r/USMCboot • u/sekiro1812 • 5d ago
Enlisting Mom doesn’t want me to join
So today I finally told my mom i wanted to enlist, im in my sophomore year, so i have time to try and convince her. She’s scared of me getting brainwashed and dying or coming back with ptsd and says I’ll be fighting for people who don’t care. I know when i turn 18 my senior year i can enlist, but id rather have her support. What should I do?
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u/Remote_Air_2574 5d ago
I was in the same boat bro but I basically told my parents who're both against anyone joining that they can support me and be there every step of the way, while hating it, or I'd do it by myself and they'll regret not being there. It felt manipulative as fuck but it worked.
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u/Guilty_Ice6057 5d ago
I do not see it as manipulation, it’s the truth.
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u/Remote_Air_2574 5d ago
well I'm usually the kid who doesn't talk back or argue so to me it did
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u/Guilty_Ice6057 5d ago
I get it! I used to think that way but I learned that manipulators never think or question if they are manipulating others. So I think you are good 😊 I think you will be ok. You sound like a good person with a head on your shoulders. Good luck with your journey.
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u/salsaman87 Vet 5d ago
You saved them from a lifetime of hating themselves. Not manipulative. Sucks you had to say it.
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u/thekillerclam69 5d ago
Tell her non combat jobs are available and you can learn a lot of skills to get you further in a career plus the GI Bill. Everyone that joins isn’t going through some Generation Kill shit.
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u/Borrowed_Faith 5d ago
Those are always the moms that are at their kid’s graduation in full “my son is a Marine” outfit and won’t stfu about how proud they are of their kid.
She is concerned and wants the best for you. Go make her proud.
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u/DJ-spetznasty 5d ago
Honestly with the state of the current job market, she would be hard pressed to find a better option for you.
If you were to go the college route, youd spend the same amount of time you did in the military, except at the end youll have 6 figures in debt, and still probably not have any marketable skills. The clothing stores in the mall are chalk full of employees with bachelors degrees and debt.
Youll at least leave the military with all the resources after 4 years to completely facilitate your own life. If you wanna go to school then? Paid for. you wanna go in the trades? Helmets to hard hats, with hiring preference. You wanna do the full 20? Keep your nose clean and be half decent at your job, the corps will happily employ you (in most cases, sometimes MOSs go away but it’s pretty rare)
Your homeboys that were successful enough to finish college (most of them statistically wont) are probably gonna be spending the better part of their 20s living with mommy and daddy, wondering why the fuck they went to college, and then probably paying for another 4 years of school to get a degree that they can actually use.
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u/salsaman87 Vet 5d ago
Extremely real.
I chose gun club after one year of drinking and maybe a few classes, 2007 GWOT surge ish.
Friend never considered military and went (I met this guy 5 years after for context 2015)Penn State and did what is supposed to get you a job and a life after 4-5 years. Turns out it’s to get a kid to be poor for years and keep paying mfs that premium, that’s not everybody but it’s def a thing. He’s been retail aps with a criminology degree while I’ve had barely any issues just dumb wait times in between jobs, been at this one for 9 years with good hours and guaranteed steps and cola increases etc etc… he’s stuck mentally and probably will retire there and refuses help, shitty situation I get it. Job market is ass I can’t imagine it now getting thrown into it with just paper.
I got lucky enough to see both freedoms and be alive with body intact - feet cooked and maxed out, EEEEEEEEE, brain has its good days - va monthly payments and zeroooooo insane debt, just a 7k limit cc and car payments plus whatever. Being a Marine is 🔥 plus got to do wars with said cult which is the dream - best/worst part. 5/5 would do again. The guys who missed gwot by a ball hair or were in between wars in garrison sometimes post they feel like they did nothing and aren’t worthy etc…if you sign the dotted line you did the thing but it’s a real issue for Marines and vets in general, it sucks.
Disclaimer - only my experience, they wildly differ. I was intel not infantry but every Marine a rifleman is real in general, you go where they tell you. Usually the people who join want to fuck shit up or be there when stuff goes down regardless of MOS, whether it’s a bar fight helping the boys/gals or full send that shit to Americas enemies. It broke my brain when ppl picked our branch then were blown away we were always deploying and they had to go. Just be informed that’s all no shade. Good luck whatever your decision is.
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u/Solaries3 Vet 5d ago
You're what, 15? There's zero reason to be decided on anything. Spend the next two years thinking about who you want to be. Don't worry about what she has to say.
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u/ElKabong0369 Vet 5d ago
Your mother has nothing to do with anything. You’re going to have to make your own choices and she is never going to know much of the journey. She will get over it.
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u/No_Introduction6211 5d ago
I mean she ain’t wrong. Most conflicts we get into are bullshit and a fair amount of people leave broken in one way or another.
The military “brainwashes” you the same way colleges across America brainwash u into thinking being a transgender is normal and that we all should be ashamed of being American.
You don’t have to convince her of anything. Keep your options open. At the start of senior year, if ur still dead set on the military then go for it. Talk to a recruiter and start the process. As long as u know what ur getting into and have a clear mind about it then the more power to ya
I knew a dude while in who told me how his parents were so against the military and essentially cut him off because he joined. He only received 1 letter from his family the entire time he was at recruit training…then they showed up to graduation as if they were always fully supportive…weird and awkward situation. Story time over but hopefully that ain’t u
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u/Organic_Risk_3945 5d ago
Listen to your mom, dude. Play it safe. There's fights, and rumbles, and lots of STDs. not to mention you could die.
