Convincing my mom on the Marines

[jefnvk]

Second, Wait till you know you want to join.

THat was my parents biggest objection to my brother wanting them to sing the papers when he turned 17, the simple fact taht tey were worried by the time he got out of high school, he would have changed his mind, and really got no additional benefit out of signing up early.

 

[KC&97TA]

I've been in the Corps for a bit over 6yr now, was barely 18 when I left for boot camp. There's a few days I miss civilian life, mostly the ability to tell the boss to go 'pound sand' w/o looseing rank or pay. It's a good life and it's all what you make of it. The worst thing is changeing units when you don't want to or in my situation going to a support unit and leaveing a high speed combat arms element. Other wise, it's a great life, been all over the world, done so many things my old high school buddys never dreamed of. Picked up some college credit on the way, but not as much as the recruiter would have you believe On my 2nd tour in Iraq right now, it isn't all that bad. You'll meet the worst people and the greatest friends you'll ever have.

What your mom is concerned with is the 2000+ that have died in a sh*t hole country, fighting a war on terrorism that isn't real to the everyday citizen. She see's these kind of pictures, the first one was the truck I was in, when I got blasted the first time, the second is my buddys from earlier this year and I think I picked up the 3rd pic, from the mp's attached to our battalion last time around. My mom hasn't talked to me much, since I came back over, think the last time around was hard enough on her.

like I said, I've had some great times though, post a few more pics, best times were out there on the road, with your @ss on the line, it's barbaric and spiritual at the same time. House to house, kicking in doors is good for 1/2 hour, but after 12 days it's enough to make you want to be a cook.

Fishing on Camp Fallujah isn't that great

 

[Spiggy]

Into the 10th week of Boot camp now, my freind has shed blood, tears, and sweat every day until he got on the bus after the DEP.

He has sacrificed months of fun-time with his freinds and many a stupid adventures. A very hard thing to let go; and he did. Hopefully he'll be home for christmas and we'll continue stupid adventures of video games, girls, and tag team skirmish runs in our poorly organized airsoft team.

my last words to him are "Stay safe! I dont wanna see any My Lai you hear that!? oo-rah"

His mommy hasnt stopped worrying and praying for him since he was born, she aint stoppin' now

EDIT!

Compliments from Cpl.(or was it Sgt.?) Zach Tims, who served 2 years in the earth's ass and is currently working for the Army in germania

 

[chaim]

First, as others said, if you want to convince mom to sign for you to join at 17, forget it. Most mothers won't be convinced to do that in peacetime, at war few parents will be ok with their kids going in. Heck, I don't have a kid yet (so no actual attachment) and I'm as pro-military as they come, but if I had a 17 year old son who wanted me to sign for him to enter the military before he turned 18 my answer would be "no way in heck", even in peacetime.

Take the next year+ to gain maturity. At the same time, enjoy your youth. Continue getting/keeping in shape (you can never be strong enough or have enough endurance- a little more means a few more points on the PT test, which can mean anything from simply impressing your superiors (intangible) to actual points towards promotion (very tangible). Practice shooting.

Learn what you can about your military options. I know you want to be a Marine, but look into other options- you want "high speed low drag", the Army has it (Snipers, Air Assault, Pathfinders, "regular" Airborne- 82nd is one heck of a unit, there's the Rangers, you can even directly enlist in the Special Forces/Green Berets now), the Navy has it (who hasn't heard of the SEALs), and "even" the Airforce and Coast Guard has it (pararescue, rescue divers, forward observers, etc). With some research you may find it more likely for you to get what you want in one of the other services. You may find you'll end up with something similar (yeah, the Marines are top notch, "regular" Army isn't as good, but the Airborne, Rangers and others are up to and beyond the "regular" Marines) that you may like better. Or you may find the Marines are still the way you want to go- but you'll know it beats the other options for you.

