My close friend is leaving for the marines...how do i handle this....?

Question

i dont want him to go bc i dont want anything to happen to him...he said hed write while im in college and im happy about that but not being able to see him knowing hes over seas not knowing whats going on....im gunna hate this...anyone else have to go through this or have gone through this....?

Answer 1

Write him and support him. But don't be surprised when he comes home and he is a different person. Oh I don't mean after basic, although the change will be starting. While he is gone his friends will go on with there lives. They will get married get jobs move out of the old neighborhood, heck the old neighborhood might be torn down while he's gone. He'll be going in a different direction. If he See's battle the change will be more,as he won't be able to talk about it because no one would believe it. He will come home feeling life has passed him by. Oh he will most likely be proud of his service, as he should be, But all his friends moved on and now he has a lot of catching up to do. When I came home I moved into my mothers basement, and spent all my time drinking and waiting for my friends to get off work. But they couldn;t stay out all night like we used to because they had a wife and kid and had to get up for work the next day. He will feel older than his old friends. Some of my old friends really turned me off, they seemed so imature to me. He will grow and become more responsable. So be prepaired for a differnt person when he finally comes home for good. I wish him well.

Answer 2

Seems most of the answers here have a common thread. I can offer nothing more except to say; the way YOU handle it is clearly, and absolutely, up to you and you alone!

This person is choosing to go into the military - and it IS a choice. Now, you have to make choices too, but yours will be after this fact. If you care you'll make certain choices - hopefully these will be positive ones. If you later learn you don't "really" care you'll make those choices too.

I served and was involved in every armed conflict since Viet Nam - except Hatti - and I KNOW it was the love my wife had for me that brought me back home every time!! While it may have been me on the "line" I had only a very small part in making that happen. It just works out that way.

Answer 3

Been there done that, I know just what you are feeling, Hey your best bet is this, If your friend has already signed up, Then they are going, SO FOCUS, Just CRY when the tears come, EXPRESS YOURSELF TO YOUR FRIEND, Make sure your friend has your address/phone number before they leave, Be strong because while they are serving our country they will need to know that we are holding it down here at home. So get plenty of hugs try not to FIGHT, Some times our emotions when left uncheck can venture to another level where we may tend to express angry towards the person we so much care about that is your friend leaving. Say a Prayer for them once before they leave and while they are gone, Never mind asking question about when are they returning because once they become military material they are no longer suvilians and they don't really know when they will be returning. So once your friend gets settle they will write you and look at it this way at times they need care packages sent to them, YOU will be able to send things for them. IT IS SAD I KNOW, My first husband/I got married he never told me he was planning on joinning the navy the next day he had to attend Boot Camp in another State then OFF he went on a ship I knew nothing until he contacted me months later left here to raise our child with out him. SO AS I SAID GET PLENTY OF HUGS, AND ENJOY THEM WHILE HERE AND ONCE THEY RETURN ENJOY THEM EVEN MORE. IT WILL BE OK, This is something your friend wants to do. YOU ONCE THEY LEAVE MAY WANT TO CRY MAY WORRY A BIT, BUT YOU MUST SAY/BE STRONG AND GET BUSY WITH YOUR OWN LIFE UNTIL YOU SEE THEM AGAIN, TAKE CARE, MUCH LUV/KISSES.

Answer 4

Yeah my bro was in the Navy a few years back.. All you can do is spend time with him while he is still near.... Dont let the fact that hes leaving put a damper on the good times youve had or are going to have.... Write to him see if/when you can call him ..... It will be fine just let him know how much he means to you....Im sorry that you feel so sad ...good luck

Answer 5

Continue to be his friend and support him. It's difficult to say goodbye to anyone serving in the Armed Forces, I've been to some pretty crappy places during my career, but knowing that you have family and friends behind you makes that time go much faster and reminds you to take better care of yourself and your buddies, so every one comes home OK.

Answer 6

You support him and continue being a good friend. That's all he needs. Be proud of him. I have had many different friends leave to join the military in all the branches. I have lost a few, but i will always be proud of them.

Answer 7

I want, I don't want, I feel, I hate; lady get a grip. Support the guy and think about his wants, his feelings, and what he needs. You have no sense of history, responsibility, or what must be done in this world so that people like you can sit on the couch and belly ache.

Grow up!

Cheers

Answer 8

You write him as often as you can and be a good friend and support him for having the heart and guts to go joint in order to protect total strangers from harm.

Answer 9

If wives, mothers and children are able to say goodbye to their loved one as they go off to war, I think you can handle your friend joining the military. It's not a matter of "how to you handle it," it's a matter of just handling it because that's life.

Answer 10

Your friend is joining the military while an idiot sits in the White House. Your friend must not be too bright.