To Join or Not to Join - My Endless Debate

[Son of Liberty]

Basically, I'm a junior in college right now and thinking about joining the military (specifically the Marine Corps) for about the millionth fucking time.

I've always been interested in the military. I've been training and seriously considering joining since maybe junior year of high school.

I like guns.

I like exercise and staying in above average shape.

I practice martial arts.

I love camping, backpacking, survival, etc.

I've read A FUCKTON about the modern American military.

My college major is Geography, which I foresee being extremely applicable in the Armed Forces.

My best friend from middle school, the kid who I used to shoot stuff and "play army" with, joined the Marines after high school and has since gone to Iraq and back. I find myself enviously checking and rechecking his Iraq pictures on facebook.

Now it's getting close to decision time. What am I going to do after college? I want to go on an adventure and work outside. I eventually want to go to Grad school.

The military will pay me to do this kinda shit. I could possess the power to shoot and blow people up.

But I just don't fucking know...

I like pot, beer, and having a beard.

Do I really wanna be this military-nerd with no practical experience?

Bleeding out on some dusty road on the other side of the world would suck...

And my parents would die from the shock [of my joining], I guess that's giving me the most trouble. Some of my uncles have served, gone to Iraq, and/or work in Federal Law Enforcement. They do not recommend joining up, AT ALL. But they also have said that Marine Corp officers are the closest thing to 21st century knights, smart-as-hell gentlemen warriors.

And that's what I'm thinking of being, but I just don't know...

Make a decision for me, internetz!

[SteamPunk]

Air force.

It pays more.

[Son of Liberty]

Air Force = no

The things I want from the military are: to play with fun toys (c4, machine guns), the visceral experience, warrior ethos, and to come out an amazing shooter. From my research, the Marines seem to provide these things more so than the other branches.

[plehem12]

if what you said was really true and sincere then you might actually like it. after college if youre still interested maybe do a short enlistment to see what you think. you can always sign for more, or just get out when youre done.

[HARDMAN]

Well, the decision is up to you. Don't let your parents cowardly keep you out of serving your nation with honor. But you also should seriously consider your morals and political beliefs before serving in the US military, as not all military actions are black and white or good and evil.

For some literature on military life (both pro and against) I'd suggest reading-
One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer
Starship Troopers
Band of Brothers
Jarhead
Inside Delta Force

[Animal Farm Pig]

The things I want from the military are: to play with fun toys (c4, machine guns), the visceral experience, warrior ethos, and to come out an amazing shooter. From my research, the Marines seem to provide these things more so than the other branches.

The question you should ask is whether you're willing to trade freedom, independence, equality, and control over your life for those things. That's basically what you're doing when you join the military.

You seem like a guy who has his shit together and knows how to use his free time. Aside from the chance of getting deployed to Afghanistan, I doubt there is much experience that you could get out of the military that you couldn't get as a civilian (without giving up your freedom.)

[MOA]

I was in the same boat as you man, and if you truly feel this way then you have to enlist.

However if you do then def go infantry.

College will always be there when you get back and by then you will have more money and the GI bill to cover it.

Also you will develop skills of leadership to potentially run or work for a successful business in the civilian world.

*Also your parents will get over it and be proud of you no matter what you do*

[LiquidIce]

OP, I'm in almost the same shoes as you. Except I'm not a US citizen... yet :hrmph: :p. I'm looking to start martial arts next week, am in pretty decent shape, love survival stuff, always interested in the military...

One thing always kept me away: my girlfriend.
But it just so happens that she's had enough of me (the person for whom I would kill infants and even betray my family) so I'm a free man now. Just gotta wait, cause it might turn out that I'll get my citizenship much faster than regular.

I also thought about going USMC instead of anything else. Write up how's it going, what info you got, what your uncles said, I'd be pretty grateful.

[Animal Farm Pig]

I'm thinking about this question more. I reminds me of me a few years ago. If you've been thinking about it so much, it must be difficult to make that "itch" go away.

If you find that you absolutely must do military service, I recommend the Army. When you find out how fucked up it is, you'll have six months to desert without any consequences.

[Tre!nt]

you cant go to marine officer out of highschool. You sir need a bachelors degree from college

edit:hence the "smart as hell" part of being a marine officer. Plus stop fucking smoking weed. Even if you can get away with it, it doesnst put you in the right mindset. To be dedicated enough to even think about becoming an infantry officer(they only take the best of the best) as you're in charge of a platoon of marines. You better cut that shit out and start taking this a LOT more seriously. Or don't. Less competition for me in OCS

[Caramello Koala]

You can always go camping/hunting every now and then, but if that doesn't satisfy you then maybe the military is the way to go. Don't live with any regrets, do what you feel is right.

