My daughter wants to join the marines?

Question

She wants to join the Marines, but is very confused and does not know if to go there or to a photography institute or an auto body institute. She wants to do it, but is not that sure can someone tell her more about it.

Answer 1

tell her it will be the time of her life...... It is totally a way of life. She will be able to see the world.
But honestly....if it is possible tell her to get a degree first.. ANY degree. And then go into the Corps as an officer. She will make a lot more money and have all the perks.

Tell her that the best part of being a marine is that for the rest of your life..EVERY MARINE IS YOUR BROTHER/SISTER. EVERY MARINES MOTHER IS YOUR MOTHER, AND EVERY MARINES FATHER IS YOUR FATHER. WE ARE A FAMILY. ALL OF US. SHE WILL LOVE IT, AND WE WILL LOVE HER.

Answer 2

I'd been reading the answers people gave you few years ago. My daughter wants to join the Marines. Truth is, I am scared to death for her. She is very motivated and excited. She already spoke to her recruiter and I don't want her to go but I don't want to stop her dreams. Did your daughter join the Marines? How was it if she did? Is she ok? Thank you.

Answer 3

She should not join unless she is absoutly, positively, 100% sure that it is what she wants.

It's not just a job, it is signing away your life and your choices to someone else. And once you sign, you CANNOT take it back. That does not seem like a very promising route for your daughter to take if she is so unsure about what she wants to do.

Once she signs, she is stuck, and the Marines call the shots for the next few years of her life. Her recruiter may tell her differently (there are a lot of articles out there about dishonesty among recruiters these days, make sure she reads them), but it is virtually guaranteed that she will go to Iraq. On one hand, that means she will get the unique opportunity to serve her country in an honorable way. On the other hand, it means that she will be shot at and she will fear for her life 24/7 for the 3-12 months that she is there. The military is not known for providing psychological support to help offset the difficulty of living in such conditions, and there is a substantial possibility that she will return with significant mental health problems that may effect her for the rest of her life.

I'm not saying that enlistment is bad, but it is a life altering commitment that should not be undertaken lightly.

Read up on both the good and the bad. For all the proud and happy soldiers and marines out there, there are a lot of people who very much regret their decision to join. Your daughter should be totally sure that she will not be one of the latter before she even thinks about visiting a recruiter.

Answer 4

She should do something other than the marines while she sorts her mind out. She can always join up in a few years, if she still wants to. And meanwhile, she can take the time to get into photography or auto body stuff.

Answer 5

I have known quite a few military people in my day. My brother in law was a medic in Vietnam (he never talks about it), my daughters bf was a Marine who came back a changed man after stints in Afghanistan and Iraq, a friend's son was a navy seal (he really came back changed), and my husband was a naval officer (the kids and I spent quite a few years alone while he was out to sea for months at a time). My son is an Army reservist expecting to return to Iraq in the next year or so and he's not happy about that. Despite all the hype about the few, the proud, etc, military training leaves marks that are not so pretty even if one manages to make it through physically uninjured. There are plenty of other nonmilitary services one can be proud to join, like Americorp, (the Peace Corp for the United States), for one. She sounds like the typical teen, not sure about what she wants to do. The one thing different about the military is you don't get to change your mind once the papers are signed.

Answer 6

My sister joined the U.S. Marine Corp. and is now retired living in South Carolina with her husband and three children. She was a Lady Marine that served as a photographer for many years and then became a Drill Instructor at Paris Island, S.C. We are all proud of her.
Yes there are careers in photography, motor pool and all sorts of areas worth exploring.

Answer 7

It sounds like she may not really know what she wants to do in life. Photography and auto mechanics are pretty different, and frankly, joining the marines is almost a sure shot that shes going to the middle east. I would be very frank with her that the military is the one place that presently carries with it a SERIOUS possibility of DEATH. Its important that she not make a hasty decision. Tell her my vote is photography school.

Answer 8

Semper Fi!!!!!!!!

I'll tell her more.

There is a pride in serving in the United States military that will not compare to anything else you will do in your life. You will be one of the few, one of the proud. And a nation will be proud of you, and in your debt forever. You will see places you would have never seen, do things you never thought you could ever possibly do. You will overcome fears, and overcome doubts. You will gain confidence and strength in yourself, in your comrades, and in your country. You will be trained in things you never thought existed, and make friends that will last a lifetime. You will learn, you will live, you will laugh and you will choke back tears. You will salute the flag, and cry over the flag when it's draped over the casket of a friend.

Joining the Marines is one of the best things you can do with your life. It's hard---very, very, very, very hard--but also very, very, very, very rewarding. It will give you a jumpstart on college, and on life.

And there is one army wife out here on Y! Answers that will be very grateful to you and proud of you for your service, because the military is one of the most challenging things anyone could ever take on.

God bless you.

Answer 9

I have one daughter in and her twin shipping to Recruit Training in January. The one in is making the best of it and excited for her future. She is motivated and ranking up as a result of her leadership skills and motivation level. The one going in has signed up for Artillery (yes, they "allow" women in Artillery now). She is excited and highly motivated as well. Both of them are aware of what they signed up for and are as prepared as they can be for the garbage that comes with war. It is ultimately what one signs up for when enlisting. If she is not sure, I'd say wait but, if she is motivated, support her. Being a Marine parent is tough as you have plenty to worry about but have to be SO proud of their decision. I am and if that is truly what she wants, support her 100%!

Answer 10

This is not a good time to join the Marines. They are desperate for people to send to Iraq. She should check out the Coast Guard instead or look into other training.