Sgt Grit Marine Forums

The only voice of support and reassurance comes from my brother, a government employee, who understands the unexplainable passion within me to join The Corps.  We he was my age, he had similar ambitions, however, he was derailed by major surgery. At first, it was difficult for me to name reasons why I wanted to join the corps, yet, I KNEW I wanted to. My brother admired this, but wanted to help me think through my reasons and make sure it was a good decision for me. He helped me to verbalize my thoughts.

After months of intense discussion with my brother, I've come to the conclusion that I still plan on joining The Corps, but feel I should attend college first. The opportunity I have been given is unique and I cannot pass it up. However, upon college graduation, my plans are set.

The resistance from important people, including my parents, is unrelenting.  Additionally, after graduating college I would be sacrificing a secure and high-paying job for a more honorable profession within The Corps.  After reading several other posts by young men my age, I understand that you only appreciate the people who "stiffen their spines and harden their skin."  I hope I've made it clear that each day I'm forced to toughen up.

With the utmost respect,

-S

You can get some info from this http://www.nathanielfick.com/author/author.asp regarding an Ivy Leaguer's take on being a Marine officer.  He graduated from Dartmoth ans became an officer in RECON.  Good luck in your quest.  Be true to yourself as you are the only person who can live your life.  Your parents are reacting the away all parents do when little Johnny whose azz they've been wipping for 18 years tells them "I'm a man and I'm going to do manly things"  in your case one of those manly things is defending the nation in a hard core manner.

It's not a sacrifice if it's what you truly want from life.

Yeti,

I didn't mean to make it sound like I was sacrificing education, sports, etc. I meant that I have to sacrifice the opinion of my peers. Because of my plans for the future, I am often confronted by people who have only the most hateful opinion of me.

-S

I was a DI athlete for 2 different Ivy Schools... and now am a Marine Officer.  You can do both.  I wouldn't have traded my college and athletic experiences for anything.  Alot of what I learned there helped me out in my Officer growth.  I also recently discovered that one of my rowing buddies (G'town grad) is now an instructor at TBS, but was XO of A 1/5 during their push through Ramadi.  So yea, you can do it both.  Both require different sacrifices.  E-mail me if you have more questions. 

Why not do it all, like everyone is saying, get an education (very important).....play football (50/50 chance you'll be injured, then no Marine career, and no one will remember your "glory days but you and Mama & Papa)

Get an Education, then shoot the wad, go for broke.....................be a MARINE!  Be a Combat Rifleman!  or ya can be an Officer, (they look in the mirror alot and think they know everything, but the Corps assigns a Sergeant to guide them from mirror to mirror, till they get experiencd)

HoyaBrother:

Yeti,

I didn't mean to make it sound like I was sacrificing education, sports, etc. I meant that I have to sacrifice the opinion of my peers. Because of my plans for the future, I am often confronted by people who have only the most hateful opinion of me.

-S

HoyaBrother:

Yeti,

I didn't mean to make it sound like I was sacrificing education, sports, etc. I meant that I have to sacrifice the opinion of my peers. Because of my plans for the future, I am often confronted by people who have only the most hateful opinion of me.

-S

Don't sweat it, I know what you meant.  I grew up here in Northern Va as well.  Graduated from Edison.  I never went through the time period of people wondering or confronting me for it.  Recruiter called, I disappeared from home to take the ASVAB and physical.  Told my family over Thanksgiving dinner, kinda like "I joined the Marines, leaving tommorrow, pass the taters".  And left the next day to begin the trip to P.I.

Now when I came back it was a world of difference, saw most of my friends in quite the different light of day.  Most were shocked by the change in myself as well.  Would I change anything about it all?  Nope not a thing.  It's built me into the Man I am today.  Drives Yetimama crazy somedays, as when I decide something I tend to be a little stubborn about it. 

You have to remember only you can decide what is right for you in your life. 

Girlfriend leaves you cause you join.  She probably wasn't worth it then, heck scan the wives/gf section here and you can see some of the real keepers Marines have found.  Girlfriends were a dime a dozen while I was in, ended up settling down after I got out.

Friends should remain friends even when ya do something they don't like.  Friendships shouldn't end just because you have made a life decision such as this.  When I joined I learned who my real friends were, and honestly there are only 2 I've kept in touch with since high school.  I keep in touch with more from my Boot Camp Platoon that I only knew for 13 weeks than people I went to school with most of my life.

So just remember only you can decide what is right for you. 

My advice, finish the schooling.  It will open more doors for you.

 Wow. That's an incredible story.

My good friends show support. Not specifically for The Marines, but for "whatever I really want to do." However, a lot of people have actually said they've lost respect for me because of my plans. That confuses the hell out of me.

The saddest thing that has really happend so far DIDN'T actually happen to me. The sister of a girl I used to date was dating (and stil is) a young man who had decided to join The Corps right after graduating from high school.  Upon hearing this, my ex's mother no longer allowed the boyfriend in her house.  Needless to say, this was the begining of the end of my relationship with this particuliar girl.

Thanks for your feedback, it's nice to hear from those who know what is what.

Hell kid, I first went in May of 1975, right after the April 30th "Fall of Siagon" - Very high Anti-War sentimant then.  I still went in, I was the only one in my High School class to serve.  Back then and still today, but more so then, the common concensus was that anyone who joined any Service, who a below average loser.  All the Services suffered from this, standards dropped to make recruitment goals.  But those that joined and stayed in were some of the Best this country could supply, we still had  bonehead 10%.  You can usually pick them out after serve 5 or more years in.........

Girls come and go, I have seen too many "Boys" make decisions based on their girlfriends wants and opinions, and the girl left once she got what she wanted, TOTAL Control, once she gets it, she's gone to the next challenge (wimp). 

You owe your parents respect and admiration for raising you and providing for you.  You owe your family by respecting your name.  You do not owe them the ability to make decisions impacting your life as an adult.  Many of us on this board didn't always conform to what our families wanted us to, I know I certainly didn't.  I respectfully told my familiy thank you for everything, but my decision was my decision.  I guarantee a few years from now when you knock on the front door as a Lt or Capt of Marines, standing tall and sharp in that uniform.  Self sufficient and atriculate they will forget why they didnt want you to join in the first place!