Joining the Marines for the right reason?

Question

If I do join the Marines, I want to try to make sure that I join for the right reason. My family is totally against me joining the military because they think that schooling is enough to get me a decent job but I think that if I join the Marines then I will have a greater opportunity to become something that I want to become then just whatever. I am a person that really doesn't think that the government is right or fair but the government is just a government another thing that ties into this is that if I don't respect the government then will I respect the United States? I want to join the Marines or a military for these reasons: 1) I want to have a great opportunity in life to become something that I want to be and have a decent job so I can one day afford living for my family and myself, 2) I want to get into great and awesome shape and I think the Marines/military can get me that way, I have always wanted a body that was as close as to machine as I can get it. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

If your goal is to have a decent job and support a family - and if you're intelligent and determined - you'll have a much better chance in the private sector than in the military. The military is more and more becoming the choice of people who can't afford college on their own and don't know how to get scholarships via other means - or have other issues, such as an arrest record. You can do better.

Answer 2

Do you ever watch the news? There is a war going on. If you join you will more than likely go to the action. Then all bets are off. You might very well die or be wounded and permanently wounded.

What do you want to become? Unless its a military officer you can become whatever you want without having been in the military.

If you want to get in shape do the following. Eat right. Don't smoke or use drugs, that includes alcohol. Exercise five days per week. Get eight hours of sleep per night. Drink plenty of water.

Answer 3

The Marines are tough. My son joined the Marines (he is out now) but it was rough. They very high standards when it comes to your weight. When he joined I told him OK I want you to learn a trade, he decided on electrician - the recruiter said no problem. Turned out that electrician is the maintenance group and the Marines can assign you to any job within a group. They made him a welder, yes it was a trade and it did help him get a job when he got out. Anyway just ask lots and lots of questions and get things in writing. And really think about this descision, there is a war going on and the Marines are definately there. stay safe and good luck

Answer 4

do it man, that's part of why im doing it, but not just for that. I know that the marines can take a brick of coal like me and cast me into a polished diamond. not only do you get all that, but you get awesome medical coverage, free housing and food on base, also you get get discounts out the *** for alot of stuff. and yeah you'll get the body. plus you can get good training in a variety of fields, but you job has alot to do with your asvab score. I made an 85 which is freaking high. but i'm still either going infantry or combat engineer, then I wanna go to sniper school, and when im 20, go for force recon. plus the discipline and confidence you'll get from it all will be well worth the effort. plus the montegomery G.I. Bill with pay for college even ten years after you're out of the military. oh and if your worried about the war, be confident in the fact that 60 percent of all the deaths in Iraq and afghanistan are army.

Answer 5

President Reagan once said "Most people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Marines don't have that problem." I say go for it. I also plan on joining the Marines and am damn proud that you are too. You WILL make a difference in the world. Good Luck and Good Shooting!

Answer 6

Taffy ... I've seen a couple of great answers by some "stand-up" kind of people. But I also saw one or two answers from the kind of people who are happy to watch anyone else help to keep America strong and free, as long as it's not them.

You seem to have a pretty good head on your shoulders. When I signed up for the Army nearly 40 years ago, I did it because it seemed like the right thing to do despite the fact that the fighting in Vietnam was at its peak.

Your timing seems similar to mine, but you've got a clearer purpose and I wish you the best of luck with whatever choice you make.

About your family, though ... Let's not completely overlook their desires. Might they be able to adjust their thinking if you went with another service that offered similar opportunities to the ones you seek? I say this because you seem head-strong and determined to join ... and there's nothing wrong with that. However, what if you joined another branch? Do you think it might help to rest your family's fears a little?

Yes, of all the services, boot camp is toughest in the Corps, I believe. But just because basic training is easier in the Navy or Air Force, that doesn't mean you can't spend some of your spare time in the work-out room to pump iron during your own time. And believe me, they have work-out rooms even in locations where office personnel are assigned. In other words, there are opportunities to work-out EVERYwhere in the service and they allow you time off from work to do it, too.

There are some "quality of life issues" (for lack of a better term) that makes serving in each branch a different experience. The difference would be obvious to you, of course, but if you had a family with you — a wife and young child, for example — even they'd be able to sense the difference between living on a Marine base and a base from one of the other services. By the way ... I am not implying that one is better than another. But they are different in ways I cannot easily define.

I was Army and I personally did not have a preference at the time. But instead of me acting like I'm making a choice for you, let me suggest you do this: Make a list of things about your home and your community that are important to you. Then see if you know anyone who has served in the Marines (or whichever branch you're considering) and see how they might comment about the different quality of life issues you listed.

I don't suppose I've answered any of your questions. Frankly, I didn't want to answer or decide for you. But I DID want to provide some info that might help YOU to make a better decision. The choice will be yours, of course.

All the best to you, Taffy. Thanks for your willingness to step-up and serve.

P.S.: If anyone criticizes your decision to serve, tell them this for me: If/when we're attacked next time, don't call you for help; refer them to Michael Moore, Tim Robbins (and his wife), Sean Penn, and don't forget Jane Fonda. I'm sure that these very well-to-do Americans, who seem to not support our country's military, will be happy to share their wealth to help protect and defend those who follow and idolize them.

Good luck!

Answer 7

in case you connect the Marnies as enlisted and imagine it really is uncomplicated to develop into an officer you're unsuitable. If a recruiter tells you it really is, he's mendacity to you. it is a negative trait to have as a pacesetter and may want to get your adult adult males and/or danger free human beings killed...yet i imagine that reason might want to fizzle away as you particularly realized what it meant to be an officer in the Corps. pass to varsity first and in case you imagine you nevertheless opt to pass military, pass fly a jet...you sound smart adequate. ...if you're particularly smart you may want to connect the Airforce