Is is wrong to want to join the Royal Marines this much?

Question

As you may have seen from my other question, I'm a 15 year old boy who is intent on joining the Royal Marines when I'm of age. I know how difficult, gruesome and horrible it can be and I'm Definitly not joining because I play CoD and think "I would be awesome in War".
I do have my own very good reasons for wanting to join, and as I have a lot of Military members in my family, the pride factor is a very BIG one for me!

So, my question is: Is it wrong/bad or sick to want to join the Royal Marines so much?
As I feel like it was what I was born to do, and is all I think about all day when I'm not training.

Another side question is: Is it big headed to concider myself brave for wanting to join and having pride in myself for my decision?

Answer 1

Your a kid, you probably have the same thoughts about wanting a real girlfriend instead of the page 3 of the Sun newspaper, between now and the time you reach 18 you will hopefully have matured and changed your mind about 2 million times.



Yes its very big headed as at the age of 15 you have no real conception with regards being brave, or what its like to be in the military or under fire, just wet dreams fueled by what you see on t.v. or at the movies.

Answer 2

Don't join for pride. Join for the challenge. Pride will make you do stupid things like want to see combat.



If you join for pride you will be very angry when you come back home and very few people care about what you have been through or that you almost may have died. I was amazed at the indifference most people showed or mild surprise when I would tell them very scaring and terrible story's. You have to remind yourself that you went over there for yourself and a few members of your family that's it. Your country won't care and regular people won't relate or empathize with what we do.



I have worked with the Royal Marines at Fire Base Robinson in the Hellmand province of Afghanistan. I saw combat there. The Royal Marines are really hardcore bad as,ses. I was impressed.



Also 95% of the combat is past 600 meters. Most of the kills get takin by the CAS (close air support).



My advise to you if you want to make a difference on the battle field is STUDY very hard in school starting immidiatly. Be active in sports and strive to be competitive. Become a pilot for either fixed wing or rotary wing so that you can blast evil people from safety while the ground pounders take the incoming rockets and mortars.



Good luck, Special Forces Support Electrician U.S. Navy

P.S. Thanks UK for the great food on Thanksgiving day 2007 at FB Robinson.

Answer 3

No, its not wrong to want to join. Maybe have set out their life's ambition at an early age.



But you'll know if you made the right decision once they get you into basic training & only then you'll KNOW how difficult & gruesome it is to you.



Try it out. Better to follow you ambition & succeed or even fail than never trying at all.

Answer 4

There's nothing wrong with you wanting to join, its very admirable. But considering yourself brave is big headed, be proud of yourself but don't be bigging yourself up. Bravery isn't just being involved in things like that, its everyday things. I stopped a mugger not long back, and was stabbed in process. I do not consider myself as brave, i just did what any decent human being would.

Answer 5

It isn't wrong at all. Now, if you were thinking something like "I really want to join so I can kill people" or something like that, then that would be wrong. But it sounds like you have good reasons for wanting to join, and I commend your desire.



It isn't wrong to have pride in your decision, and it isn't wrong to think yourself brave, as long as you don't go around trumpeting your bravery.

Answer 6

It's perfectly right. Thats what will get you through basic training when you see others around you dropping out!