Son Wants to Join Marines - What Say You?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have never had the temperament for accepting authority without question, still don't. So I guess it depends on who he is. Friends and family flourished there. I made the right call for me and went and did my own thing.

I've seen a lot of good stuff mentioned here, but not nearly enough of this. I was a DoD civilian for a while, Air Force Major as my boss. The military is a machine and if you're not willing to be a cog in it, things will not go well. I could never do it. I'm a creative type, I thoroughly loathe bureaucracy and chaff against doing things "because that's the way it's done". I'm polite and respectful as berkeley, I show up early, work hard, leave late, all that other stuff the military would pound into me, but if I went in, it would have been a disaster. I looked at the stupid stuff my boss had to do (and even as a civilian, the massive artificial machinations of the system) and shuddered at the thought of living like that.

You gotta be the right type of person for it. If he's sure the life is for him (and I did say life, not job) and he's obviously got the brains, go for one of the academies. If he's at all unsure, go to a good school with a ROTC program and try that.

Anti-stance wrote:

Osterkraut wrote:

Secretariata wrote: In reply to Osterkraut: I'm certain there were Marines on the naval vessels present!

In the rear with the gear!

Hey! That's the air winger motto!

Unless you are ground based anti-aircraft defense. The one year I actually counted, I spent over 200 nights in my "shelter half," a foxhole, or under a trailer mounted radar. I spent a few more in other glamourous accommodations including GP tents, uninsulated quonset huts and WWII military barracks, but those were only during the winter months.

peter wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have never had the temperament for accepting authority without question, still don't. So I guess it depends on who he is. Friends and family flourished there. I made the right call for me and went and did my own thing.

I've seen a lot of good stuff mentioned here, but not nearly enough of this. I was a DoD civilian for a while, Air Force Major as my boss. The military is a machine and if you're not willing to be a cog in it, things will not go well. I could never do it. I'm a creative type, I thoroughly loathe bureaucracy and chaff against doing things "because that's the way it's done". I'm polite and respectful as berkeley, I show up early, work hard, leave late, all that other stuff the military would pound into me, but if I went in, it would have been a disaster. I looked at the stupid stuff my boss had to do (and even as a civilian, the massive artificial machinations of the system) and shuddered at the thought of living like that. You gotta be the right type of person for it. If he's sure the life is for him (and I did say life, not job) and he's obviously got the brains, go for one of the academies. If he's at all unsure, go to a good school with a ROTC program and try that.

It does take a certain mentality and it seems there is no real middle ground. Either you adapt and "get with the program" or you wind up with a less than desirable experience and possibly a less than desirable type of discharge.

I guarantee that all of my friends from high school were shocked to learn I joined the Corps. I was one of those extremely individualistic kids who didn't give a crap about conforming. I was smart, easily bored, and participated in individual sports because I couldn't stand the thought of my success or failure depending on others. I was (ok, still am) a smart@ss, irreverent, screw you and your rules person. I was not a model Marine, but I made certain that I was aware of the rules and tiptoed around them when I thought stupid crap was going on. I managed to impact things on the small scale that directly affected me and the Marines I served with, but I did it all behind closed doors. This adversely impacted me (see previous post about 200+ days in the field as an airwinger), but I can't imagine doing things differently and still think the Corps was the best decision I ever made.

Oh... and I also know what it is like to be a 6'5" recruit in Boot... There was one other guy taller than 6'1.. and he was a Screwup...

A name like R.V. Holm means you are "Winnebago" in boot.. Even the long funny names didn't help any of the guys.. Our DI's had solutions.. most of them were quite funny.... Meaning a lot of smiles were worn off in the sand.

Good times.. I would almost do that again for fun! What people do under that particular kind of pressure is something you have to see to believe.. And to this day.. My DI's are probably some of the finest people I have ever encountered...

Heck.. I married a Marine! She went to girls boot camp though (ducks for cover just in case )

Osterkraut wrote:

Secretariata wrote: In reply to Osterkraut: I'm certain there were Marines on the naval vessels present!

In the rear with the gear!

Ike was a frign prick....

The Marines could have saved a lot of lives that day...

"The quicker we clean up this g#damned mess, the quicker we can take a little jaunt against the purple pissing Japs and clean out their nest, too. Before the g#damned Marines get all of the credit.”

George Patton

Here is my 2 cents. I spent 3 years on Active duity in the Army, got out and joined the National Guard and am working on year number 17. First and formost find out what he wants out of the Military. Does he think it will be a career, just something to say that he tried or as a way to pay for school? The answers to those questions will have a big bearing on the way to go.

If he just wants to give the Military a try join whatever branch he wants for the shortest time possible, easy. If he is thinking more along the lines of a career or as a way to pay for school here is what I would suggest. Go talk to the ROTC people and I would stick with either the Army of Air Force and here is why. In Ohio both the Air and Army Guard will pay 100% of your tution to a state school if you sign up for 6 years. In addition to that you can also be in ROTC and you get money from them in addition to your Drill pay.

My best friend is an Army Guard recruiter in Columbus. I have known him for 10 years or so and he will not BS you in any way. If your son would like more info on the whole school/military thing I would be more than happy to pass my friends info along and I would have no problem being present for any discussions.

I don't know if your son has had any exposure to the Military but if he was interested we might be able to work something out with him coming to a drill on a Saturday or Sunday to see how things work.

I haev friends that were in the Corps and while I may joke about them I have nothing against the Marines but on the education front, I think because of the size of their budget, they are weaker than the Army and the Air Force.

If you have any other questions feel free to contact me.

Osterkraut wrote:

ronholm wrote: and gets the call to be on the front line of history every single time..

Except, you know, D-Day.

The Coast Guardsmen driving the boats would like to have a chat, too...

I just graduated on the 12th. If he wants an honest impression of boot camp, you can put him in contact with me and I'll do my best to answer any questions he has.

FWIW I've got a friend who has been both active duty and reserve duty Marine for quite some time. He absolutely loves it. He's gained two or three degrees and done some time in the Sandbox. From his perspective the thing you need to understand is that regardless of the branch, the military is a great big organization. You've got to be able to understand and work with the Institutional Mindset or you're going to be miserable.

Guys, thanks for all the information. I've been too busy lately to post a well thought out reply, but wanted to check in and let all of you know how much I appreciate the info. I've read it all, but I'm going to go back and re-read the whole thing with my son. I'll likely have some questions after that! So thanks again, and please continue posting your experiences.

I must say that reading this thread makes me feel better about not getting into the service when I tried. Not that it's not an honorable thing to do. Maybe its just my age now, but I hate doing stupid stuff just because I have to.

MG Bryan wrote: I just graduated on the 12th. If he wants an honest impression of boot camp, you can put him in contact with me and I'll do my best to answer any questions he has.

If you have the time, I am sure many here would like to read your impressions (if it's not too un-PC I guess).

I have heard boot camp is very different from what it used to be (e.g. Vietnam era, Full Metal Jacket depiction).

aircooled wrote:

MG Bryan wrote: I just graduated on the 12th. If he wants an honest impression of boot camp, you can put him in contact with me and I'll do my best to answer any questions he has.

If you have the time, I am sure many here would like to read your impressions (if it's not too un-PC I guess). I have heard boot camp is very different from what it used to be (e.g. Vietnam era, Full Metal Jacket depiction).

Yeah, why not just post it here? It's fine if you don't, but I think more people than just me would like to here it.

MG Bryan wrote: I just graduated on the 12th. If he wants an honest impression of boot camp, you can put him in contact with me and I'll do my best to answer any questions he has.

Congrats Marine!

You won't ever forget getting that first eagle, globe, and anchor. I still have mine somewhere marked so I know it was the first one I had when I was called a Marine.

I remember you saying you were going to boot camp a while back. Have you gotten used to talking in first person again?

Congrats again!

Oh anyone thinking about going into the Marines (or the military in general) should read all of the Terminal Lance comics. Hilarious, insightful.

In reply to Osterkraut:

Bwhahaha! Now that is pretty insightful to the fleet.

Terminal Lance... what a great name. I like this one and the drawing balls on the fifty.

Edit: Holy crap this one is just about right. Ah, the Lance Corporal life of bitching about the Corps. http://terminallance.com/2012/08/31/terminal-lance-222-anatomically-correct/

Okay edit one last time: This is true now, although I don't ;look that damn big. haha http://terminallance.com/2012/08/14/terminal-lance-218-life-after-eas-freshman-fifty/

Anti-stance wrote:

MG Bryan wrote: I just graduated on the 12th. If he wants an honest impression of boot camp, you can put him in contact with me and I'll do my best to answer any questions he has.

Congrats Marine! You won't ever forget getting that first eagle, globe, and anchor. I still have mine somewhere marked so I know it was the first one I had when I was called a Marine. I remember you saying you were going to boot camp a while back. Have you gotten used to talking in first person again? Congrats again!

I broke my hand while I was there; so, I spent two extra months in MRP. For a while there I think I forgot about the existence of first person speech altogether.

Standing there after the hike back and receiving that Eagle, Globe, and Anchor really is beyond words. Having my kill hat tell me I did well when he pinned my PFC chevrons on was pretty berkeleying tight too.

I'm still trying to decide how much of boot camp I'm comfortable putting out there in writing on a public forum.

In reply to MG Bryan:

Perhaps a movie recommendation? Full Metal Jacket? Boys from Company C? :)

Anti-stance wrote: Have you gotten used to talking in first person again?

The recruit does not understand the question SIR!

This thread is three pages of overwhelmingly pro military comments. I don't know anything about the military beyond the fact that it seems like the raison d'être would be to fight and be prepared to put oneself in harms way. That makes me argue pretty strongly against that path when my oldest son brings it up.he's not old enough for it to be an issue yet but I don't think even at 18 that he will be old or mature enough to really weigh the potential dangers against the marketing machine that only promotes it as one big adventure. Kids all think they are invincible.

The only thing I can contribute is this: Of the guys I know who joined up as grunts, at least 75% of them came out as alcoholics.

Hmmmm speaking from experience . . .

• ROTC = Get that degree paid for + TS clearance = coming out ahead

There are a LARGE amount of jobs that require a TSC . . . and they pay big if you have one. . . .

I wish I continued ROTC (I was two semesters in and dropped out of program . . . life changed and I joined the Reserves to help out the fam) and I wouldn't have this monthly bill to Sallie Mae (What the berk was I thinking??)

Streetwiseguy wrote: The only thing I can contribute is this: Of the guys I know who joined up as grunts, at least 75% of them came out as alcoholics.

Yep. I know a lot of dead people as well, and it isn't like the Canadian military is that big or doing nearly the stuff the US is.

The only reason I'd even consider it in the US is because your guys' tuition is crazy.

When I was on Active Duty I was in the Air Defence Artillery ( ADA). The running joke was that it stood for Alcoholics Defending America. Its kind of like being in college, but without the studying and having to stay in shape.

In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:

It's like college but the faculty drinks a lot also.