Thread: Outside support.

Gentlemen...

This is possibly not the forum for this discussion. However, as much as I value your input into matters of my grooming I have grown to appreciate and value your opinions on other matters. I am fully aware I have had dissagreements with a few on here but it has always been civil and as such I would like your input.

Now as some may recall I am in the process of attempting to join the royal marine corps. I have had a few medical setbacks but I aint out of the running.

Now before anyone assumes I am doubting my choice. I am not. I merely invite you guys to give me your opinions. To allow me to weigh any doubts I have. I personally believe I would make a good marine, but if from my attitude on this forum leads you to a differing opinion please say so. Likewise if your opinion from my history here says I may be an asset then, why?

Hoping many contribute.

Geek

I don't know you but good luck. Do what you want and what you feel is right for yourself. I have been a professional Soldier my whole adult life now and my JROTC instructor in High School said I would never make it in the military.

Make up your mind about the Royal Marines, based on how you feel about yourself; not what others may think of you.

You will be humping that pack, not us. You may lose your life, we won't.

You will carry on that fine tradition & the honor that will follow you the rest of your life; we will not.

This decision is too important to be decided by another's personal views of you.


You will do fine, start the journey.

My son just recently enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He's been looking at the military for about 4 years, he's done his research and decided that the Corp was where he wanted to be!

One of the times the Staff Sgt was in our home, my son asked him "How do you fail Marine Boot Camp"? The reply was; "You have to give up". My son swears that he will not 'give up'!

While I proudly served in the United States Navy on SSN 668. I"m proud that my son has joined a branch that holds the bar higher than some. I'm proud of all of the branches! I'm sure that those who have served with them will feel likewise!

My Boy Scout Scoutmaster turned 89 this last year, he survived Iwo Jima. A few years ago he did an interview in conjunction with the Library of Congress. It's not the best, but it's very interesting. If you have time, check it out!

Good Luck! Don't Give Up!

Owen Darst Agenbroad

Geek, It sounds to me that your mind is made up and you believe you will make a good Soldier. A more important mindset does not come to me other than what you have said you feel about your choice. Military service can provide a life career or several years of service and then moving on to something else as a career choice. If the later becomes your decision you will have a head start as the value system you learn in the service will be of benefit in civilian life and perhaps a great benefit. If you choose a career in the Military service you will have my respect and highest regards for your service as all career Military have.
Our world today has many dark shadows on the horizon and you may find yourself in a situation where your life is at risk on a daily basis if not hourly basis. Should that happen to you it will test your resolve and your training can make the difference between surviving and not surviving as well as the survival or not of those who are your comrades in arms.
I wish you God's speed and you will always be able to find us here to share your experiences.

I was in the national guard and it was life changing for the good and the bad but it comes with the territory of joining. Personally I think all 18 yr olds should serve at least 4 yrs but that's my thing other will object. Bravo on wanting to join you have my support. Just going to tell you one thing is be a NINJA while in basic training the last thing you want is you're drill instructor to know your name if they do your doomed but good luck great decision

I can't tell you. This is one of the things which you have to know for yourself.

My sensei (and good friend) is currently finishing his officer training. He came in as an outsider. Has 2 masters degrees, and lives for martial arts. When he lost his job, he applied for an opening for officer in the army. He underwent several tests, and came out as top candidate from a pool of over a thousand applicants.

His training... to be frank... you have to be slightly 'off' if you like that kind of stuff. Marching through rain and bad weather with 150 pounds of junk on your back. Then build camp, dig trenches, and do whatever else they do. Then break up after 2 hours sleep and march through the night to the base camp where you cram some food down your throat before your actual physical training begins. Sleep is measured in hours per week. Weekends are used to study as much as possible for the language tests (officers need to be tri-langual) and other theoretical tests.

From the stories he told me, the entire process is not so much to bring out the best in people, but the worst. The entire 1.5 year training is designed to weed out anyone who is less than strong in all areas. Which makes sense, especially for officers. The first stage is to weed out people on physical levels. The next level is to weed out people on psychological level. And the final level is to weed out on character.

I'm pretty sure I'd be one of the weeds. Even if I could survive that kind of training, I'd never do this voluntarily. Yet he takes to it like a fish in water. For him, being an officer is not a job, it's something he 'is'.

Anyway, my point is: it depends wholly and who and what you 'are'. And none of us can tell you. If you feel your future is in that direction, go for it.