How do I come out as Army to my Marine father?

Most fathers are supportive of their children and their career choices, as long as the career choice isn't a criminal activity. Just say it flat out: "This is what I am, this is what I want to do, and I want to make you proud."

Funny. My dad is retired Air Force and I had four years of AFJROTC in hgh school and a year in CAP. I think mostly from his experiences in Nam he teared up a bit and my mom cried and asked why the Marines. I told her I just couldn't live my life in a blue suit somewhere in the rear if there was figting going on (400 days into the Iran hostage crisis with President Reagan about to take office). I ended up in the rear anyway as an air traffic controller, doing much the same thing on duty as if I had joined the Air Force.

Tell him that "Army uniforms have so much more bling that it might help me attract a decent looking wife."

Update. My brother has told me that he's thinking of joining the Air Force and is going to talk with our father about it tomorrow. It should give me a fairly accurate depiction of how he'll react. I'm currently planning to wait until after the Winter Break so that he can ask my programs cadre any questions he might have. He previously told me when I first joined that they would try to trick me into joining and I want to reassure him that isn't whats going on.(To be fair his warning did save me from joining the National Guard when they came recruiting. Nothing wrong with the guard but they certainly weren't completely honest with us when they came to recruit.)

I started life out as a Marine. Spent 11 1/2 years as "One of the Few." Both of my sons joined the Army. They both say my daily life and had a good idea of what to expect if they joined the Corps. They are both now retired from the Army/Army National Guard. Did it bother me? Not one bit. Each person has to do what they feel is best for them. You have a chance to become an officer in the Army and had I had the opportunity, I would have taken the opportunity to advance into the officer ranks. When I was in Germany on my last hitch with the Corps, I was at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart. I had the opportunity to become a Warrant Officer in the Army. I looked into it and arrangements were going to be made for me to stay at Patch and receive a direct promotion. When a class started, I was going to be sent back to the states and then back to Patch. I almost took it. Had I not had my fill of the military at that point, I would have. You have to remember that at that point in my life, I had live on military bases from birth to 29 years old. I needed a break. Rules were different for commissioning back then. You had to be 29 1/2 or younger on the commissioning date to be eligible. As it turned out, by the time I got my BS I was 32. I started college when I was 29 1/2! So much for that. When they changed the rules, I was serving in the Army National Guard. I could have applied, but I was my 20 year point and was waiting for my retirement package.

I say go for it and take a commission in the Army. Do what makes you happy. It's your life and not his. The only tradition my family has it serving. From WWII on, my father served (Navy and then Air Force), I served (Marines and then Army), both of my sons served in the Army, and my grandson served in the Army National Guard. All of us have served in combat zones. The branch did not matter.

Just tell him; truth is truth and needs no defense. Truth is you love the Army; that is a good thing. Marines are soldiers too and good soldiers love and respect other good soldiers. Everything will be alright.

Really? Sounds like your coming out of the closet. Children pick their own path, and as a parent, you're suppose to support it. You may be disappointed, upset, angry but, as a parent you support it. Let him know your truly happy and share the stories. It's the stories of the everyday mundane things as well as the other things that happen that binds us service people together. We may all wear different uniforms, but, we all bleed the same color. My father was a Marine, my brother joined the Army ( he said he couldn't fit his head in the jar) I joined the Marines. So, what. Didn't make my father love my older brother any less, didn't make my father love me more. Stop sweating the small stuff in life. You made a career decision, make the best of it. Your father will understand and support you

If your Father Loves you and I am sure he does he will accept your going army instead of MARINE.
He will be proud of you eather way

I really don't think that your relationship with your dad by joining the Army will get him mad. I think it will have the opposite effect. I enlisted in the Marine Corps while my dad was still in the Army. He was first initially shocked but got over it when he drove me to the airport. My father is a two-time combat veteran. Who served in Korea and South Vietnam.

You still have time to come to your senses.

SHOW HIM YOU ARE A MAN/WOMAN TELL HIM IN A NICE WAY THAT YOU FEEL A BETTER FIT WITH THE ARMY.