Convincing my mom on the Marines

[themontashu]

I am 16 almost 17 and have been wanting to join the Marine Corps and becoming a scout sniper sence I can remember. I have been talking to recruters for some time now. Today one of the recruters called my cell phone while I was in the bathroom and my mom picked up, she is quite upset about me being this serious (she has known that I have wanted to join the military for a long time). My mom is very much supportive of our troops but does not want me to join and will not have it, what can I do to convince her?

 

[dasmi]

You might never be able to convice her, but when you're 18, that won't matter.

 

[Bob R]

First, your mom is your MOM. Many moms support the military, but will sing a different tune when it is their child that may go off to war. In this day and age, that is a distinct possibility. She is protecting you because she is your mom.

You may never convince her, or get her to bless your joining the military. All you can do is sit down and tell her of your dream, the desire you have had for as long as you can remember. Use reason, not emotion, her emotions will be very high.

And in the end, when you turn 18, you get to join without her permission.

bob

 

[chopinbloc]

you want to convince you mother to sign off on what she perceives as a virtual death warrant for you? i'm sorry, dude but she's not going to stop loving you and she's not going to stop worrying about your safety. even if you could convince her to sign off on it, i don't think you should. she will worry enough when you are deployed (and you will be deployed), you don't need her to feel guilty as well as worried. just talk to her about what it means to you and don't ask her to be involved. in another year you can do it on your own and you'll have more time to think about it.

btw, don't believe anything your recruiter tells you.

 

[psyopspec]

Reason v. emotion is a tough matchup. However, if you'll be 18 or almost 18 when you graduate highschool, let her know that you joining is going to happen eventually, that you'll still be home until that time, and that joining early will give you more training and exposure to the organization, making you better equipped to handle the job.

 

[The Crazy Gobbo]

I'm in the same boat, albeit with a few catches. 17 year old home schooled Canadian with a green card, eh?

You may be able to reach something of a compromise, the Delayed Entry Program. If she doesn't think of this as your impending doom she may sign off on it.

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm

Here is a link to a site with a bunch of information.

 

[SamlautRanger]

I would worry if you had a Mom who wanted you to join the USMC!!

Your Mom, loves you, and to her you will always be that little baby she had. No Mom want to see their son go off to combat, even if they know the war is just and must be fought.

 

[Hacker15E]

What's your hurry to join the Marines?

You're not going to single-handedly win the War on Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorism, nor is the war going to be over in two years when you're eligible to sign up on your own.

There's no glory, excitement, or satisfaction available in combat that is worth losing two years as a carefree teenager over.

Enjoy your time now...then sign up later.

 

[Janitor]

No matter what, eventually you will be old enough to legally join w/o anyones permission.

But the issue with your mother is more one of acceptance than permission. And when you join, she will accept what you've done - that's one of the things a mother does. Don't expect her to fully let go though. Hanging on is another thing a mother does.

Just be as gentle with her as you can. Hacker15E mentions you shouldn't be in a hurry and he's probably right. But whatever you do, try to have her as emotionally prepared for your leaving as is possible. She'll never be fully ready, even if leaving only means you're moving across town. Wrapping her arms around you taking off to sit your a$$ in a fire zone is not going to come easy for her, patriotic or not.

Trust me - its not only that she doesn't want to see you get that short, short haircut.

-

 

[GILROY]

Very few Moms will sign off their sons during war time. If it were peace time she would have a much easier go of it. Protect the children is an instinct that God planted deep in a Mom.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

I have a nephew that wants to join the marines and fly choppers. We will support him in whatever decision he makes, but because he is in his first year in college we're recommending him not join and leave his options open, there is plenty of time to join later. The recruiter has been giving him a line that if he joins the reserves he won't be called up until after he graduates and of course the 2 weeks per year will only happen during the summer, and that somehow joining the reserves as an enlisted man will help his chances in getting his chopper job.

I was active Army and National Guard and know the games recruiters play, I'm just trying to get my Nephew to realize recruiters do not have your best interests at heart.

 

[hso]

Not a thing.

She's doing what every mother should do, protect her young. The simple fact is she doesn't want you to get killed or maimed and she sees significant opportunity in the Marines for that.

