Why I'm Considering Joining the Marine Infantry

[Anonymous]

For a while now, I have been considering joining the Marines, but I wasn't sure what job or field I would pick. I've talked to many active duty Marines and they said "if you don't join the infantry, then your a pussy who doesn't deserve respect." And my father, a former soldier in the National Guard, told me not to join infantry because they come home with missing limbs and PTSD. In this Take, I will explain why I am considering joining the infantry.

1.) I don't want to be a pussy anymore

All throughout high school (I'm 17 by the way) I have been called a weak pussy because I'm skinny and I am that nice guy who isn't very assertive. Because of all of that, it has been burned into my head that I am a pussy. I'm tired of having that mentality. I want to become a badass who kicks ass for his country. I want to prove to myself that I'm not a pussy by joining one of the most badass MOS's in the military, the infantry.

2.) I want to be proud of myself

I want to be proud of myself, but I can't do that working at an office job in the Marines. I would believe that all that work I have put in would end up for nothing.

3.) I want adventure

Ima be honest, I'm a pretty boring guy. My day consists of school, gym, and Call of Duty. I want to go out on an adventure and come back home and tell stories and attract women with these stories (getting girls isn't the main reason why I'm doing this, but it sure is a bonus) and have stories to tell my children later on

Well there you have it, three reasons why I'm considering joining the infantry. My hope is that I go into ROTC and become an infantry officer, but if not then I might just enlist. Thanks for reading guys!

[Fathoms77]

Okay, I don't know which Marines you spoke to but I know a couple and neither would ever say in a million years you're a "pussy" just because you're not in the infantry division. What they care most about about is serving your country... sounds like you've met some seriously dick Marines.

And while 2 and 3 are fine, please, for the love of God, do NOT make such a critical life decision based on what people called you in high school. Are you really going to let people like that dictate the course your life takes?

[myTake Owner]

Yes, because they have burned into my brain that I am a pussy and now I believe too that I am a pussy. In order for me to not feel like a pussy I must do something that isn't pussy-like. I'm not doing it for them, I'm doing it for me.

[Fathoms77]

Based on that response, you ARE doing it for them. You let them dictate your self-image, which is clearly fragile.

And there are other ways of enhancing that self-image that don't involve major life decisions. I mean, if you want to join the Marines, by all means, I don't want to discourage that. But it really shouldn't be due to the fact that you're taking the teasing of morons far too much to heart.

[betweenthebars]

I think these reasons are too personal. I think that military careers are probably the most selfless you could find. It's about protecting your country and it's people and possibly laying down your life to do so.

These are not the right reasons to enlist. When you can make a list that includes the concepts of honor, bravery and sacrifice.. then you maybe you should consider the military. Until then... join a gym and get therapy.

[myTake Owner]

The honor, bravery, and sacrifice is already implied. I'm talking about other reasons

[Anonymous]

"if you don't join the infantry, then your a pussy who doesn't deserve respect."

If THIS is your motivation. You're going to have a tough time... Have you never heard of "Every marine is a rifleman" Just because those guys said you're a pussy if you don't join infantry doesn't mean you are. Have your own opinion for once.

Being an infantry officer is incredibly difficult. You have to be very fit and very very smart because there's only a small limited number of spots for infantry officers and it's the most desired MOS among officer candidates. And NROTC (what marines and navy do) has the toughest education requirements of all ROTC programs.

[myTake Owner]

Yes, I have heard of the every marine is a rifleman statement, but a lot of people believe that it should be considered stolen valor if you walk around talking about being a Marine when you are just a POG. I know the requirements of the NROTC program and if I don't meet them then I will just go into the army ROTC or enlist in the Marines.

[Opinion Owner]

It's not and that's disrespectful of the entirety of the USMC as a whole for people to say. Only 10% of marines are in infantry.

[Opinion Owner]

*disrespectful towards the entirety of the USMC

[myTake Owner]

I know it is, but a lot of people believe that you shouldn't get any respect if you are a POG because you aren't risking your life.

[FýrdracaDócincel]

Points 1 and 2 are fine in my opinion.

But if you go into the military looking for glory and stories of honor, kill yourself and ask the dead civil war people about it. We'll bring you back and you can then explain to us why you were dumb to think that in the first place.

[myTake Owner]

Why would it be dumb? Infantrymen go to war, we may be in peace time at the moment, but I have a feeling they are gonna start sending Marines to the cities that ISIS has conquered.

[FýrdracaDócincel]

People are just told about the "great adventure" of war so they'll risk their skins.

[myTake Owner]

But risking your skins goes back to point number one, not being a pussy.

[FýrdracaDócincel]

Yea but it's not honest motivation.

[myTake Owner]

Me wanting to not be a pussy is defiantly honest motivation.

[FýrdracaDócincel]

No. It's not honest motivation for not being a pussy. You won't be seeing it as some great adventure once you're in.

[myTake Owner]

Not once you go in, but looking back you will

[FýrdracaDócincel]

... that's retarded.

[myTake Owner]

It's not if you think about it. You will think it kinda sucks going in, but looking back at it you will think "damn, I did that."

[Anonymous]

The real problem with being a modern infantry man is not fighting the ene but the sheer weight of your armor, gear, ammo and rifle which is very damaging to the body. A buddy of mine ended up with arthritis in both his ankles. I personally slipped a disc.

[bruce3]

well done

[Adigelunar]

nice take

[PizzaGuy22]

Interesting