Do I Have What It Takes?

[DaveXIII90]

Greetings to all of the men and women viewing this thread, and thank you for your interest in the well being of America. I am writing this to not only find out if my chances of being enlisted are reasonable, but to also take the responses and turn them into confidence. This is my situation. I am 16, and I am interested in the USMC. I am willing to die, even be tortured, to protect my country. I have a few questionable things that might make it hard to enlist, though. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get by these. First of all, I have Tourettes syndrome. My case is fortunately vanishing quickly, as is the case with other people with TS- it should be gone from my brain without medication by age 17. Currently I take meds for it, but I am planning to cease medication by mid summer. Most likely it will have stopped affecting me, and become 100% controllable without meds. I am unsure if I will be able to explain this to the USMC, and unsure if it could possibly be waivered. Second of all, I have extreemly poor eyesight, which would not bother me at bootcamp, but could threaten my life in actual combat. It is so poor that I cannot see much of anything 1 or less feet infront of me without glasses- how would I qualify for eye surgery WITHOUT having to enter a special forces-related job in the USMC? 3rd of all, I am very skinny, not anorexic, but have been pretty skinny and not so strong most of my life- it takes alot of work for my body to get muscle. If it looks like all the other problems I have can be dealt with, I am sure as heck ready to sacrifice most of my time out of school to prepare my body. I just want to know if these problems will still let me enlist in the corps. I am determined, I am mentally strong, I am dedicated, and I will most definately understand that I am NOT the one to speak unless told to while I am in the presence of DI's and higher officials. If there are some mottos that I truly (SP?) believe in, they would be "Death before Dishonor", "The only Easy Day was Yesterday", and "Freedom isnt Free". If I can get some motivation from any Marines, I would be greatful. It would help me very much. Thank you, and God Bless.

Have you recently talked to your Doctor about the problems? the weight problem might be from one of the conditions listed ask the Dr. about testosterone shots which may be needed.

[DaveXIII90]

no its not that, TS has nothing to do with physical problems- im just naturally skinnier than others- not a problem, just harder to get to the USMC fitness standards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveXIII90 no its not that, TS has nothing to do with physical problems- im just naturally skinnier than others- not a problem, just harder to get to the USMC fitness standards.

I Know what TS is when I worked for the State of Ma. some were in my building. I worked with them 8hrs a day.

[BigAlHolmes165]

Quote:

I am willing to die, even be tortured, to protect my country.

Tourettes syndrome withstanding, but you are only 16.

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why you would be saying all of this.

The Marine Corps and it's related Wars and Conflicts ARE NOT a game. It's not one of those PlayStation thingys.


Sorry, but I think you best go see a Doctor and a Pastor.

A Recruiter, in my opinion, is going to dash your hopes the moment you walk in the door. Why? Because it is his job.


Am I being harsh? Get shot, bleed, come under mortar attack, take off under fire, lose an engine at 3000', over Injun Territory, and other related and unfortunate issues.

Willing to die? Horse****!

I'd rather have 10 careful but scared Marines around me than that 1 willing to die sumbish, who could just as easily take me with him.
.

Check with your DR. he can let you know what is the problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigalholmes165 Tourettes syndrome withstanding, but you are only 16. I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why you would be saying all of this. The Marine Corps and it's related Wars and Conflicts ARE NOT a game. It's not one of those PlayStation thingys. Sorry, but I think you best go see a Doctor and a Pastor. A Recruiter, in my opinion, is going to dash your hopes the moment you walk in the door. Why? Because it is his job. Am I being harsh? Get shot, bleed, come under mortar attack, take off under fire, lose an engine at 3000', over Injun Territory, and other related and unfortunate issues. Willing to die? Horse****! I'd rather have 10 careful but scared Marines around me than that 1 willing to die sumbish, who could just as easily take me with him. .

When I wasin some one in my outfit shot down one of your choppers

[DaveXIII90]

My mistake- willing to die was the wrong set of words- let me say it differently: "I understand that it is dangerous in war, and things happen. I do not want to die, but if the situation develops where i must risk my life to protect my fellow Marines, I will risk my life, even if it meens death may occur." I guess the way i said it sounded as if i was trying to be tuff and seem like i would do something stupid and get a comrade killed because i tried to play it superman style. All im saying is that I understand I am putting myself in danger by enlisting in the USMC.

Quote should have read, when I was in Nam some one in my outfit shot down one of your choppers.

[BigAlHolmes165]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Hroszow Quote should have read, when I was in Nam some one in my outfit shot down one of your choppers.

Well bless his little heart. That made a man out of him. Everybody really looked up to him, he being a real badass.


Jeez, I hope it wasn't a medevac flight. Or a flight carrying body bags. Now that would have been real manly.


Besides, what's your point?

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigalholmes165 Well bless his little heart. That made a man out of him. Everybody really looked up to him, he being a real badass. Jeez, I hope it wasn't a medevac flight. Or a flight carrying body bags. Now that would have been real manly. Besides, what's your point?(your Choppers brought it back) .

For get it. Just a gun ship firing on the enemy, one of our guys got hot headed when the choppers' rounds got too close, they were all arround us (the VC.) so he fired up and it got hit. he was stupid.

[Quintin]

Dave I have read your thread. I joined at 17 myself. I dont know if you understand what Boot Camp is like. You will not be able to hide anything from the D.I.s. Thin and small.
Here is what I think. Go to your Doctor and tell him what you are thinking. Get a clearence from him. Talk with your family. Remember one other thing. I dont care if you think you or anyone else is a bad ass or think you have the right stuff. The moment a bullet goes by your head and bombs are going off all around you its ok to pea yourself at that time. The ones that do and get up and keep fighting are the tough gies. Think about this more before you decide on anything.

[Marine84]

I'm no expert but, I would think that the TS alone would disqualify you. Be kinda messed up to be trying to keep hidden from the enemy and all of a sudden you yell something out.

If it's something you're going to grow out of, wait until you're 18 and try again. Until then, good luck.

[DaveXIII90]

Cmon people. Theres alot to understand here, and I am stupid because I gave everyone the wrong Idea. First of all, TS is known by many to be the disorder that causes you to scream randomly and yell curses. Unfortunately, many people see people with TS this way- the truth is, most people with it, including me, dont have many tics at all. In my case, the most severe it has gotten was me twitching my eyes here and there, but that was years ago and it appears, like the doctor said, that its not affecting me anymore. Trust me, I would not put anybody or myself in danger if I could not keep myself still and quiet in a combat situation. Second of all, when I said "I am willing to die for my country", i was not using the correct words AT ALL. what i was trying to say was that i understand the risk and possible mortal danger i would be puttin g myself in by entering the USMC. I did not meen that i would be the guy sitting on patrol protecting his fellow Marines, and all of a sudden get somebody killed by trying to save someone not part of the mission. A more accurate description of me, as explained by Bigalholmes when refering to the type of Marine he would want by his side, would be one that is scared as heck, yet aware of the situation.

take easy and relax for now you are 16, wait until you are 18, or 19, and see if your all around health gets better, and consult with specialist first, and find out what they say, and they may give you a clean bill of health. and advise you what you can do.