Opinion: Why I’m Happy My Grandson Chose the Marines Over College

Our grandson shipped off to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for boot camp last month, leaving me with mixed and conflicting feelings. As a retired Marine, I have immense pride at his choosing to serve our nation. But...

Last year, I did my best to dissuade him from enlisting, arguing instead for going to college, earning a degree, and then a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Serve as a leader from day one, I urged. Underscoring this strong recommendation, I also pleaded now is not a good time to be in our military, including my beloved Corps.

There are too many current and relatively recent examples of failed leadership by senior Marine leaders, military and civilian. The assault amphibious vehicle sinking off Camp Pendleton, unsatisfactory conditions at too many enlisted barracks, Abbey Gate in Kabul, the inept Force Design 2030 stripping out combat power, a paucity of flight training hours, little-to-no live-fire training, and an increasing number of commanding officers and senior enlisted leaders being relieved.

The signs are not positive. Further, I shared with him my views of failures and unsatisfactory leadership by multiple presidential administrations, Congress, the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and Headquarters Marine Corps. These include the inadequate training, sizing, and equipping of our military. Our Army is the smallest since before World War II, and the Navy must deal with a shrinking number of combat ships,

There's a lack of focus on training and readiness, in favor of "woke" policies and actions. Our lack of readiness contributed to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. We can't even surge a Marine Expeditionary Unit for a non-combatant evacuation operation, something that was routine when I was on active duty. Amid all of this, there is a lack of support for the men and women in uniform and their families.

Pointedly I told him our nation's collective leadership has been wasting the lives of our military forces. Go to college, I recommended, because in time I hope these deficiencies and failures will be corrected, and unsatisfactory leaders replaced by warriors competent in the profession of arms. This is something mightily needed in view of the threats facing our country from around the world. Although, looking at the upcoming presidential election, my concerns increase.

Obviously, my arguments did not change his decision. Now, as he begins boot camp, I am relieved he chose not to go to college.

The majority of colleges and universities across our nation are failing our youth and therefore our country. Permissive, progressive administrations fail to hold students and faculty accountable for their actions. Liberal instructors indoctrinate instead of teaching, encouraging and even leading illegal actions during protests on campus. Freedom of speech is curtailed and often denied.

The number of college administrators has unjustifiably increased enormously. Meritocracy has ben replaced by some misguided pursuit of "equity." Tuition costs have climbed in a manner disproportionate to any realistic measure, leaving graduates with enormous debt. And way too many of these outrageously expensive degrees are wholly irrelevant when seeking employment in the "real world."

Thinking of costs, when head football and basketball coaches make more than senior faculty and even university presidents and chancellors, something is terribly amiss. For example, it was recently reported that the new head basketball coach at San Diego State University is paid over four times what the president earns.

Even as concerning as our imperfect military and Marine Corps most certainly are, in my opinion it would be far worse for our grandson to start college this year. America's history illustrates Marines have always found a way to succeed in the face of adversity. My Corps had serious problems in the post-Vietnam era, but found its way when the right leaders — civilian and military — were put into place. It wasn't easy for the Marine Corps, but we did it. And the Corps can do it again.

Between these two options my grandson faced, college and the Marine Corps, and the risks and hazards inherent in either choice, watching him choose to serve our nation in its military was undoubtedly the better choice.

J.S. Anderson is a retired Marine Corps veteran who lives in Southern California.