Things I wish I had done/Regrets

[gamera99]

Sorry if this thread exists elsewhere. Fellow Marines will understand what I am talking about here. I just wanted to write down a few things that I wish I had a chance to do but never did while I was in...

- wish I had a set of dress blues - never had any and never wore any in my entire time. I wasn't a mainside type and spent most of my time in a float platoon preparing for or actually in deployment.

- wish I could have gone to Benning for airborne training. I tried to get transferred to a unit like Anglico or so on so I could go, but I was never ultimately able to. My unit was amtracs. It was fun in its own way though.

- wish I hadn't started smoking when I was in. I finally quit 20 years later though.

- wish I hadn't got my nose broken twice.

- finally - this is controversial but now looking back, I wish I had gone to Israel and done a tour in the IDF instead of being in the USMC. I like the USMC but the IDF would have also been a worthy endeavor.

[davblay]

Well I am proud that I volunteered in time of the Nam War, I wish I had'nt volunteered for Nam. I wish I hadn't gone on that volunteer work detail on February 13, 1970.

If I could have changed just those things I would have been in the Corps for 21 years or so in stead of in the Army for 19!

But we play the hand we are dealt, I guess!

Semper Fi

Dave

[sdk87to91]

I wish I had gone into Infantry.

My parents were making most my decisions back when I enlisted. Enlisting was my choice, but the MOS I wanted sounded to dangerous to my mom, and I was convinced to go for something technical and brainy.

I have had nothing but regrets about that ever since. Air Traffic Control sounded good to my mom but I was not good enough at it. After that became painfully obvious, I got stuck with a lot of alternative duties, and eventually got reassigned to embarkation instead. That new assignment was good for Desert Shield and Storm, but I still would have rather gone into infantry from the beginning.

Poolee's dont let your mommy choose your MOS..... You may live longer but it sucks doing the wrong job for your heart.

[Crusader20]

I regret not going back to do the Recon indoc again. I attempted the first time and was doing well until i twisted my ankle on the O-course. Was not able to complete.
Gunny

[Crusader20]

Let me finish
Gunny talked me into staying with the company for one more float and then try out for it again. Never given time to try again when i got back. Got orders for SOI instructor instead.
:(

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER FATHER,WAS GONE A'LOT :evilgrin:

[Dave Coup]

Never look back, something might be gaining on you.

[Wyoming]

.

Like some folks, I wish I had stayed in for the career.


It doesn't cease to amaze me, the Marines, like me, that got out, waited a couple of years, and here they are back, on this board.
Man alive, if we had stayed in, can you imagine the badass Corps we would have made, with no disrespect meant to what we are today.


Also, like davblav, going on the volunteer work detail, I wish I had been a bit more mature after returning to the CONUS.

[SlingerDun]

-Wish I could quit sh*tting in one hand and wishing in the other to see which one fills up firsthttp://www.leatherneck.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif

--->Dave Mims

[davblay]

.

Like some folks, I wish I had stayed in for the career.


It doesn't cease to amaze me, the Marines, like me, that got out, waited a couple of years, and here they are back, on this board.
Man alive, if we had stayed in, can you imagine the badass Corps we would have made, with no disrespect meant to what we are today.


Also, like davblav, going on the volunteer work detail, I wish I had been a bit more mature after returning to the CONUS.

That was the day that ended my Marine Coprs career! I went thru mortal hell for the next year, but, as I said that was the hand I was dealt!

[outlaw3179]

One thing I wish i could take back. Something I did in Iraq. Changed everything.

I should have never left active duty . I should have been a drill instructor. I wanted to be one since day 1 of boot camp. I left the fleet for the wrong reasons.

Good Thread.

[thewookie]

When I got out in 1999 after eight great years of doing everything and more then I wanted to, I said that I was moving forward and not going to look back,,,

But then 9/11 happened.

And then Marines that I know started kicking in doors and doing what we all want, fighting with and beside our brothers.

And now a day doesn't go by where I don't think about going back, I'm healthy, I could get back into fighting shape and I could make a difference.

I have opportunities to do something as a civilian contractor or the good ole Corps.

But I said I wasn't going to look back,, and I have found success outside of the Corps so why would I give it all up?

Because I miss Marines, I miss wearing my uniforms, man I'd love to wear my dress blues again.

And to be a Marine Sergeant and to march a platoon of Marines down the street again, cranking out some window shaking, earth rockin, hard core Marine Corps cadence.

Or,, to be leading platoon of hard chargin devil dogs into an enclosure.

Yeah, I guess I look back sometimes and I wish,,,

:devious:

[sparkie]

I'm with Big Al,,,, Wanted a career, but got married. No real regrets, But, sometimes I wonder. And dream. No, I never owned any Blues. But my wife bought me my sword, and a kabar, and a 45. Guess she knows I dream. No cards,,,,,,, I'll play this hand.

