Originally Posted by
gabosaurus
Asked because a graduating senior that I advised to join the military finally decided to enlist in the Marines. Much to the displeasure of his obnoxious and overbearing father, who feels his son should get a job and help support his family. Which doesn't really need supporting.
I like the son a lot. Excellent physical shape. Good attitude. But lacking in confidence after years of his father telling him that he is a piece of crap who will never accomplish anything (an excellent description of the father, by the way).
Since all he is lacking is guidance and leadership, I think he will be an excellent soldier. But since I have no clue what it is like, I figured I would ask here. What does it take to become a top notch Marine?
Most of being a Marine is in your head. You take whatever sh*t they throw at you and keep going forward. You don't quit. Not even once. Unless you are just FUBAR, if you don't quit and no one will quit on you.
Being beat on by your dad whether emotionally, physically or both is actually an advantage. It means you're used to being yelled at and punished for no reason and just shrug it off while it breaks the pampered boys down. I kept wondering when the hard part we were all so scared of was going to begin. It zoomed right over my head. My dad was harder on me than any drill instructor.
It's like anything else in this life -- how bad do you want to wear that Eagle, Globe and Anchor? Only way I was going home without it was in a box.
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke