Radicalizing our Military

Yesterday, I attended a gathering and was listening to a young man tell me about some of the promises made to him by a Marine Recruiter.  I found myself strangely confused by what I was hearing because it sounded nothing like the Marines that I spent over 9 years in.  It made so little sense that I had to question him about it and was surprised to find that he took offense to my asking.

The main question focused on the information that being a felony would not mean anything as far as owning a firearm because the Marines would not only wipe that away but allow him to gather items associated with firearms outside of the realm of the military.  He stated that he would not only be able to own a firearm with his felony conviction but also purchase silencers.  Now while this may not appear such a big deal to most people, it truly concerned me.

The Marines, to me, was an organization that prided itself on choosing the best and the brightest to wear that uniform.  It prided itself on defending those who can not defend themselves and stood tall for equal rights for all.  Lately it appears that all of this has changed.  The title Marine, which I have been so proud to wear, seems to have been traded in for simply a numbers game.  Recruiters seemingly looking to see how many people that they can recruit and obtaining that next rank instead of making sure that the recruits are worthy to wear that title.  To some it may not be their job to do that and only to place them on that conveyor belt.  Recruiters may assume that it is the job of basic training to weed out those who may be unworthy but I say we all have a responsibility in this from the recruit, to his/her family, the recruiter and those running basic training.

The only time one used to hear the term Marine was when things have gone very wrong and you need a team of people to come in and fix it quickly.  Marine used to mean a respectfully, humble and quiet warrior who only allows his expertise to be showcased when there are people in trouble.  Now we hear the title more and more and with each one come a story that, to me, is quite unbelievable and unbecoming.  A Marine running for political office lying about anything and everything to get that job.  A Marine representing an organization or entity that discriminates or attempts to force their beliefs and ideas down the throats of others.  A Marine so focus on what benefits that he can gain that he/she is willing to place others in harm’s way to get it.  This is not the Marine Corp that I know and love and those seeking to earn that title should be offended when it is allowed.