If you aren't worried about joining early, you just want your mom to be happy with the idea, forget it. Again, no parent really wants their kids to go to war. You can give her all your reasons, she'll still probably try to talk you out of joining. If you join your mother will probably do what my parents did- they'll wish you luck, they'll hope for the best, they'll hope you succeed, and they'll always love you. If you graduate, it won't matter that your mother disagreed with your enlistment, she'll be immensely proud of you (making your own choice, especially a decision your parents don't like, is a very adult thing to do so she'd probably be proud of it even before you graduate- then what parent wouldn't be proud of their son wearing his uniform in a military graduation).

 

[Nicky Santoro]

I am 16 almost 17 ...

How old will you be when you finish high school? You need to finish that first anyway. If you have to wait a few months after that until you are 18 you will survive. When you turn 18 you can tell your mom that you love and respect her but it is your life and your decision. Spend a lot of time between now and then running and getting yourself into superb condition. Spend the rest of the time hitting the books.

 

[themontashu]

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.

I know that the recruters jest want me to join up, most of my desicion it mostly being afected by the people who were actualy there i have talked to.

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

Not going to help, even though I bring girls home with me from time to time my mom thinks im gay

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”.

I do speek some hebrew (not realy going to help me in arab countries), but I did spend a month in israel this past summer so i did have a good amount of interaction with muslem people

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

I am joining to fight and the marine corps will teach me how to do that, I could pass the army shooting qualification at 10 I would have trouble trusting the guy next to me knowing he dosent know how to shoot

How old will you be when you finish high school? You need to finish that first anyway. If you have to wait a few months after that until you are 18 you will survive. When you turn 18 you can tell your mom that you love and respect her but it is your life and your decision. Spend a lot of time between now and then running and getting yourself into superb condition. Spend the rest of the time hitting the books.

I will be 18 when I get out of high school but I plan on not joining untill the september or october after I graduate, I plan on being a counsler at a jewish summer camp after I graduate


I am trying to warm my mom up to the idea of me joining now I would feel very bad about doing something like that, as well I am saposed to honer my mother and father, by doing this I feel I would be totaly going against that

I am not going to sign anything untill I am 18 and have told the recruter (and wrote it on the info card) that if they ask me to sign anything I am going to walk out and never come back (They will never see me again, if I still want to join I will go somewere else) Right now my focus is on school, friends, and going down to pendalten to shoot this summer.

 

[TarpleyG]

Look, lemme give some advice from someone that has BTDT. I joined the Marine Corps when I was 17 after convincing my parents that it was what I wanted to do, against their advice and judgement. I wish now that I had listened to them.

My grand plan was to go to college right after high school and get an undergrad engineering degree. Once college was done, I was going to go to OCS and then try to go to flight school, ANY flight school. I wanted to fly something. If I couldn't swing a flying assignment, I'd have done something else I suppose. My problem was that I got in a hurry and just couldn't wait. My buddies were going and I wanted to go.

Don't get me wrong, it made a better person out of me, but here I am nearly 20 years later with 4 years of reserve duty under my belt and still no college degree. I would be a couple years from retirement right now had I stuck to my plan and I would be getting a good pension, probably be in a lot better shape, and would have finished college.

My opinion--go to college, even if you don't want to. Then, if you still feel this need to serve, go in as an officer (or, you can still be enlisted if that floats your boat but the pay is less).

Greg

 

[jefnvk]

I am joining to fight and the marine corps will teach me how to do that, I could pass the army shooting qualification at 10 I would have trouble trusting the guy next to me knowing he dosent know how to shoot

I don't think I would go into this with that attitude.

 

[X Who]

Get in SHAPE!
Hit the books, it will help.
Get in shape: run 2 miles at least, 3 miles is better, 8 minute/mile -good, 7 minute/mile - excellent, 6 minute/mile - outstanding. Pullups - 6 minimum, situps - work towards 80 in 2 minutes, pushups.

