It's been a while.

[DaveXIII90]

I doubt any of you remember me from a few years ago, but I guess it's time to update all of you on the current status of myself.

I started off on this board when I was 14-15, and for 2 and a half to three years straight I was trying to figure out a way of getting into the Corps, as well as P.T.ing like crazy every other day at the gym.

Now, I am back, at good ol' age 18. I have since been permanently disqualified from joining the armed services for a few medical reasons, which are of no importance to discuss anymore.

The point is, I am okay with being disqualified. Why in the name of anything and everything in existance would I want to slip under the radar at MEPS and end up in combat with medical conditions that could risk lives of fellow Marines?

I went through a few stages: first, I was confident that I wouldn't be DQ'd. Second stage: I knew I would be DQ'd, and wanted to be a Marine so badly that I even thought about lying at MEPS. The third and final stage: Okay, maybe I could get away with lying about my medical situation, and end up with the greatest job on earth- but I quickly grew up and realized something: being selfish is not an excuse for risking lives.

That being said, I want to mention two last things:
Thank you to all of you who have provided advice and everything in between during the last four years. I appreciate it, and although it has not resulted in me becoming a Marine, it sure has changed the way I look at and go about life, and it has gotten me many places in life already.

The last, but certainly not least, thing I want to mention, is that I am living proof, that when one of you replies to a "will I be caught?" "Should I tell the recruiter/MEPS doctor about so on and so forth?", you are all 100% right when you say it is wrong to lie about these things. I have been in the position of all of the poolees that ask about lying and if they can get away with things, and I have advanced to the next level beyond that.

Again, thank you all for everything, I do not know if I will be coming back on this site soon, or if I will be back on this forum ever again. Best wishes to all of you.

P.S.: Even though I haven't become a Marine, alot of the advice given to me on here was passed on to a close friend of mine who took my advice in joining the Corps, and it helped him out alot. He is now a Marine, and he is DAMN PROUD OF IT.

[0231Marine]

Best of luck Dave!!!

[jinelson]

Sorry to hear that David. Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing you can do but I believe that you are a better man for doing it. Good luck and you are always welcome here.

Jim

[ecfree]

Good luck in your future Dave,and God Bless..

[RedmanEcho5]

It sounds like you learned something that most men learn only late in life,
"Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the right thing."
Your integrity was challenged and you made a choice, a good one.
Good Luck in this new path and you still have people here to support you in what you choose.

[rickyracer]

A very good friend of mine has a medical problem to.
He wanted to join the corps too.
I hope you can find a new direction in life and go for it with all your heart.