How do i calm my families fears about me enlisting in the marine corps!?

Question

all my family is worried about me enlisting in the marine corps and I just want them to calm down. they all say ill go to iraq and get killed or maimed or blown up etc.......


I really want to calm them. how do I do it? I don't want them to worry and I don't want to have to worry about them especially sense I really want to do infantry

Answer 1

Do you think that by telling your family to calm down and not worry is really going to work. The chance of you being sent to Iraq is very high and that's why they don't want you to enlist,
but you have to make the final decision and try to explain your reasons to them. A parent never stops worrying about their child no matter what the age of the child.
Whatever your decision may be, I pray that God will bless you
and keep you safe.

Answer 2

Tell them about the history, and how by joining the Marine Corps you are becoming part of something much bigger than yourself, and with that comes the respect and dignity that you will have knowing you are part of this historically grand association.

While the chances of you going to Iraq are at this very minute good, that doesn't mean it will forever be that way. The military pays for your education if you so decide to go that route. The Training that you will go though will help you later in life, inside or outside the military.

You need to sit them down and tell them about all the good things, yes there is the war, but the amount of dead versus the amount that have gone over there is INCREDIBLY small, we have sent roughly 500,000 troops this war, some of those are the same on multiple tours, but roughly 500K have been in country since the beginning of the war, we have lost 3,200 roughly. Yes there are the wounded that I am not accounting for. But if you look at it that is less than 1%. and Not all the Soldiers killed were direct enemy fire, nor where they all Marines.

Your family is scared, mine is that I am thinking about going officer in the Army or Air Force, but if you believe and want to be in this highly motivated and elite group of people then go ahead, and in time they will see the change that it has on you, and the way that you carry yourself will be different.

Many thanks:)

Answer 3

Thank you for wanting to join the military while we are at war. That takes a lot of courage. I am sorry that your Dad is having a problem with your choice of service, people that have served are always going to be connected to the branch that they served in, that is unavoidable. There is really nothing you can say to calm him down, you can just indicate that you feel that this is the best choice for you. Since you are an adult, it is your decision. Some of the reaction could be the fact that he is going to worry about you; and we know that men are infamous for playing the "tough" role and covering up their true emotions and fears because they believe that is the way they are supposed to act. My Dad was a member of the Navy in WWII, and was very proud of his time in the service, although he saw many things he had a difficult time talking about. I always had an enormous amount of respect for him, for many reasons as well as his service time. My grandmother talked to me about my Dad and one of his brothers joining the service when they were both teenagers (I think they each said they were a bit older, times were different then.) I can remember her saying it was the only time she had ever seen my grandfather get upset and yell at any of their children. My grandfather was scared that they were going to get hurt or, God forbid get killed; and he could not come out and say that. He thought that if he got mad at them, and made them feel guilty, they would change their minds. This is most likely, what your Dad is feeling. He is trying to protect you, no matter how old your child is, he or she is still your baby and the parental instinct is to protect them...wouldn't do me too much good, both my son and daughter are way taller than me....(but their Dad and I still think we can protect them at times and they are adults.....ha,ha) Just keep talking to your Dad in a calm manner and don't forget to tell him how much you love and appreciate him, he will be holding onto these words in his heart during your time in the service. (He may not admit it, but he will...) God bless you and keep you safe. I appreciate every moment of freedom and choice I have had in my life due to the service men and woman who have protected those freedoms for decades through many wars and conflicts in the world. You are an outstanding young man.

Answer 4

You can't make them change their feelings. You can cite facts, such as the already mentioned very low chance you have of being seriously injured or killed. You can tell them all the great reasons you want to be in the Marine Corps infantry, but chances are, you'll fail in this mission. You'll probably always be their lil son/daughter and they don't want you to see death and destruction... and if you're in the Marine Corps infantry, it's almost certain that you will. So, if you can try to understand their point of view, while making it clear that this is your choice, and you understand the gravity of it... that might help.

Answer 5

First, do what you want. If you want to do infantry then do it, don't let anyone else change that or you will be kicking yourself in the butt for the rest of your life. The chance of getting killed is only about 2%. A lot of Marines go to Iraq and don't even fire their weapons.

Tell them if they really care about you then they should more supportive, because all of this negative talk is only going to hurt you. They should be proud of what you are doing.

Answer 6

Please dont listen to any of these fools, they are all anti-war fanatics... listen to me. I personally am joining the Army Active Duty (Goal = 20 Years in army). The war in Iraq = casulties caused by road side bombs and helicopters. You wont be a helicopter pilot, or be in Airbourne so you dont need to worry of that. Also, constantly in Iraq there is 160,000+ US troops in there. Each troop is only in there for a year and then replaced by another.. this war has been going on for 4 years, so if you do the math and even a good bit of them went on more then one tour that's roughly 500,000 troops have been in Iraq for @ least a year, and only 3000 died... You have a better chance of dieng in a car accident due to your age. Tell that to your parents. They say we have 3000+ casulties but Iraq suffers 100,000's.... We arn't loosing this war, infact PEOPLE... THE WAR ACTUALLY WAS OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND WE WON!!!!!!! RIGHT NOW WE AINT AT WAR, WE ARE PREVENTING A CIVIL WAR!!!! so plz stop calling this the Iraq War, when we won the war with Iraq 2-3 Years ago.... We set up a government and are now just making sure it stays and the country doesnt corrupt.

Answer 7

Well, this question is hard to answer since you want to be infantry in the Corps, thats a hard job and many dont make it back home thats just the facts because the Marines are first in to fight, are you ready for that? Your Parents are just worried about your safety because they love you, I have the same problem, because I wanna be an infantry MP so I can go to combat and fight for our country, i picked MP because I'm a woman and thats the MOS that I will be able to see combat in and my parents HATE the idea, they tell me that I will go to Iraq or maybe even Korea someday in the future and you never know what'll happen but I know I'm ready for it, just tell them that your ready for the challenge and that you will give it your all to be safe when you leave, but remember this, just because your parents dont like your idea of going into Marine Corps Infantry dont give it up for them, do what you've been called to do in your heart, thats what I'm doing, kinda, actually its hard for me because my heart is the heart of a Machine Gunner, but Women arent allowed that as an MOS which breaks my heart but no one will keep me away from that battle field, I will become a Marine MP and go away to war and do what my heart wants to (eventually) but just do what you want to do in your heart, tell them not to worry you'll be fine, and if somehow your not just tell them to be proud, be proud of what you had the opportunity to do what you did for your country

Answer 8

Like everyone else said its your choice. You SHOULD care about your families feelings but the same should go for them. If you want to do this you should be able the know and be confident that your family is behind what you are doing.

Secondly it IS your choice. Its your turn now to lead your life. You cant constintly make actions on others feelings. Do what feels right. Take charge and lead not only your self but other as well.



along with everyone else Semper Fi!

Answer 9

Tell them your true motivation for joining the Corps. It is terrifying now for any family member of Marine, but there is no guarantee to life. You could walk out the door today and get killed crossing the street, But knowing that you are just risking your life to save your families lives and keep them free is the most honorable thing you can do. I have had 10 years in the Navy, my husband is an OIF1 vetran, he went out with tanks, and I am honored to know him and the countless Marines I have served with and for.

Answer 10

hey, half the people that answer questions have no experience and no knowledge of the topic so listen to this. no one ( not your family, not your friends, not your girlfriend) will understand why we do what we do. the only people that can understand what we go through is those who do it with us. most of america watches tv and worries about what can happen to us, not what will happen to us. if your set on joining, just wait, wait till you graduate at parris island or san diego MCRD and take that moment of pride and let them be proud of you. it is sad for family when kids go to college, when kids grow up and move out, and yes when we join the armed forces, tell them that is in your best intrest and that you really look forward to what you are about to do...hopefully they will undeerstand and respect your choice. as long as you do it for your contry and everyone else out there, and not for attnetion, then everything else will come as 2nd nature to you eventually...hope i could help


oh yeah, 1 more thing: the second that a drill instructor has you in his platoon, his job is to graduate you after you train, not to fail you, you are tested in extreme ways but stick too it...good luck recruit...oorah