I went through OCS (a long time ago) and we had to be in reasonable shape on arrival. The more fit you are, the easier it all is. The candidates that did not pass the Physical Fitness Test got to do remedial PT (PT after supper on top of regular PT every morning). OCS is different than Boot Camp, but the physical conditioning is still tough.

 

[bogie]

Hint: Putting down "rifleman" or "infantry" on a resume doesn't get you very far.

If you are already familiar with that area, and _any_ kind of language skills/aptitude, I suspect that you would be of most service going to language school.

If you wanna be high-speed, low drag, that's fine, but it ain't gonna last 20 years. And when you get done with a 6 year enlistment, if you want out, you're basically gonna be starting over.

And quite frankly, if I were joining today, I wouldn't be joining to fight. I'd be joining to kill, or to support someone else in doing so. Fighting means that you're likely to get hurt. Fighting ain't fun. Ain't no winners, just who didn't lose worse. Been there. Done that, got blood all over the t-shirt.

I'd rather not fight Abdul - I'd rather just kill him, and get it over with.

 

[Azrael256]

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

I think that's the best advice so far. If you want to sign up, good for you. So, go to school first and walk into the recruiter's office with a degree. They'll take care of more student loan debt than you can rack up (at most public schools, anyway), and you'll have the golden opportunity to head off to OCS. As Brian Williams observed earlier, you will not get anywhere without your education behind you. Even if you still feel the desire to be a grunt when you join, and I have known several enlisted Marines with between one and three degrees, not only will it be your choice to be a grunt, but there will be other options open to you that are not open to other grunts.

GO TO SCHOOL FIRST!

 

[Rezin]

My mom needed to be convinced to let my brother join.....

He got killed in Nam right around his 19th birthday.



Then, I had to beg and plead to join.


I joined anyway, against her wishes.... Destroyed my knees.


I hope you really know what you are joining. It's NOT a game, it's not a joke. Also, your chances on being a Scount/Sniper are about .05% LOTS more than shooting to be a sniper.


Also, 1 last word of advice (I speak from experiance) DO NOT GO "OPEN CONTRACT" no matter what. You recruiter will tell you ANYTHING. Don't believe him.



I still am glad I joined, but looking back, all I can think is "Boy, was I a gullible, stupid, easily influanced kid" But of course, I'd never say that to you, cause I bet, like me, you KNOW what you are doing.....



Semper Fi.....

 

[Hacker15E]

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.

Just wondering, Maarten, how much time in combat you have?

There are lots of us people on this board who have been there and done that, and the advice we're giving is forged in experience. Getting shot at is highly over-rated, and can certainly wait. There will be plenty of war to go around for everyone, so what's the hurry?

The Warrior

Young warriors pride themselves
on prowess with weapons,
their swiftness and accuracy,
hoping for combat to prove their skill.
Commanders, be watchful at first combat,
for when the young warrior pierces
the enemy's flesh for the first time
and the warm blood of life
turns cold in his hands,
he becomes an "Old Warrior"
-- no longer hoping for war
but praying for peace.

by Jeffrey E. Thompson
Raven 28

 

[Byron Quick]

Quote:
I am joining to fight and the marine corps will teach me how to do that, I could pass the army shooting qualification at 10 I would have trouble trusting the guy next to me knowing he dosent know how to shoot


I don't think I would go into this with that attitude.
__________________

I don't know. That's the attitude that I obtained watching many of my fellow privates on the rifle ranges at Ft. Jackson in 1974. Many of them were city boys who had never held a rifle before. After Basic, I trusted most of them not to accidentally point a gun at me. I trusted maybe half of them to ever hit the target. When I was discharged in 1980, my opinion hadn't changed. I didn't believe at the time that the Army's firearm training was obtaining its stated goal. There were trainees who couldn't pass the PT tests and couldn't qualify on the range. About a third of the company, in fact. More couldn't qualify on the range. I was there. I saw it. They graduated with the training company. How? The DI's falsified their records, that's how.

