I need some advice

[yuri]

What is more important in life? Money or a dream? I am not sure anymore. I could either join the marines which is my dream, or i could become a plumber and earn £300 a day. The marines wouldn't pay me well in comparison (about 1/10 as well) but the experiences would be amazing and i would be proud to wear the title of marine. I don't think i'd find the plumber lifestyle particularly glamerous, but it does offer financial prosperity. This issue is playing on my mind like crazy, and i dont know what to do anymore. I know you can't decide for me, but i would value your opinions which i am in need of. If a job is just about making money, then being a tradesman (plumber) would be the difinitive choice. But to me a job isn't just about money but also who i want to be, what experiences i want to experience. The other problem which is making it hard for me to chose between these two professions, is that eventually i would have to leave the military. If i become a marine then the day this happenes is the day i have nothing. I have excellent grades at school but no university degree or anything (i'm 17 years old). I don't know what decision to make, and i dont know if i will regret whatever decision i make 20 years from now. Help!!!!!

[Undertow]

I've been through the same sort of thing as well. The way I look at it is you only live once, and what good is lots and lots of money when you are lieing on your deathbed (More a metaphor if you know what i mean). I would much rather have the memories and thats why i'm choosing the army over getting a higher paying jobs. It's all about what would make you happier, the money or the lifestyle and memories...But thats just me.

[Grimey Vibes]

You have to train to become a plumber and that is going to take time. You get about £217 in the marines starting. Take away tax and the low accomodation and food costs and are you really that much better off finance wise becoming a plumber? £300 - Tax, then your living expenses such as electric, gas, water and food and other hidden ones such as a Tv Licence. Compare it that way instead of just looking at the exact sums, also after you pass out and become a marine you get a pay rise which goes to about £250.

[Jason_m4]

I think deep down inside,you know what to do.

Join the Marines kid.Its not what you have,its who you are that will make you happy.

[braywick]

All I can add to what has already been said is that you only live once, and don't let the "what if" factor into your life.

I'm driving a nice car and earning good money, but I feel unfulfilled by my job and I'm fed up with the mundane workload I have to do each day.

The money may sound nice, but deep down will it really satisfy you?

[Archie]

You're 17, do you really want to spend the next 50 years with your head stuck in someones blocked U bend?

Get out there, do something you will be FOREVER PROUD OF and then when you're old and grey you'll be one of us, not a bloody plumber.

I know money is important, (You should see what this Lear jet costs to fly)
but self worth is much more important, more than you can ever imagine.

Which would you prefer, "Once a Marine always a Marine" or "I fixed your boiler last year"?

Hey, but what do I know, I'm only some ex bootneck.

[Jon]

Anyone can get money, not everyone can become a Marine. You could always become a plumber after you leave.

[goldie ex rmp]

What is more important in life? Money or a dream? I am not sure anymore. I could either join the marines which is my dream, or i could become a plumber and earn £300 a day. The marines wouldn't pay me well in comparison (about 1/10 as well) but the experiences would be amazing and i would be proud to wear the title of marine. I don't think i'd find the plumber lifestyle particularly glamerous, but it does offer financial prosperity. This issue is playing on my mind like crazy, and i dont know what to do anymore. I know you can't decide for me, but i would value your opinions which i am in need of. If a job is just about making money, then being a tradesman (plumber) would be the difinitive choice. But to me a job isn't just about money but also who i want to be, what experiences i want to experience. The other problem which is making it hard for me to chose between these two professions, is that eventually i would have to leave the military. If i become a marine then the day this happenes is the day i have nothing. I have excellent grades at school but no university degree or anything (i'm 17 years old). I don't know what decision to make, and i dont know if i will regret whatever decision i make 20 years from now. Help!!!!!

You have given yourself the answer mate, read your own post, you know what to do and good luck.

[minimac]

lets see.. boring life as plumber or exciting, fulfilling, life as marine. can u really take pride in being a plumber? no. but if u are a marine you are elite and no one can take the pride away from u. not unless your dishonourably discharged anyway.

be a marine

[Glasgow]

Join the reserves! Then after your plumbing apprentice is complete you could join full time?

You’d always have the plumbing trade to fall back on.

[GhostBear]

I think what Glasgow said makes alot of sense.

You could join the reserves and do your qualifications/training for plumbing at the same time. If you really like it then you could go on to join fully. If you like earning lots of dosh and fancy doing your bit then you could just stick it in with the reserves.

I think they're is a small amount of people that are of the opinion that the reserves arent as good or elite (stupid argument i know) or whatever word you want to use, as the regulars but their opinion is not to be valued. The regulars are as good as you make it, no matter what anyone tells you and you can be as proffesional in it as you would be in the regulars.

My mate in the TA had this argument with a civvy trying to claim that the regulars were far superior. He convinced him round, his main arguments being that as a weekend soldier, you work the whole week at your regular job and then giving up your free time to do your soldiering bit. The conversation ended with "we bleed just the same as regulars".

In the end only you can make the choice, but it sounds to me like you've already made up your mind.

[I love beasting]

Yuri, don't become a marine. Stick with your trade - its not worth it. But ofcourse if it was to be an airborne warrior then it wouldn't be a difficult question.





(he he he)

[Tab]

Why not join the TA for a while that way you can earn a good wage and still play at being a soldier. You could always try a join a TA section of the Marines if they have one. Get the best of both worlds.