a father with a crisis my daughter called me she is in the marines and needs to make a decision to stay in or?

Question

be a civilian again she's been in for 4 years and asked me what she should do . I feel she should Rein list for another 4 years only because her opportunities on the outside for a good paying job I feel would be a lot better with 8 years in the marines . It's just I don't know if this is true or not and I don't want to give her bad advice so I'm asking for help on this answer I need to give her by tonight I feel that because she's a woman in the marines she's finding that the guys make more money get the better jobs and she's not moving up in rank as fast as the men are . and this is just discouraging her from Rein listing . It's been hard on her she spent 2 years in Japan . And is now back in the states and she just bought a brand new truck and the payments are high I tried to discourage her from buying a new truck . This also may be why she wants to find a job outside of the marines please help me answer this decision for her . if any one reads this that has a good job 4 her

Answer 1

As a Marine Corp veteran, and a woman, let me give you some advice.

First, you cannot make this decision for her. She either likes the Marine Corp or she doesn't...It is up to her.

In the Marines, promotions in grade and rank don't come as fast as they do in the other branches of the military. Promotions are based on your personal performance reviews by your Captain and how well you do the job you are assigned. It isn't easy to live as a Woman Marine day by day....there is still a small amount of resentment from your male counterparts that a woman wears the Eagle, Globe and Anchor....but, rest assured, the Marine Corps doesn't just build men - it builds women too and fine ones. The Marine Corp is a tough service and the life is not for every woman.

She has 4 years under her belt; the worst is over. But, nobody can make her stay and nobody can make her leave...she needs to make up her own mind.

A new truck is not a good enough reason to stay or go...she is either a Marine or she is not.

Answer 2

My husband was in the marines for 4 years and when he got out last year, it was difficult for him to return to civilian life. Yet, if your daughter is determined she can make it in the civilian world. She can use her GI bill and go to school. It should be her choice, what does she want , to stay or leave? I don't believe that being in the marines for longer period , looks better on your resume. There are many supports for veterans once they get out and a lot of times, employers would pick veterans first. She should ask herself where she sees herself in several years and what are her dreams and aspirations. That should make the decision clearer. One thing about the military is that it is secure, you receive wages, have shelter and carry out a job every day. The military is its own world. She might move up in rank a little and yet still be making a little more. Civilian life has more mobility and choices.

Answer 3

She must determine of all possible choices which will she be the most use to the world, and gain her own happiness in that. Even though, at first, those choices which are best are often very difficult due to their high demands of character and action, anything less will always leave room for self-disappointment.

Besides that, to do what is right, even though its difficult, and not wanted, is what distinguishes a humans ability to be human, rather than just cultured, and evolved animals. No doubt, anyone who can survive the Marines for 4-8 years, and retain, or increase their humanity is quite a capable, and distinguished human.

Guide her to be her best, not just most wealthy, she and you can do no better, and no-one can say that for her who isn't endowed with perfect knowledge, and I don't know any living bodies that are so endowed. She, if aided consultatively with sincere friends and family, is better suited for finding the best calling than I.

Answer 4

Being prior active duty Navy for 6 years and now married to my active duty spouse I would tell her to stay in. She needs to get her BA or BS degree while on active duty before she even thinks about getting out. I went into the Navy with 3 college degrees and came out with 1 more and I had a hard time of it on the outside. I was also older, 29, when I enlisted. Real companies still have a problem hiring military folks unless you know somebody on the inside to get you past that initial wall. If she gets her degree she may be able to make as much as she does on active duty. Don't forget, most of her pay is tax free. BAS and BAH are tax free and depending on what your home state is she isn't paying state taxes either. It is hard to get out and start paying taxes on all of your pay again plus if she doesn't make the more than she does on active duty she will be losing money as a civilian. Depending on what her job is in the Marines she may still not have any real job skills. The military alone won't get her a job. The truck purchase will also hurt her unless she is planning on moving back home. This ends up being the case with a lot of veterans because they can't earn enough to pay the car payment and rent and all the other requirements of living on your own. Does she want to live with you after being on her own for so many years? I don't know, but I would have stayed in myself, but we wanted to have children in a more normal environment. I loved the military and all that if has to offer. I would have done 30 years if I could have. Also, the guys in her paygrade and same time in service make exactly the same pay. Guys don't make more just for being guys. If the Marines advance based on an exam like the Navy, her advancement is up to her. She needs to study 24/7 if need be to make the next paygrade. She needs to do whatever she needs to do to step out and get noticed in a positive way. Community service, whatever. Do something other people aren't doing to get advanced. Stay in is my vote and I know I just went off, but stay in.

Answer 5

Tell the Marine to get out and find a good job. I make a great wage and my family members make a good wage. The Marines are a dead end job. ( What do they make a month? 3,000 dollars?) Heck...My wife and I make 8,000 per month. ( Total that is ) Good luck to the Marine. She'd be very happy being a normal person again.

Answer 6

Turning to a civilian is easier because there are many jobs outside the military that needs the experience in the Marines such as security related employment opportunities.

Answer 7

If she has been in for 4 years she may be up for a change of orders. Have her check all options before she decides and if she does re-enlist talk to her detailer first to see where she will go next.
My best advice is to leave it up to her. We do not know her rank or MOS (job) and what she will be eligible for when she gets out. Just tell her you will support what ever decision she decides. If you tell her to stay in or get out she may regret doing the decision that you wanted and not what she wanted.

She may want to start to check out sites like http://www.helmetstohardhats.org
This one worked for me

Answer 8

i wish my son had stayed in the marines. she has a future and lives a life that demands excellent behavior and can only get better over time. the truck doesn't matter. help her a little each month for a while if she over did it on that one. if she studies and works at it, she will move up and get more benefits that last. tell her to drop the atitude toward the males. don't dwell on the little things. what do they say, don't sweat the little things. hard work and time will be rewarded. things are very bad on the outside whe will find. stick it out. tell her over and over how proud you are of her. you cannot say that enough. i know. i really know. good luck.

Answer 9

Have her look into what the job market looks like where she plans to stay if she got out. Then how does she feel about staying in the military, your say is a small part.
She has to deal with the real world so she has the burden of staying or getting out.

Good luck to the both of you.

Answer 10

For one you can't make the decision for her. She's going to have to make the decision on her own, she should re-in list because she wants to and not because someone esle wants her to. She might have asked you for advice but that dosen't mean that she wants you to tell her what to do. I would just tell her to stay in if she's happy with what she's doing right now and if she thinks it will be better for her in the future. I'm sorry if this advice seems harsh but you can't always decide for her, she'll have to start deciding for herself, and what is she going to do when your gone. I hope this helps!!!!