I think some things have changed. It's been a good while since I've heard of such from recent soldiers. But the Army we had in the late seventies would have had trouble fighting its way out of a wet paper bag.

 

[pyrotechnic]

Hacker15E,
I have no experience what so ever. As I said, I am still in the DEP. The only experience I have is that of sitting around for over a year waiting to sign, and now sitting around taking classes that I have already taken and sitting in study halls. I feel like I am waisting my time, but I do really need that diploma. So no, I do not know what life in the Corps is like, but I do know that what I am doing now sucks and I am anxious to get to boot camp.

I meant no disrespect to anyone with my posts, I just wrote it the way I feel about it.

Regards,
Maarten

 

[themontashu]

Get in SHAPE!
Hit the books, it will help.
Get in shape: run 2 miles at least, 3 miles is better, 8 minute/mile -good, 7 minute/mile - excellent, 6 minute/mile - outstanding. Pullups - 6 minimum, situps - work towards 80 in 2 minutes, pushups.

I went through OCS (a long time ago) and we had to be in reasonable shape on arrival. The more fit you are, the easier it all is. The candidates that did not pass the Physical Fitness Test got to do remedial PT (PT after supper on top of regular PT every morning). OCS is different than Boot Camp, but the physical conditioning is still tough.

I read evory book on the marine corps I can get my hands on.

I run a 6:30 mile, I can do 6 or 7 pull ups, I can do over 100 sit ups, and like 60 push ups

 

[themontashu]

I'd rather not fight Abdul - I'd rather just kill him, and get it over with.

That is why I am going to be a sniper

 

[themontashu]

My mom needed to be convinced to let my brother join.....

He got killed in Nam right around his 19th birthday.



Then, I had to beg and plead to join.


I joined anyway, against her wishes.... Destroyed my knees.


I hope you really know what you are joining. It's NOT a game, it's not a joke. Also, your chances on being a Scount/Sniper are about .05% LOTS more than shooting to be a sniper.


Also, 1 last word of advice (I speak from experiance) DO NOT GO "OPEN CONTRACT" no matter what. You recruiter will tell you ANYTHING. Don't believe him.



I still am glad I joined, but looking back, all I can think is "Boy, was I a gullible, stupid, easily influanced kid" But of course, I'd never say that to you, cause I bet, like me, you KNOW what you are doing.....



Semper Fi.....

I know what my chances are for becoming a sniper and I have a pretty good idea of what it take, I shoot with a former scout sniper and have talked to him about it.

As far as negociating my contract my neighbor is a retired marine recruter and he is going to help me so I don't get screwed over.

 

[Powderman]

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!!!!

Fella, if you don't listen to ANYONE else, LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!!!!

He knows EXACTLY what he is talking about.

My son just got out of the Corps, four years as an Artilleryman, six month tour in Fallujah.

He has changed. My gosh, has he changed!

He is still my son; that will never change. But he has told me things that he has seen, and hinted somewhat at things he has done.

He does NOT talk about Fallujah, at any great length at all. And, I don't ask.

He has said some stuff--the type that makes a parent's blood grow cold, and stop and think--and mourn the loss of innocence.

Stuff like, when talking about clearing buildings. I commented on how loud an M16 can get when fired in a room.

He said, "No, it doesn't. It's not loud at all--just a pop."

Three Marines from his section now are being actively treated for mental problems and PTSD. He said, when asked, "Oh, they turned into pu**ies because they had to kill someone."

I have seen him get angry recently. The whole set of his body changed, and his eyes--my God, his eyes. If I encounter anyone who looks at me like that when I'm on patrol, they're going to be at gunpoint as fast as I can yank my sidearm from the holster.

There have been times when I have talked to him--times when he sounds so lonely and lost. I have shed many tears--in private--over the memory of the little fella who used to take walks with me--and how he has changed.

Don't get me wrong--he's my son, part of my blood. That will NEVER change, and I will always love him. But he has changed.

