--- title: "Marine sticks his hand in fire ant hill, because Marines gonna Marine" description: "Marines love to prove how tough they are. Fire ants are known for the venomous effect their stings inflict on their victims. Who wins?" date: "2024-06-13" modified: "2024-06-14" authors: - name: "Joshua Skovlund" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/joshua-skovlund/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/marine-fire-ant-hill/" categories: - "Culture" --- # Marine sticks his hand in fire ant hill, because Marines gonna Marine ![Marine sticking his hand in a fire ant hill.]() *One potentially junior Marine decided to test his pain response via intentionally shoving his hand into a fire ant hill. Screenshot via Reddit.* Initial training for anyone in any branch of service can have dull moments. What better way to spice up your day than to stick your hand directly into a fire ant hill? A video posted to the Reddit thread r/USMC by moderator “newnoadeptness,” [shows one Marine proving his masculinity by shoving his hand into a fire ant hill](). Kyle Gunn, Task & Purpose’s social media director and resident Marine, said, “He looks like a private, so this is probably at a schoolhouse. If I had to guess, I'd say these are Motor-T mechanic students at Camp Johnson right outside Lejeune.” Would legendary Marine Lt. Gen. Chesty Puller be proud? Who knows. https://www.reddit.com/r/USMC/comments/1dekn5w/just_guys_being_dudes/ Here’s the deal: female worker ants have stingers packed with a poison that causes a burning sensation, a large welt, and potentially a postulate that isn’t very attractive. Worst case scenario, your body recognizes the poison as a more severe threat, and you develop an anaphylactic reaction, compromising your airway if not promptly treated. We can’t say who won in the duel between the ants and the Marine, but his technique to withstand the pain inflicted by the stings is impressive. He slaps his thigh with his free hand as the ants swarm the hand he placed into the ant hill while other Marines watch. The one Marine wearing a Camelbak is a hint this group of young Marines are still in their early phases of training. Based on the brick building in the background, it could indicate it’s on the east coast, possibly Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Wherever this video was captured, that Marine can confidently say he has mastered his pain response and we think Chesty would be proud. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **82nd Airborne paratroopers** [**cut down a 101st flag**]() **from an iconic bar on D-Day** - [**Navy fires**]() **USS Somerset’s commanding officer following investigation** - **Two ex-U.S. soldiers met in Ukraine, then went on** [**‘international crime spree**]()**’** - **A combat controller earned a** [**secret Air Force Cross**]() **for battle with Russian mercenaries** - **Fort Moore renames five gates for battlefield heroes like** [**Alwyn Cashe**]() ## Author Joshua Skovlund is a former staff writer for Task & Purpose and a prior U.S. Army forward observer. He has been covering the military, veterans, and first responders for over three years, reporting on assignment from Ukraine during the opening salvo of the Russian invasion, multinational military exercises in Germany, and during the 2020 civil unrest in Minneapolis. His previous bylines include *Coffee or Die Magazine* and *Outdoor Life*. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()