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Vanity: Should my son enlist in Army or Marines?
keats5 | 6/16/2010 | keats5

Posted on 06/16/2010 11:34:05 AM PDT by keats5

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To: keats5

As long as Obama is CIC, neither.


21 posted on 06/16/2010 11:43:13 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: keats5

I’m a Navy guy, so I say Marines.

However, it pains me to say that I do not recommend the military at this time. The Pentagon has become very political, and troops are hung out to dry in an effort to fight PC wars. See Haditha.

Now they are encouraging “Compassionate Restraint”, and even awarding medals for it.

Military service is honorable, and I believe the Marines will do a better job than any branch of looking out for each other. But I suggest that he really pray about it.

Hopefully we will get some new leadership in both the WH and Pentagon.


22 posted on 06/16/2010 11:43:42 AM PDT by Retired Greyhound
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To: keats5

Marines


23 posted on 06/16/2010 11:43:45 AM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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To: keats5
With Øbama as CinC...you might want to think about it altogether. With the impending repeal of DADT, I'd think about it, particularly if your son would be an enlisted type.

Otherwise...it depends upon what he wants to get out of it. Is he looking to gain a skill that is readily transferable after he gets out? Is he looking to do something uniquely military? Does he want to deploy? A lot?

Each branch of the service has unique pluses and minuses. And a whole lot more advice would be needed before being able to give any suggestions one way or the other.

24 posted on 06/16/2010 11:43:59 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: keats5

Biographies might be the best way to choose a branch, especially for the Marines. The Marine bio I’d recommend is “Chesty.” about General Chesty Puller ... who rose from the ranks.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller


25 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:02 AM PDT by OldNavyVet (One trillion days, at 365 days per year, is 2,739,726,027 years ... almost 3 billion years.)
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To: keats5

As a former Grunt,I recommend the Air Force wholeheartedly.


26 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:04 AM PDT by gitmogrunt
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To: keats5

If it were my son I would guide him in this order:

Air Force, Navy, Army, Coast Guard

My best friend in High School became a Marine and I went into the Air Force. He regrets not joining the Air Force, Navy or even Army as he would have had a better chance coming out with a marketable skill set.

I have a recent personal experience with the Marines where a family member was poorly treated after becoming paralyzed.


27 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:08 AM PDT by TSgt (We will always be prepared, so we may always be free. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: laweeks

Those are good points to consider.


28 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:13 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Thurston_Howell_III

My daughter’s friend did that. He is in Kandahar now.


29 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:24 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: keats5

Sounds like your kid was a lot like me. Smart, energetic .... bored with College. If he really wants to work both his mind and his body, have him look at special forces. Communication engineer if he likes computers and electronics, construction engineer if he like to blow things up, medial if he wants to go that path.


30 posted on 06/16/2010 11:44:54 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: LifePath
Not to nitpick, but there are no “former Marines” (unless they disgrace the Corps.)

Your son is a Marine, through and through.

Congratulations.

31 posted on 06/16/2010 11:45:42 AM PDT by Retired Greyhound
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To: keats5

I think the key difference to consider are:

(1) in the Army, you have a wider variety of MOS’s and can truly use your time in the Army as prep for a civilian technical career. The Army relies heavily (or at least moreso than the Marines) on technology to get the job done. The Army is more plodding and bureaucratic. In the Army, you are a soldier as long as you are in; you’ll have your band of brothers, but not like the USMC bonds formed. In the ARMY he’ll encounter more slackers and “why are you even IN the ARMY?” types. Being in the Rangers will help with that.

(2)The biggest difference with the USMC is the ethos and creed and culture and history of the Marines — you become a Marine — it’s what you become as a person as well as what you do. It’s a culture of lifetime physical fitness and discipline. I believe he would be prouder to have become a Marine than to have been a soldier. The USMC has fewer MOS’s, and it’s often lower tech, but he’ll get more training and field ex time with the USMC. I think he’ll enjoy better leadership and opportunities for advancement in the Marines.

My vote will always be for the Marines, but he won;t lose out if he makes it in the Ranger track. He could also consider SEALS or special boat service in the Navy.

My brother was a soldier, who completed Ranger and jump schools but ended up in Sigint in the Corps of Engineers. My dad was a Naval aviator. My mom was a Wave. My middle son is in NROTC-Marine track at Auburn. I was never in as I was NPQ due to a soccer injury. I have been around DoD types for years in my career.


32 posted on 06/16/2010 11:45:51 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: keats5

As an Army vet, I say Marines. The officers and NCO’s will prepare you for any combat situation. Too often, Army officers are simply there to get their ticket punched.


33 posted on 06/16/2010 11:46:41 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople
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To: counterpunch

Check with the AF, they send the officers out to face the enemy and leave the enlisted back on the base for logistic support.


34 posted on 06/16/2010 11:47:13 AM PDT by Waco
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To: keats5

AIR FORCE- !!!

intellectually, he will find the smartest people there (including supervisors), especially if he has technical interests and talents.

IF he has pretensions on being a lifer, in the long term his assignments may be more stable in a large service like the uS Air Force

But if he has the psyche to kill an enemy face to face, then the USMC. They have the best attitude toward life and authrity and not sweating the small stuff (the US Army obsesses on small stuff, like dates of rank)

Just imho- after 20 years USAF (10 years in Joint Service assigments)


35 posted on 06/16/2010 11:47:15 AM PDT by silverleaf (Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.)
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To: SeaHawkFan

Thanks. I was trying to steer him into medical myself. I’m a nurse, so I think like that. However, I’m not sure that’s his area of interest so much anymore. I’ll show him your comment.


36 posted on 06/16/2010 11:47:49 AM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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To: keats5

In the Marines he will be associated with the finest people this country has to offer. I enlisted at 19, was commissioned at 20, and intended to stay only a few years. But I enjoyed the Marines I met so much that I made it a career.

Semper Fidelis,


37 posted on 06/16/2010 11:50:00 AM PDT by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar (The "P" in democrat stands for patriotism)
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To: keats5

Air Force and Navy have the best technical training. Army has the worst facilities. Marines get what the Navy doesn’t want.

Forget CIA or FBI without a 4 year degree.


38 posted on 06/16/2010 11:50:34 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: keats5

United States Navy!


39 posted on 06/16/2010 11:50:51 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
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To: BlueLancer

LOL. I wish he would take the ROTC route. I think certain guys just can’t take K-12 schooling and come out looking forward to another 4 years of college. He wants a long break from school, and he’s not going to take it here in our house.


40 posted on 06/16/2010 11:51:01 AM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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