Sgt Grit Marine Forums

How much $$ did you donate to the MC for the guys that did the sword arch (if you had to get them through the recruiting station)?

Tim talked to his friend (who's a recruiter) and told him we'd donate $500!!!  WHAT?!!  That's a LOT!!  We can't afford $500 just to the Marines?!!  Please tell me I'm not nuts by thinking that's a lot of money...

OUCH! I had no idea it would be that expensive. I would not want to donate that much; I mean, Tim serves in the Marine Corps soooo, isn't that kinda worth a discount (at least less then 500 dollars). We're not going through the Marine Corps to do our arch, Jimmy just recruited a bunch of friends to come up. I'm like you, Faith- I think that 500 is too much, but maybe I'm just cheap.

Yea, I honestly think Tim was just talking out of his butt without using his brain.  He's so clueless when it comes to weddings and money and stuff...but hey, I'm marrying the guy, right?

Oh...and in addition to donating $500....Tim was told that we'd have to supply the swords and Tim said okay!  WHAT?! ----- TIM DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A SWORD YET!

Ay yi yi. Tim needs some schoolin, LOL. I didn't even know you donated money, haha so maybe I'm the clueless one but holy knockers, that is way too much. Honestly, maybe I'm cheap, but I'd throw 'em $150, maybe $200, if that! And that is redunk about the swords. First of all, everything I've seen and heard says that if you recruit your friends and they don't have swords, to go through a recruiting station or a local HTC, so why are they making you get your own swords?? Faith, if you want, I can give you the number to my brothers recruiter here in Dtown and see what he can do since my family has given them not one, but TWO dang Marines. I'll ask Chris tonight if his HTC has extra swords. His buddy just got married last July and some of the guys didn't have swords but somehow they magically all had one at the ceremony so I'll see what I can find out.

What?! That's a crazy amount Faith!!! My husband does a ton of stuff and I don't think he's ever gotten money for doing anything. I'm not sure if stuff has ever been donated, but either way that is a ridiculus amount of money. How many Marines do you have doing it? You could give each one of them something just for taking time out of their busy schedule to help ya'll out ya know? And while the office might not have swords, I don't think Joe's office has any, buut the RS should have some!  

ProudMarineWife:

What?! That's a crazy amount Faith!!! My husband does a ton of stuff and I don't think he's ever gotten money for doing anything. I'm not sure if stuff has ever been donated, but either way that is a ridiculus amount of money. How many Marines do you have doing it? You could give each one of them something just for taking time out of their busy schedule to help ya'll out ya know? And while the office might not have swords, I don't think Joe's office has any, buut the RS should have some!  

Does RS mean recruiting station?  I'm assuming?

Which do you think would be better: giving a lump sum donation to the RS or giving each guy a small amount to thank them individually?

I know nothing about this....but that just seems like a lot of money. And I know that Louie would do the same thing....just shout out an amount of money that we would donate that would be too much. lol

I'm with Barb on this one.  My husband is a recruiter has done a lot of stuff for events and people and has never gotten a dime nor has he expected anything.  My husband said if there is a reserve unit close by, that would be a better point of contact for a sword arch than the recruiting station, but that the recruiting station has enough swords for the arch but unfortunately the recruiters aren't going to be able to do it most likely.  So you would have to find some reservists and the recruiter may know some that he can put you in contact with.  The individual recruiting offices do not have the swords, you would have to get in contact with the Recruiting Station which could be a ways away from you.  If I were you I would comp them for their gas to come down and do it and maybe throw in a tad extra which if they are coming from far away and depending on the amount of Marines, may come to $500.  The RS isn't allowed to accept monetary donations, but the reserve units usually can to put it towards Toys for Tots.  That is something you will have to ask them.

we were supposed to donate? oopps.

(If you don't mind me asking)  Faith, are you guys getting married near where you live in PA? I know you said we weren't too far from each other, and there is a Reserves station right near Philly. Jimmy worked there while he was home taking care of his mom. Just in case you were going to try a Reserves station, I just wanted to let you know that there's one right there!

ILoveMyMarineJ:

(If you don't mind me asking)  Faith, are you guys getting married near where you live in PA? I know you said we weren't too far from each other, and there is a Reserves station right near Philly. Jimmy worked there while he was home taking care of his mom. Just in case you were going to try a Reserves station, I just wanted to let you know that there's one right there!

Yea we're getting married in Honey Brook.  I stopped in and spoke with Tim's friend who's a recruiter and he said he "doesn't know if it's possible" ummmmm????  So, he's gonna get back to me by the 19th.  If he tells me it's not possible, then I'm gonna do my own dirty work and start finding reserves stations.  It's gotta be possible, right?!

I would do the reserve stations before a recruiting station.  I am willing to bet the recruiter is going to get back to you and say he can't do it...this is just because the recruiting commands do not have the manpower to provide anyone for your arch.  The reserve units would definitely be my first point of contact for the arch because they will actually know people that can do it...there is no way the recruiters would be given time off to do it.

There's one right off of Roosevelt Boulevard near Philly. It wasn't too far from where we lived. I think Kasey's (Danielswife?) husband works there, so she might be able to help. Hopefully that'll help, or maybe there's one closer to you too. I don't really know how the Reserves work and how many stations there are and such, that's the only one I know about cause Jimmy worked there for about 5 months.

We used the Reservists from the local Reserve Unit. We did not pay them, they actually earned drill points and drill pay for the day. Plus they were able to come to the reception and hang out, eat, etc. I don't see the recruiter's doing it, honestly. It would be a manpower and time issue. If there is a Reserve unit, go ahead and give them a call. They should be able to take care of it for you. Good luck!