Expert: Jason Grabill - 9/25/2007

Question
HI I recently found out our son enlisted in Marines. We had no idea till he came home and told us. He was enrolled in college.  He scored very high in high school on the test you take. Recruiter  said he could choose whatever career. He did not tell us because he knew we would try to talk him out of it. He is all pumped up about going! We as parents feel like our heart has been ripped out!!!!! As a mom I am devastated!! When you are not a military family it is very hard to except that route for your child. I feel there are other ways to serve you country. We have always supported our children in their decisions but I just can't handle this one on a emotional level!! We will send him to boot camp 10-22-07. He will leave knowing that he is loved and wish him success! I would like to know however if you could tell me when he is officially a sworn in Marine the first swearing in or second?  We love our son more than anything and he will leave with love and support!!! But a piece of us is broken.

Answer
Tammy:

  Many parents experience the exact same things you do, but your son has decided to serve a cause bigger than himself.  "Marines don't read history, they MAKE it".  That does hold true.    Once your son completes his recruit training, you, too, will join the Marine Corps family.   I am glad that you are supporting him in this endeavor, the path that he has chosen.   

  I don't think you should try, at this point, to 'talk him out of it'.  I assure you, all of you would regret that later on.  (Rightly so).

  He is sworn in now, but his 'official' swearing in will be the day he reports to Recruit training.   Can he still 'get out of this' (which is I know the question you want to know)?   Yes.   He can.  It would be a painful process, and if he is an adult, there is literally nothing you can do.   (I assume he is an adult because he enlisted on his own).   He needs to do this, obviously, and while I have no doubt it's difficult for you, let him go.   

 You will be very proud of him, I assure you.   Take care, god bless, and Semper Fi!

Jason