When I met my wife, her son was spending weekends his senior year talking to all of the recruiters in Fontana, CA. Their offices were all in the same strip mall.
He signed up for the marines for discipline and tradition. Yes he’s that kind of a guy, while I’m an old ex-hippie.
When they threw a reception in Fontana a Major showed up. My step-son seemed to dominate his time with questions.
The recruiters promised a choice of MOS. 3 Weeks after graduation he was on the bus.
He did well in boot camp and they sent him to Pendleton to the truck company at Camp Marguerita. Of course, they had him driving a 5-ton, since he didn’t have a drivers license. Finally got a military license and then a CA license.
On Thursdays they assigned him to a computer in an office to catch up on the back load of work. One day he saw a poster-become a Marine Security Guard. The rest was 8 weeks in training at Quantico, 15 months each in Honduras and Amman.
Left the marines to go to school after they failed to live up to a promise of SAT test and other college programs. They offered him a third tour, not usually done, to go to Pakistan and help set up the increased contingency at the embassy (post 9-11). He told the Captain from regional HQ that they Marines did not follow-thru on their commitments to him and he was leaving to go to college. Did that and has a successful career.
Proud to be in the family.