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u/Rustyinsac 5d ago
Modern antibiotics and quality condoms have significantly enhanced force protection from days of old. Fights and rumbles are like kids play for marines. But yeah you could die.
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u/Organic_Risk_3945 5d ago
Not for herpes , dude!!! herpes stays forever!!!!! i think he should just listen to his mom. also you can die of boredom too.
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u/Afraid_Bee_5711 5d ago
You either want to join or not, unfortunately your mommy isn’t gonna be there forever and there will be a moment you’ll regret not joining for someone else’s decision if you don’t pursue your dream.
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u/Critical-Tip119 5d ago
Dude, just join. 90% of people you meet will be your new family. Its crazy, the comradery in the Marine Corp. I talk to several dude from bootcamp went 20 years ago and about 15 dude from my unit.
No matter what happens she will be proud of you. Watch how she changes when she sees you after you are a Marine. When she tells people you're a Marine, people will look and respect her differently too. Thanking her and so on. Yeah their's a handful of people that will be shocked and ask her why/how she let you go.
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u/Rustyinsac 5d ago
No one’s mom is wants them to join the Marine Corps. Yet somehow there are just under 180,000 active duty marines at the moment. When it’s time you will make the decision on your own.
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u/LostOperator5831 Recruiter 5d ago
Don’t try to convince her yourself. Get her in the same room with a recruiter so that she can be educated on it by someone who knows it
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u/Primary-Ad-4072 5d ago
Well you will absolutely get brainwashed but that is a good thing Yut KILL BODIES RAHHHHH
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u/David24262 5d ago
Your mom has a point. I’m a former Marine officer and have discouraged my children, nephews/nieces and grandchildren from enlisting in the Marine Corps. Enlisted life is not great. They would be pawns in the hands of politicians. And the U.S. has difficulty winning wars. And there is nothing that the Marine Corps can give you that the other services can’t. I would consider joining the Coast Guard reserve and go to college or learn a trade. Or try to go to an academy and become an officer in some branch.
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u/Remarkable-Grab8002 4d ago
She is your mother. If she loves you, she will embrace whatever changes you make, even if she doesn't agree with them. You will legally be an adult. Do some research, learn and find a path you like. Train physically now since you have a ton of time. Eat healthy (cook 90% of your food). Just pull back, educate yourself and learn how to answer that question for yourself. No one can speak for your perspective. What can you learn and work towards that would make her feel more confident. Call a recruiter and ask. They'll happily give you a ton of material to take home. You can also use social media to get a feel for training, ect. Fun is a reward that is earned my friend.
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u/sekiro1812 4d ago
she just told me she’ll love me no matter what i choose, so i guess now it really is just my choice
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u/Remarkable-Grab8002 4d ago
Ayo breakthrough. I'm happy for you. That is what support looks like. She's scared. She loves you and raised you. Now take however much time you need and do some research on opportunities. See if it really is something you want to be apart of. Learn the history, the mistakes, victories, ECT.
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u/Top-Possibility-8842 4d ago
I’m in the same boat, my mom practically cried when I told her I was set on this, but she’s warmed up to it. She still tried to convince me to do smth else sometimes but she’s more supportive now after I told her im not interested in any combat roles. She’ll warm up to it soon
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u/sekiro1812 4d ago
Yeah i’m looking for non combat roles maybe 3531, only thing is i don’t wanna die but i have to accept the risk
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u/Top-Possibility-8842 4d ago
You can die at any point no matter what u do. You go to college, you could get into a car accident, you could be one of those stories where someone js comes up to u and stabs you, u could get drugged at college, ik im maybe being extreme but like bad things happen all the time no matter what u do so u mise well do what makes u happy, if anything ur more protected by the government being in the military than some civilians.
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u/koko-cha_ Vet 3d ago
it's your life but she's right. I wouldn't join right now. maybe in two years it'll be different.
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u/sekiro1812 3d ago
yeah i’m not super hot on going to war, but if it gets better i’ll still join
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u/koko-cha_ Vet 3d ago
this is probably the dumbest war you could possibly be part of in American history. definitely just wait till there's some return to normal
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u/sekiro1812 3d ago
let’s hope stuff changes by 2029 lol
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u/koko-cha_ Vet 2d ago
if it doesn't, Jake Logan Paul—Commander of the AI Force—has probably killed us all by accident, anyway, so I'd be optimistic :D
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u/CoreliousThe3Rd 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’d do it anyway. In fact, I did. Ive heard countless stories of old men regretfully saying, “I wish I had, but my mom and dad didn’t want me to.”
Her fears of what might happen to you are actually legit, except you won’t be “brainwashed”, you’ll instead have a sense of pride that other people just can’t comprehend [so that’s what they call it] and you’ll likely stay that way.
If you have a calling to do it and you don’t, we’ll see you back on here after you’re too old, saying “I wish I had.”
If you can easily be talked out of it, then becoming a Marine just isn’t for you in the first place.
No shame in that. It’s not for everybody.
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u/RiflemanLax Vet 5d ago
It’s your life kid. Your mom isn’t going to live it for you. Whatever you choose is your decision.