Prospective Marines

It’s not a matter of whether you are smart enough or strong enough to be a marine; it’s a matter of having the drive to push yourself to be what it takes, to give your all, and to earn the title of being the best.  Your determination; or lack thereof, is your primary obstacle.


Ask yourself, “How bad do I want to be a Marine?” before you discourage yourself with “I won’t be able to pass the ASVAB,” or “I can’t do one chin-up let alone 20!”  If you are determined to be the best, you will be.  All you have to do is keep your head in the game.  Study! Work out! Mainly, don’t quit and don’t let others dissuade you.  The decision is ultimately yours.


Are you ready to take a stand? To serve your country? To acquire a sense of belonging?  Are you looking for adventure and travel? To be someone others look to in times of need? Or do you just want to be the best?  Life is about taking chances and challenging your self to be better.  Challenge yourself to overcome the fear of enlisting.  Recruiters are there to help you make a decision, not pressure you into joining.  Speak with one to find out what your options are before you deny yourself the great opportunity of being a marine.  You may find that many of the circulating stereotypes are nothing more than rumors. 


It took a lot of courage for me to walk into my first interview.  I was being overwhelmed by the negativity coming from family and friends about the Marine Corps.  Everyone kept saying “The Marines? Why the Marines? You don’t want to do that… it will be too hard.”  So I asked myself, “Do I really want it to be easy?”  I would have no sense of accomplishment if it was just handed to me. 


Aside from the challenges I would be faced with, everyone kept stressing that “everyone who comes out of the Marine Corps is crazy, or has issues” and “Marines are the first to fight, so that means they are the first to die.”  Everyone was trying to scare me out of choosing the Marines.  They wanted me to choose a branch that would be safe.


But what is more safe than being surrounded by other marines, who you have learned to call brothers and sisters, who are the most effective, feared, and respected group of men and women, and who would risk their own life to try and save yours?  You want me to be safe, where I will have people I can depend on.  Then there is only one branch to choose, the United States Marine Corps.