Officially DISCHARGED from the US Marine Corps DEP--UPDATE post 130

[limatunes]

I wanted to join the military when I was a kid. I could give you a million reasons why it didn't happen but the long and short of it is that I chickened out. If I wanted it bad enough I could have had it but I took those excuses and ran with them and some of them were darned good excuses. I took the path of least resistance and while it has led me to many wonderful things in my life it has left me wondering "what if" and regretting that which I never did.

For me, it's not about the money or the benefits. I think I'd still do this even if I got payed a dollar a week. I want the challenge. I want to be pushed out of my comfort zone, broken down and built back up to something bigger and better than myself. I want to give back to my country and earn the freedoms I take for granted. I want to earn the title I've respected and loved for so long.

Upon sharing that with my husband he just laughed and said, "Then you chose the right branch."

I'll admit that I'm a bit afraid.

Perhaps I'm afraid that I'm not doing this for the right reasons. Perhaps I'm afraid of what this will do to my family. Perhaps I'm afraid of how much I will miss my husband and my son. Maybe I'm afraid of the uncertainty of it all. Maybe I'm afraid I'll hate it. I know I'm afraid of failure.

I heard once that courage is not the absence of fear. It's being afraid and acting anyway.

I need a good dose of action.

So, today, at 1500 (3:00 pm), I took action and repeated the oath of enlistment into the United States Marine Corps Reserve and vowed to defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies foreign and domestic.

The next step is onto those yellow footprints in mid October.


Swearing in while my son looks on.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ccman]

Wow good for You Congrads.

[WhoWeBePart1]

My guts, I give them to you. Congrats.

[stevem174]

Limatunes, I do not know you, but I am very proud of you. Thank you for your willingness to step forward.

[Eagleks]

Yep, it can be a fearful event just to take the oath, because once it's taken....

We're proud of you for doing this. Congratulations. Face your fears and beat them down. Wishing you the best success in this endeavor. You'll do fine. Keep us all advised on how you are doing.

My Ex (medical field) , loved throwing hand grenades more than anything else. That surprised me. I hated the fact though that she became a fantastic shot.... one of the only people I've seen put 10 shots ... right on top of each other. Dang, that frustrated me, because I couldn't match it.

[LSCurrier]

Way to go!!

Congrats to you!!

Luke

[Bark'n]

Outstanding Choice Recruit!

I will say that the best piece of advice my recruiter told me was to take nothing but the clothes on your back, wear a good pair of running shoes, a very limited amount of cash needed during travel to the Depot, and only a few photographs of the loved ones who will get you through the hard times.

Everything else my recruiter told me was a pack of lies, but he hit the nail on the head with that advice.

When you step off the bus, you don't want to be dragging around a lot of luggage and crap you aren't going to be needing anyway. And what ever you do, do not drop any of the gear you get issued!

You should have seen the recruits struggling to keep from dropping all their issued gear while struggling with suitcases and all their civilian trash which ends up getting put in storage!

Btw... you have a job track lined up or going in with an open contract?

Maybe you'll be assigned to Lima Company! Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Good Luck and thanks for the commitment! Your Country needs you!

[gasmitty]

Sergeant Hartman would say... OUTSTANDING!!!

(Can't write what else he would say, because this is a family-friendly forum...)

[hbc]

Thank you for your (forthcoming) service to our country.

[SIGguy229]

WOW!! Congrats Lima!!

[dukalmighty]

Good Luck

[Squawker]

We've always been proud of you here Lima, now only more so. Thanks for your service. Now, just let us know when your hubby will be released from CCU following the heart attack that he had when you told him of this.

[RoadRunner71]

Limatunes,

There are a lot of things that could be said, but the most important are:

Good luck!
&
Thank you!

[usmcj]

Despite what you will think, upon arrival, your DI's are very much on your side. Do what they tell you, without hesitation, and you'll be fine. Except for your marriage, and your son, when that DI puts the EGA in your hand on graduation day, it will be the proudest moment of your life.

Semper Fi.

[ron8903]

Good going, took my oath in 1977 A very proud moment in my life