Think about this, my friend. Don't be so fast to run off to war. If this is something you are going to do--I mean, joining the Marines--then do so.

But, think about it, first.

 

[William P.]

Before I begin, some small background. Been trolling here for a few months and have decided to make my entrance here. I have been in the Marine Corps since October of 1997. I have been on 4 deployments, 3 of those to combat zones. I am an Infantry Rifleman with a detailed knowledge of precision marksmanship. If you want anymore info than what I say here. Feel free to PM me. Hell I'll call your mom if you want.
I AM NOT A RECRUITER....I am out of the Marines in 10 days because I Don't want to be a recruiter.

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

Your recruiter won't lie to you. Those days are long gone. Just make sure that you listen very carefully to everything he says. Make sure read everything he gives you.
He will tell you that you can be a sniper. Because you can. However there will be no garantee of that when you join. The best thing to do is ask to be an 0311. If you ask for that...you're gonna get it. Make your second choice 0331.

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.

Very good advice. If you are serious about this you need to be ready talk to her like a man.
Exactly what I did when I joined:
Mom: I'm not sure about this.
Me: Well when I turn 18 I am joining.
Mom: Well I dont have to do anything until then.
Me: What about the Delayed Entry Program?
Mom: No way
Me: So when I turn 18 you are going to let me go completely unprepared.
Mom: ......
Me: The recruiter will be here in 10 minutes with the paperwork.

Join Delayed Entry. Spend some time around the Marines at the recruiting station, ask the recruiter to teach you stuff. Tell him you want to learn the rank structure, history, land nav. etc.etc. it will pay off.

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

But there is the pride, excitement, and a deep satisfaction in the knowledge that you are serving the country you love. Those 2 years of being a carefree teenager are replaced with life experiences most can't even imagine.

And remember nothing is ever final until you get on the bus to go.

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

With complete moronic nonsense like that no wonder you have to keep "not a troll" in your sig.

I guess it not the skills and experiences I gained in the Marines that have me walking into a 80k a year job next month?

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.

If you are serious about becoming SS make sure all 3 have an 03 in the front. Marine SS works pretty simple. You need to be a grunt. Get to know the guys in the Battalion's STA Platoon. Pass the indoc. You will probably be in the STA Platoon learning to be SS for a long time before they would ever consider sending you to SS school so be prepared for that. Mostly...start making yourself hard now. Run everyday. Put a pack on and run. Learn to swim like a dolphin. If you have a fear of heights....get over it. One weekend stay awake for at least 60 hours so you know what to expect. Do pullups everyday. Keep doing them until you can do at least 20 cold.

Don't join with the Security Forces option. This is a good deal, but it will kill you becoming SS.

Hope this helps out.

-Will

 

[HI express]

Truth?

I joined up and went in to the Army in 1966. I was 18 and it was against my parents' wishes. I tried whining, pleading, and was told no way were they going to sign on to letting me go.

I finally matured some and when I was determined that I had to act like a mature adult, I quietly sat my parents down, explained what I was going to do and left them upset to sign up.

My nephew is now on his 2nd tour in Iraq, he was in the big push up to Baghdad on his first tour. He admits that this time he has a high risk of getting killed or seriously wounded. He is a turret gunner and when he runs out of ammo or he has to dismount he is a designated marksman.

See if you can talk to some combat vets. They can tell you the real info.. not some romantic idea of combat. I was in 'Nam. My nephew didn't go in with too much idealism.. I think.

Luck.

 

[William P.]

He knows EXACTLY what he is talking about.

Stuff like, when talking about clearing buildings. I commented on how loud an M16 can get when fired in a room.

He said, "No, it doesn't. It's not loud at all--just a pop."

Three Marines from his section now are being actively treated for mental problems and PTSD. He said, when asked, "Oh, they turned into pu**ies because they had to kill someone."

He has relevent insights, however it is your decision.
When that much adrenaline is your system you don't hear much of anything. Guns get really quiet and people get really loud....Now sitting behind an M40....that baby is still loud.

