I need help with this...my boyfriend is joining the marines.?

Question

if it was something he really wanted to do...i wouldnt have cared as much. but as of right now, he's just joining so he can pay for school.

i keep telling him that there are other alternatives...like student loans, or grants. but he insists that it's what he wants to do. before we were such a strong couple, he wanted to join because of the thrill. (i see nothing thrilling about that) but now he says that he doesn't want to leave me, but he's still joining because he needs help for school.

without him going to college, our life together would not be very successful. he wont have any scholorships because of low grades. i dont want to turn out like some of my family...uneducated and in much need of financial help. in fact, i want to earn that income to where i can help my family when they need it.

i am most definatly going to college...becoming a pharmacist. and my boyfriend wants to be a surgen.

but how can i comvince him that there are other alternatives besides the marines? i need advice on what to tell him...i honestly just dont know what to say to him anymore.

im not trying to hold him back...dont critisize me. i'm just trying to get it through his head that there are other ways to go to college...not just through the marines.

thanks<3

Answer 1

My brother joined the Marine Corp 2 years ago. He hasn&#039;t had any help for school since graduating from basic. Now my youngest brother has signed as a DEP (delayed entry program). He leaves January for basic. He will receive no help for school either. We tried to steer him toward Airforce because they do include financial aid in the contract. Whatever your boyfriend does DO NOT sign anything until he knows exactly what he is doing and he has everything he wants in written form in front of him.

Answer 2

tell him to join the army the marine corps doesent need any half-assed recruits

Answer 3

From what i read it sounds like he likes the idea of joining, like you said, he wants the thrill.  He wants to join but is afraid to lose you.    

Answer 4

You are right about there being other options for paying for school. I know we are not getting the whole story since it would take a book to write all the details of your situation. From what I have to go on it appears you guys have not thoroughly researched all of your options. The first thing I would do if I were you is sit your boyfriend down and get a straight honest answer to where you lie in his future. hate to think that you are so concerned about all this and he&#039;s not committed to spending the rest of his life with you. If you guys are just &quot;boy friend and girl friend&quot; then you really don&#039;t have a say in what he wants to do. I know that is harsh but it&#039;s reality. Now lets assume that you both do plan on being with each other and no one else for the rest of your life (kinda scary when you look at it that way huh?) then i think you both should look at student loans AND the military. I am a huge advocate for the military, not just because I am in the military but because I have been doing it for a long time and my oldest son is also in the military.

Here is why I believe the military is an awesome option for young people and couples.

For him- the best technical training in the world in his choice of career fields. 100% of his college education paid for while he is in the military and an amount of money to continue his education when he got out that would blow your mind. Not to mention a great paycheck while this all going on.

For you- garanteed house that the military pays for. FULL MEDICAL insurance for you and your future children, a huge grocery store and wal-mart type store that only military people can use that has prices civilian stores can&#039;t touch and all tax free. Never having to worry if you will loose your house, if he will loose his job, or if you can&#039;t afford a doctor. Bet you didn&#039;t know that the military has programs to pay for your college education also did you?

I do recommend that he talks to ALL branches of the military so when and if he does decide to join he has made an educated, informed decision.

Just be a little open minded. You might find him being in the military is just as good for you as it is him :-)

Answer 5

Wow, hun that is a very sensitive topic. And your boyfriend seems like he is very stubborn. I would definately research his options, print them out and sit down with him and show him. He can get financial aid, and I am sure that he can get student loans. He can also try for some grants or scholarships. Not all scholarships require good grades, some of them just require you to write an essay saying why you think you deserve it. I wish the best for you both.

Good Luck   :)

Answer 6

I really think you might want to re-think your attitude about the Marine Corps.

This is going to be good for the two of you, and you may not even realize it.  I am not going to spend time and energy criticizing you about your thoughts and beliefs.  But I want you to consider this for a moment.

I spend time at my local Military Recruiter Offices in my area as a volunteer.  I did not get to join the Marines because of a medical issue involving a Mountain Biking Accident.

But I digress.

Here is what he needs to understand, about what he is getting ready to commit himself to, and I would hope that you would be good enough to read this to him.

