What exactly is the Marines Like?

Question

When I was a kid I read Jarhead, why? I don't know, maybe I was just bored or slightly retarded, but in the end I watched it. I have a good GPA of around 3.6 and come from a white-collar family. I honestly could do a lot with my life but something about the marines just causes me to feel like a giggling schoolgirl. I didn't apply to any colleges last year when I was a senior in highschool, why? I wanted to become a marine and on the last day of this month, when I turn 18, I plan to sign up for war, (I want to go to college but on my own money, my parents could afford it but I'm one of do it yourself or don't do it at all type of guys) and I'm expecting the military to pay my college tuition but as the dates roll and my 18th b-day comes closer, I'm starting to p**s my pants. I just went to the hospital to visit my sis, (she just had a baby) and I saw a war veteran, he had no legs and that honestly scares the **** outta me. Then a couple of weeks ago, I manage to catch the show "Generation Kill" and I see the harshness of it all. I'm not afraid of dying, h**l I rather live on as a hero for the US than some middle management guy whose wife is cheating on him, kids hate him and has an alcohol problem. But I'm not sure if I can handle coming out alive without my hands and legs and living life as 'that cripple" Then theres the fact I think I won't fit in, I'm of Indian ethnicity and that didn't matter to me but I saw Generation Kill and noticed some marines were racist and I'm not sure I'm cool with having guys like that watch my back. Then I worry this war will never end and I will be stuck in involuntary service, where my contract is up but I can still be called for duty because of a shortage of soldiers. To be honest, I'm scared shitless and I've heard stories of how soldiers go on the run for years to escape more service and how some even lose it and end up shooting themselves after they return home to to stress from war. I don't expect to see combat (I hear that there's few if any actual combat left) but I really don't want to waste 10 years of life patrolling some city. I asked some of these questions to people and none of them give me a good answer, my parents and family are hysterical and are trying everything to get me to stay (My dad even offered to buy me a corvette if I stayed) and when I ask the recruiter he just shrugs it all away and pressures me to join. I need someone who can just give me a straight answer to all of this.

Answer 1

"something about the marines just causes me to feel like a giggling schoolgirl"....HAHAHA I'm not sure you're cut out to be a marine...they aren't the fruity type...

Answer 2

You can read my words here. They will tell you what it means and takes to be a Marine.

You can also read real adventures about the USMC. All words are honest and are not used to get others to enlist. They are to inform you of what the realities of the USMC are from my perspective.

You can also read what other Marines said when I asked them a series of questions.

http://lavadog23.webs.com/

Answer 3

it sucks!!!

you don't want to do that, join any other branch of service but don't join the marines.

Answer 4

I have been a Marine for over 3 1/2 years now. I can honestly say it has been the best decision I have ever made. I will tell you this, it is not a cake walk. There are some day's where I wake up in the morning and hate life. But at the end of every day i lay my head down knowing that I am an United States Marine. That is something that no one can ever take away from me. I am about a month out from re-enlisting. For me it is not about the money, or anything crazy like that. Because to tell you the truth there are a lot more high paying jobs in the civilian world. I choose to stay a Marine for pride. Knowing that I am doing something that is worth while in my eyes. The people who doubt the war in Iraq and Afghanistan just fuel my fire even more. I say to you young sir, that if you want something that you can always have pride in, and a job that is difficult yet extremely satisfying then join the Marines.

Semper Fidelis.