There is nothing else like a team effort towards something that actually matters, something that gives me respect for myself.
How can I have respect for myself If I dont try to do the best I can? I feel I can become a Marine, and so Im going to do my damned best.
I already know people will never give me respect even if I deserve it, How can I expect it if I havent even tried anyway? they are as self centered as anyone else hunting for respect.
If I was to do this to try and earn other people's "respect", it would be idiotic and dishonorable. Hunting for respect doesnt get you respect, It is dishonorable.
I dont have to be the platoon leader, Im not going to sell myself out just to get an extra bar on my sleeve. I would rather be a turd than not be able to look other(future) Marines in the eyes and know I didnt sell them out.

I really want to be a Marine so 30 years from the day I enlist I can reflect back on my life and say this to an up and coming young person who need some type of guidance, "To be something you must first decide what it is you want to be and never give up no matter the hardship you will have to endure to become what you feel on the inside". Also, because I believe in peace, prosperity, and sacrifice. The United States Marine Corps is the only branch of the United States Military that I know who will not force you to be what you already are but what you already want to be.

Why do I want to be a Marine? My Marine recruiter asked me this before, but I couldn't give him a direct answer. Now that I've matured, I know why. I want to be a Marine to better myself, to make me a better person and leader than what I am now. I want the Corps values instilled into me and my life, as it has been to all Marines. I want to be a Marine to prove to my mother that it is not a waste of my time. To prove to her that being a Marine is gonna be the best thing that ever happens to me. I want her to come up to me on graduation day and tell me that she's proud of me and that she supports me, than to not see her at all. I want her to see that joining the military is something that I want to do and see that I plan on making this my career. She has all the common concerns, but I just tell her "You can't live life in fear, if you live in fear then what can you hope to accomplish".

I've wanted to be a Marine since freshman year in high school. I've looked at every branch but none of them interests me like the Marine Corps. I know that the Army, Navy and Air Force won't give me the motivation, discipline and life that I desire out of the Marine Corps. Every Marine that I have spoken to are confident, proud, sharp and all have so much love for their country and Corps. I love how the Marine Corps consider themselves as a family than an organization. I love the togetherness, how Marines call each other brother and sister, the committment and honor.

I love the thought of earning the title as a Marine. When you work for something and you finally earn it, that makes it much more meaningful. I want that title as Woman Marine or Marine, they both have great meaning. I want the challenge and I want that sense of pride. One day, I will be a Marine Officer and when I become that officer, I couldn't be more honored than to lead great men and women Marines under my command.

...

This post is going to be a long one because it is about this year, 2008, and my decision to become one of the few, the proud, the Marines.

I want to be a Marine more than anything in life. Why? I failed at graduating from UT Austin on time (within four years). Also, I am a broke college student with a single mother who can no longer support my education. My younger brother attended UT Austin with me but has already joined the Army this summer, due to the situation we both shared. We're smart but couldn't care about school enough. Now my brother is off in the Army getting his career jump started while I return home to a grim academic future.

When I started college back in 2004, I did promise myself to join the Marine Corps if I ever failed to graduate with a degree. Back then it was something I took lightly and didn't give much thought. By the time the summer of 2008 rolled around, I had to make a decision quick before I wasted anymore time. I am already 22.

In college, I pursued the nursing profession because I enjoy the medical field as well as helping others. So when I announced to my military friends that I am going to MEPS, bound for the USMC, they suggested other branches such as the Navy. They explained how the Navy offers jobs like Hospitalman/Corpsman. That job is interesting but I want to do the Marines first. I couldn't finish school because of my lack of discipline and I sought to improve myself with the help of the Corps. I want to change and I need to change. But why put myself through such hardships, especially with an ASVAB score of 88, my mother and friends would ask? I couldn't explain why at the time but now I have thought about everything and anything and have come up with a good answer.

I believe by going through the Marine Corps Boot Camp training, I will acquire everything I need to succeed. I believe that only through this path can I truly unlock my fullest potential in being a man and a human being. I wish to leave an impact on this earth before I leave and sitting at home isn't going to let me. That is why I have chosen to sign up for Marine Infantry. But then another question arose. Why infantry? You can do something else in the Marines and still contribute, why infantry?

When I do something I do it to the extreme. When I decided to join the Marines not only do I want to be a Marine, I want to have the fullest experience. I want to go out there and help stop the war myself instead of protesting or complaining from the safety of home. To all those that think I am stupid and foolish, I say there is only one way to find out who is right and who is wrong. I am going balls out with this decision and I intend to see it through the finish. No bonus, average pay, imminent danger for what? For myself! I am going to get whats mine and the whole world is out there waiting for me. I will leave October 27th a boy, and come back a man, ready to take on any and all responsibilities. I WILL become a Marine and make everyone proud but most of all I will be satisfied with myself, finally. Thanks for reading my story.

