Why do you want to be a Marine?

[PoolieAhrens]

I guess I did word it alittle weird. But there's alot of sicko's out there that do that s*** right here in the US. Happend to my best friends little sister. She's ok now. But the stories I've heard and the more reaserch I've done about it, the more I realized how serious it is, and there isn't that many people in the field of human traficing. There's alot of kidnaping units, but alot of people don't have the resources or knowledge of sex slaves and what not. But like I said earlier if I don't pursue that as a career I plan on retiring in the Marines.

[Petz]

one... why are you only at one pull-up?

two... ask a mod to fix your name

[reallybigshoe]

That is my reason.

I will be a Marine because the toughest, strongest, best man I have ever known was in Guadalcanal making sure I could grow up as a fat body playing Halo and watching porno on the internet. He was the only one in my life to ever show me how to be a man, and the man I have by far the most respect for.

He told me he joined the Marines because when the draft started he sure as hell wasn't going to be a part of any sissy branch - he was going to kill Japs. I lived with him the last 2 years of his life. He had an undiagnosed broken back (multiple fractures) but other than a grimace when he moved you'd never discern a complaint out of him.

He never got any medals, or on TV, or anything like that. He just loved his wife, was a deacon in his church, and worked hard until it was time to quit. I talked with an old lady who knew him a few months ago. We bumped into her at random at the lake house he had bought the family. She told me that he had known him for years and that he was a quiet, strong man - the strongest she'd ever known.

That's why I will be a Marine.

[thezero]

The question is "Why do you want to be a Marine?"

My answer is simple yet complicated at the same time. Since I was little I have wanted to be a Marine, to be like my father. Even though we bull **** all the time I have a lot of respect for him.

More recently, I have been looking and keeping tabs on the general idea of the world and economy and such. I have thought of going to college first then enlist in the Marines in order to become an officer but instead of going to college before hand I want to become Active Duty and earn a steady paycheck twice a month, with a MOS that can transfer out to the civilian world and I can earn a lot of money if I decide to not stay in the Corps for 20+ years if I make it.

So I do have my reasons outside of the title, Eagle Globe and Anchor, the pride and the dress blues. Even though those are quite bad ass and enough reason to join.

[Shick019]

Well, this very question was posed to me by my English teacher, and I was given one night to write an essay on it. This is what I came up with. It's a quick brainstorm and write up, so it's not completely developed or that grammatically perfected, but its my thoughts on it.

Why A Marine?

“Why become a Marine?”, “Why put your life on the line?”, these are the questions I am constantly being asked when I tell people that I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Some people think it is because it is a stable job, because I cannot afford college, because I am not good at anything else. But to me, there are three main reasons I want to be a Marine. I want to be a Marine because of the tradition of military service in my family, The Marine Corps’ Core Values, and the pride of the Marine Corps and being a Marine.

It has been a tradition for most of the men, and even some of the women, in my family to serve in the United States military. My father had the most influence on me joining the service, he served 22-years in the US Navy, and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, the second-to-last enlisted rank in the Navy. There is also, my uncle who served in the Air Force, my aunt who served in the Army Registered Nurse Corps, my Papa (my grandpa on my mother’s side of the family) who served in the Army and the Army National Guard, my Papap (my grandpa on my father’s side of the family) who served in the Army National Guard, and my great uncle who served in the Air Force. There’s even records of one of my family members serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. My family has a long record of those who have served in the military, but there has yet to be a Marine.

On top of my military family, there are aspects of the Marine Corps that have influenced my want to be a Marine, including, and especially, the United States Marine Corps’ Core Values. The Core Values are honor, courage, and commitment. The Marines describe the value of honor as, “Marines are held to the highest standards, ethically and morally. Respect for others is essential. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they’ve earned.” (USMC) To me this means honoring yourself, your family, your friends, your country, the Marines before you, with you, and after you, and most of all the Marine Corps. The Marines describe the value of courage as, “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to face fear and overcome it. It is the mental, moral, and physical strength ingrained in every Marine. It steadies them in times of stress, carries them through every challenge, and aids them in facing new and unknown challenges.” (USMC) To me this means doing what is right for your country and Corps even in the face of fear and danger. The Marines describe the value of commitment as, “Commitment is the spirit of determination and dedication found in every Marine. It is what compels Marines to serve our country and the Corps. Every aspect of life in the Corps shows commitment, from the high standard of excellence to vigilance in training.” (USMC) To me this means committing every bit of your being to being a good Marine and serving your country and Corps with every ounce of life you have in you. The Core Values are what drive Marines to success and accomplishment.

