My Friends and Family tell me I'm too nice and joyous to join the Marines...

Question

I'm graduating in May 2009 with a Masters in Accounting, I'll be 24, and have been seriously contemplating trying out for OCS. I've talked to all branches and have narrowed it down to the Marines first, and second Navy.

I understand what both branches entail for becoming an officer...and have been working out w/ other prospect Marine officers.

My family and friends are discouraging me though, and tell me my spark for life and humor will change if I go through the "brainwashing" of a Marine warrior.

I'm currently the captain of the UT improv comedy team and am a big theatre guy...I think people just see me as a silly, funny, outgoing...yet intelligent guy.

And I don't want to lose those characteristics...but at the same time, I know there is more inside of me.

My question is, how do I deal with these things people are telling me?

They're making me fear that if I get selected for OCS and become a Marine...I'll no longer be a cheerful, funny improv guy, but instead a Brainwashed, Cold, Killing Machine...who will be on depressant drugs for the rest of my life. That **** sounds pretty intense.

Answer 1

I have a couple of thoughts on this...

I commonly talk to kids during their enlistment process and help them in making good enlistment decisions.  What I say to their friends and families is, "Boot Camp will give you qualities you don't know you have... You have them... Boot camp will just bring them out.  It will give you military bearing and a sense of accomplishment and confidence that no one will ever be able to take away from you.  It will not change your personality.  You'll still have that wicked sense of humor, the same twinkle in your eyes, and same laugh, the same basic belief system, and all the other things that make you who you are."  

My son is also wickedly funny... and I worried he would lose a bit of that.  He didn't.. not at all!  His outlet for the humor during boot camp was found in the letters he wrote home.  And he's now living in a house with three other Marines... they're normal guys doing normal stuff, having a great time... and they also happen to be Marines.

With a Master's in Accounting, you will not likely be offered a commission as an infantry officer.  Your career would be in Accounting... an Administrative function.  Once you complete OCS and are commissioned, the "oo-rah Marine Corps" stuff will lighten up considerably and "work" will be like working in any other Accounting firm... with military trappings, of course.

About your friends and family.  Most people don't understand what the military is all about, and they buy-in to what they see on television and the movies.  When my son decided to enlist, we started out telling our friends and family... and were astonished at how rude people were.. thinking they had a right to say horrible things to him about his decision.  We quickly learned to just answer questions when asked, and leave it at that.  Ultimately, you are making this decision for yourself and your future, and you can do that with or without their support.  Your life will be enriched if you go through OCS and your career with the support of your family and friends... But ultimately, the confidence that you're doing the right thing.. that this is the choice you're making for yourself... that needs to come from within you, rather than other people.  Make this decision for yourself, not them.  They will be incredibly proud of you and they will come around, once you prove to them their fears are totally unfounded.

Best of luck to you.

FYI, check out MarineParents.com  It's mostly for enlisted folks, but if you have any questions about the Corps, that's the place to start.  It's also a great place for your folks' first exposure to the Marine Corps Family.    

Answer 2

Michael,

I am a retired Naval officer who spent a couple tours with Marines.

Don't assume all Marine officers are serious 24/7. They are human beings who are sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, etc. They do know, however, when to focus on work and be serious. The same goes true with doctors, judges, airline pilots - they all know when to be serious.

During my time with the Marines (3MAW and 1MAW) I knew several  who loved to have a good time.

"Ranger"

Answer 3

I learned that OCS is more physical than mental vice enlisted Basic Training.  However, I am enlisted, and I am joyous and nice myself.  Sometimes my Marines and superiors tend to think that was born 'chippy'!  But I can be mean and aggresssive when necessary.  I showed up ever morning for muster, our body count and I'm always smiling greatful that my Marines are alive and well, I put myself last and my Marines before me.  I was known to being nice and generous to my junior Marines.  As long as they did what they were told, we were living in 'Partridge Family' paradise.  I only had to be stern a few times due to my Marines being knuckleheads; everyone makes mistakes, including Sergeants like me!

We joke around, mess with each other, build morale, but we are also Marines, and we are to conduct ourselves accordingly.  I have never met a single Marine that was cold as a killing machine - we are human with feelings, we bleed too!  And we cry when we have a fallen Marine at our hand!  We are deeply saddened when we see civilians getting killed, we shed a tear for them too.  You'll learn your place as a Marine Officer, things are not what they are portrayed as on the media and TV.  This isn't 'hollywood' this is the 'real' Marine Corps - the best group of men and women that proudly served with!  We need more dedicated Americans like you, we will depend on you to be our leader as a Marine Officer.

Answer 4

Michael, I agree with Ranger.  Warriors can't be deadly serious 24/7.  We all need down time and sometimes those people with a good sense of humor (and a strong faith) are the ones who pull through the best.  

I remember watching a group of Army captains in Taji play a mean trio of banjo, guitar and harmonica and they called themselves the "Taji Mountain Boys."  (There are NO mountains around Taji!)  Those guys were some of the most popular musicians who performed Friday nights at the coffeeshop.

As long as you can differentiate work from play, combat from training, you will be fine.

You actually won't know for sure, though, until you fight your first battle.  Combat does have a way of changing people.

Serving your country is an honorable thing, but only you would know yourself best.  Listen to your heart, your friends but the decision must rest with you.

Answer 5

first there is no brainwashing, and you wont lose your characteristics. people are going to tell you all kinds of things to change your mind. the officer route is the more relaxed you wont be on depressant drugs for the rest of your life. lol just think about what respect you want and make you own decision. people are going to talk thats just our nature.  you will still be yourself. im a female and im a little more disciplined but im the exact same person. and dont listen to all of that stuff people say about marines its not true they just say that to make marines sound like badasses. its a great life i love it