[SlingerDun]

I'm healthy, I could get back into fighting shape and I could make a differenceI believe it, but could you find comfort or even tolerance in the things you used to do http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/images/icons/icon11.gif. Trying to catch Z's in dirt holes and in the back of lurching and bucking flatbeds, then theres that ocean hehehe. I'd been out of the Corps ten years and spent two years as an itinerant farrier sleeping in the front seat of a Chevy pick-up, It had a canopy but my tools and supply's filled the bed. Couldn't stretch my legs out without opening a door but i had a roof and cushions. Prior to that as a buckaroo and packer i slept under stars and tents and sometimes in the saddle, but most often had a buffer zone between the cold earth and leaky sky. I'm not particular about feedin and days off but now i have tweeked parts and couldn't imagine being a mud Marinehttp://www.leatherneck.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

===>Dave

[OLE SARG]

I, like FIST, wish I had been a better father. I was gone a lot also and really missed my kids growing up!!!!! BUT, I'm trying to make up for it now with my twenty-two (22) Grandbabies and one (1) Great Grandbaby!!!!!!

SEMPER FI,

[sparkie]

22 grandbabies??? You have "nuf feathers in your cap. Congrats Old Son. I'm proud of you, just to know you.

[RLeon]

Wish I would have known then what I know now about the Corps and life. I would have stayed in, or atleast reenlisted or commissioned in the reserves.

[chili77bowl]

Not gotten drunk every chance I had and actually enjoyed my time in Okinawa and Korea.

[gamera99]

Yes I agree with a lot of you who wonder what it would have been like to have stayed in for a career instead of leaving after our first enlistment. I

left because I wanted to go back to school, but I certainly did enjoy a lot about the USMC except for some of the BS and work details and doing Sgt of the Guard for a month.

Remember being at sea on LSTs and hearing the dreaded words over the 1MC: "now mustering the E-6 and below working party on the fantail" - those were for vertical replenishments and went on for hours it seemed. I really hated those.

[capmarine]

wish i hadnt stepped on that landmine,31march71.glad i did make a jump with the IDF in 1984.glad the MC retired me and i get a healthy check every month from the VA.i have no real complaints!

[SlingerDun]

"now mustering the E-6 and below working party on the fantail" - those were for vertical replenishments and went on for hours it seemed. I really hated those.Yep, gimme Muscles:marine:

[Nimrod1193]

Sometimes, I regret not pushing myself as hard as I could in the military, either in my career field (USAF Security Police K-9) or in another service. I did my job, and I believe that I did it well, but sometimes I feel that I could have done more.

But as for regret, I cannot honestly say that I have any; because every decision that I made in my life has brought me inexorably to where I am now. The father of three honorable, decent men; one of whom is currently striving to earn the title "United States Marine."

I would give everything that I have, everything that I am, for them. Therefore, I have no regrets.

[bigdog43701]

my biggest regret was leaving the "grunts" to go wing. was Cpl and in grunts Corporals are next to God (sgts). reported to wing and received a direct and lawful order from my Captain that i would not wear starched utilities and spit shined boots. utilities were fluff dried and boots just buffed. wanted to re-enlist while at 2d Force Recon Co and told by Career Planner that i could not stay "Force" because i was married and i had tattoos and that those things barred me. reenlisted as NBC (No Body Cares) Specialist and spent the rest of my time in the wing.

[gutinstinct]

After reading everyones post to this thread I started to get depressed (LOL)for the fact that I never thanked my Gunny for all he did for me while I was under his command. He pretty much fine tuned me into the person I am today. I was now on a mission to get in touch with him. I don't no what to call it fellow Marines, but, I went to another Marine web site and behold there was a Profile with my Gunny's name on it. Everything fit except, the rank. It stated Ltcol. I sent out a E-mail to the E-mail adddress the profile supplied. I can't beleive it. It was him. He wrote me back and informed me of the past 22 years of his life. Including the part that he became an officer and made it up to Ltcol. I in return sent off a E-mail detailing my life and thanking him for everything he did for me. I would like to thank all the Marines who posted there remarks on this thread. If it wasn't for you Marines I would have never gotten off my ass. Happy holidays.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Good job!

I wish I hadn't gotten out (surprise) the first time, in 1989.

But, it made life interesting when I went back in in 1997!

I wish that I didn't have to get out in 2001. (But...if you aren't 'world wide deployable', you can't get promoted...and it was either that or let my daugher continue to have debiliating seizures and be a zombie the rest of her life...brain surgery fixed the problem.....)...but I still wish I could have stayed in...

I wish that I could have been a door gunner.

But, you know what? It's been a helluva ride, and I wouldn't trade most of it for anything. The Corps was good to me, and I'm thankfull every day that I got a chance to walk among Marines, and for ten years, BE at the Tip of the Spear, the edge of the empire.

[armeda1]

Like everyone here, I got out of the corp for a woman, and I knew in my heart I was making a mistake. I love the corp more then her, but felt bad, and on April 5th 1995 went home. Well, never married that woman, hell we don't even talk.As the days pass, I miss the corp, my friends, my uniform. I have made a great life and career out of the marines, but I don't think a day passes I don't remember the cold winters in NC, or the hot summers of Arizona. The mud, the blood on the back of my heals during a boots & uits 5 mile run. The beer & woman or the thunder bird. Can you tell I miss it. If what I have are memories, I will keep them, share them and forever be a Marine!!! Semper Fi!!:flag: