Before and after

[xracer]

Dead-end job, burning candle at both ends, having a great time, crashed my car, a buddy said, let's you and me "Jine da Marine corps"! I said WTF! lets do it! Best decision I ever made, THE CHANGE IS FOREVER!

Semper Fi, Brothers and sisters.

Marty

[doubler826]

BEFORE P.I.:6ft 3in 19yr old college drop out, smart mouth 150lb soaking wet. also .Oh Pleeze!!a MBA (mister bad a$$).

After P.I.: Tall, Tanned and 175lb of a quiet, coiled Leatherneck. I knew from then on I had "places to go and people to Pi$$ off.":D

[Born To Be A Ma]

Before And After, Like Night And Day.

Before: 16 year old kid, high school drop out, arrested twice for stealing cars. Thought I knew it all but going nowhere.

After: Discharged at 21 after 3 years Infantry and 1 year MP, proud of what the Corps gave/taught me. Got my HS GED while in.
Was a police officer for 35 years, my motto was "Protect, Help And Care" I shutter to think of what I would have become if the Corps hadn't taken this 17 year old kid and helped him become a man and proud Marine.

Semper Fi And Thank You

[EliteDogg]

Before: A smart mouth, self centered, know it all, cocky jock! Had no plans for the future. Never got along with my father, me trying to let him know I was a man (ha ha) and him trying to let me know I wasn't a man yet!

After: A quieter, Marine who finally understood his father and understood there was more to life then my little day by day wants! Learned what unity ment and a deep, unconditional love for my Brothers.

[tripledog]

I was the kid that your mother was afraid that you would bring home. I had the gang, the drugs, the booze, the women and used them to my advantage. One night out joy riding in a stolen new chevy and parked at the local hip joint, every cop in town surrounded us.
Next day, stood before the guy in the black robe and was given two choices, 4-6 in the joint or 2 plus in the military. Now being a little smart, I took the military thing.
Went down to the recruiting offices where every branch had their recruiters. Went to the Army first, great lines they had, liberty, women, travel, etc, nect to the Navy, same thing, then the Air Force, even better promises. In the coat closet of this huge complex, sat a dumb look guy in a light brown suit, with stripes from his biceps to his ass. That dam closet had roomm for one little desk and two chairs. I walked in, asked him the hell he was cause this was MY town. He stood up, looked me in the eye and said MEN only in here punk. Five minutes later, I was a new member of the Corps.
Arrived in Diego in Oct, LIVED in receiving barracks from Oct to Feb, when theyh finally got enough dummies like me to join to form a platoon.
My new life started the next day. I got the education that my parents wanted me to have and the discipline the Corps wanted me to get.
As a result of the Marines, I am a pillar of the community, fater of two perfectly grown kids, and a reconized member of society.
I found out two things,
1. There is truth in the Marines
2. I sure was stupid !!!!!!

[Ken Rohlff]

After a crappy child hood, my dad died when I was 5 and my mom dumped me at age 6, Mom took off with a guy for about seven years. I went to to seven schools in three states in seven years, Not sure why I hated school. I quit in Sophmore year. In 1956, a Cop said that I was hanging around with a bad crowd and was heading for trouble. He said why don't You go in the service? I said gee, I never thought about it. Shortly after that I stopped in Recruiting office, had no idea as to what I would join. I saw this Marine with trop. shirt and blue pants. I walked in and asked if He had a job for Me. And He did. So I joined, just to show people and myself, that I wasn't a worthless piece of crap.
I even got rid of my long hair, got real hair cut, so they wouldn't have to give me a buzz cut, as you all know it didn't work.

Never regretted it. Semper Fi. Ken Rohlff USMC 56-59

[packy46]

Joined at 17,wouldn't have made college anyway,decided on
the Marine Corps, after all, it was good enough for Chesty. Like the rest of you, I did a 180 degree.Purpose,structure, focus, meaning, we're now my core values,like a new world to me.
Oh yeah the after.... There isn't an after, we still got it brothers...
S/F
Tim.