The Core Values only serve to add to why I want to be a Marine, the biggest reason is the pride of the Marine Corps and being a Marine. The pride comes from many different aspects of the Marine Corps. Some of these are from the Marines themselves, some were given to them. There is pride in being, “The Tip of the Spear,” or the first to serve and fight for the country. There is pride in being “The Few, and the Proud.” Because of the intense requirements to join and stay in the Marine Corps, the Marines are the smallest of the services, which instills great pride in the those men and women, who have been Marines, are Marines, and will soon be Marines. There is pride in the nicknames bestowed upon the Marines. The Marines are called “Jarheads,” because of the Marines’ instant obedience to orders. The Marines are called “Leathernecks,” because of the uniforms that the Marines once wore. But the one that most Marines are very proud to be called, and motivated by, is “Devil Dogs,” given to them by the Germans during World War I because of the ferocity in the way the Marines fought at Belleau Woods. But most pride comes from the Marines being deeply embedded in tradition and history. Every Marine knows the famous battles of the Marines, and the famous Marines of old. Every Marine unit participates in the tradition of celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10^th with a Marine Corps Ball every year. And, every Marine still follows the rules of Customs and Courtesies that have been around for centuries now. There is a plethora of pride and patriotism that comes from being a Marine.

This should be more than enough to answer those questions of “Why?”, that I always receive. Why I want to join the Marine Corps is as simple as pride and patriotism. But the main reasons that I want to serve my country in the Marine Corps is because of the tradition of service in my family, the Core Values followed by each and every Marine, and the pride of the Marines.

Works Cited:
U.S. Marine Corps, "U.S. Marine Corps - Core Values". 8APR2009 http://www.marines.com/main/index/ma...ns/core_values.

If any Marine notices any incorrect info, I apologize.

[BamaBot91291]

There is no reason why anyone would'nt want to join the Corps. My Dad served with them in the Navy and said he would'nt go into a Firefight without them, my Granddad (who died in the Bataan Death March), my Uncle, 2 of my cousins (who are currently in Iraq), my Friend's Brother (oki), my Neighbors and my UPS guy, all Marines. I myself am planning on being a Marine by next year.

I don't want to be "A certain kind of Strong", I want this .

[sparkie]

You guys are breakin my heart,,,,,,,,, I see some long dead buddies in you,,,,,,,,

[kfisbusy]

As a old D.I. myself I do not belive you can make it in my MARINE CORPS. Stay in school and learn to grow up. Then maybe the army will let join them. Myself I know you won"t make bootcamp. in my Crops. S.Sgt Francisco.

[Rotella]

In all of America's offered lifestyles, both civillian and military, I have found nothing more appealing than being a US Marine. Some of my friends respect my decision and some think I'm crazy, and neither opinions matter. I'm fully commited to my choice and painstakingly await my opportunity to become a Marine. Poetic, I know, but all truth.

[Hendrix]

As a old D.I. myself I do not belive you can make it in my MARINE CORPS. Stay in school and learn to grow up. Then maybe the army will let join them. Myself I know you won"t make bootcamp. in my Crops. S.Sgt Francisco.

Who is this directed at, sir?

[kfisbusy]

Who is this directed at, sir?

Listern this was ment for you. one thing I am not a sir all you will call your D.I. sir in bootcamp. after that the only ones call sir is the ones that is wearing the bars and stars. I am a s.sgt. retired. from my U.S.M.C. . Learn before you try to become a MARINE OK. good luck let me know if you make it.

[Hendrix]

Listern this was ment for you. one thing I am not a sir all you will call your D.I. sir in bootcamp. after that the only ones call sir is the ones that is wearing the bars and stars. I am a s.sgt. retired. from my U.S.M.C. . Learn before you try to become a MARINE OK. good luck let me know if you make it.

SSgt, I did not know what rank to call you as it was not in your avatar, nor in your profile. I am not going to dictate the site rules to you as you are a Marine, I will let those who have earned the title tell you the rule about filling out your profile.

[0231Marine]

He has a point SSgt (?). Your profile says you're an E-1 since the early 70's and you're still in service. You can't jump down the kids throat for calling you Sir as a sign of respect since you were unable to follow the rules on the site.

[Hendrix]

And with all due respect SSgt, I will prove you wrong. Give me a phone number, and in a couple years you will be getting a call from a boot Marine.

[sbombard15]

And with all due respect SSgt, I will prove you wrong. Give me a phone number, and in a couple years you will be getting a call from a boot Marine.

I would like your number to.