off to A-School at Pensacola, Florida, where I earned my MOS of 2631 (Signals Intelligence). From there is was off to Homestead AFB as part of Co H, MARSPTBN. I left homestead just prior to Hurricane Andrew, PCSing to MCAS Cherry Point via C-School at Pensacola again. 

At Cherry Point, I was assigned to VMAQ-2 as an ELINT analyst, deploying twice to Iwakuni, Japan. After Cherry Point it was off to Damneck, Virginia to be an instructor at NMITC (Navy Marine Corps Training Center). I left the Corps in 1998, but the Corps and the military are both still near and dear to my heart. 

Staff Sgt. Jason Thompson poses for a photo on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island,

Paying For A Bootcamp Experience

April 5, 2025

Paying For A Bootcamp Experience I recently watched a YouTube video by NICKY MGTV on the Modern Day Knight Project. The Modern Day Knight Project is billed as a 75-hour, $18K program where you essentially attend a blended mix of USMC Bootcamp, S.E.R.E, and BUD/S experience. Their website states, “The...

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Congressional Medal of Honor Day

Medal of Honor Day – 2025

March 25, 2025

Medal of Honor Day 1990 the United States Congress designated March 25 as the National Medal of Honor Day. Congress established National Medal of Honor Day to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.” The first National Medal of Honor Day was celebrated on March 25, 1991....

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Food on a plate

The Military Travels on Its Stomach

November 15, 2024

The Military Travels on Its Stomach Here is a very interesting video on how the US Military feeds the troops. It starts at Fort Sam Houston, Slagel Hall, which is the most enormous mess hall in the U.S. Military, serving soldiers, airmen, and sailors. Slagel Hall can feel 4,500 trainees...

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Soldier and Comedian Bobby Henline

Soldier and Comedian Bobby Henline

November 14, 2024

Soldier and Comedian Bobby Henline I wanted to spend a few minutes on Bobby Henline, former U.S. Army soldier turned comedian. But there is so much more to Bobby’s story. He enlisted in the Army in 1989 at 17 years old and was honorably discharged in 1992. Then came the...

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Veterans Day 2024

Thank A Veteran – Veterans Day 2024

November 11, 2024

Thank A Veteran – Veterans Day 2023 Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). On November 11, 1919, President...

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United States Marine Corps seal and challenge coin

17 Years of Marine Corps Birthday Messages

November 10, 2024

17 Years of Marine Corps Birthday Messages In 2006, the Marine Corps officially started to release a video birthday message along with the written version. Here are those video messages, enjoy my brothers and sisters, Semper Fidelis! 2020-2023 4 Videos 248th Marine Corps Birthday Message (2023) 247th Marine Corps Birthday...

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  • Average Joe

    Welcome to the Average Joe Weekly blog. This is basically my place on the web where I can help spread some of the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years. I served 10+ years in the Marine Corps on Active Duty, but that was some 25 years ago.

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