My son told us this morning he's joining the Marines

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momof2angells said:
Thank you. My husband said 2 recruiters are coming to our house next week. But they are texting my son directly so much, it feels like pressure.
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I’m probably going to get crap from my Marine compadres for saying this, but tell him not to feel pressured to sign anything till he’s fully ready and has done all his research. I would highly recommend that he at least talk to recruiters from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Maybe after doing so he still decides the Marines is the best fit for him. If so, awesome. But I’d strongly recommend he at least consider meeting with the other branches.

If his primary goal is to learn a skill that will set him up for gainful civilian employment afterwards, there are probably more opportunities in the other services. Again, not saying that he can’t do very well in the Marines. But at least consider having a cup of coffee with the other guys.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
I’m probably going to get crap from my Marine compadres for saying this, but tell him not to feel pressured to sign anything till he’s fully ready and has done all his research. I would highly recommend that he at least talk to recruiters from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Maybe after doing so he still decides the Marines is the best fit for him. If so, awesome. But I’d strongly recommend he at least consider meeting with the other branches.
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I second this notion, in the STRONGEST terms.

If your son goes Marines without even talking to the Air Force, it could end up being a tremendous regret over the next 4 years, or even the rest of his life.

He shouldn’t get myopic about this.
 
Thanks. I meant during the 4 years some stated they didn’t do what they signed up for in their MOS. I’m just wondering if this is because it wasn’t specialiced enough.
 
We are doing this, my husband said he was looking for Air Force recruiting stations near us. We just want him to be informed of his options but will support him.
 
Hi. Thank you. I’m sure they have to clean certainly. But they make it sound like certain less specialized MOS’s are only spending time cleaning and doing similar tasks.
 
momof2angells said:
less specialized MOS’s are only spending time cleaning and doing similar tasks.
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That’s a distinct possibility, but it’s not even limited to certain MOS’ - any Marine can be asked to do just about anything at any time, and so long as it’s a lawful order, he must obey.
 
momof2angells said:
Thanks. I meant during the 4 years some stated they didn’t do what they signed up for in their MOS. I’m just wondering if this is because it wasn’t specialiced enough.
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The ‘needs of the military’ take precedence over any ‘guarantee’ an enlistee is given…if they need 40 cooks, then he and his buddies will be cooks…doesn’t happen very often, but it happens…
 
I understand. That makes sense ofcourse. Thanks so much, this is our first time experiencing this so we are just thinking and overthinking. Thank you
 
You are right that site does have a bad name, and I personally don’t believe it. I think that guy is just trying to make excuses for his failure to cut the mustard. In fact the guy says he was trying to quit by refusing orders. Boot camp is designed to weed out guys like that.

I am in total agreement with BoomBoomM’s reply and he is spot on.
 
Thank you. I think what worried me more was the others in agreement who chimed in. But, I still have a good feeling about this and at least I have months to prepare myself before seeing him fly.
 
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I once worked with a man who was a retired Marine DI. He was one of if not THE kindest person I have ever worked with. So gentle and compassionate. He’d tell me that the whole “DI” persona was just that, a skill that he developed to do his job well. We’d ask him to please show us, in all that time, he never did.

So, worried mom, know that DIs are just people who are well trained to do the job of turning kids into Marines.
 
@TheLittleLady - only if he’s a strong swimmer.

Little known fact: of the 5 US Armed Forces, the US Coast Guard actually has the 3rd toughest basic training program for enlisted recruits.

The level of toughness of the 5 Armed Forces basic training, from hardest and most extreme to the easiest:

Marines
Army
Coast Guard
Navy
Air Force

But don’t get me wrong, even though the USAF has the easiest basic training program of the 5, it’s still a tremendously tough program to complete and 8 weeks of hell, pain, misery, blood, sweat, and tears.
 
I wouldn’'t give much credence to a website titled “I Hate the USMC”
 
🙂 I did not know much about the USCG until son’s best friend joined. He went in the skinniest awkward kid on the block and came back as a strong, confident, handsome man. He lived from the beautiful islands of the Florida Keys to Alaska.
 
Maybe it’s just a male thing, but as much as we may appreciate a mother’s gentle love, we also thrive with the tough love found in masculine societies like in the military. Part of that is aggressive confrontation when we make errors that brings about discipline and eventually mutual respect that is earned through competence. You may see it as a verbal assault for no reason, that he’s being mistreated, but it’s actually a valuable, and in the case of the military, critical, part of male social interaction. Girls talk about their feelings (or just stab each other in the back). Boys fight. They have a direct confrontation and resolve the matter. As a man I would so much rather be screamed at by another man if I make a mistake, and find myself forced to do better. It makes a man rise to the occasion. Remember what your son is being trained for. This is serious business and mistakes, or even hesitation when given an order, can cost lives. I’m sure if your son actually volunteered to join the military, and particularly the US Marines with its special reputation, he made the decision seriously, knowing he’ll be shouted at and called names. He’ll be just fine, and come out of the experience stronger and more confident for it. He may forget, and question his choices in the middle of the experience, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t prepare as best he can for it, and will look back with pride by the end.

Perhaps, as a devout Catholic, you can consider the way in which God imposed discipline and justice in the Old Testament, and only after being strict (but fair) for many generations did He show He is a loving and forgiving God, rendering those early examples of justice all the more meaningful. Love and forgiveness is meaningless without first being strict. Your son will need a lot of discipline and harsh (but fair) justice when he starts his military training, and in the end he will earn the respect and admiration of his peers.
 
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Thank you for this wonderful encouragement. I do feel this way. Thank you so much
 
The Navy also has a lot of choices, I hesitate to say more than the Marines. Still, the bottom line is that your son will go where his heart is, and that may be the Marines. The Navy wanted my son to sign on for their nuclear program (he took some kind of additional test and did well) but he really wanted to join the Marines. So that’s what he did.
 
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St. Padre Pio would be a good one too! Either will be a help to a worried Mom. Thank your boy from my dh and me!
 
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