Oorah A Type of Literacy : By Zach Tucker

Marines are fighting for our freedoms everyday and the way they communicate towards one another is a big part of their jobs. They have to learn a lot of information to be able to become a marine. One of the biggest things marines have to learn is the literacy that is involved within being a marine. Marines have to use communication tools to make sure they can survive while they are on patrol or in a firefight. For example, they need to know communication through body signals, weapons being fired in the air (smoke bomb), and etc. The way Marines communicate is like a piece of art, because it is so interesting how everyone has to be on the same page to finish the task. So in the marines discourse community there are different ways in which they use their literacy to communicate with one another in a life or death environment.

Marines take all their techniques of how to communicate very serious. They take this serious not just to protect their country, but to make sure no one gets hurt during their time of duty. Communication to them is more than just words to them; it is a way of survival. While analyzing the interview I did with my friend, I could tell he was willing to die for his fellow marines during patrol/firefighting. This is their way of communicating in a way with one another letting them know everyone has each other’s back and that they are going to go out with a fight. Here is an example of a firefight situation in a way they will communicate from my buddies experiences,

“I’ll go into some more detail about when we are in fire fights. Team leaders will also give an ADDRAC(Alert, Direction, Description, Range, Assignment, Control ). Here is what it would sound like: Jones at you 3 o’clock 300 meters enemy machine gun in the tree line or if we are getting fucked up and pinned down my team leader just yells something like "Jones light that tree line up we are pinned down!'' which I love hearing that because I just go crazy and light shit up. I carry the m249 SAW which is a machine gun and the most important weapon in a rifle squad. I take a lot of pride in it and my job”.

As we see in the reading above the way marines communicate are very intense and pride involved when exchanging information. We also see that they have code names or abbreviate language, such as ADDRAC. This is very important information for them to know about because it keeps them on task and focuses more when they see bullets passing by their bodies.

Marines not only communicate through the importance of being on patrol or in a firefight, but having meetings to make sure what the task is and how to improve communication skills. Before marines leave their platoon to go out, they have to have a brief which is very key part to them to understand what is going on that day. The brief is a way to help each other out and have the higher rank make sure that everyone is on the same task. While doing this research, this was a huge aspect for marines to get there point out to the upper rank and make sure they heard what they said whether it was positive or negative. This shows that marines no matter what rank respect each other through their communications whether saying sir or lance corporal (a type of marine). Here is an example of how the briefs go from the interview

“We have briefs a lot to talk about training, how we are doing, things coming up for us, talk about work, patrols, fire fights. We basically just talk about all these things and see what’s working well and should stick and things we need to change or start doing more of. Then our sgt take passes it along to our platoon commander and from there he tries his best to meet us half way on most of the things we ask or want to change. But before and after every patrol you get a brief. Before it’s to show where you’re going what you’re doing and needs to be done. After this is to go over how the conduct of the patrol went and what needs fixed”.

As we can see from above briefs are very important because the platoon finally gets to share their thoughts and make sure everyone is doing alright. This is a stressful time for these marines and having these briefs allow them communicates like an intervention (showing how they feel, and then be able to pick each other up). Marines stress so much about communicating because it is really the key for them to be successful in these meetings, patrols, or firefights by finding the right way to get the job done.

Marines communicate also towards respecting each other and showing brotherhood. These marines are with each other more than with their families. It is more than just a discourse community to them as if in everything they do is for their families they are with now (the platoon) and the families back at home in the states. They take so much pride in their discourse community of being a marine and can relate that with towards their family. The marines communicate with each other by making sure that everyone there overseas has a support system in their platoon. Many times have my friend Mike Jones, has want to be back at the states, but the support he has overseas has kept him motivated to finish his term of duty. This quote from Eric Montgomery’s Side By Side shows how much respect and brotherhood marines have for one another even if they have never meet, just being part of this discourse is so special to this fine people. Montgomery says, “We fight and die for each other. We honor the men and women who have paid for our rights to wear the Marine uniform with their own blood, sweet, and tears. Semper Fidelis is not merely a motto for a Marine; it is a way of life (Montgomery 2). From this quote we can see how much support the marines have for one another and that the way they communicate towards one another is really something special, that not a lot of discourse communities can share with each other. The marines have a special word they communicate to show how much respect they have towards one another, Oorah. This sums it up how they have a very special bond once becoming a marine.

The way marines communicate will change their lives forever. All the important aspects they learn when being a marine can change the way they think and communicate when they come back to the states. As marines come back they know for a fact they will never be the same person because of all the things they have seen and how they exchange information differently. Here is the last question I asked my buddy about whether not being a marine has changed his life,

“Oh yeah for I’m not going in to some aspects because it’s touchy and people don’t need to know some of the reasons for the way I am now. But I’m a different person for what I used to be in high school and you can probably tell. I also have a huge 0311 tatted on my arm that will always remind me of this and the marines I’ve served with I will never forget, I’m just as close with some of them as I am with you and we have been boys for a long ass time. I’ll never forget the places I’ve been and the things I have seen and done over here. It s just something that’s stamped into your brain. That’s why they say once a marine always a marine. ohrahh tuck! I love you brother and can’t wait to see you and the family”!

This shows that when joining in this discourse community people will change because of all the things that have been brain washed into them. When most marines come back to the states they have a may get a disorder called Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the article, “Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Deployed US Male Marines, talks about how being exposed to violence is that there is a great chance that this marines will have this disorder when back in the states. In the article it states, “In several studies of war veterans, increased rates of PTSD were demonstrated among those sustaining wounds, those deployed as part of ground units, and those discharging their weapon or witnessing persons being wounded or killed.” (Smith 1). This truly shows that all the communication and learning they have learned from being on patrol or firefights will be with them for the rest of their lives. This may make these marines feel uncomfortable when they get back to the states because of the way they interacted and communicate with each other is not the same towards their family and friends.

Overall for marines communication for them is such a huge way of life while overseas. This is indented in their heads in how they need to communicate when they are in stressful situations and when hanging out with each other such as meetings. Marines will always have each other backs no matter what the situation is and help get through the hardest times of their lives. This truly makes us proud of what they have to go through and how key it is for everyone one of them to know the knowledge of communication to be a marines is really significant role of being a marine, oorah!

Works Cited
1. Besa Smith, et al. "Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Deployed US Male Marines." BMC Psychiatry 10.(2010): 52-62. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 31 May 2011
2. Montgomery, Eric. "'SIDE BY SIDE'." U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 136.6 (2010): 62-64. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 31 May 2011.