So my youngest son got home from a trip to SC with his girlfriend's family and he drops a bomb shell on me and the wife. He tells us that he has been thinking about this for a few weeks now and wanted to let us know now. He is thinking of joining the Marines. Now don't get me wrong I have nothing agaist the military. My oldest went in and spent a year in Iraq and since he has been out of the service he has been haveing alot of problem. I just don't know how to feel about what he want to do.
first of all id like to say Semper Fi. Secondly most people go to the service when they feel like they have no other plan in life or want to actually persue a military career. Let him do what he wants maybee it will make him a better man!. I would not recomend anyone going who has a girl, wife, or kids.
I spent 7 years in the Corps, during the Gulf War. Not all join for the career or for nothing else to do. I joined to serve my country with no intent of ever making it a career, and I put off working in construction to do so. If your son feels the calling, he and only he can make that call. I would support his decision what ever it may be.
As to the girl, wife thing, I see no relevence to why that should alter his choice. I would of served again, if I could have ( too old now) in these past few years, and I have a wife, a son a successful construction company.
I guess for some to serve is only to get something in return, but for most of the Marines I served with, it was to give something back to our country.
I wish you and your family the very best, and I thank your son for his service and I hope he does better in time to come.
Best wishes,
Mike
He will have our support 100%. It's just hit us out of left feild. He never showed any intrest in the military before.
And thank you for your sevice.
We all have to grow up and make our decisions at some point about how we lead our lives. As parents we hope we did right by our kids and raised them properly so that when it comes time for them to make these decisions they do so for the right reasons. If he is willing to serve his country and he came to that conclusion by himself, then you have done something right and should be proud. But you can still help him some with his decision.
Is there a reason he chose the Marines? Has he checked out what the other services offer? Is he looking at going in with a guaranteed career field? Are there benefits/bonuses for signing up for 3, 4, or 6 years (or whatever they have now)? All the branches are worthwhile, and all need good men. He might as well get as much out of it as he can!
I know when I decided to go into the military I had it narrowed down to the Marines or the Air Force, and chose the Air Force based on the education opportunities available back then (mid-80s, which was probably the worst education benefits ever offered to GIs since the Civil War!). I only intended to do 4 years, get a degree and get out. Instead I did 10+ years, ended up with a family instead of a degree, and wouldn't trade that time for anything!
Give him my best, and thank you for raising some fine sons. Just goes to show they don't HAVE to turn out like their parents! 😀