This is an excellent opportunity for him to learn some skills that he could apply to the civilian life after his tour of duty.  Having said this, he should consider looking into training programs that will allow him to use his military training for the civilian market.  Its all good to want to go and play GI Joe, but there are few job on the civilian market that really require that type of training.  

Here is an example from my own life.  I intended to join the Marines to learn Aircraft Mechanics, and obtain a job where I could put those skillst to work in a civilian market after I served my country and getting the training in that field.  I could then take the education I received in the military, and apply both the skills and hands on experience for an excellent career opportunity on the civilian side.

The reason I wanted to do this is because my family did not have the income to pay for college, nor was I interested in competing for the scholarships, loans or applying for grants.  Basically it was pride enough to earn the money, and pay for my own education which I ended up having to do anyway.

If I had joined the military, and obtained the the GI Bill Grant for my services as a soldier, it was only a matter of putting in some time and hard work to get what I want, and along the way get some additional work experience and training.

Now, I want you to consider something very carefully.  Your hopes and dreams are very noble, and this is not to patronize you or your boyfriend.  But, in many cases when you apply to fairly responsible jobs, (IE if he considers being a Police Officer), these agencies will give prefrence to his application process just because he was in the military.

In the Military he can become a doctor.  Even in civilian life after his training and hard work, he can apply those skills and do the same in a shorter period of time.

In my case I currently hold an A/S Degree in Automotive Technology.  But interestingly enough that is not what I do for a living.

I am an Executive Protection Officer for an Investment Company&#039;s President.  Would I have been able to get to this point sooner if I was in the Military.  You bet!

The term that he spends in the Military is going to give him needed guidance and bearing to focus on his future employment.  Being in the Military is not all about what Hollywood wants to show you, nor about what the Media wants you to believe.  

I know that you are concerned that the distance is going to be an issue, and could possibly cause him to break up with you.  But before you make a regretful mistake, please hear me out.

The best thing you can do to create a stronger bond, is support him in his decision.  Accept that, eventhough you may disagree with his decision, it needs to be supported, as the Military Career for most people his age is not a perminant career move.  Mainly because he will eventually tire of constantly changing locations and having to move everything he owns to a new location.

But by supporting him in this career venture, you will not only earn his trust, but earn his respect.  He will see you as an equal in his life, not just merely a wife.  Are there going to be extended times where you may not be able to see him?  Absolutely.  But it will be more important for him to know there is a solid woman he can trust to handle business in his absence, and be by his side when he needs you.

This is by no means to say this door does not swing both ways.  I am married to a former Military Brat.  And... I can tell you with confidence, that this is very important for both parties involved.  But your strength at home gives him the needed strength to do his job effectively, and safely.  In turn, this allows him to come home to the best person on the planet.  That would be you.

On the flip side of the coin, anytime my wife has made major changes in her life, I have been there for her too.  

Trust him, have faith in him.  Trust yourself, and have faith in yourself.  This may seem to be like a Macho thing to you, but infact I would rather believe that he is looking into the future for the two of you, and has an interest in making sure that you will be very comfortably taken care of for the rest of your life.  

My wife could tell you with complete confidence that has been my goa

Answer 7

Well, if it&#039;s really something he wants to do, I wouldn&#039;t suggest stopping him. Joining the service (any branch) is a commitment that eats years of time, and can have lifelong consequences, both good and bad, and the only way you&#039;ll ever get through it, is if you truly want to. He&#039;ll get all the money he needs for college and then some, and he can also share it with you.

If he is unwilling to dig for grants and scholarships, maybe you could to show him how easy it is with a little effort, maybe you two could even do it together. First step is applying for Fafsa and State Funding, after that, look around for scholarships in your local area.

I wish you both the best of luck!

Answer 8

Has he considered joining another branch?

The Air Force and Army offer great schooling options, he could enter into Medical Services or even Combat Medic and have a hand in the medical field while he attends school to reach for his dreams.

My boyfriend feels the same way you do about me joining the Military, but he works a dead end job and I refuse to live my life as such, so I am taking matters into my own hands.