Wow, I need to get over here more often.
Infuryum, if becoming a Marine officer is your goal, don't let your non-acceptance into the USNA stop you. That's just not the Marine way, as you'll soon learn. The Marine Corps has a dozen different ways for you to become an officer, and it doesn't matter how old you are, so long as you have the desire to succeed. I am a sergeant stationed at Recruiting Station San Diego Headquarters -- but I'm not a recruiter. I'm only here waiting on orders to my next duty station. I'm a cryptographic technician for the Corps, and D. Davis is my best friend -- he and I worked together in the same shop for a few years. Some of these monkeys here have been suggesting that intelligent people choose other services, or that you just can't get a good job in the Corps -- Davis and I can tell you that that's just not true. The Corps is just like the other services -- they're not going to insult your intelligence. If you score well on the ASVAB, they're going to get you a good job. Peiord.
Because of where I work, I can get you all the information you need about becoming an officer. And I can only confirm what other Marines before me here have said: Anyone can serve, but only a few can call themselves Marines. It's a title that you will genuinely earn, a title that is burned into your very soul, a title that you will carry proudly until the day you die. The Corps will teach you things that you will use the rest of your life -- honor, courage, commitment, leadership -- all those things that will distinguish you from those around you.
I'm gettin' long-winded here. Summary: I think you've made the right choice, but naturally, I'm a little bit biased. You'll know you've made the right choice when you complete the Crucible, receive your Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, and are called a United States Marine for the first time.
Welcome to our brotherhood, devildog, we're proud to have you! OOOOOOOHRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
