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I've been with the Army ROTC for two semesters now in college and its time to finally take my relationship with it to the next level. My father, a Marine of 30+ years, thought it would just be a brief fling but I truly love what I'm doing. How do I tell him that I'm joining the Army without him disowning me from the family?
Update: Well he took it way better than I thought he would have. He was highly skeptical at first and grilled me about every aspect to make sure I knew what I was doing and hadn't just been swindled into signing my life away. Then after he was satisfied he asked why I wasn't joining the Coast Guard as I've been an auxiliarist with them for a while now. After I gave him the explanation to that he told me to wait on the couch and went into one of our side rooms and came back with some papers. Said papers were my grandfathers DD-214, while they weren't as detailed as the ones that come out now they showed that my grandfather had served in the Army and Air Force and had retired from the latter. I had never met my grandpa as he died before I was born and for some reason he'd never come up in conversation beyond the fact that he had been in the military. I'd always assumed he had also been in the Marines. So overall it went well and I learned a bit more about my family tree. Thank you to everyone for their advice and kind words. I actually used a good bit of that advice over the course of the conversation.
Update: Well he took it way better than I thought he would have. He was highly skeptical at first and grilled me about every aspect to make sure I knew what I was doing and hadn't just been swindled into signing my life away. Then after he was satisfied he asked why I wasn't joining the Coast Guard as I've been an auxiliarist with them for a while now. After I gave him the explanation to that he told me to wait on the couch and went into one of our side rooms and came back with some papers. Said papers were my grandfathers DD-214, while they weren't as detailed as the ones that come out now they showed that my grandfather had served in the Army and Air Force and had retired from the latter. I had never met my grandpa as he died before I was born and for some reason he'd never come up in conversation beyond the fact that he had been in the military. I'd always assumed he had also been in the Marines. So overall it went well and I learned a bit more about my family tree. Thank you to everyone for their advice and kind words. I actually used a good bit of that advice over the course of the conversation.
Humor
ROTC
Marines
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 78
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(Join to see) I served in both Army and Marine Corps.I have 2 sons --one Army and the other Marine Corps---Very proud of both of them--Just be straight forward with him.After all,he is a Marine--What can he do? Kill you?
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
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CWO3 (Join to see)
kill him? maybe...serial killers kill for kicks, mercenaries do it for cash, Marines do it for both
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SSgt Terry P.
CWO3 (Join to see) - An old motto from 1st battalion 5th Marines--always thought it was catchy.lol
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You serve in the branch YOU desire to just like your dad did...
Besides, you will have a lot of fun teasing each other at family reunion between Army and Marines!
If he doesn't accept your decision, that's his problem.
Besides, you will have a lot of fun teasing each other at family reunion between Army and Marines!
If he doesn't accept your decision, that's his problem.
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I waited till I was on the other side of the country and i was safely inside a secure Army facility ....even then i was not sure of the outcome...lol
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(Join to see) Your father will be proud that you want to serve. Good luck, and keep us informed on how this discussion goes.
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Tell him you want to be in Spec Ops and the Army has a bigger budget for that. Tell him the Recruiter can get you into Airborne and Ranger School, then its up to you to go SF and then into Delta that is the only reason your father will accept.
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Well soon to be lt/sir.. i recommend 1st buying him expensive booze and cigars... and showing him your army tatto after a few drinks hahahahaha
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Did I miss something? Are we in April Fools Day already? I didn't know serving in the Army was something that needed to be hidden from family like it's a disease or something
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(Join to see)
This is partially meant as a joke but is also partially serious. I'm honestly not sure how he's going to take it as he has jokingly(I hope) said he would disown me if I went anything but Marines.
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SFC (Join to see)
SN Greg Wright I make fun of the chair force and the navy all the time, but this dude sounded like someone from a very religious family trying to explain to them that he's gay, married to another dude and he wants to get a sex change operation while trying to eat turkey during thanksgiving.
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Just tell your Dad You have chosen to serve Our Great Nation in the Army...he will be ok with that.
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