What should Marines do to reintegrate to civilian life?

Nicholas Mcclurken — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:55:51 -0500

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 12:57 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:57:17 -0500

I would say most importantly have a plan. Research the route and industry one plans on taking.

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 17 at 2017 12:59 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:59:46 -0500

take a Long look at whee they want to go and what to be in 3 to 5 years and drive and strive to be the best at what they are going to do ... just Like in service apply the same drive and desire as in service...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2017 1:08 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:08:30 -0500

Nicholas Mcclurken The best thing that any one transitioning can do is to have a solid plan with achievable goals. Do as much research as you can before you interview, so that you are better prepared than the other candidates. utilize your educational benefits and save/invest your money wisely. Discipline and determination will take a person where they want to go. Staying very busy also helps with the transition because you are too busy for distractions.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 17 at 2017 1:21 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:21:56 -0500

This is a very broad question to answer. Each service member, regardless of branch of service, has different challenges to over come when re-intrgrating into civilian life. The biggest thing I would say that any service member should do is to get connected with their community as fast as possible. You are not the only veteran in town. Find places like RallyPoint to come and ask your questions in a good and meaningful way. Connect with Veterans in the area that help point you to the right way to get things done within your VA office and remember you are not alone.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Feb 17 at 2017 1:51 PM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:51:07 -0500

Use the GI Bill, suck up some college and then use your leadership skills and be a manager.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Feb 17 at 2017 3:29 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:29:22 -0500

Embrace chaos & stupidity

Response by MSgt George Cater made Feb 17 at 2017 3:58 PM

MSgt George Cater — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:58:47 -0500

Why would they want to integrate into civilian life?? Once you are a Marine, the best you can hope for is to peacefully coexist with civilians. Why chuck all the pride, professionalism, esprit de corps, physical fitness, etc. to fit in with civilians? We love civilians. They are our country, our reason for existing. We willingly risk death or injury to protect them Many suffer lifelong disability protecting civilians. But why for the love of Chesty Puller and Dan Daly would you want to revert to civilian??

Response by SGT William Howell made Feb 17 at 2017 4:41 PM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:41:40 -0500

Why would you want to? Have you took a look at those around you? Do you really want to be a sheep? Coexist is fine, but not reintegrate. I had a coworker that was a retired USMC Drill Instructor. Thad was a loyal, strait shooter, that knew when to be firm, and knew when to show some empathy. I left that company and went to work for a better company. As soon as they had an opening I kicked down CEO's doors to get his resume on the right peoples desk. I knew Thad was the right guy for the job. Partly because he is a great person and partly because he is still a Marine. The stuff you get in college will never teach dedication, honor, or loyalty. I knew he would be at work until the job was done and it would be done right. They interviewed and hired him on the spot because they saw the same things I did.

Sure you can't knife hands people or tell a employee to get his head out of his ass, but you can still make sure that you do what is right, work hard, and make sure to give 100%. All the things you learned as a Marine. Those things are dying in corporate America, because of all the soft ass entitled pansies entering the work force. They have never done a single hard thing in their worthless civilian lives. You have! You'll shine above all those snowflakes if you can figure out how to coexist without reintegrating. Look at General Mathis. He ain't SecDef because he reintegrated or is a kiss ass (unlike previous generals).

I take pride when somebody out of the blue ask if I was in the military. It usually happens pretty regularly. It means I stand out from all the metrosexuals around me. Just my opinion, but don't reintegrate.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2017 5:30 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 05:30:16 -0500

Expect Civilians to be... Civilian?
Don't expect Civilian "leaders" to lead, they barely manage.
Expect Blue Falcons everywhere.
Expect people to blame each other for pointless stuff.

Keep your professionalism.
Keep arriving 15 minutes early.
Don't stop doing PT.

Don't integrate, you're never going to be a Civilian. You're a Marine, you're a Veteran. You stopped being a Civilian when you signed on the dotted line, that ship is long gone.

If all else fails enlist in the Guard or Reserves, I know a few Marines who did that. They work, they go to school, but they enjoy being around people like them or they wanted to tack on some more time.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Feb 18 at 2017 3:20 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 15:20:32 -0500

Find a job that interests you and will support your lifestyle; report to work; start performing your assigned duties; within a maximum of two days, some other Marine will ask you what did you do in the Corps, or what unit you were with and start giving you advice about how to survive in your position. Don't worry, they will recognize you were in the Corps...you're marked, even if you don't realize it.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Feb 19 at 2017 12:35 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:35:09 -0500

Tone down the swearing!