Right before you join look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are truly ready to kill. No amount of training can prepare you and it is hard....the first time at least...unless you have no soul. Start thinking about it now and if and when it happens you won't be crying to the wizard about your nightmares.

 

[backphil]

William P gives sound advice.

I joined the Marines in 1972, after a one year try at college. I wasn't ready for college, but I took to the Corps like a duck to water. The best decision I have ever made. Well, marrying my wife (of 31 years) as a Lance Corporal was a very good decision as well.

I retired in 1998 from the Navy as a Lcdr Naval Aviator (10 years total Marine Corps time). I tried to stay in the Corps but that's another story.

If you are going to go into combat, there is not a finer fight force than the Marines. I would not recommend any other service.

It takes a special man to be a Marine. Many will tell you "I could have been a Marine, but . . ."

I would have volunteered to fight again with the Marines in Iraq, if they would take me. This war against islamofascism will go on and on for many years, regardless if we effectively engage the enemy "over there."

A Marine sniper is as deadly a fighting man as ever walked the earth. Sounds like you have done your homework. I would hate to be a raghead in your cross hairs.

After four years as an 0341 (mortars) I went back to college and came back in as an officer of Marines in 1980. At my commissioning ceremony in the living room of my parent's house, I told my family that I was voluntarily accepting this commission and I would be disappointed, if I was captured, if any of my family members disgraced me, the Marine Corps, and our country by going on TV and berating the Marine Corps and our Commander in Chief because of my personal predicament. (I was referring to the scum bag family members during the Iranian Embassy incident in 1979, who openly criticized the Marine Corps and President Carter).

If your heart is 100% Marine Corps, you'll do fine.

 

[William P.]

I know what my chances are for becoming a sniper and I have a pretty good idea of what it take, I shoot with a former scout sniper and have talked to him about it.

How long ago did he serve as SS? If was within the last 10 years or so. If you haven't already, go ahead and start picking his brains about fieldcraft. If you break down the job of SS into 10 equal parts, only one part will have anyhting to do with that rifle. The other 9 are full of the field skills and observation techniques required to perform the job. The Marine Corps doesn't have "Snipers" they have "ScoutSnipers" notice which comes first it the title.

-Will

 

[themontashu]

Fella, if you don't listen to ANYONE else, LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!!!!

He knows EXACTLY what he is talking about.

My son just got out of the Corps, four years as an Artilleryman, six month tour in Fallujah.

He has changed. My gosh, has he changed!

He is still my son; that will never change. But he has told me things that he has seen, and hinted somewhat at things he has done.

He does NOT talk about Fallujah, at any great length at all. And, I don't ask.

He has said some stuff--the type that makes a parent's blood grow cold, and stop and think--and mourn the loss of innocence.

Stuff like, when talking about clearing buildings. I commented on how loud an M16 can get when fired in a room.

He said, "No, it doesn't. It's not loud at all--just a pop."

Three Marines from his section now are being actively treated for mental problems and PTSD. He said, when asked, "Oh, they turned into pu**ies because they had to kill someone."

I have seen him get angry recently. The whole set of his body changed, and his eyes--my God, his eyes. If I encounter anyone who looks at me like that when I'm on patrol, they're going to be at gunpoint as fast as I can yank my sidearm from the holster.

There have been times when I have talked to him--times when he sounds so lonely and lost. I have shed many tears--in private--over the memory of the little fella who used to take walks with me--and how he has changed.

Don't get me wrong--he's my son, part of my blood. That will NEVER change, and I will always love him. But he has changed.

Think about this, my friend. Don't be so fast to run off to war. If this is something you are going to do--I mean, joining the Marines--then do so.

But, think about it, first.

Well after some priliminary testing my recruter jest called and has advised me to go to a 4 year school and do ROTC. I talked to my mom about that and she is alot more for that idea, I will get a degree, get to shoot on the schools shooting team, and be able to be an oficer.