what should i do???

[gruff_c]

Hiya,

I have alway wanted to join the marines and no that im 16 i can finally do it but....

Shud i wait till im a little older like 18 to actually sign up by then i shud be fitter than i am now and stronger so my chances of passing might increase a little to what they might be now.

Any suggestions will help

O yeah and can you join i f you wear glasses as i dont no if that would be a problem

thanks

[Contractor]

Hello and welcome gruff.

This is one of those decisions you will need to arrive at yourself, with of course the consent of your parents.

As you highlighted you will be fitter/stronger as you get older and have a wider experience of life and outlook.

My own view is to wait until you are older, one of my lads recently tried when he was just 17 and was deferred for 12 months. I am sure looking at his older brothers development both physically and mentally (they are now 20 and 21 years of age) he would have succeeded.

It's your call though gruff, everyone is different.

[BigFatCivvy]

Hi mate, personally, I'd wait until you're a wee bit older. Like you said, more time to get fit and strong, plus you're only a whipper-snapper. Wait until you're old and wise like me . I'm 21, and I really wouldn't have stood a chance when I was 16, but then, I lived a sheltered life . Still, you must do what you want to do.

BFC .

[always go commando]

i'm not sure but i think a lot of 16 year olds drop out of training because they realise there a bit too young and would rather spend i few years drinking in there home town with there mates. i think 16 is a bit young, when i was 16 i wanted to join but now i'm 18 i'm kind of glad i didn't.

[davo141]

On the other hand, what else is there to do? college bored the life out of me! Have a good chat to the AFCO officers and family as they will know you best. I feel that college was a waste of a year of my life. If i had joined before college i would of been alot fitter CV wise..

Have a good think about it mate

cheers, dave

[lew]

This is a tough decision what ever you’re going to do; I put off joining the army, and am going back to college first. Think of it this way, spend some time with your friends, go out drinking meeting girls and so on, go to college like most of your friends probably will, then when they go off to uni, join the RM, go on one last boys holiday, and savour the memories.

You don’t want to go in there and listen to all the older guys stories of where they've been and what they've done how many girls they've had etc, with out any stories of your own...

Just a thought

lew

[The JaCkAl]

that's good advise...not only get your cv stamina up also get good strength...start boxing or something like that, so in two years when you do do PRMC you'll have that extra edge..

[faddius]

I'd say wait until you are older, have some more education and qualification under your belt, some good work experience and come to the RM more mature and experienced. This way you will be more useful to RM and when you leave more useful to your next employer in civvy street.

[always go commando]

in 2 years time you could be 2 stone heavier with a beer belly. college years have that effect on a lot of lads

[lew]

ahrr then self discipline throws itself into the arena, if he wants it that bad then he'll stay fit and know when to say no I cant go down macy D's or the pub I’ve got to train...


lew

[Dave_Billing]

Now how come all you guys are telling a 16 year old to go drinking for a couple of years

Now my son is 16 and I think that besides not being fit enough for the PRMC yet he is not emotionally ready yet either. 18 sound good to me - then he can drink too :lilangel:

[lew]

But Dave he needs to start drinking soon if he hasn’t started already or he'll never be able to hold his own when the lads go for a night out


lew

[Cronkilla]

On my PRMC most people in my room were 20+. The other rooms seemed to be about the same aswell. I would say 19+ is a good age to 'join up' as you have experienced 'adult' civilian live.

Dave_billing most people start 'drinking' at 14 (in the uk anyway) starting with cider. 14-16 they drink cider and beer. At 17 they experiment with spirits and trying to get served at pubs. By 18 you have someone who can legally drink there father under the table

I skipped the cider section. First time i got drunk was with 18 cans of stella in one night suprisingly with no hangover at 15 . Then spent weekend buying beer putting in a bag and walking the streets and harrasing women folk. 16 was spent much the same accept drinking started to happen in homes. 17 was spent at someones house every weekend watching movies and drinking responsibily. 18 im drinking bitter with a sunday lunch and when im out with friends.

[Dave_Billing]

OK,

Who's ever met a ninteen year old 'adult'?

[lew]

Cant say I ever did the buying beer putting it in a bag and harassing women folk, but we did have our own little parties in the park near my house, ohhh them be the days

Now at the ripe old age of 17 I can be found in pubs clubs and bars on the weekends if I have enough money to spare... but I’m not a head...


lew