Let me start off by telling a little about myself. I am a senior in high school about to graduate in a few days. I have already enrolled into 1 semester of a university in the mid west.
Some part of me really wants to be a United States Marine. I've felt this way since I was about 12 but it's always been a tiny thought living in the back of my mind until recent years. Now that it's time for me to "grow up" I need to make important life decisions.
No one in my family has ever served in the military, save for my great, great grandfather who was a Royal Navy man in WWII. All members of my family are highly resistant to me wanting to be a Marine.
"You'll get killed", "You'll get your arms blown off". Stuff like this. I know that this is true and they have a right to be concerned.
Money is no object for my family, ie: I'm rich. The world was pretty much handed to me on a silver platter and I was born with a golden spoon up my ass. So I could totally do 4 years of college and not be in any kind of debt.
My dad says college is the best time of your life. I'm willing to bet that this is true judging on all of the college stories he's told me. Maybe it was cool to go to college during his time, but I think my biggest regret of going to college would to be stuck in a liberal fuck fest. –With the marines, everyone is like minded, and likely not a raging liberal faggot.
It's true that college would be a very safe place to spend the next 4 years. I'm pretty much guaranteed to not get shot or anything, and it is true that college degrees earn you a lot of money.
But the Marine Corps offers something that isn't available anywhere else. This is:
1. Extreme pride of belonging
2. Advanced training with weaponry and self defense
3. Mandatory physical fitness
4. A Brotherly bond with like minded people
I'm probably missing a ton of other points but you get the idea. Oh yea, I almost forgot.
The marines basically run your life for you 24/7 for 4-8 years. Having a structured life style would be nice.
All that being said, I cannot decide between the Marine Corps or college. Both sound like really spectacular things with many different benefits to the both of them.
I'm posting this to get feedback from you guys. Please tell me what a good decision would be.
And please, anyone who has gone to college or gone into the armed forces, please tell me why you decided to do what you did.
Thanks.