My son joined the Marines

Aurora - posted on 04/02/2013

My son joind the marines today and I am so worry for him

Rosa - posted on 04/18/2012

what if... my son join the marines for the wrong reasons? what can I do now?

Tami - posted on 01/14/2010

My son is in the Navy & will be deployed in April to Asia. Yes, that is all the military will give me for an answer. They say that all branches of the military will do what Marines do overseas. You have to set your mind that the military is not, repeat not, mom friendly. I trust that God will take care of him. Prayer really works.

Jenny - posted on 01/14/2010

Hi Julie, Yes my son 22 and is in the marines for the past 2 yrs. He will be leaving in May. I just hope they come back alive. He has a 18 mon old daughter. Add me to your circle.

Dawn - posted on 01/13/2010

My son Josh joined the Army in Sept. 09. He was stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia for basic training. He graduated from bascis on Dec. 17, 2009 and is now in Fort Polk, La. He is only 2 hours away from home at the moment. He will be shipping out to Afghan. in Nov. 2010. The following is a response to a group I joined of mothers of soldiers (momsofsoldiers.ning.com). Try to join a group with other moms of soldiers. The group I join was with other moms whose sons were at Fort Benning in the same troop. It helped alot to be able to share all ours sons letters and phone conversations with each other. We all were able to cry and learn so much together.



"When Josh came home and told me he wanted to join the Army it felt like a punch to the stomach to me. If we were not in two wars, I would have been all for him joining. He was already in college and I thought he liked it. It seems me son was lost. He did not know what to do with his life. He was so confused as to which direction his life was going.



I am not ashamed to to say I did ALOT of crying and pleading for him not to sign up. But he is headstrong like me and would not listen. I did everything I could to talk him out of it (short of giving him money).



Since he has been gone I have noticed a confidence in his voice when I talk to him. In these past few months he has really grown up. When I went to Georgia to see him on his 36 hours pass, he looked and acted more mature. I am so proud of him. He has grown up so much. I have always been there to take care him. What he needed I provided if I could. I was not ready for him to grow up and leave me. I know it is time to let him go. But it is just so hard. He turned 21 on Oct 4., but to me he seemed so much more inmature than I was at that age. Maybe that is my fault for cuddling him so much through the years as I did.



" I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF THE FUTURE MONTHS!". I do not want my son in Iraq or Afgan.. I am so very scared that if he goes I will not see him again. I know it is not right to think that way. I need to think positive at all times. But that is the way I feel.



This is my sons life now. I will support him in anything he does. But in the quiet nights here at home I will let the tears for flow. I will be brave in front of him."



My advice is write as much as you can. They live for those letters.

Elaine - posted on 01/12/2010

I don't know of anything in this life that is more difficult than letting go of a child. Under any circumstances. Remember, his life is his journey, and stop imagining the worst. 'Be positive, think positive. Sometimes we have a way of creating our own reality with our fears. God bless you and your son. And, thank him for me for my freedom and safety. Be proud. Your son could be killed crossing the street, so don't fret about his whereabouts, it is possible that in some way, him being away could save his life.

Julie - posted on 01/11/2010

thank you all for your kind words and support. i'm just learning to use this website so i'm still learning my way around. nice to meet so many great moms!

Melissa - posted on 01/11/2010

I too have a son who is a Marine. He is deployed right now in Afghanistan he can only call his wife like once a week and replies to emails at least once if not twice a week. They keep them so busy over there esp. right now so they don't have too much time to think. We expect him back in the states sometime in the next few months. Since he has been gone he has had a son and his daughter turned two, they miss so much but you get excited just hear any news from them. Even just Mom I am ok. It was really difficult when my oldest was deployed to Iraq for 18 months, he is in the Army. They get longer deployments, it is very unusual for a Marine to be deployed over 7 months at a time. So have faith in your son, support him, stand behind him and just be there for him. Pray whatever prayers you need to. And when you get phone calls letters or emails savor them. It is so hard to let go and what them become men but it has changed my son's life forever. As it will yours. They become men no they become Marines and they have a quality of their own it is amazing the changes big and small you will see. And just think you gave birth to this person who is " totally awesome"!

