How Did It Come About That You Joined The Corps?

[micarr57]

must have watched too many john wayne movies when i was a kid
left for boot camp 2 weeks after high school graduation
had to have a parent sign because i was under 18 my dad a wwII pacific theater navy man refused to sign "luckily" my mom didn't have a problem signing

[UMDStudent24]

My younger sister decided she didn't want to go to college after high school. She insisted that she was going to play music in the military. This was a laughable thought at the time. She was an overweight teenager that could be accurately described as a mix of gothic/emo. She dyed her hair multiple times a month, often using colors that would at the very least draw attention to herself; pink, purple, etc. She never worked out or participated in any kind of strenuous physical activity and she was a rebellious soul lacking any respect for authority.
None of my family took her seriously at first. However, I helped her research her options and laid out what each branch had available. I didn't think she would go beyond the initial interest phase, but to everyone's complete surprise, she felt that the Marine Corps was the best fit.

At the time, I was between my sophomore and junior year of college and still trying to figure out how to afford school. I just joined AFROTC, hoping I could chase my childhood dream of being a pilot and uphold my dad's, as well as his dad's, Air Force legacy (Both enlisted and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant before retiring). In reality, it was just to be a trial run to see if that was something I really wanted. I made the decision to join ROTC just a few weeks before my sister came to her decision.

So, trying to help my sister as much as I could, I looked up everything I could about the Marine Corps and I began to fall in love with its history and tradition. I accompanied her to the recruiter's office and listened to him pitch her on the Marine Corps. She realized that she had a lot of work to be able to enlist and she asked me to help her reach her goals. I went running with her, got her into the weight room at my school, and generally just did everything I could think of to keep her motivated when she would struggle. I saw a major transformation in her. She became focused and driven person that would not stop working until she met her goals. Even though I set out to motivate her, the changes in her motivated me. Any institution that could inspire a change like that had to be something special, and I started to think that maybe I didn't need to find something to pay for school but rather, something that gave me a reason to get through school.

I found an OSO, talked to him about what I wanted and was convinced that I wanted to be a Marine. He told me that I wasn't in shape enough to be a Marine Officer. A few months prior, when I first joined AFROTC, the Air Force cadre told me that I was in way better shape than most of the cadets in their program as I was and that physical fitness wouldn't be a problem for me. The meeting with the OSO was the first time I'd really been challenged to become better at something.

When the semester started up a week or so later, I had begun a workout and running routine decided to get me in shape enough to apply to OCS. I also had to attend ROTC classes and functions, as I had not yet quit. I found that I hated ROTC. I could not find in the bunch the motivation and drive that I felt my sister and I both had. I didn't feel challenged and I didn't feel that the training was strenuous enough or that it really approached enough quality to produce effective leaders.

I decided that I wanted to be a Marine. I ran into many Marines through helping my sister and going to the OSO often and found that they were different. I felt Marines were special. I wanted to be a part of it.

That October I finally applied to OCS and was accepted. My sister shipped to MCRD PI in January, and I was off to Quantico in May.

3 years later, I'm down in Pensacola learning to fly for the Marine Corps.

[advanced]

Great story young future Marine Corps Aviator. Your primary job will be to help keep the Marine Corps Infantry alive.

[lazyluke]

I guess I'm the first one to "fess up" about this but the choice wasn't mine.
Grew up an Army brat. My father was a 23 year lifer at the rank of First Sergeant when he passed on in 1965. In 1968 I wasn't looking at joining anything but figured that I was going to get drafted.
Well, that year I got a letter in the mail. "Greetings from the President of the United States", you are hereby ordered to report to the induction center for processing.
I thought well, U.S. Army here we come. Maybe I'll run across some of my dad's buddies and get a break here and there.
After passing the physical and other exams there were about 70 of us at the induction center. Guy comes out of a room and announces that they needed 2 volunteers for the Marines. Everyone just laughed. He went back into the room, came out a little later and called out my name and that of another lucky soul. I was floored! My Dad probably rolled over in his grave.
Long story short, It was the best thing that could have happened to me. Made a man out of a boy and helped shape me into the person that I am. Wish my Dad could have seen the change in his boy.