[Cpl Miller]

Entered San Diego MCRD 30 days after 17th birthday. Raised by a single mother, dropped out of school with no future....ALL that changed when the Corps took over my care. ha ha

[usmc-mp]

Just graduated from High School. NO real ambitions. Long haired hippie freak and a bit of a stoner. Got the call from the recruiter after my name was given to him by 2 buddies home on leave. Had always said that if I EVER went into the military, it would have to be the MARINES ! I went, took the ASVAB test and scored well enough to do anything. It was the very tail end of the Vietnam era, so "jumping the pond" wasn't likely. My parents had to sign for me, but were hesitant becasue of my "Smart A$$ attitude" and that I'd regret it. After constant prodding and idle threats of running away, they relented. While I was in boot camp, I heard that a couple of the knuckleheads I used to run with had pulled an armed robbery and got caught. While I'm sure I wouldnt have been with them, I was thankful I was in the "Corps". Meritorious PFC outta boot camp showed my parents they did the right thing. It truly WAS the best thing I have ever done with my life !

[sparkie]

Graduated HS at 17 with nowhere to go. I was shy,weak, introverted, and not ready for life. Joined at 17 and died in boot. So I thought, many times.

Now, at 56, I'm a Dad of 3, a Husband of 37 years, and a man who can talk to anyone, fix any problem, and achieve anything I want. Still in the MOS the Marine Corps gave me, and I believe I finally made John Wayne proud.
When I die, I rate a Vets cemetary, And will have few regrets. What Ronald Regan said was true, Most look back on their life and wonder if they made a difference,,,,,, Marines don't have that problem.

[govern4]

I was a jock know it all but when the colleges didn't come calling
I figured I'll try this Marine Corp thing,hell after I kicked John Wayne"s a$$.they would put me in charge...lol
after the DI 's kicked mine,I got a huge dose of reality.
Now I'm a dad,a grandfather,and am humbled by it all.
It made me grow up
R/S
John

[Smilin_Bob]

Did you notice the same theme in all these posts, loud, shiftless and basicly usless, well some of us were shy and withdrawn too. but the results are all the same. a better person and pride in self. and gratefull all these years later.

[king_voodoo]

Prior to enlistment, I was sort of a punk, but not too bad. I did some bad things, but never got in bad with the police. Used to think I was so BA; my hair had been colored in every shade multiple times, several tattoos, wore my leather jacket and mirrored aviator sunglasses everywhere. After a semester at college, I felt like I wasn't doing anyone any good; not giving anything back. I always counted on joining the Army, like almost everybody else in my family, but realized I didn't want to be second best.

Knowing nothing about the Marines, I drug my 135lb butt to the recruiters' office and told them I wanted to enlist and ship as soon as possible. Since the moment I stepped on depot, had my orange and black mohawk zipped off, and climbed into utilities, the Marine Corps has been the best thing to happen to me. While the process is not complete, it has made me a much better person. Once I graduated I was no longer lazy, apathetic, soft spoken, or skinny. Of course, the Corps was influential in getting more tattoos and beginning smoking. Bad habits are part of the fun.

However, I do still wear the jacket.

[Captvaw]

I was an undisciplined kid who got kicked out of being able to attend class at school so had to have the teachers come to the house. The Corps gave me the discipline I needed or at least guided me in that direction whereas over the years I matured and used it.

[snuffy106]

Brothers sounds like we was all army material before, then we got wise an entered the U.S Marine institute of higher education an bootcamp. this before an after stuff , there is allways gonna be major change from boys to Marines as long there still a Devil Dog with teeth enough to bite with .

[devildog-64012]

at 0200(approx.) I first stood on the Yellow Footprints at MCRD, PISC. It was the Start of a 20 year career.

S/F
Richard Deiters
MSGT USMC(Ret).
plt# 255 grad date 9/28/1965.
:D

[Cpl Miller]

Good to see you found us, we hope you enjoy your visits here.


Cpl Miller

[CH53E]

Was 6'4" 155 lbs. has no where to go. No money for college (hell the suit I wore to graduation was borrowed) no scholarships, but saw that maybe the Corps could make a difference. And wow did they. After spending 20 plus yrs of my life in Corps have no regrets. Boot Camp made me a Marine and my life just kept getting better. Met my wife of 36 yrs., 2 kids, 9 grandkids, after the Corps I still kept serving my country working for Social Security. There was able to help several Vets find benefits they never knew about. Have been commander of past DAV unit also Junior vice, and senior vice commander, all due to the leadership instilled in me as a Marine. On my wall in front of me have pics of SNCO Academy, one of the shops I ran in the Corps with 33 other Marines, of the Recruiting Class I attended at MCRD, and many plaques from units I've served in. Thanks to the Corps I am what I am. Semper Fi one and all!!