SON HEADED INTO MARINES

[knot for shore]

Well, it looks like my son has decided to go into the Marines. He takes his physical on 1/02 at 0700.

As anyone having a child enlist in the military, especially the Marines in times such as these, you can imagine the thoughts / concerns entering AND STAYING in my head. We've been on him for over a year to get on with doing something with his life, as he is a very good, respectful and smart young man. He just needs the guidance to take the step forward into a career field of his liking. He's going to go in for combat control, which I don't know anything about. I have to be honest and say that those thoughts of the worst are overpowering any good thoughts, but it's his decision. It's tough to even write those words. Or this post for that matter.

Any and all advice would me most appreciated regarding this decision. I know he'll make a great Marine. It's just..........well...............you know the deal................

[c-witch]

It will take a while before he sees Iraq. He will have Basic, Infantry school, Then his MOS school. Unless they shortened Basic that is 13 weeks, the others will be 4-8 weeks or so almost 6 months or so before he would be deployed.

As someone that spent time over there, it isn't as bad as what you have seen on TV....Some areas are worse than others but it is no where close to being as bad as it was in the beginning.I hope this helps.

[knot for shore]

Thanks C. It is something to be proud of I know. And, even though I'm x-Navy, it puts a whole new perspective on the military when it's "your" kid going in. Especially the Marines.

A great quote from A Few Good Men -

Demi: "watch out for the Marines down there. (Cuba) They're fanatical."
Cruise: "fanatical about what."
Demi: "about being Marines."

[Big Fish Billy]

The best and only advice I can give you, is get everything in writing, because absolutely nothing will go as you think or as you have been promised, and I promise you that. It won't matter but at least you'll have it in writing. The line of crap the recruiters give the kids these days is criminal. The wining and dining with my son started in high school, the recruiter actually took him out of school, unbekownst to us as parents or the school officials. We received the proposition from our son, that we sign for him to go reserves, or when he was 18 he'd go active. Naturally we went with reserve, and then the problems started, no one was telling him what to do, he was a Marine now. He nearly flunked out his last semester as a senior in high school, and his recruiter invited him out drinking, we have the notes to prove that. He went off to Parris Island in June on the split program, returning in time for college in the Fall. College was a complete waste of money, he didn't go, he spent his time partying with the recruiter, recruiting other kids, for promotion purposes. 1.2 was his combined GPA. This past summer he went again for the second half of his split program to combat training. We didn't sign for him to go back to college, and he never got any money the Marines promised him for college. He is currently working two or three days at Radio Shack for $8 and hour. He was never promoted on time as promised, and never paid properly, for his promotions when he did get them, he is a Lance Corporal now, only due to helping recruiting other kids, and due to the fact that my wife has had to brow beat the command at Parris Island to get anything done. His local reserve command does nothing for him although he goes a weekend every month. Hopefully your son will go active, not reserves, and you'll have a better time of it with better management, the reserve system sucks as far as I'm concerned. And unless you go up the chain of command at Parris Island, you'll get no answers. When my wife contacted the Commandant of Cadets down there when my son didn't get his promotion and back pay as promised, a taxi arrived at the house the next day with his promotion and back pay, this was after the locals dicked with it for two or three months. The positive I'll concede is you'll never be prouder than when your son graduates boot camp, it's quite a place and quite a ceremony, and quite a well nailed down process. They graduate 500 kids a week. Our son needed the discipline, the unfortunate part is there is no continuity in the reserves, and you know the consequences of going active. These recruiters are professionals at seeking a certain kind of kid out, and preying on what they do to get their way. If there is something you can do to change his mind by all means do it, otherwise the propaganda will have been successful, and you'll be like the rest of us in saying "it's what he wanted." PM me if you want any direct questions answered and I'll try to help.

[c-witch]

The recruiter stuff is true. They suck and the contract is BS. As a Marine you are infantry first MOS 2nd. Your contract is only good if you complete basic on time, if you are behind for any reason you will have to find a new MOS upon completion of Basic.

Marines are grunts first and foremost.

[Big Fish Billy]

The recruiter stuff is true. They suck and the contract is BS. As a Marine you are infantry first MOS 2nd. Your contract is only good if you complete basic on time, if you are behind for any reason you will have to find a new MOS upon completion of Basic.

Marines are grunts first and foremost.

Right on, my son got all the questions right on his test (he was an all A student until this started) and was promised he could be anything he wanted, Intelligence, helicopter mechanic, then he was going to be a sniper, now he is a mortar man. Great job until the enemy figures out where the mortars are coming from.....

[SeaMent]

Hey Knot, I know exactly what you are dealin with, my son joined the Marines 5 years ago for all the same reasons. He was 22 yrs old and doin nothin with his life. He did 2 tours in Fallugah, Iraq. It was the longest 18 months of my life. I will admit that it was very nerve racking for me and his mother but, he came home a totally different person. I know what you are goin through and believe me when I tell you it has given my son a whole new outlook on life and made him a better person for it. I wish the best for your son, also tell him Thanks for steppin up to the plate for all AMERICANS !!!

[knot for shore]

Yeah, I keep preaching the "get it in writing" stuff to him. I know first hand what the recruiters are like. They see numbers and that's it - regardless. I told him not to sign a thing until I look over the "contract" regarding what he will be doing. I'm not going to have them lie to him and I will try and control what I can control. Which might not be much after said documents are signed.

Thanks again!!

[knot for shore]

Hey Knot, I know exactly what you are dealin with, my son joined the Marines 5 years ago for all the same reasons. He was 22 yrs old and doin nothin with his life. He did 2 tours in Fallugah, Iraq. It was the longest 18 months of my life. I will admit that it was very nerve racking for me and his mother but, he came home a totally different person. I know what you are goin through and believe me when I tell you it has given my son a whole new outlook on life and made him a better person for it. I wish the best for your son, also tell him Thanks for steppin up to the plate for all AMERICANS !!!

Thanks for the kind words! It means alot. And I'm glad your son is home safe. Tell him thanks as well!

Have a great new year!

[stressrelief 28.5]

My son left this morning going back to Camp Lejune. He will be deployed in March or April. Do not belive anything the recruiter says.As far as suing anyone for kidnapping that will not happen if your son has turned 18. I not trying to rain on your party, Ive already been through that. If the child is 18 he has to do the lawsuit.( In NC.)---------Trust your son to do the right thing-once he there he must finish what he has started. You may want to incourage him to do so, he does not want to be booted out.When its all said a done you will be as proud as Hell of him.Im not just talking to hear myself talk, my son is the sixth generation military in our family. I would hope there wont be a seventh. But support him as we all will, He will be a man in the end. The Few The Proud The Marines......................... Good luck to you and your son, get several boxes of tissues for your wife you will need them.-------------------Frank Plummer------------------------------