Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/9/2008

Question
hello, i am currently in the DEP and plan to ship out in a little over a week. I signed my DEP contract saying I will be 4 years active, and 4 years reserve. After thinking about it, 4 years of being active is a very long time to be away from my family. I was wondering if there was any way I would be able to change that before I got to MEPS and sign the final contract. How would I bring this up to my recruiter? Any help would be great, thanks!

Answer
Hi Ashley... Well Girl, If you ever want to see a Marine Sgt come undone at the seems ...tell him you dont want to go. Just be prepared for the worse, becasue he will come gunning for you and so will his bosses...


This much I can tell you is I can understand what you are going thru...I went through it about 22 years ago when I was your age, but the one thing that I can tell you is that the family will still be there when you get back. This is something that you need to do, because you really need the life experience and you need to be away from the family. It makes you grow as an individual and gives you more independance that you think you already posess right now. If you decise not, then you will kick your self in the ass for the rest of your life. I have heard it from a thousand folks....you in the military?...I was going to and I should of....I always regret not going it....the list goes on. The other thing that I can tell you is that the 4 years goes by super fast....here it is 2007 and I am getting ready to retire, I can still remember my first day at BMT just like it was yesterday. 4 years seems like a long time but it really isnt....

So the decision is yours, Stay home in the secruity of home go make something of your self in the marines. I guarantee you will like it...you come this far so something attracted you to the military lifestyle...