My Brother is Joining the Marines

My brother is 19 and decided that he wanted to join the Marines. It happened all of a sudden. My family and I thought he wanted to be police officer like my dad, but then this month he announced that he decided to join the Marines. He went through his exams today and he leaves for boot camp October 27th.

To be honest, no one in my family is excited for him to join the Marines. We're all really upset that he's joining. My grandmother cried when my mom told her, and my parents are really freaked out about him joining. And I'm scared for him, too. I don't want him getting hurt or killed or have him come back with PTSD. My brother said he is planning on being a mechanic and working on military vehicles, but still, I'm worried. I don't know how to cope with him leaving and the possibility of him never coming back or getting hurt.

I want to support my brother, but I'm upset to think of him gone and having my parents remodel his room to be a study. Has anyone else gone through this?

My son came home one day when he was 18 and blurted out "Mom, I just joined the Marines." I was really taken aback because I had no inkling that he was even considering such a thing. It took some getting used to. I was very worried but I was also immensely proud of him. I cried when he graduated from boot camp. It turned out to be a great experience for him. He was a combat engineer. He spent a year in Iraq. We talked everyday though Skype. He posted videos on you tube and I was actually less worried about him when he was over there than when he was stateside. Less trouble for him to get into. He came home from Iraq and spent a year at Camp Lejeune in N.C. which is about a 4 hour drive away and we saw him often. He went to Afghanistan for a year and we weren't able to talk as often but he sent home plenty of letters. Yes he saw some terrible things. But he came home a stronger man. Right now he is stationed nearby in a recruiting office. He'll be there at least a year. He really likes life as a marine and I do miss him and worry about him but I am so proud of him. He'll likely stay in for 20 years. Be proud of your brother. Yes you'll miss him but you will be able to talk to him and he'll get to come home on leave. Actually I think being a marine is safer than being a police officer is some cities. Good luck to your brother and tell him I said thank you for your service. I will say a prayer for him and your family.

I don't understand males who want to join the army. It's also possible that 19 is too young to make that decision. if you're too young to be a parent you should be too young for the army.

It can be really scary and can understand the concern. It will always be there and will not go away. On the other hand, it is admirable and an honorable career choice; where he might have floundered in what he wants to to do he has found something he wants to be a part of now and it is important to support that choice. He will get incredible training and learn a lot about himself in the process, make good life long friends, and know he is doing something important. It will not be easy for anyone. But know that it is his journey to take and he will appreciate your support in the process. Knowing he has that back at home will make a big difference for him to get through it, and working to come home grounded and safely. Hang in there. Wishing y'all all the best and will pray for his safe path of return always.

Do you understand women who want to join the army?

And there are WAY too many parents who are much younger than 19.

Freedom isn't free, someone has to defend the freedoms we tend to take for granted in America, I for one support and am grateful for all of those men and women who defend freedom for us all.

I'd be honored, if any of my boys became Marines.

It sounds like a shock to your family. It's a noble path.

Is it set in stone? What about OCS?
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I don't know if it's the same for DrSkipper's brother, but when I was younger I wanted to join because I felt like I wanted to do something that actually meant something. I had never been involved in anything that had any real relevance, and it felt like I could find some purpose there.

My body isn't any good for that life though, so I wouldn't have been able to join. I don't agree with how the military had been used for around a decade now, so perhaps it's a good thing I wasn't able to join, but if I could have I think the discipline, structure, and interaction as part of a team would have done me good - provided I was able to handle it mentally.

Probably a lot of males who want to join the army felt that way while considering it.

Your feelings about his decision are justified. It's his journey, and his feelings about joining the Marines are equally important as the other members of your family. Just a few days ago a fellow on his motorcycle was killed while riding down my street in our subdivision. It was horrible that just a few houses down from where he lived this happened. So, any number of terrible things can happen to someone on any given day. Life is good at throwing curve balls at people no matter what they're doing.

He'll receive excellent training and will learn life skills that will serve him well throughout his life. He's a brave young man who hasn't been intimidated by all the negativity there is about the wars and military service. Positive regard for his decision and unconditional support is what he'll need the most from everyone.

My husband is a Marine (not active but once a Marine, always a Marine) and served in Vietnam. I'm thankful our troops today have received the respect they deserve upon returning home because the troops who served in Vietnam received just the opposite. How they were treated was shameful. Support him as best you can, and I, too, thank him for his decision.

The most important thing you can do is make sure he knows how loved and supported he is. My boyfriend is in the AF and currently deployed in Afghanistan. Its really scary and upsetting, but I also know that the last thing he needs is to be worrying about me.
If you really don't understand, talk to your brother about why he made his choice. Express to him that you're scared but want to be able to support him as best you can.

Be sure to look for support from others, too. There are lots of organizations and support groups for the family and loved ones of the enlisted. Don't be nervous to admit that you need someone to talk to.

I did the same thing a long time ago when I was 19 and joined the marines and nobody expected it. I think that it is important to support him on his decison.

If I hadn't ended up getting married I was planning on joining the AF after I graduated from college......I think that the military is a very important part of every person's like whether male or female. Skills & attitudes that are learned that are very valuable in life.

Instead however I ended up in being a aerospace firmware engineer & worked on many different military communications systems that the marines used to use & fly airplanes by. It was an awesome feeling to know that I was doing my part in helping provide our troops necessary tools needed for the protection of this country......there is definitely a pride that goes with that.

One thing about the once a marine always a marine. I met a young guy who had just gotten out of the marines a few years ago while I was having my breaks done on my truck.....he owns a farm close to mine.....& he definitely is a marine & will do whatever is necessary even as a civilian to protect this country. I am thankful that we do have people like that within our country that many don't even really know about.....but it gives me a much safer feel.

Yes, the struggles they go through but we never know what our future is even if we don't end up in harm's way. I dated a guy who served in the army in VietNam...the PTSD he was dealing with was very sad......but all of our military did more than an outstanding job there & got treated like crap afterward because it was such an unpopular war where they really deserved 100% of our respect for all they went through & had to endure.

I think the military makes each person who serves a much stronger person & like I said.....I am pro both men & women being a part of our services.

Our son had always been in the "Gifted and Talented" programs at school, and we fully expected him to attend the college of his choice upon graduation. One day during his senior year he came home to announce that he was joining the Air Force rather than going immediately to college. Needless to say, we were shocked and disappointed, but nothing would change his mind. It was his life to live, but we had to give written consent for deferred enlistment, as he was only 17.

The following week he went to take his physical, and take all the required tests. When a Marine recruiter saw his scores, he pulled him aside and convinced him that he really would have more opportunity as a Marine. That was 9 years ago. Today our son is a Staff Sgt. and plans to stay for 20. He couldn't be happier, working in Signals Intelligence and doing things I don't want to know about. Most of his advanced training has been college accredited, and with a few more credits he can get a degree in Computer Science.

My wife said that the only thing more painful than giving birth was seeing them leave the nest. She was quite right. At some point a parent needs to stand back and say "I've done my best. It's your life....go live it and make us proud."

Nonetheless, it's a very difficult moment.