Hi hardknocklife, well that's a thanks to your mum for the compliment then!!
It says a lot more about her though as opposed to you if she's choosing to step all over that. Still it is her who's missing out by not really cherishing those qualities in you. Qualities that are undeniably there and qualities that others are going to really appreciate.
And as for others not knowing how you made it as a U.S. Marine, well what do they know about recruitment processes and how you managed in doing what you were doing??!! Weren't there were they??!!
And are they honestly so "up on themselves" to think that they could do a better job at recruiting or overseeing performance in what you were doing than the experts, the one's with experience??!!
So I'd say, that you've already 100% proved that there's a whole lot more to you than meets their eyes!!
And good luck with the long term goals, you know we're here to support you with them too!!
Alison