Your only argument to use is that by the time you completed all the training the opportunity for gettting killed or maimed should be over. In addition to that snipers are special use troops and don't get used for cannon fodder so the job should be safer.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Have you told her the USMC uniform is a great way to meet girls?

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

Just wait till you turn 18. You will need the time to learn all you can in high school.
Try to learn another language anything that used in the Middle East, Indonesia or the Philippine islands. The USMC is currently developing units like the Army Special Forces that need though skills. Take some Humanities classes at the local Jr. college that cover parts of the world that are in conflict. You must understand your enemy before you can defete them.

We have to be ready for the long haul. It will take years the turn the tide of Funduamentalist Islam.
A quote to remember
The young soldier says, “Let’s run down there and kill a terrorist down in the valley”.
The sergeant says, “No, we’re going walk down there slowly and kill them all”.

 

[Rich K]

In all seriousness,all the above have given you good advice.You won't convince her that it is a good idea for you to join the Corps,especially in these times,she doesn't want her baby to be hurt or killed.Do not believe everything your recruiter tells you,he has his own agenda.Wait until you finish high schooland are 18,then you don't need anyone's permission.I served a 4 year cruise in the Marines,and don't regret one second of it,but if my children were to ask me at the age you are now,I would tell them the same thing.Enjoy your youth while you have it,because when it is gone,it never comes back.Good luck.

 

[HankB]

. . . wanting to join the Marine Corps and becoming a scout sniper . . .

Be aware there are no guarantees, no matter WHAT your recruiter says, even if he puts it in writing. Once you're in, you'll be doing what the MARINES want you to do, not necessarily what YOU want to do. Instead of being a scout sniper, you may ultimately be assigned anything from explosive ordnance disposal (i.e., disarming bombs) to being a chauffer for some REMF to recovering bodies.

 

[Brian Williams]

First, Stay in school and really knuckle down and get the best grades you can.
Second, Wait till you know you want to join.
Third, Stay in school and get A's


As a Jarhead I will tell you that your recruiter is trying to fill his quota.

Although the Marines have been chided with being not the brightest bulbs on the planet. You will not get far by not having a good education behind you and that will mean at least your HS diploma.

Stay in school and get good grades.


I say this because you have a few misspellings, what does that matter to a scout sniper...You gotta be smart to get a head.

 

[exoduster18]

I was all set to sign up with the PA National Gaurd.....and guess who stopped that. It wasn't mom, it was dad. Needless to say was a little upset. I'm currently attending Penn Tech in Williamsport and am headed into the Army when I graduate.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

My mom is very much supportive of our troops but does not want me to join and will not have it, what can I do to convince her?

Okay, aside from the fact that mom's never want to see their babies be in harm's way, you might consider that instead of convincing her that you mitigate her concerns. See what numbers you can dig up scout sniper survival. I seem to recall that they have a lower loss rate than other battle positions, in part due to the fact that much of their job involves NOT engaging the enemy, but being clandestine information gatherers. So you might could present the argument that you are going into the Marines regardless of your mother's opinion and that you are picking one of the safer jobs. Never mind the fact that if you are caught spying, you will be dealt with harshly and the fact that the enemy, any enemy, hates snipers. Just glaze over those facets.

Heck, in Jarheads (book, not movie, I haven't seen the movie) that is by a marine scout sniper, the author and his partner never fired a single shot at the enemy during Desert Storm and never had small arms fire directed at him. When fired upon, it was while with other marines and the Iraqi mortar attack on them was nothing compared to the friendly fire damage inflicted. Not having fired at the enemy is a point that is lamented some and he decides that he is better off for not having to be put in a position to kill anyone directly.

As noted, don't trust your recruiter. No matter how much honor he claims as a Marine, you are nothing but a sweet victim child in the eyes of a child molester. He will attempt to draw you in, gain your respect and friendship, offer you treats, tell you of wonderful things he can and will do for you, and then when the time comes, you will end up as a powerless victim of his sick scheme. That is, if he is good at his job. Remember that he does not have your best interest at heart and that once you are in the Marines, he won't be around to make sure all that he promised will come through for you.

