Something I still wonder to this day, what if I had just signed up when I was 18? Would I have made a good Marine? Would it have changed me so differently than I am? If I could go back in time, I would definitely have signed up.

And for all or you who served in the Armed Services for our country THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH

KRK;434882And for all or you who served in the Armed Services for our country THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH

I agree!
We have our freedom because of the brave men and women.

Happy veteran's day. Thanks to everyone that is serving or has served.

Zero2Cool;434879Something I still wonder to this day, what if I had just signed up when I was 18? Would I have made a good Marine? Would it have changed me so differently than I am? If I could go back in time, I would definitely have signed up.

The Marines deserve our nations thanks and respect.

As to your question, you may/may not be aware that the Marines break down a recruit's mind as they physically train the recruit. Their idea is to wipe out a persons past personality and replace it with a cold blooded warrior. You would have in no way have lived the past that you actually have. You may/may not have ever gotten married, had kids, live where you do, etc. You could be war disabled or have been killed in action. None can say for sure, but for sure becoming a Marine changes a person for life.

Smokey;434903The Marines deserve our nations thanks and respect.

As to your question, you may/may not be aware that the Marines break down a recruit's mind as they physically train the recruit. Their idea is to wipe out a persons past personality and replace it with a cold blooded warrior. You would have in no way have lived the past that you actually have. You may/may not have ever gotten married, had kids, live where you do, etc. You could be war disabled or have been killed in action. None can say for sure, but for sure becoming a Marine changes a person for life.

It was my understanding the Marines had the longest boot camp. Physically, I was genetically fortunate and could always push myself beyond the limits, so that wasn't a worry. When they talked to me about how they were going to break me down mentally and emotionally and build me up into, basically a soldier. It was at that point I started second guessing my commitment.


I've lost friends who had joined the military.
I would not hesitate to go back and join up, even if it meant I would perish with them. I would rather die for something than live for nothing.

6 months late for their last birthday and 6 months early for their next one but saw this today and it made me laugh.
thanks dfosterf for what you did for this nation.

Off topic a bit, but on this Armed Forces day I want to give a shout out to a man I got to know a bit right here at Fort Belvoir, VA. He is a bit famous, but my personal favorite aspect of this man is his understatement.

Scott Fales:

"There are many easy jobs in the Air Force, this isn't one of them"

Addressing a PJ INDOC class about to enter the pool for the maximum harassment phase of snorkel buddy breathing, possibly (I could argue probably)
the toughest 5 minutes in all of military training, and every PJ goes through it.

This jarhead salutes you and all Air Force pararescue...and all that tried, which is almost all...

My father in law was in the Army in WW2. He was still having flashbacks in the 1970s.
He didn’t talk a lot about what he went through. But once he told me how he “played dead” to avoid being killed by the Germans. Another time when he was shot in the chest by machine gun fire, shooting out one of his lungs. He ran, and didn’t even know he was hit until he felt wet, reaches into his shirt and his hand was covered in blood. That’s when he collapsed.
I can’t even imagine what that was like. He earned 3 Purple Hearts in the war.
I can’t comprehend how things like that couldn’t change you. I know things he did that were not good most likely came from his years in the Army. He could be very mean at times.
But he was one tough SOB! Someone you would want covering your back.