For everyone who knows me, you know that my bestfriend is a Combat Engineer in the United States Army. I met my bestfriend in September of 2017, and we have been friends for almost a year and a half. When I first had met him, I had never had any friends in the military before. I had no idea about the crazy schedules, the unpredictable work schedules, the people I would meet, and the second family that I would gain. From September to now, I have met so many people because of Drew introducing me to everyone and anyone that he knew.
Don't get me wrong, I am a college student and have friends here on my campus and in my hometown, but if you go through my phone 99% of the contacts all have a flag next to them because those are all the friends that I have gained over this last year who are currently active duty for the military. My two main groups of people on my phone are the crayon eaters and the glue drinkers (marines and army). Being on a military base even for a weekend or just for a day to visit is an entirely different life down there that not many people know about.
Being friends with the Marines and the Army definitely has its perks and benefits. I had no idea that I would gain a second family and gain a new respect for our military. When you have the opportunity to befriend a member of the military, there's many things you need to about being friends with someone in the military because its like trying to fix a car without being given a instruction manual on how to fix the car.
*When you befriend a Marine, you get a life full of unpredictable nature.
*I met Zach, the marine, in Fort Leonard Wood in April of 2018 after I had spent the weekend visiting drew. When I first met Zach, I had no idea about the life of a marine outside of training and outside of the uniform. Being friends with marines is like being friends with a bunch of squirrels that are hyped up on coke and sugar. When Marines go out and have fun drinking, Marines truly go big or go home. If you are a marine, you go out, and you are not drinking, chances are you are probably making sure that all your marine buddies don't end up in jail or are found sleeping in a ditch. Being friends with Marines have gained me friends who are down to do whatever whenever. You could start off at the Arch in St. Louis being all touristy and end up taking care of marines who had a high chance of having alcohol poisoning. When you befriend a marine, always learn to expect the unexpected and to go with the flow.
*When you befriend a Soldier, you get constant help on history papers
*Weirdly enough, every person I am friends with in the Army could list off facts all day about any war in United States History. You could ask them to name off who killed who in World War I or what the outcome was of the Vietnam War and any person I've talked to in the army can recite those facts like a fourth grader reciting off multiplication facts. While being in college, I can not count the amount of times Drew, Nick and Jacob have helped me write my history papers and answered any questions that I have regarding history. I'll be the first one to admit that these three have helped me write many of my history papers and are the people I have to thank for my history grade. When you befriend a soldier, you gain history tutors who are always willing to help you write your papers.
*When you befriend a Soldier, you get instant tech support or car mechanics
*From getting my entire computer's memory wiped to not knowing how to change the toner on the printer. I can not count the times where I have called Nick or any of the other guys to help me with any tech problems that I may have. I can also not count the times I have called Sorrell about issues with my car. I am very thankful to have my own instant geek squad and mechanics who are always willing to help me with my computer issues or car troubles.. And dealing with the issues as little as trying to change the toner on the printer..... thanks nick lol. When you befriend a soldier, you have instant geek squad and mechanics on speed dial
*When you befriend a Marine or a Soldier, you know the true meaning of long distance
* From 112 miles to 6,383 miles, when you are friends with a Marine or a Soldier distance has no bounds. I'm not going to sugarcoat it distance sucks. They all leave to go to different duty stations so it's just a matter of time before You meet a marine, he's fantastic and you love getting to see him, well then he leaves. He leaves and its beyond the worst thing ever. With being in the Marines or Army, they have a constant unpredictable schedule which takes them to other bases across the United States or if you're like me you meet the marine who is being sent overseas. It's important that you treasure your time with your person while you still have the chance before they leave. When they are there with you, it's important to have good times with them because that's all you'll remember when they leave you to go to their next duty station. When you befriend a Marine or a Soldier, you learn to treasure your time spent with them because you never know when they will be leaving you
*When you befriend a Marine, you take care of your boys overseas.
*Some Marines are like little kindergarteners who have to be reminded at times to not eat all the crayons or to make sure they pick up Pedialyte and drink Pedialyte after a night out. From being friends with Marines, I have learned to always keep red and purple crayons on hand incase they get hungry and to make sure I always keep Pedialyte in my car because you never know when you may need it. When you are friends with Marines overseas, you make a lot of trips back and forth to the post office to send care packages to them overseas to send them things that they are missing, what they may need, or can find overseas. I make a lot of trips back and forth to the post office and honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. You treasure the time that you spend with your Marines before they leave, and when they leave you do everything in your power to make it feel like it they never left.
*When you befriend a Marine or a Soldier, you gain a friend who has your back for a lifetime
*From being 112 miles away to 6,383 miles away, I know that I can count on them to always have my back. When being friends with people in the military in two different time zones I always have someone to talk to when things are stressful and hard to handle. I call them on my worst days when I felt like I couldn't handle everything and I call on my best days when I want someone to celebrate all my wins. I know that I can always count on them to have my back and to be there to support me at the end of the day. I can always count on good memes to be sent my way when I am stressed out about finals or are having a terrible day. I can always count on having people to tell me to calm down and that I'm over reacting. I can always count on having that person or group of people always willing to fight to protect me at the end of the day.
Being friends with the Marines and the Army have brought me so many joys in life. I am beyond lucky to have each one of them everyday. Even though I may not say it as often as I should, when you get a chance to befriend someone in the military take it because you'll gain a family for a lifetime
