Well I just found out that my youngest son has been in several time to see
our local recruiter he is wanting to join as soon as he graduates high school
I sorta have mixed feelings about it .

1 I am real proud he wants to serve

2 I am scared about him getting shipped off to help people who hate us

any one have anything to share with me and anything I can tell him?

 

I'm not a Marine, but I realize that someone has to take the fight 'over there' to make sure that THEY don't bring the fight 'over here'.

 

I'm no Marine ... but spent 20 years in the Navy and currently have a son in the Army Airborne ... so I can understand the mixed feelings about sending your son to the military / war.

Look at it this way ... your boy is ready is to make his way in the world. You know what it's like in the regular world for a young guy just starting out ... limited training, zero respect, almost no pay and usually no benefits.

He is making a very good choice by looking into the Marines ... look at the paid training he is going to get (college accredited in some cases), all his medical & dental benefits will be covered, GI Bill & tuition assistance, housing costs covered, excellent vacation opportunities, travel etc ....
The best part of putting him on the bus, is what you will see in him once he finishes bootcamp ... I guarantee you will be so proud of what he has accomplished and the man he is becoming ... that it will bring a tear to your eye.

Is there danger involved ... absolutely. There was also danger involved for the teachers at Columbine ... a low threat job that no one was prepared for. Like many young people today, he could go to work at McD's or a convenience store ... and get robbed. Threat and danger are EVERYWHERE.
The difference is that your son would be trained for any situation ... by THE BEST. Mentally, physically and morally ... he will be good-to-go for life.

Sorry for the recruiting pitch ... old habits die hard ... but I truly believe in this way of life and will support any young person who wants to pursue it, whether they are my own or someone elses child.

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

Whipt, you make me wish I wasn't an old man...........

Good advice there, and to add, does anyone know the death rate difference between Active Military and the equivalent age civilian population?

 

I would advise him to go into the Air Force, or Navy. They have the best Tech schools, and jobs that convert to a job after they serve. They also eat better.

 

Were you in the service recently? What are you basing that off of?



I am an active duty Marine of 11+ years. I can tell you what you want to know. Shoot me a PM, I'll respond later this afternoon. I'm about to walk out the door now. I'll give you my number too, I'll talk to your boy if you want. Matter of fact, my brother enlisted a few months ago, he is in his MOS (job) school right now.

mad

 

Biggest mistake I made was letting my parents talk me out of join and going to college, granted I have done fine in college and will do fine as an engineer, but I would have like to have at least done my part.

 

I'll second that sentiment. I imagine my life would be quite different right now had I made the commitment to serve my country rather than myself. Very big regret on my part.

 

Hah same here. I was looking at going Navy but my mom harped me about it being "dangerous". Life went on I graduated college, then married a Navy pilot


I'd like to echo PistolWhipt's post. Having grown up in a civilian family and then living a Navy life as an adult I can clearly see the comparison between the lives. I can understand what you feel watching your loved on go off to potentially dangerous place. That's part of life though and what makes military life bigger than the real world. Like any decision, military life has its ups and downs. Aside from worry about deployments, there's the regular hum-ho of crappy schedules and duty, missed holidays, birthdays weekends, long-ago planned trips get ruined, phone calls at all hours, leaving on a moments notice, packing, unpacking, long distance...the list can go on. The other side though is very good benefits, especially in this economy. You get a steady paycheck, medical, dental, housing, interesting friends who turn into family, opportunity to travel (even if just through PCS), not to mention for the AD member they get to play with cool toys and big boy guns On top of it all there's a swagger that comes with and is well earned with serving in the military. I love me a Marine on any day.


Obviously from my post, I'd encourage your son to join. I'd encourage any of my (imaginary) kids to join.





rebal, this does bring up the question, what is your son interested in pursuing as far as specialty or career? Is there a particular job he wants or is he interested in just trying out the military for a bit?

 

............

 

Don't sweat it at all. Let him go. He can take the entrance exams and then see what the Marines have to offer him in the way of jobs. Selecting a job is a crucial step in his future. If he wants to be a lifer than it opens it up a lot for him to choose what he likes. If he's looking at it from a training/secondary schooling angle and a stepping stone to go into the world with some experience under his belt then see what's available and go for it. Either way is the right choice in my opinion.

I would agree that 20 years ago the Navy and Air Force probably had better tech school jobs than the Army or Marines but these days all branches are high tech and the schools are all excellant. You really can't go wrong with any branch. I like the Army and Marines for their extended training in small arms and weapons and physical conditioning.

I used the Army for a stepping stone before college and as a way of paying college. I have regrets of not having stayed in longer and not being able to be over in the sandbox providing leadership and other skills to our young men and women over there but such is life. I had a goal and I fullfilled it the way I thought I needed to. My folks weren't rich and I wasn't going to pay for college through football scholarships so I made the right choice. I'm better for it and I learned a ton and made some really good friends. Looking back I would do it again but only this time I would be much harder oooohrah.

BTW, a warrior doesn't weigh life and death options he just does as a good soldier is trained to do. Training will pay off for him. The Lord will be with him and if he's called home then he was needed for the Lord's military for the great fight that's coming to a world near you very soon. I would seriously pray with him and see what the Lord wants him to do. You can't argue with that in my opinion.

 

Plus after he gets out he'll have VET preference for gov't jobs...that's what I did and it has really been a blessing. I was talking to my 13 yr old the other day about his plans after HS and he really wants to join up. I suggested the Marines (I was Navy) solely on thier integrity. I know if I was interviewing 2 guys with equal qualifications that I would choose the Marine 99% of the time.

You just can't go wrong with the military.

 

had the same feelings with my son. actually he graduated high school at 17 and we had to sign for him to go in because he was not 18 to do it himself. he just got back from afghanistan last month. support him in what he wants to do and be proud of his decision. serving our country is not for everyone and my hats off to him for wanting to do so and for you as well. the proudest moment for me was basic training graduation in California. brought back huge memories for me when I graduated but also brought some huge tears of joy/proud/scared all at once. get choked up thinking about it but he will be fine.

 

you guys have put me a little more at ease,
I almost joined when I was 18 but my dad had other Ideas .he grew up in WWII Germany and had huge fears of what war was like to be a in . but Its still scary to know what could happen. I am very proud of the people who can stand up and serve this great country
and for my son too. I will support his choice 100% I just cant tell him what to expect not having gone though it my self .the only thing I know and I dont know if its true is that he will be broke of everything he know and re trained ? thats what I heard any ways

 

Best choice I ever made was to join the Corps. I can say that I've loved it. Spent my first year in and out of schools and trianing. My next 2 years attached to MTACS-18 on MCAS Futenma in Okinawa Japan. From there I was able th see 2 different stents in Suwon and Kunsan South Korea and hit Clark Air Base in the Phillipeans. Now I'm back in Camp LeJeune North Carolina. I've made some of the best friends I've ever had. Met the woman of my dreams cause the Corps helped me get home for Christmas last year. If you or your son have ANY questions about the Marine Corps you are more than welcome to write me and I'll give you my personal phone number and I'll help your boy dodge the BS the recruiter will try to sell him. I'll tell you form a Corporal's point of view. I've seen the highs of being the shinning star and the lows of being NJP'ed. I've been full circle.