Originally Posted By: mechtech2
"0dds are this kid couldn't get in to the Marine Corps."??!!
His amicable desire is evident.
You falsely assume he is substandard.
You prove by your words that your thinking is substandard.
Desire is one thing, statistics are another. As the USMC draws down from 210,000 (current end strength) to 180,000, they are turning away a lot of applicants, simply, the USMC is very, very selective right now...they don't have very many openings, so they don't have to take just anybody. Sorry, but the odds are he can't get in, since the overwhelming majority of high school students right now can't.
Look, you see this situation as school over-reaction. I see this situation as a kid with a lot to learn.
And on that, we disagree. I haven't laid out my complete military cred, but as a result of my time in uniform, my experiences in a leadership role, my professional perspective, I see this differently than you, and hope that you (and the rest of BITOG) will be able to respect my opinion.
I support kids in general, not just my own. On invitation, I've given over a dozen talks at schools: on the meaning of Memorial Day, on what it takes to succeed in life, and on hope; that there is always a way if you're willing to work hard (without being a recruiter for the Navy, I am not, but the focus and discipline that it takes to succeed in my line of work leads to success in others careers and I used my daughter as an example for one group of at-risk kids at a local Middle School. Those kids don't think that they will be able to go to College...but I know that they are able, that's why they're in this particular program. Further, Virginia has some great low-cost options, and great in state schools...depending on how well you do, there are scholarships for kids that need the help, either as a result of personal or financial circumstances...my cred in this area: I am a fighter pilot with combat experience, my daughter goes to Yale on a scholarship).
So, I'll offer you this: if this kid really wants to show his support for the USMC (and I've already said that I support kids and I love the USMC), and you want him to be able to show his support, then PM me his address. You do the leg work and find it out since it's your neck of the woods. I will stop by the Exchange today and pick up a genuine USMC T-Shirt, one that will be unique in his school because it is real...and one to which the administrators can't object...if you could get me his size, that would help too.
He gets to show his support, I show him that other people are supporting him, as well as help him learn how to manage this difficult situation, and you get to push back against what you perceive the problem to be...sound good?
Let me know.
Cheers,
Astro