[puzld]

Do you want to put your ass (and your limbs) on the line fighting wars for the military-industrial-financial complex that doesn't give a fuck about you, me, America or our Constitution?

[puzld]

I find myself enviously checking and rechecking his Iraq pictures on facebook.

That's called "living vicariously"

I could possess the power to shoot and blow people up.

You'll make good cannon fodder, son. Ignore my previous post.

[Son of Liberty]

Thank you all for your replies.

I think I have made up my mind, BUT

MANY OF YOU DID NOT READ THE THREAD

I am a junior at a 4 year college.
I plan on becoming an officer.

I have done some leadership stuff before (NOLS (http://www.nols.edu/)) and was pretty good at it. Considering my post-College options, a degree in social sciences isn't going to get me anywhere fast. I might as well go Marines and then graduate school afterwards when I am 26 or so. If I get killed... I just hope the cult that is the Marines is worth it, the warrior experience. Better than 1 in 100 chance, that's not that bad. And if I live, so much the better (Minus the possibility that I get horribly deformed or mentally disturbed).

As for
For some literature on military life (both pro and against) I'd suggest reading-
One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer
Starship Troopers
Band of Brothers
Jarhead
Inside Delta Force
I have read all of these, some of them twice. But good recommendations. I still need to read Generation Kill. I would recommend: The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell (http://www.amazon.com/Last-True-Story-Ever-Tell/dp/157322314X) as well.

The question you should ask is whether you're willing to trade freedom, independence, equality, and control over your life for those things. That's basically what you're doing when you join the military... I doubt there is much experience that you could get out of the military that you couldn't get as a civilian (without giving up your freedom.)
I have considered this to a great extent, and would/have agreed with you. I can do all the backpacking and hunting/gunplay I want as a civilian, martial arts and managerial work too, BUT I cannot call-in artillery on shit nor can I ride around in helicopters. Both are dangerous and suggest violence, but they could be fun. I mean, that is what 21st century imperialism is - riding around in helicopters and blowing shit up. Moral? Debatable. But it could be fun to be a part of.

I think the military just might be for me... BUT, to be honest I am a junior in college. I plan on graduating spring of 2011, so I have some time to think shit over. I'm going to spend the next summer in the woods. Last time I was in the woods, I did think about how horrible it would be to hump heavy weapons and ammo too. So I have the rest of junior and then all of senior year.
and then who knows...

[Son of Liberty]

video related:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mwKXc0oTOQ

And
Three years from now, what/who will we (america) be fighting?
(figure: 18 months of college left, plus 18 months or so of training before deployment)

[The Savage]

The things I want from the military are: to play with fun toys (c4, machine guns) You don't need the military for that, millions of pounds of explosives are used every year by civilians, you can also own machine guns as a civilian.

the visceral experience, warrior ethos,
ok, sure

and to come out an amazing shooter. From my research, the Marines seem to provide these things more so than the other branches.
Ok, i LOL'd hard at this one. You realize the best shooters in the world are pretty much ALL civilians with zero military experience, right? The military will teach you how to use a weapon, they will not waste the time, money and effort training you to the standard you're thinking. Most grunts will be out shot by some inbred hick with an interest in firearms - The hick will know just as much or more than the grunt will about his weapon, he may even understand what happens when you pull the trigger a lot better than the grunt. But most importantly the hick will spend a lot more time behind a trigger shooting at much smaller targets.

The military will teach you how to be a soldier and generally speaking soldiers arn't that good at shooting, they have to hit a man sized target at standard combat ranges with decent frequency - My advice: Break and burn your copy of "Shooter" it's bullshit.

[Animal Farm Pig]

Son of Liberty, one thing that you should also think about very much is how much time you will actually be spending doing the cool stuff that you're thinking about.

Anyone in an infantry unit want to talk about how much time you actually spend doing "cool Army (or Marine) shit" and what percentage of your time is totally pissed away waiting for ________ or doing pointless shit?

[plehem12]

Son of Liberty, one thing that you should also think about very much is how much time you will actually be spending doing the cool stuff that you're thinking about.

Anyone in an infantry unit want to talk about how much time you actually spend doing "cool Army (or Marine) shit" and what percentage of your time is totally pissed away waiting for ________ or doing pointless shit?

it is so good to hear it...

[Animal Farm Pig]

it is so good to hear it...

Thanks.

plehem actually addressed this to some extent in the "Ask the Infantry" thread--
http://www.zoklet.net/bbs/showpost.php?p=1042385&postcount=29