MARINES: would you encourage your son to become one?

[Connery]

I have served and am involved with current and former military personnel. I would support his decision, hopefully not show my bias, and bring him to a base, a VA hospital and a service member's club so he could speak to others and see the realities of being in the military.

[...]

Good advice.

But I must add that it's important to know the realities of not just being in the military but being in today's military with all our military is involved in -- especially in the Middle East.

I agree that is why I emphasized bring him to a base as well, there he can speak and see families who are effected by today's military.

 

[The Professor]

More career options and faster promotion.

The faster promotion part is very true. The Corps has the slowest rate of promotions compared to the other branches. I believe the Army has the quickest.

One of the reason the Corps has the slowest is there are fewer people and the competition is stiff.

I was promoted from Corporal to .... Corporal !!

Back in the 1950s, the USMC decided it had too many NCOs, so they classified all those who had attained the rank of Corporal (two stripes) as Acting Corporal. MY next promotion was to Corporal (a real one this time, but with two stripes and a "rocker).

Still, there is nothing like being a Marine.

 

[SFC Ollie]

More career options and faster promotion.

The faster promotion part is very true. The Corps has the slowest rate of promotions compared to the other branches. I believe the Army has the quickest.

One of the reason the Corps has the slowest is there are fewer people and the competition is stiff.

I was promoted from Corporal to .... Corporal !!

Back in the 1950s, the USMC decided it had too many NCOs, so they classified all those who had attained the rank of Corporal (two stripes) as Acting Corporal. MY next promotion was to Corporal (a real one this time, but with two stripes and a "rocker).

Still, there is nothing like being a Marine.

And the Army created the Specialists....Spec 4 all the way up to Spec 9.....They had the pay grade but were not considered to be in leadership positions.... That has gone away now with the exception of Spec 4....

 

[007]

More career options and faster promotion.

The faster promotion part is very true. The Corps has the slowest rate of promotions compared to the other branches. I believe the Army has the quickest.

One of the reason the Corps has the slowest is there are fewer people and the competition is stiff.

I was promoted from Corporal to .... Corporal !!

Back in the 1950s, the USMC decided it had too many NCOs, so they classified all those who had attained the rank of Corporal (two stripes) as Acting Corporal. MY next promotion was to Corporal (a real one this time, but with two stripes and a "rocker).

Still, there is nothing like being a Marine.

The Air Force had something similar back in the 80's. Both Senior Airman and Buck Sargent were E-4. Senior Airman had three stripes and the star was subdued, Buck Sargent was three stripes and the star got colored in, both E-4, both same pay grade, except Buck Sargent was obviously a promotion to NCO. I don't believe they do that anymore. Master Sargent was six stripes hangin' too, now they have have five down and one up.

 

[skye]

Sure I would.

Make a man out of him.

 

[Connery]

Sure I would.

Make a man out of him.

It would make a Marine out of him. Manhood is a journey, not a destination.

Men are made over a lifetime of challenge, triumph and tragedy.

 

[MikeK]

More career options and faster promotion.

The faster promotion part is very true. The Corps has the slowest rate of promotions compared to the other branches. I believe the Army has the quickest.

One of the reason the Corps has the slowest is there are fewer people and the competition is stiff.

I was promoted from Corporal to .... Corporal !!

Back in the 1950s, the USMC decided it had too many NCOs, so they classified all those who had attained the rank of Corporal (two stripes) as Acting Corporal. MY next promotion was to Corporal (a real one this time, but with two stripes and a "rocker).

Still, there is nothing like being a Marine.

I remember that "Lance" bs. I think they started that a week or two before I got out.

I should mention the highest rank I achieved was Corporal E-3, which I lost six months before getting out for severely telling off a Staff Sgt. I was separated (after four years) as PFC.

 

[Warrior102]

And the Army created the Specialists....Spec 4 all the way up to Spec 9.....They had the pay grade but were not considered to be in leadership positions.... That has gone away now with the exception of Spec 4....

Hard stripers.... I remember the difference.

 

[Meathead]

I might, but he doesn't have the temperament. In a way I'm glad. In another, not so much.

 

[The Professor]

I was in the Marines a long time ago. I was sworn in just two days past my 17th birthday, a shade over 6' tall and weighing all of 145 pounds. Being a Marine was the experience of a lifetime and one I remember with extreme pride. During boot camp we were pushed to the absolute limits of physical and mental endurance, an almost brutal transformation process which was necessary to complete the metamorphosis from civilian to Marine. The Marines have two mottoes: Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) and Death Before Dishonor. I can't think of a better moral code for any man, whether a warrior or not. I would recommend the Marine corps to my son or any other young man.

There is a camaraderie among Marines that lasts a lifetime. I served almost half a century ago, yet even now when I pass a man wearing the Marine Corps emblem, I greet him with a smile and a “Semper Fi” and he returns the same greeting. That simple exchange forms an instant bond and no other words are necessary.

The Professor - Former radio-telegraph operator and member of 2nd ANGLICO (Air and Naval Gun Fire Liaison Company), the Old Corps.

 

[editec]

To the Marines on this board: Would you encourage your sons to become Marines?

I served the 3-1 as a cField medic corpsman, so I will answer despite the fact that I was NAV, not CORPS.

My answer is NO.

And would you encourage your son to follow your footsteps and join?

Not for THESE governments we've had for the last 50 years, NO.

Does that even happen? Are there generational Marines?

Yes, lots and lots and lots of the men I served with had had fathers in the Corps and they ,much as I did, followed their father's path.

Thank you very much and please don't rep me for this thread, thanks.

The USMC is a honorable organization lead by Politicians without honor.

You son will be nothing but a tool (and a statistic if he is hurt or killed) to the people leading him.

Think hard about that, and for the love of GOD, make damned sure he also understands that before he goes in.