| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 2:53:14 PM | I'd like to hear from anyone who's been through this experience as either a parent or an enlistee.
He's a smart kid and could be a lawyer or scientist or engineer or computer guru, etc if he wanted to be. But this might be the dumbest, most dangerous thing he's ever thought about doing.
He's tired of Jr college already (only the first quarter), and wants discipline adventure. He also wants to get in shape and get his war on.
Politics aside, how does a parent keep their kid from "drinking the Kool-Aide" from the recruiters and their HuRah propaganda?
Any testimonials about how recruits have been deceptive are appreciated. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 2:59:36 PM | | if he is dead set on going into the millitary, try to guide him away from cannon fodder and into engineering, it will give him a good education, discipline, get him fit and a skill he can use after millitary. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 5:12:48 PM | Perhaps you could show him this article:
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=38ffe8d906867059652e13e7053a18e8
And inform him that one-third of homeless men are military veterans. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 5:32:48 PM | | google a forum for military, and perhaps he can get advice can get good advice from those who have been thru it and he can hear both pros and cons. The thing is that if he can't commit to the first quarter of junior college, how is he going to commit to navy, you should see if there's a way if he doesn't want to go thru with this after basic training if there will be a penalty for it. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 5:43:01 PM | I agrree with dcm1971 , if he is truely set on going into the Marines there are many sections of the Corps..
He can be that engineer or that Lawyer, or even a surgeon or computer programer..
Mayhaps if the Parents in question, instead of completely shooting down the idea, helped him do some reasearch into his options..
Not all Marines have to be in Combat groups, but they are all trained to be able to protect themselves and others if need be..
So tell the parents to support him and help him make a wise choice for his career path..
Storm | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/26/2007 7:40:00 PM | my child is already in the military, and he's still in his senior year of high school. He joined last March. He started talking about the military when he was eight years old and for years I tried to talk him out of it. I'm a Vietnam era veteran when he was becoming a freshman, I told him if he wanted to join the military, he was going to do it right. He an a/b honor roll student. We have a high school here that it's an Academy, you have to be invited to enroll and they have an ROTC program so he went through that and he loves the discipline plus he's a natural leader, people follow him.
Now he did want to go regular army but I talked him into the National Guard, he can go to the army anytime he wants, but this way he still gets to play the weekend warrior.
Politics aside, how does a parent keep their kid from "drinking the Kool-Aide" from the recruiters and their HuRah propaganda?
(I had to laugh when I read that)
I went to the meetings with the recruiters with him but because of my prior service, I knew what to look for and I made them aware of this before it even began.
Now actually all of the above really does not matter.
I raised my child to make his own decisions, even when he makes decisions I do not like. So I just made sure he knew of his options and that no matter what he does, I will always love him and he will always have my support.
I raised him to make his own decisions, at least I know I taught him well. ;-) | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/27/2007 12:17:03 PM | Oh, hell yes they are.
They lie up, down and sideways - to the recruit, to the parents and even to the military (google fraud and National Guard for a VERY recent story about two NG recruiters just busted for fraud). | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/27/2007 2:03:15 PM | winipeg storm,
thats is the best way to go about it,be their freind not their parent,but help them to make a fully informed discision.
jayderaven, will have to check that out,thats not good... | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/27/2007 2:56:58 PM | | I am a single mother who's oldest child (and only son) enlisted in the Marines a little over a year ago. He was a 4.0 student throughout high school and his first year in college when he decided to go into the Marines. I guess he just heard a different calling, and I must say I am very proud of him. It takes a real man to get out there and defend his country. He has made Corporal already and will be going over to Iraq in March. Yes, I am nervous and probably will have a lot of sleepless nights, but like I said, I couldn't be more proud! | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/27/2007 6:03:24 PM | I am sorry but I do not know what its like to have a child go into the armed forces. My cousin went into the Marines last year and has not seen any combat yet....Thank God...
But on the bright side of the picture, I work for the families of Veterans...If I knew all the benefits Veterans get I would have joined the forces when I was 18. So try not to worry about your son, I know it must be hard. But depending on how long hes in the service he could have great benefits for the rest of his life....Hope this is comferting a little bit. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/28/2007 6:02:26 AM | I joined the Army in the UK aged 16 and a half.
I loved every moment of my time there, I still have friends that I know would die for me and mine in the blink of an eye. I have seen horrible things, I have killed on numerous occasions and yet, I have also seen hope, sanity from madness and the strength of the human spirit.
I find it hard to understand that those that have gained so much from the blood of our own kith and kin find it so hard to accept that their children may have a little more spine than they have themselves. That to defend your country and way of life is a bad thing? You should be proud of him.
Whilst in the Army I got a double degree, I learned skills that have helped me build a multi million pound business outside of it, the cream will always rise, matters not a jot if it is in business or the military or education, that much is sure.
Send your son with your chest puffed out and your head held high in pride that you have instilled in him a sense of pride and adventure.
