What It’s Like Leaving The Marine Corps!

You’ve Changed

Leaving the Marine Corps is a surreal experience.

Not only are you leaving the life you’ve been living for the last four-plus years, but you’re going back our into the civilian world.

You don’t realize how disconnected you’ve been from it until it’s suddenly your new reality.

You’ve changed, and as much as you don’t want to believe it, it’s true!

Sure, you still have the same sense of humor, personality, and various other characteristics, but you’re different.

The longer your out, the more you’ll start to notice it.

For me, I quickly realized that I had changed when I no longer worried about stupid shit.

It’s crazy how worked up people get over ridiculous things.

Their world crumbles at the slightest inconvenience.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Also, you quickly realize how entitled everyone thinks they are!

In the Military, we sometimes go overseas.

For me, I deployed to Afghanistan, and I experienced a part of the world that I could never have imagined myself ever going to.

Seeing the local culture and witnessing how simple they live was an eye-opener for sure.

For most folks on the civilian side, they have never been outside of their bubble.

They become so consumed in themselves and their lives.

They fail to realize that what the world is truly like.

Struggle, poverty, crime, and death are foreign words and have very little meaning.

As Veterans, we begin to see just how different we are.

We see how much we’ve changed.

In a way, it’s difficult, and I believe this is why the transition is so tough.

As a Marine Corps Veteran for over six years now, I appreciate my accomplishments.

I am grateful that I joined and took on the challenge that so many never will.

What kind of emotions do you experience?

Leaving the Marine Corps is exciting, frightening, nerve-wracking, and all of the above!

It is emotional in so many ways.

As you approach your End of Active Service Date (EAS), you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

That thing called freedom that was once so far away is now so close you can almost grab it.

You begin to think about all of the bullshit you have to deal with being in the Military.

All of the rules, working parties, field days, inspections, endless formations, early morning PT sessions, must I continue!?

It’s as if all you see is the negatives.

You get so close to getting out that all you think about is the negatives as opposed to all of the benefits of being in!

When I look back on my time in the Marine Corps, I tell folks that 50% of the time was awesome, and 50% of the time was shit.

I’m not bashing the Corps by any means; in fact, I can’t talk highly enough about it!

I have thought about it almost every day since I left, and honestly, if I have one regret in life, it would be getting out too soon!

I loved everything about it.

So, take this as advice!

When you’re considering whether or not to stay in or get out, think back to what I am telling you.

Take the time to reflect on your experience in the Corps or whatever branch of the Military your serving in.

Have you accomplished all that you set out to do?

Are you ready to get out?

What will you do when you get out?

Is life that bad in the Military?

These are all questions you should be asking yourself.

Take a step back and weigh the positives and negatives.

I can tell you from experience that the excitement of getting out begins to fade when reality sets in.

When you get out, you quickly realize that nobody is going to hold your hand throughout your transition.

It is now all on you!

Life in the Military is EASY!

The Military isn’t that difficult!

You don’t understand how easy you have it until its gone.

You are told what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

The majority of your decisions are made for you!

Your medical and dental appointments are scheduled for you, you’re told how to dress, and how to act.

Its a simple and structured.

What most guys and gals fail to realize is that once your out, that all disappears.

No longer is your life being planned out for you.

You’re on your own, and hopefully, you learned some self-discipline along the way!

It’s true.

As I said above, at first, leaving the Marine Corps is exciting, but when your paycheck stops coming in, you no longer have a place to live, your friends are gone, and you’re suddenly out, on your own.

That’s when you realize your new chapter of life has just begun.

What does that look like?

The only person that can answer that is you!

You have to be ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

As I mentioned before, transitioning out of the Military IS NOT easy.

You will fail, make mistakes, and you will be tested both physically and mentally.

What you need to realize is that you decided to get out.

Nobody forced you (unless you fucked up) to make the decision that you did, and you need to be ready to own up to it and move on.

There are plenty of options out there for you now that you are a Veteran.

Companies are all about hiring Vets.

Not only do they get tax incentives, but they understand that you have discipline and that your going to show up every day and work!

You’ve got a specific set of skills most don’t, and they recognize that.

Takeaways

As I wrap this up, I want you to keep some things in mind, and I’d like to recap what was discussed.

The Marine Corps has changed you, and you will begin to notice just how as time goes on.

You have grown as an individual, and you carry yourself differently.

You are a Marine first and foremost, and as you grow older, that becomes something you become more proud of.

The brotherhood continues long after you leave the Corps, trust me!

Remember what you are leaving behind.

As I said, getting out of the Marine Corps is exciting, but don’t let that excitement cloud your judgment.

Honestly, ask yourself whether or not you are ready to leave the Corps behind.

Are you ready to leave that structured environment, you’ve become so accustomed to behind?

Lastly, it will be a challenge; believe me.

You will fail, and make many mistakes, but you have no choice, but to charge forward and get shit done.

Remember who you are; you are a Marine!

Wear that title proud and make the Corps proud!

Semper Fi Devil Dogs,

Tony Iaconelli
-For The Corps