I don't know your chances of becoming a scout sniper, but it might be prudent that you develop your skills now so that you can at least demonstrate you have the capabilities when the time comes. I can't recall if it was for the Marines or not, but you need to be able to hit a 4x6" steel rectangle target at 600 yards consistently. That is just one facet at which you will need to be skilled, but one you can practice yourself.

 

[pyrotechnic]

Congratulations in wanting to join the Corps man. I joined Sep. 30th on my 17th birthday. I went to my first DEP function over a year ago and had been waiting to sign ever since. My parents don't really like it but they understand it is what I want to do. Also I have all my highschool credits required to graduate exept that my facist school board decided that I need to put in 7 semesters in order to graduate. So now I am just killing time with hardly any classes to take untill mid January when I leave for boot.

As far as convincing your mom, make sure she knows that it is your life and that you want to join the Corps. Make her understand that she is being a little selfish, holding you back from what you want to do. I don't know about you but I would have been hell to live with for another year. As for "losing a couple of years of carefree life" that is bull. I don't know about you but I am sick and tired about hanging around a stupid school with nothing to do being all carefree, knowing that I had all the requirements to graduate last year.

Brian Williams has good advice. Make damn sure you get your highschool diploma and exellent grades. Start memorizing your general orders, rank structure, and terminology, you will need them.

Regards,
Maarten

 

[depicts]

17 and Invincable

I enlisted in the Army at 17 and volunteered for Vietnam at 18, when I was legally able to do so.

You feel it's exciting and you feel invincable at your age, and I understand that.

You won't listen to anything I say anyway, so I'll wish you good luck and God Speed. I would however suggest you do a Google search on Wounded Veterans, Veterans Issues, and PTSD before you make a final decision. These are mostly issues about guys like you who thought they knew what they were doing at 17, and what they think now a few years later.

I don't regret my service, I am proud of it. But my life took strange turns after Vietnam, while my friends who didn't serve seemed to put together a more stable life, better jobs and income, better marriages.

I know that doesn't mean much to you now either. It didn't mean a thing to me and many others.

Please just think about it. Maybe you could go to school a few years, make yourself better. Get physically improved and grow a little muscle. Start shooting at a gun club and get really good. Prepare yourself to do a better job and to take better care of yourself. I thought I could do it all at 17, but at 56 I wouldn't even hire the 17 year old version of myself to cut my lawn...there is so much to learn. God Bless you

Vietnam Vet who wished he stayed in Boy Scouts a little longer!!!!

 

[bogie]

Don't join the marines. Join a different branch, and learn something you can use in the civilian world.

 

[pyrotechnic]

bogie ***? How would you know that you don't learn any "usefull skills" in the USMC. I probably sound like a recruiter, but they do have many exellent programs to help you further your education. Also, there are many MOS's in which you learn great technical skills. The Marine Corps is definately the way to go.

Regards,
Maarten

 

[M2 Carbine]

I joined the USMCR when I was 17.
I don't remember asking my Mother, or Grandparents who raised me, about joining, I just brought the paper home for then to sign.

Then I went on active duty when I got out of high school.

I had a total of 13 years and was a USMC Sergeant and Army Warrant Officer helicopter pilot.

The military is like most other things, you get out of it what you put into it. The training gave me the means to earn a decent living. Plus the experience and schools will influence you the rest of your life.

Don't be too concerned with your Mother being worried, that's a Mother's job.

 

[pcf]

Wait till your 18, if anything it'll be easier on your mom.

Don't go to bootcamp in the summer, larger platoons, more idiots, more games. (If your going to PI there are no sand fleas in the winter) Learn to drill, learn your knowledge, start running and doing pullups. Don't let anyone know that you did this.

Make sure you fill in slots for all three MOSs on your contract. Don't get heart broken if you don't get your first or second choice, make sure you have a third one listed. All MOS are quite literal in their descriptions.

Don't enlist to become a Scoutsniper or 0321 option, just go infantry, get a float or deployment under your belt and then see if its something you want to do. (As a side note, the guys that are best qualified are the ones that have the hardest time getting away from their companies) There are mountains of information that the newly annointed infantryman needs to learn and years of training that need to be ingrained. Other than Weapons Company, grunts are fairly high speed.