I cut out of work a half day early today because my wife called and said her parents would be able to watch my son and daughter today. I was planning on going to see a recruiter earlier in the week but was unable to find anyone to watch the kids. So, this presented a perfect opportunity to get the ball rolling and at least introduce myself before the week was over. I met with a recruiter near my in-law's house and introduced myself and my wife to him. He had his wife there and some of her family along with their new born baby. My wife did the typical cooing and chatting with his wife about it and I congradulated him and welcomed him to fatherhood. I then told him I wanted to get some information, ask some questions, and kind of do the meet and greet exchange which had just took place. he asked me if I only had one child. i advised him that i actually had two. This is when he gave me the Bad News. He told me that I was ineligible for the Marine Corps! He said that because the Corps is technically "overstaffed" or over quota by 2,000 that they would not do a waiver or bend the rules on the number of the dependents. Seeing as how I have 3, a wife, daughter, and son, and the Corps only allows two that there was nothing more that He could do for me. he tried to lighten the mood by saying he doesn't expect me to give up one of my kids. I kind of grinned as a pleasentry and in the same wise ass manor that is my personality looked at my wife with the sinister grin. She punched me.... knowing I was joking of course........... but the end result is that i will not be joing you amongst the elite. I will never be one of the few.... I am one of the proud though! My convictions are still strong. This week I managed to drop below 250 and am still dropping weight. I may not ever be called a "Marine" or be able to wear the honorable Eagle, Globe, and Anchor... no Devil Dawg, Jar Head, Fat Body, Pork Chop, Grunt, or any other term of endearment that comes with the title. No, it is no longer an option as I was told. However, i can still be a member of the armed forces.... I will just have to drop the rest of the weight and stay on track the next few months before my age limit expires. I may never be able to call any of you fellow Marine or "Brother" in the Marines.... But I will still be proud to serve next to any of you in a different uniform. Deano.... thanks for the support, advise, and encouragement man. I only wish I could have done ya proud and been one of the "Hollywood Elite". haha. Good luck to all of you! Strength and Honor!
I did not ask about reserves and no I have not given up. I figure I will just keep working on dropping weight and improving on the PT and see if I can find a loop hole in the next few months to a year. I am down, but not out... not until my 28th Birthday. Yesterday was just a gut shot.
Dude, we're talking the Corps which means we're always short of everything from people to lube oil. Overstaffed is always just a temporary situation at the end of every shooting war and it's always policy to let the old Salts go in favor of bringing in new Recruits. Hand in there and keep doing what you're doing by staying on top of it WEEKLY with Recruiters because things always change real fast with little warning.
