[labusiness]

Having been married to a former combat Marine for several years, I can say that the "preparedness" never leaves. In times like these it is great to have all of that confidence in the house.

If you have a kid wanting to enlist - go Marine Corp. the level of seriousness they have for their craft is remarkable and it starts with their education in warfare - my husband is a mini-expert on nearly every battle because of the Marines and their determination never to "reinvent" the wheel but go forward with their objective. They might be "jarheads" but the jar is full of intellect.

Two weeks ago we attended the MCRD graduation in San Diego and I am happy to report that those boys have become men.

[walden]

I no what you mean-- my sweetie is a Marine. (I say "is", because he always tells me that there are no former Marines-- once a Marine, always a Marine.)

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

They also teach the Marines respect.  A number of years ago, my dad was a civil-servant working as in the out-service educational group at Ft. Eustis, VA.  He used to come home and tell us that the difference between the quality of Marines and Army was remarkable.  The marines would come in, sit on the edge of their chairs and say yessir and nossir to dad.  Furthermore, they would listen very intently to everything that my dad would say.  Additionally, they were always AJ squared away.  Totally different from the army personnel there.