I am proud of a choice made when I was 18 to this day

I am proud of a choice of a choice made when I was 18 to this day. Went to see the Marines recruiter and enlisted in the USMC after after getting out of school one day. Knew I had to do something in my life and it was a thinking over process starting at age 17 a couple weeks before I turned 18. Talked to the recruiter about it at school, handed me a pamphlet and his business card. I made my parents proud, they were for it 100% having the talk with them. It was the next day after I turned 18 going in and signed the papers. Before this I was hanging in the wrong crowd starting at age 13 until I was 17. Went to boot camp at Parris Island in June of 1997 three weeks after my high school graduation open house. I made it through 13 weeks of boot camp becoming a Marine. My family was there the day before graduation and seen a whole new me. Plus my family got a tour of the place. Graduation day, My dad was wearing a proud dad of a Marine t shirt and mom was wear the same except saying proud mom. My younger sisters, they saw me as a better positive role model in their life. They were 16 and 14 at the time. Did 10 years and was worth it doing 3 tours in Iraq. My family knows me well which I do talk like a marine calling me the female version of Sergeant Hartman in the movie Full Metal Jacket.

 

Congratulations!
I’d say you did make a very wise choice.

I’ve often wondered what my life would be like now if I had enlisted when I was a late teen.
I grew up with two younger brothers and a abusive alcoholic dad who left when I was 9.
My poor mom did what she could but it was just too overwhelming for her.
Just about all of my childhood friends and ex-wife are dead.
Somehow I managed to steer my life through some crazy periods of time and land on my feet, but no doubt, the military would have given the discipline I really needed back then.

Good choice

 

Good for you my friend!!!!!!!!!

 

I learned discipline and respect out of it. The DIs were impressed with me, one girl had a hard time to finishing boot camp and I saw she was struggling. I encouraged her and she listened, I am good friends with her to this day because of it. She is from Iowa and does remember it to this day. Good friends with a couple from North Carolina as well. I ended up getting out due to I was raped and sexually assaulted by a fellow male soldier which there was nothing done about it. I did get a settlement from him in 2009

 

I'm a military brat myself and, just like police and rescue teams, its a job that not everyone can do but, obviously, as vital as any.

 

I also still remember when I came back to visit high school a year later in 1998 on leave. Walked in and the principal did not recognize me at first and he was glad to see I went the right path. I was glad to see other teachers I had too. One was an English teacher I had, had an OMG look on her face seeing me. Her class ended and I got behind her. Knew I was behind her and said I was a Marine now. Sat down and we talked. Asked me if I liked it and said yes including asking about boot camp. Told her I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning during boot camp getting 4 hours of sleep. I knew some of the lunch ladies too and they were glad to see me as well. Said thank you for my service to me. Found out in November of 1998, they had a recognizing day of alumni that were and currently in the military on Veteran's day. I was one of them

 

I'm an Air Force veteran, and I try to express my appreciation to military members whenever I see them, we are in a fairly military rich area, so I get to say thanks somewhat often. Please accept my thank you for your service as well.