Anyone regret not going into the service?

[franco802]

A little story here:

I remember when I was 17 1/2 and Desert Storm was going on in the early 90's. I wanted to join the Marines. I had a recruiter and everything. I had lost 25 lbs and was running 5 miles a day. I was ready!!! Well, I was secretly doing all of this without my parents knowing anything.

My parents grew up in the middle of WWII in Sicily and wanted nothing to do with any wars or Marines/Army etc... Well, my mom and dad found out. After a big argument about me saying I'm going no matter what, all was quiet for a day or two. Until my mom ended up in the hospital. I guess her fear of me going was eating her up inside. She was very sick for a few months. So I ended up not going. To me, family comes first. My recruiter just about chewed my head off when I told him that lol.

I was going to make the Marines a career for myself and stick it out for 20+ years. I would of been able to retire in 4 years if I had went ahead with my plan. Oh well, live and learn.

Anyone else not go and wish they would of? Just thought I would share this little story.

[wilit]

I regret not joining, but in retrospect I don't know that I would've been accepted/made it through boot. I think my medical record would've kept me out.

[Matt C]

Current age limit is 42, plenty of people come in at 34-35 and do fine. Not too late...

[thebloodsonthewall]

Current age limit is 42, plenty of people come in at 34-35 and do fine. Not too late...

I just went through basic this summer. I had a 36 year old in my platoon. I am still in training and in my class there is a 33 year old and a 36 year old. All of them are making it though just fine. It isn't too late.

The guys that are a little bit older normally have an easier time making it through than the 17-19 year old's.

[Matt C]

I just went through basic this summer. I had a 36 year old in my platoon. I am still in training and in my class there is a 33 year old and a 36 year old. All of them are making it though just fine. It isn't too late.

The guys that are a little bit older normally have an easier time making it through than the 17-19 year old's.

Heh, yeah they seem to have a bit more common sense/maturity.

[cope113]

This topic has been eating me up! I have been kicking myself for about 6 years. But hearing about the people older than me makes me feel better. I guess I could still join. Look out United States Military, Here I come!

[thebloodsonthewall]

This topic has been eating me up! I have been kicking myself for about 6 years. But hearing about the people older than me makes me feel better. I guess I could still join. Look out United States Military, Here I come!

Do it!!!!!!!!!

[ilbob]

I failed the physical when I tried to join in 1976. Poor eyesight. I never realized it was a problem until the military said it was, and it has never stopped me from doing anything I wanted to do since.

[RudyN]

I never tried and would had not been able to pass the physical anyway as by the time I was 18 in 1961 I had already lost part of my right leg. I would have been just to right age to to to VN if I had joined.

[nemisis1400]

I just went through basic this summer. I had a 36 year old in my platoon. I am still in training and in my class there is a 33 year old and a 36 year old. All of them are making it though just fine. It isn't too late.

The guys that are a little bit older normally have an easier time making it through than the 17-19 year old's.

What job are those 30 year olds gonna end up doing?

[Fjold]

What job are those 30 year olds gonna end up doing?

They are going to shoot people and break things.

[AJAX22]

With Dr. Utopia as commander in chief of the armed forces.... I have significantly less regrets than I did before.

I appreciate those who serve and I admire them for the service.

I just couldn't do it with him running the show.

[franco802]

With Dr. Utopia as commander in chief of the armed forces.... I have significantly less regrets than I did before.

I appreciate those who serve and I admire them for the service.

I just couldn't do it with him running the show.

I agree with you. I see more Military men and women trying to leave because of the politics these days. I thank the men and women who protect our freedom very much, but I can't believe what the heck is going on in the military these days. The recent Navy Seal incident just being one of them.

My sister's fiance is going back to Afghanistan in February. He was going to retire in March as he has put in his 20 years in the Marines. But they are sending him back for one more tour. I think it's a 9 month tour, then he will retire when he get's back. I believe he is a Master Sgt.

He actually told me not to join. I don't think I would pass the physical anyways. After years of running, my knees are shot.

[thebloodsonthewall]

What job are those 30 year olds gonna end up doing?

They could do any MOS in the army that they are qualified for and that has an open slot. I am going to school for communications, so the old guys that are in my class are doing communications.

The guy that I went to basic with was going to be a cook. He was prior service though and his primary MOS is a tank crew member. So he picked the shortest and easiest MOS that he could just so he could get his old MOS back and his rank.

[dasmi]

I thought about joining the Navy after high school. Sometimes I regret not doing it.