Oh and let me dispel a little misunderstanding about combat, most people that join once trained and able cannot wait to get stuck in, and that never leaves you!
Oh and statistically being in the Marines has about the same risk attached as being a Long Distance Truck Driver.
What a sad testament to how cowardly our mutual societies have become your post actually is. Seems only dumb people go and fight for your way of life!!!!! Shame on you! | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/28/2007 6:15:11 AM | OMG boatnut...you have described my worst nightmare. My only advice is to try to get him to talk to the folks that were in recently or are in now. They are promising the world right now to try to get numbers up and it is really awful. UGH! Try to impress upon him that when you sign up, you are signing over your life for the term of your contract and they can do as THEY wish with it.
Love the military and the benefits can be fantastic, especially if he would go career...but the clown/clowns in power right now make that a very scary prospect for years to come  I will get right off of my political soapbox now...but it is so scary.
Good luck... | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/28/2007 6:25:21 AM | OP...Your son could do a lot worse than a Marine Corps millitary career. Trust me...I know!!
Grog...Spoken like a true Amy Dog! Olny 8 years from retirement?? Huge red flag dude! And just so you know...The "Jarheads" dont need anyone to take care of them...they take care of their own! | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/28/2007 6:42:29 AM | I commend your son for being so brave and wanted to protect our country and the freedoms that come with it. Joining the military is a very personal choice. I would be proud of my son if he decides to enlist. If he is really set on his, see if he will finish the 1st year of college first so he gets some education under his belt. Look into this program ( I forget the name of it) but you can enlist and offically be part of the service, but the first two year you spend at a college getting some education under your belt. I don't know if that's available in all the branches I know it is in the national guard. Make sure he uses his GI bill and make sure he doesn't take anything they offer him for granted. I have alot of friends in the military. 2 stick out. 1 took full advantage of the GI bill, and all the other things offered..he is now a reserve with a great civilan job and an awesome life. The other didn't take advantage of anything and he is job hunting every other week and can't get a job anywhere. Just make sure he is educated and help him make the right decisions. But support him in whatever he does. If he is really gung ho about going he will resent you for talking him out of it and he will regret it later. He can learn alot if he utilizes the resources and has a family that backs him up.. Good luck!!
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 11/28/2007 10:44:31 AM | As a former Marine (we sometimes call ourselves Recovering Marines because you never get over it completely, once a Marine...... yeah, yeah, we've all heard this bs before), I liked the idea of trying to steer him into a non-combat interest. Of course in the Marines, even the typists and supply clerks are all trained infantry and kept current in those skills and crafts. And, what is promised at enlistment is not necessarily what happens. Aviation fields are top wage earners when the boys get out.
As has already been stated here, he will make up his own mind. Either way, he needs and obviously appreciates your opinion. You did a good job, friend.
If he does go in, he will learn skills that will last a lifetime. Only about 10% of all former servicemen are former Marines, yet you will find that nearly half of all businessowners, politicians, and men in leadership roles in America who are veterans are former Marines. They teach where your limits aren't. And that while alive all is possible. Sometimes that training comes at a price. It is a bad time to enlist.
This is probably one of the more terrifying things he has done. Hope you find comfort if he does enlist and maybe, just maybe he will go back to school instead.
God Bless and protect | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/17/2008 10:14:07 PM | | I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I LET MY 17 YEAR OLD SON JOIN THE MARINES. HE HAS BEEN IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. HE IS AN EMBARK SPECIALIST AND IS STATIONED IN JAPAN. CURRENTLY, HE IS IN THAILAND WORKING ON A MISSION. MY SON, LIKE YOUR SON,IS SMART AND FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AT 16 AND STARTED FCCJ BEFORE HE WAS 17 . MY SON ONLY WEIGHED 97 POUNDS AND WAS SHY WHEN HE ENTER THE MARINES. I THOUGHT SURE HE WOULD BE AN UPFRONT REJECT. MY SON WENT TO PARRIS ISLAND AND CAME BACK A DIFFERENT PERSON (NO KOOL AIDE OR HOORAH PROPAGANDA). HE,NOW, IS 140 LBS AND A LITTLE****. AT 18, HE IS A CORPORAL IN THE USMC. DOORS OPENED FOR HIM. HE WALKS WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH. I,TOO.WORRIED ABOUT THE SAME STUFF YOU ARE WORRYING ABOUT. REMEMBER THE COUNTLESS COMPUTER GURUS THAT WERE KILLED IN THE TWIN TOWERS? OR HOW ABOUT THE SCIENTIST WORKING AT THE PENTAGON ON 9-11 OR THE LAWYERS ON THE PLANES? DEATH AND DANGER ARE EVERYWHERE- HELL YOUR KID WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL AND LIVED,SOME KIDS DON'T GET THAT FAR. ANYONE CAN GET KILLED OR INJURIED ANYTIME/ANYWHERE. ALSO, THE MARINES, DON'T DO ALL THE FIGHTING LIKE YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES- THAT IS THE ARMY'S JOB . MY SON PLANS TO WORK WITH THE FBI OR THE SECRET SERVICE OR HOMELAND SECURITY-- THEY'VE ALREADY TOLD HIM THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN WHEN HE IS READY FOR THE NEXT STEP IN LIFE. HOW MANY 18 YEAR OLDS DO YOU KNOW THAT HAVE THE TITLE OF CORPORAL? I KNOW ALOT THAT HAVE THE TITLE THUG AND PLAYER. NOT A BAD MISTAKE TO JOIN. BETTER TO DIE PROUD AND HAPPY DOING WHAT YOU WANT THEN TO DIE BEHIND THE COUNTER OF A MCDONALDS DOING THE THING YOU HATE BECAUSE YOUR PARENT WANTED TO KEEP YOU SAFE. EITHER YOU TRUST THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR SON OR YOU CAN PLAY GOD'S ROLE AND ANSWER TO HIM LATER... YES IT IS HARD TO LET GO | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 8:53:06 AM | I know that as a father you will always see him as a little boy on some level, and fear for him, but hes old enough to choose his path in life. Some men are just born soldiers.