-DK

p.s. a quote that touched me
"For all of those that have son's or daughter's at bootcamp let me pass on what I found. Let me give you a little back ground first. When my son left home he had no motivation, he was lazy, slobby, no pride, no self worth. This is the boy that got off the bus March 18th at Parris Island. The man that I met on Thursday for parents day is AWESOME. There is no way I can describe to you all the difference. He looks different, he walks different, he talks different, he has such a sense of bearing and pride all I could do was look at him in awe. Oh yes, the training is hard, what he went through is unimaginable to any one that has not been there. They are definitely taught to be Warriors. Let me tell you the surprise of what else they are taught. My Marine son has better values, better morals, better manners than any one I know. It is so much more than Yes Sir, Yes Mam...so much more. He cares about how he looks, he cares about what he does, and its not a boastful, bad ass thing. He is a true gentleman. I saw patience, and a calmness in him that I have never seen. I could never express my gratitude enough to the Marine Corps for what they have given my son. I know this, I have an 11 year old Devil pup still at home. When the time comes for his turn if I had to I would take him kicking and screaming all the way. Although I'm sure that will not happen. The hero worship I see in my younger sons eyes for his Marine brother tells me I will have two Marines in the family, and I will be one very proud mother."
"Cybil", Mother of a Marine writing to the myMarine Group

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Korilla,

My decision to join came one day when I was talking to my dad about my security guard job. I was frustrated with the feeling that I wasn't accomplishing anything. My dad said he knew an Army recruiter I could talk to and my immediate response was "I decided a long time ago that if I ever joined the military I would be a Marine!" Why?
Because Marines carry their chins higher, the pride and confidence Marines give off is contagious. As one DI said and I'm paraphrasing "At MCRD we make believers". Not only are Marines believers, they act on their beliefs!!

Also, I don't want to " Be All that I Can Be" I want to be a part of something greater than myself!

Marines are human like the rest of us, with their own unique needs and failings. What sets them apart from civilians and the other branches of the military is their courage, patriotism, discipline, and love of the Corps. They join the Marine Corps not because it is easy, but because it is hard. They face challenges with confidence, overcome obstacles without sacrificing their honor, and truly earn the respect their title brings. I respect every service member for their selfless gift to their country and to people in need around the world. But I hold every Marine in a higher esteem for the ideals and the values they have earned the right to represent.

I want to join the military because I have reaped the benefits of being born in the United States, but I have not yet earned them. Serving will fulfill the desire to earn my keep.

But I want to be a Marine because I want to be a part of a group of men and women who I look up to. I want to earn a place among them, and to prove to myself that I am better than I thought I was. It's about doing something I have always wanted to do, and never thought I could. It's about being able to look back on my life and be proud.

The Marines will ask more of me than I've ever been asked to give. I want to answer that call. I want to count myself among the many Marines who have told me "I wish I could do it all again."

That being said, here's hoping it all works out & the C.O. is OK with my age...

quote:

Originally posted by 14435181:
When I decided to join the military noone in my family could understand why I wanted to join the Marines. So for a while I started to look at the other branches, but I kept coming back to the Marines. I didn't know why, noone else in my family had ever been a Marine.

Both of my brothers told me that they couldn't see me in the Marines, and I think that is one of the main reasons that I chose the Marines. I wanted to show my family that I could do something worthwhile, I could do something better and bigger with my life.

I have always taken the easy way out in life, I had average grades, I quit playing football. I want to show them and myself that I can be one of the best. Everytime I see anything about the Marines, I just can't help but get motivated and feel like I just wanna kill something. Without even knowing it, when I would accomplish something, I would scream "Oohrah"

So I am joining to prove something to myself, my family, and my country. That I can be one of The Few the Proud, The Marines.

Semper Fi

This just gave me the chills. I think I know why I want to join.

All my life I have wasted it away with trying this and that and hardly finishing anything I ever started. I was afraid of failing. So I would give EVERYTHIGN I had until I could no longer handle it anymore. I would loose all my determination and would inevitably fail. Well I am sick and tired of that. I am not afraid to fail anymore. I am joining the Marines because I want to show everybody that I CAN finish what I start and I CAN do somethign with my life worth living for. I want to show MYSELF that I am capable of succeeding. I want to help people. I want a challenge that will bring out the best in me. I want to improve the three traits that motivate me,
self confidence, self discipline, and responsibility. I want the title as Marine.

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family military history, but mainly what got me in the Marine Corps is Scout Sniper and Special Duty Assignment MOS,

I would like to know what initally attracted you guys to the Marines that stood out versus other branches? My reason would be the sense of pride and brotherhood that all Marines share. I always wanted to be apart of the best and the Marines just stuck out to me for some reason.

In answer to reese07, I always heard it said the marines trained you the hardest.

I want to have the super discipline you get from being a marine.

There is always that feeling of being pulled to it I've heard a couple people talk of.

And, I want to be a politician in the house of representatives, I want to know what it is like before I make a decision for or against a war.

I'm in high school and I Want to be a MARINE because i want the title,and the pride that comes along with it,I gotta say,i agree with what a lot of people are saying and they are describing exactly the way I feel.No tonly that but I'm in NJROTC and I am a cadet Senior Chief,I am also the Armed Drill Team Commander,but I am all this only because of the person I looked up to did this,He's a good buddy of mine,and he inspired me to want to become a Marine, He is a PFC right now in Artillery,I don't think I have to say what branch.He was the Commander before me and I learned everything from him,I have always been interested in the military but whenever i talk to a recruiter i always drift towards the Marine Recruiter and I talk to Him the most,so I guess I'm just Bor to be One,but first I'll Have to EARN IT.