Originally Posted by
Enigmatic
I got out the Corps in September '07 and started college in January of last year and had the same problem at first. You know what the best remedy is? Get over it! You're there to learn and better yourself, not to judge everyone based on their appearance.
What did you expect? To see them marching to each class or staying in step with each other? For them to all have a high and tight and be in 1st class PFT shape? For them to yell out at the top of their lungs "Gang way, Junior Year!" as they march to the "chow hall"? They're civilians. We live in their world now. Get used to it. Just don't ever fall into their ways and you're good to go.
We went through a process of indoctrination in boot camp that they never went through. We've done and seen things at an early age that they could never possibly fathom. We've had the espirit de corps instilled in us. They don't even know what the hell that means. It's not their fault they're so ignorant.
This last semester I really let my guard down and you know what happened? I made some pretty cool friends. Sure, the best friend I had in school was a former Marine Sgt, but I also had a buddy who was extremely overweight and was the funniest dude I ever met in my life. I met a stoner who dressed like a freak and who couldn't remember the most basic of test questions but knew everything there was to know about firearms. I met this fat chick who never got a B in her life and was always willing to help me out or even study with me. I could go on....
I guess you could say I'm saying "if you can't beat them, join them" but that would be inaccurate. We're Marines. We could beat anything. Or anyone :D. I'm just saying as Marines we also learned about tolerance, tactfullness and bearing. Show them yours. Semper Fi.