I am going to be joining the Marine Corps soon. The thing is i don't know how to tell it to my parents. My situation is complicated, I moved to the states 4 years ago as a foreign student to get my Bachelor, and now i am about to become a US resident. Joining the Corps is really important to me for many reasons but first to serve this great country and do it among the best.
The thing is how can i make my parents understand why i am doing this after so many years of school, especially in a time of war. I come from france so you can see why it is a problem...hehe
Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated, I am sure y'all had to go through that somehow and finding informations on how to do that is hard to find online and that is one thing the recruiter is no help with.
P.S:My parents love the US.

i would be if you told them strait up and didnt sugar coat it, they would understand. tell them its just what you want to do to further your career and dont lie to them.

Tell them it is something youve thought long and hard about. that the country has given you something and you want to give something back. you want to make a difference. It's your choice.

I do not know how much help I can be. I met a recruiter when I was 17 and decided to join up. My mom was dead set in not signing the papers to let me sign up at 17. I finally told my mom that if she did not sign the papers, I would sign up the day of my 18th birthday. It took my mom about 2 years of me being in the military to realize I was doing something good.

With that said, my advice is to be very truthful in talking to your parents. Tell them exactly why you are going in. Don't paint a pretty picture of some BS reason why you are joining. We are at war and no mother wants her son to march off to war. My step dad was more understanding and actually wanted me to persue a career in the military. Don't worry If all else fails and you and your parents do not see eye to eye. Prove to them that you are doing the right thing by setting the example in what you do in the USMC. Parents love it when their sone or daughter excels.

Thanks a lot, so i guess i'm gonna have to gut it out, I love my parents to death but nothing can decide me out of the Marine Corps. I think they know by now that when something is of interest to me nothing can stand in my way. Last year they thought i was crazy when i told them i was gonna run the Marine Corps Marathon which i finished (in pain...hehe). So they know I am strong willed. Thank you all for your answers.

Be honest and tell them straight it is what you want to do and you are going to do it, and then just tell them that you hope that they will never be disappointed in your decision. To be honest there is not a lot they can say, and it is not as if you are turning to drugs or anything, so you should find that they will soon come around to the idea.

Originally Posted by Doody

We are at war and no mother wants her son to march off to war.

I agree. Just yesterday I had my 'discussion' with my parents. They understand, but will do anything to convince me not to go. Many people do not understand why we feel we must do what we do, and parents have an even larger reason not to allow themselves to see. Straight up tell them, but be respectful.

Yeah, telling them exactly why you want to join is always the best. When my parents first found out I wanted to be in the military they didn't think too much of it. They probably thought it would blow over soon. But I started to talk about a career and one day my dad finally asked why I wanted to join. I told him why and he is happy with why I want to join even though he doesn't really want his only son to be a Marine. For the fact that a war is on and other may happen if we don't settle our differences. Hopefully it won't come to more wars but you never know.

My parents want me to join the military. My grandfather is even helping me in my quest to go to the Naval Academy. I guess I'm lucky my folks are so understanding. For all you who have reluctant parents, just remember, it's your life once you are 18

and in the end, they are most likely against it because of theri love for you, they dont want to see you die.
if you train hard and become the best you can, you will make them proud and alleviate thier fears