On June 12, 1948, President Harry Truman signed into law the Women's Armed Services Integration Act. The Act gave women permanent status in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The services became an All-Volunteer Force in 1973, and since then, women have increasingly become more involved in all levels of military services.
Today’s battles are being fought beyond the traditional “front lines.” Females have been awarded with medals of valor and have embedded with male counterparts to engage the enemy. With the battlefields growing more abstract, new questions have been asked as to what the true impact of allowing women into combat-related job fields may be .
Current combat exclusion policies restrict females in the Marine Corps from serving in the infantry and prohibits them from being assigned to units with the greatest physical risks. Along with infantry, females cannot serve in artillery, tanks or amphibious vehicle job fields.
A recent survey conducted by the Washington Post says 7 in 10 Americans support allowing women in combat. What are your thoughts?
Hi Bobby-
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested in the Marines, and I want to know more about it from an actual Marine. I'm a junior in high school, and a girl. One question: How did you tell your parents you wanted to enlist? I'm choosing to go to college first, and then join. I live in Illinois, so I would go to Parris Island- I understand that. I just want to get to know more of the process from your perspective, even though you're a guy. I looked on the Marines website, and I don't want to go to a recruiting officer yet-because my parents don't know that I'm interested in joining, and I'm nervous to tell them! {Although I know it has to be done}
Much appreciated,
Natalie Connolly
You can email me you're response to 1270184@lfschools.net.
Natalie,
ReplyDeleteIt is almost never easy telling your parents that you want to join the military, especially the Marine Corps. For me, it wasn't easy. My mother nearly had an emotional breakdown when I told her I wanted to join the Marine Corps. I guess though, that is how any parent would act.
Parents want to protect their kids. Parents inherently assume that if you join the Marine Corps, you are going to war.
With me, I joined the Marine Corps and then told my parents. In hindsight, maybe it wasn't the appropriate decesion.
My suggestion: Be upfront with them. Let them know where you stand and how you feel. Tell them why you feel you want to join the Marine Corps and the benefits of joining, both the tangible and intangible benefits. By being honest with them, they will be more willing to listen to you. They may not be understanding at first, which is understandable, by they will defiently be more willing to discuss the idea of enlisting.
I don't want to lie to you: it will not be easy telling them and there will never be the right moment to talk about it. Just be confident and be willing to listen to their concerns. Eventually you will find middle ground and they will support you in whatever decesion you make.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Thank you so much! I will definetly tell you how it goes.
ReplyDelete