[Captain Kirk]

I joinde the Corps in 67 because I did not have high enough grades to go into the Submarine service. I signed up for 4 years as an Engineer. I wanted to learn to operate heavy equipment. Instead they made me a Combat Engineer .

[Devil Doc]

Same as many of you. I was 17 (parents had to sign for me) and did not have much of a future where I grew up other than working in a factory of some sort after graduation. Wanted to join the service and do something for my country like most of my family before me did. My Father being a Swabbie, didn't think that I would make it as a Marine and I was dead set to prove him wrong!! I do believe that he was the proudest man on earth when I came home from boot camp. He even took me to the bar in our little town and bought me a beer, since I was a "Man" now!! I will never forget that. Also PROUD to say that I am still the ONLY Marine in our Family history!!!

[JJME9l]

Went to the local recruiters office to join the Coast Guard.They were closed. The marine Corps recruiter ask me what I was doing? One dumb question! I told him I was going to join the Coastguard> He said I could wait in his office. You'll never guess what happened next. Retired as a MGySgt.

[Quinbo]

Same as many of you. I was 17 (parents had to sign for me) and did not have much of a future where I grew up other than working in a factory of some sort after graduation. Wanted to join the service and do something for my country like most of my family before me did. My Father being a Swabbie, didn't think that I would make it as a Marine and I was dead set to prove him wrong!! I do believe that he was the proudest man on earth when I came home from boot camp. He even took me to the bar in our little town and bought me a beer, since I was a "Man" now!! I will never forget that. Also PROUD to say that I am still the ONLY Marine in our Family history!!!

Welcome aboard Devil Doc. I am curious ... did you join the Marines and then cross deck to the Navy?

[Jarhead85]

graduated high school in 03 @ 17 yrs of age, my cousin was a recruiter at the time, i decided to take the summer off and party one night my cousin and his battle buddy drove 7 hrs to pick my drunk ass off and enlist me. I had already started looking into the Marines as an option not to go to college (smart huh) i joined in 04 never looked back..no regrets about being apart of the worlds best organization, who Only The Few can speak of.


OOOORRRAAAHHH!

[hussaf]

I had an appointment to the Air Force Academy, but wussed out because I was afraid I couldn't pass flight school and I didn't want to be an officer doing some random thing in the AF. I had trouble deciding between the Navy (underwater welder, crew chief, or SEAL) and AF enlisted (rescue, air crew), so I chose the Marine Corps. I didn't even know the Corps had different MOS's at the time...I just thought everyone did the same thing. Boy was I wrong.

[redclyde]

I join the Army on a buddy plan,but was turn down because they said I had sugar. My best friend went on to Fort Benning Georgia.I was sent back to Huntsville,Al.To make my story short,three weeks later I went down to the Marine Corps Recruit Office.I join on the 90 days plan,went home and after about thirty five days passed.I got a call from my recruiter asking me would I go to Nashville,Tenn. to take a physical.The next thing I knew I was on a plane to MCRD San Diego.And I didn't have Sugar anymore. I guess it was meant for me to be a Marine. Semper Fi

[O.R. Davis]

I was all set to go in the Navy, My sperm donor dad, was a Pearl Harbor Survivor Marine, and he refused to sign for me unless it was for the Corp's. I contacted the Marine recruiter, and passed the test. He called off the Navy recruiter, and I was on my way to MCRDSD. Lookin' back, I'm tickled it happened. Now, the Navy is the only branch I haven't served in .

[William Raybold]

I joined in April 1961 on the delay program while still in High school and left for PI the end of July after graduation. I wanted to be with the best. My older brother was in the Army at the time and threatened to kick my butt if I went into the Marine Corps. The next day April 1st I was sworn in at the Marine Barracks at the Phila. Naval Shipyard

[cue606]

Family tradition to serve our country and I decided if I was going to fight for freedom I wanted to be trained by the best.

[b2542]

All the men in the family were WWII vets. So I decided to follow in my Fathers footsteps and joined the Marines.