Perhaps he has a need to serve something more than his own material needs and to be
part of something bigger than himself. He could make a worse choice. The Marines are a noble and honorable organization, the premier fighting force in the world.
I was in a similar situation when I was young. Despite my parents objections I dropped out of college and joined the army. I never regretted the decision. Of all the things I have done in my life, my military service is the thing I am most proud of.
I gave something back to society, met a lot of really fine people, saw a lot of the world and learned to fly a helicopter.
If he is going to join, suggest to him that he apply for warrant officer helicopter flight training. I did, and it was a great experience.
You should be proud that you have raised such a
fine young man. Honor his choice and support him. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 12:00:12 PM |
Politics aside, how does a parent keep their kid from "drinking the Kool-Aide" from the recruiters and their HuRah propaganda?
Remind him that being in, or joining the military, during the Bush administration is just asking to be killed. Thankfully, my son is only 8 yrs old and this isn't a concern for me. Hope it works out for you.. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 12:03:42 PM |
The Marines are a noble and honorable organization, the premier fighting force in the world. Going by their actions, I disagree with this opinion of the Marines. It does match their recruitment ads. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 3:41:14 PM | | Suggest he transfer to a college that has an ROTC program, he'll get all the discipline he desires, money for school and when he gets his degree he enters as an officer which means higher pay and far more responsibility. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 4:49:58 PM |
Politics aside, how does a parent keep their kid from "drinking the Kool-Aide" from the recruiters and their HuRah propaganda?
Any testimonials about how recruits have been deceptive are appreciated.
Of course you know brainwashed people don't KNOW they're brainwashed. | |
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| Single dad's son wants to enlist in the Marines.
Posted: 5/18/2008 5:18:21 PM |
I'd like to hear from anyone who's been through this experience as either a parent or an enlistee.
Okay, I'll give you my experience as the daughter of a marine and coastie, sister of an AF veteran, granddaughter of two WWII Army vets, and sis-in-law of a former marine and current full time NG. I also live in a marine town, so the majority of people I associate with are military.
He's a smart kid and could be a lawyer or scientist or engineer or computer guru, etc if he wanted to be. But this might be the dumbest, most dangerous thing he's ever thought about doing.
You are absolutely right. It is incredibly dumb to join an organization that provides all room and board for him and his future family, pays for schooling, and provides free healthcare and dental. MY GOD! He should just go thousands of dollars into debt through student loans so he can get a job as a law clerk for years before FINALLY making junior partner in some schmaltzy law office.
He's tired of Jr college already (only the first quarter), and wants discipline adventure. He also wants to get in shape and get his war on.
Hey, be glad he knows what he wants and is willing to work hard to accomplish it.
Politics aside, how does a parent keep their kid from "drinking the Kool-Aide" from the recruiters and their HuRah propaganda?
Okay, I know it is petty, but first I gotta correct you a bit. It is "Ooo Rah". Sorry, it's a B.R.A.T. thing. Secondly, I hate to tell you darlin, but your post makes me believe thast your son is over the age of 18. Therefore, it is his choice to "drink the Kool-Aide" as you put it.
Any testimonials about how recruits have been deceptive are appreciated.
If he is half as smart as you say he is, he should be able to see through any percieved deceptions, correct? And by the way, just how exactly are marine recruiters more deceptive that college recruiters? Let me tell you, working at a college, I wouldn't believe a college recruiter if they told me the sky was blue. I'd have to go outside to see for myself.
Anyways, I think it is very obvious where my loyalties lie. OP, you don't have to support the war, or the government, in oder to support the soldiers or your son. Personally, I hate the war, and have little respect for our president. However, I am allowed to say that because of men like your son who are willing to fight for our freedom. So, even if YOU choose to call him an idiot, I will be there ready to shake his hand and thank him. | |
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