USMC
It’s kind of weird, something that I’ve been struggling with since the moment I first swore in, or maybe it was the second time I swore in right before they sent me off to boot camp… Early on it was always the thought, did I make the right decision? Was this a mistake? Usually that was following being blasted by a drill instructor. It’s easy to think you’ve made a mistake when you’re in boot camp, in fact I think that’s one of their goals, but even if you admit it was a mistake they’ll do their best to make sure you stay committed to that mistake. Then comes the fleet where you meet your first unit and you start tripping up as often as not. In those early years I was always counting down the days till I got out. Then I hit Corporal, E-4, and began thinking maybe it’s not so bad. Since then I’ve deployed three times, in fact I’m still on my 3rd, and while the units I’ve been with really suck I’m thinking it might be a good idea to stay in. I have my wife and kids to look after and this is definitely a stable job to take care of them. If it was just me, I’d probably get out. A lot of people look at their family as the reason to get out. I definitely live my life for them, everything I do is for them. I hate being apart from them. That’s hopefully part of the deal of staying in, the possibility that I can work it into my contract that I’ll not be deployed for a good amount of time. As of right now I’m thinking after this next enlistment I’ll get out, 9 years is enough. I’ll save the bonus (or possibly spend it on pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and when I get out of the Marines I’ll have that buffer. Well I definitely had to write this down somewhere.. it’s a big decision that’s driving me crazy. Hope after I re-enlist I don’t think, did I make a mistake?
July 7, 2009 at 8:04 am
That is a hard decision, but it is one that you can’t go wrong with really. Staying in is stable and you have the retire after 20 bit. Getting out can be scarry, especially in this economy, but you are free to do as you please. Also, being away from the family sucks.
There are days I wish I had stayed in and days that I am glad I got out when I did.
July 7, 2009 at 8:09 am
Dont really have any advice besides doing what you feel is right. thanks for your service
July 7, 2009 at 8:14 am
I can tell you that the economy is not just superficially bad, it is bad. I finally found a great opportunity after five months. If I had a family, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
We do appreciate your service, best of luck.
~ M
July 7, 2009 at 8:18 am
Whatever you decide Chris, A BIG THANKS for your service. I was in the Navy ‘87-93 and served on an LSD, so we deployed with Marines & sent you in for amphib landings. I enjoyed getting to know a few Jarheads.
PS: You want to be taller, at 5′11"?!! Man, I’m 5′6"……..if I had jut 2-3" more height, I’d have abs.
July 7, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Thanks everyone, I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up giving it another 4 years, I’m probably going to try to make it somewhere interesting just to keep things fun.
July 11, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Lucky for you at least that you have the luxury of chosing to re-enlist or not. Due to my medical condition I am not allowed to re-up. The Marine Corps has chosen to boot me out because I may become a liability. I got a little bit of time left before my Med Sep is finished, and I hope to prove them wrong before then. Whatever your decision I hope that you are happy with it, man.