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I can remember quite literally this exact thought/feeling (slightly different phrasing comes to mind, but yours is more polite), and also in spite of a nearly perfect ASVAB score...Quote:
Originally Posted by CavSct1983
Best of luck to him getting this squared away!
ETA: something funny this thread reminded me of - spent a few days this week in a hotel where they were staying for MEPS; had a few kids ask if I was with the group...hehehe
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy
I did a Recruiting duty assignment between deployments. (DA selected for the Corporal Recruiting program; awful experience)
I was assigned to Southern California Recruiting Battalion. I saw some pretty dirty tactics to strong arm kids in the DEP program.
The one which sticks in my mind the most was this Hispanic kid. He joined and before he shipped, his mother wigged out. I don't know if he joined without her knowing, or what. But either way, she spoke almost no English. So he brought her to the Recruiting Station to tell our Station Commander (a weasel of a man; if I ever see him again, I'm punching his teeth all the way back to the Philippines from whence he slithered). The Panamanian SFC translated, along with the Mexican SSG. They were telling the mom that if he didn't go he'd be arrested and taken to Leavenworth and all sorts of awful, untrue crap. Poor madre was in absolute hysterical tears.
So I snuck out as I could tell it was wrapping up.
Once I saw them exit the Station, I called them over to where I was hanging out in the shadows (it was at night). Told the kid to translate for his mother so she would understand.
Told them the following:
1) everything they just told you is a lie
2) the first oath is just for the DEP program, and you are not bound to it; only the 2nd oath when you actually ship counts
3) not a single bit of legal trouble will come your way, and if you want to enlist again, or with another branch, you can
4) those men do NOT represent the United States Army and I am very sorry she had to go through this experience
She went from hysterics to tears of joy, thanking me profusely in rapid fire Spanish.
I'm not sure how it works for the USMC exactly, but I know that only the 2nd oath is what counts and no one should give away a portion of their life, or even the whole thing God forbid, unless they are doing what makes sense for them.
The US Army Southern California Recruiting Battalion can still kiss every sweaty hair on my ass.
It's only the official oath you take at Meps the night/morning before you ship off to recruit training. I don't remember taking a 1st oath but may have just don't remember for the Marines.Quote:
Originally Posted by CavSct1983
The 1st is a formality. The 2nd before you ship out, the day before to boot is the "official" one. At that time you're in or out the door.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shooter45
My Recruiter tried the same tactic, tell him to tell the recruiter he won?t sign anything until an Infantry slot opens up. My Recruiter has his heart set on me being in Intel, or some crap because I?d Aced the ASVAB. I still ended up with an 11th hour change to my contract with an 03XX 5 year Security Forces contract slid across the desk and the SSGT telling me to sign it, or else I wouldn?t ship for another 6 months. I?d already waited 3 months, and he was sick of me.
I begrudgingly signed and shipped that day.
Lots of things have changed in the last 11 years and I?ve lost contact with the friends I had in 1st LAR. Not sure how Drivers vs. Gunners vs. Dismounts get assigned.
In hindsight I?m glad I signed that contract, the clearance, MOS schools, and experiences were well worth the indignity if not just being a Grunt. I also never would have met my Wife or be living in Colorado had I been stubborn and demanded to go with a 4 year Infantry contract.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
Little bit different in the officer route, at least in the Army. You submit the short list of what branch you want, and you get what they give you. My first two choices were Infantry then Armor, but I guess someone felt that a 2LT with a degree in theoretical mathematics might better serve in the Engineers.
5 Great reasons to become a (good) mechanic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4Jx5TC2Ac
If I had to do it again, I would be a cook. It is warm where you work, you get to eat anytime you want, and nobody messes with you because you are feeding them.
Well, he stamped his feet a little and compromised on being an armorer.
I don't personally agree with the decision, but it's his choice.
On the upside, he likes tinkering with guns and given his father, has ample experience in it.
Would be cool if he gets assigned to a unit where the equipment is more specialized.
Joe K -
Some of the smartest dudes I knew were combat arms. A few of the dumbest, too.
From the 11C (mortar man) w/ a BS from MIT (was using student loan repayment program) to the former pre-med 19D (Scout) who had given up a golf scholarship from a university in Pennsylvania, to the 19D who now has a Masters in Biology and is a lab manager. A lot of average guys too who, though lacking book smarts, were street smart wizards.
And then... there was the 19D from some holler in Kentucky who, having an ASVAB score of 25 (!? -- talk about a waiver!) came to a road march with a friggin duffle bag swinging from his ruck frame's bottom cus he had failed the ruck weigh in the day prior and was told to add weight.
I would imagine it's the same in the Marines.