Betsy - posted on 01/11/2010

Julie,
My heart goes out to you...In 2008 my now 22 yr. old son came home one day and out of the clear blue says he had joined the Army National Guard with MOS in artillery. I was shocked to say the least! I wrestled with MANY emotions but had to come terms with the decision that he had made. I was then & still am now so VERY PROUD of him and SUPPORT him in his decision. I remember the day I bid "see you" to the son whom through my mother's eyes saw as "my little boy" when he left for basic in May 2008. I wrote him faithfully & he would call when he was able...I had to accept that. If it weren't for handing things over to God, I would have driven myself crazy! I had visions of that little boy of mine going through tough times during training and had to let it go in prayer....many times a day on some days....It's not easy to let go but it does indeed help pray and let God be in control. Graduation from Basic Training day came and in a mass of soldiers, who by the way all look the same, I saw him! I saw MY son....not the boy who I bid "see you" to 3 months prior.... but my son the man! OH I CRIED!! After AIT he came home and within 5 months he had orders to deploy to Egypt for a year in May 2010. We did have that year to prepare thank goodness and while the mission itself seems easy enough and isn't directly involved in the fighting....he is still going into hostile territory. Then I had a "light bulb" moment, ahhhhh we have danger all around us right here on our own soil...Daily news is filled with violence and such....Matters not where one is, as for instance my friend who served 3 times in Iraq, came home on leave and was killed by a drunk driver right here in the U.S.! Point is we can't control things or people in our lives....otherwise we will literally drive ourselves crazy! We must trust in God to be our pilot. Military support groups are many but this one might be right up your alley until your son comes home and is in the local unit where a family support group may be established, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USMCMoms2
Hope this helps...

Peace & Prayers,
Betsy

Donna - posted on 01/11/2010

Julie, I have not had a son or daughter join the military, however , I have been in the military with these wonderful kids. I joined at the age of 32. I was mom to a lot of these kids and I was blessed to watch these kids turn from scared kids to mature adults who learned not only to take care of themselves but how to survive in life in general. They are scared and the do get home sick. But when all is said and done they are so much stronger and have a better grasp on life than those kids who go to college. From the first day of basic training they are being shown just how strong they really are and they will form bonds with people they will carry for life. They also learn how important family really is.You will not believe the man your son will become, even if he is great now. I want to thank you for your family's service. Not only will your son change but so will you. May God bless your family and I will keep you in my prayers.

Brenda - posted on 01/10/2010

My son joined the Army and like you I was very proud of him but also upset. I did very good until he left and then I cried. I cried every time he called me and even threatened to go down and get him when he called home upset or homesick. Of course this all passed and I learned to accept that this is the decision he made and that I needed to be supportive of him.
When I went to his graduation and saw how much he had matured and grown I was so proud of him. I was finally able to realize that my baby was a man and that he really was doing something he believed in.
Its hard letting go but even though we still worry it does get easier to be apart.
If you ever need an ear I am usually on line. You can find me on yim listed as reading_mother.

Tammy - posted on 01/10/2010

I too have a child that went into the military...my beautiful daughter she joined at 17 and went to basic as soon as she finished school. It was very hard I will never deni that but the one thing I always keep in mind when the worst comes to mind is that no matter where you are or what you are doing it is always in God's hand. So please stop thinking the worst because only god knows when and where we will be when he is ready to take us home. Keep in mind our babies can go no matter what it happens everyday but we don't let it weigh on our mind under normal every day circumstance or we would go crazy shortly after we learn we are preg.



She spent a year in Iraq and sure I worried it is only natural but I put it in Gods hands in my mind and heart so I would not break.



Hope this helps, faith can be the make or break for us all.