So basically I leave for boot camp on August 12th. I'm 18 years old and I joined the Marines. If i told you i joined to give back to my country that would only be partially true. I joined for myself. I joined to make myself a better person. To know that I am making a difference. I'm not quite sure where the idea specifically came from to join this particular branch, but I do know that this is what I want. "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." --President Ronald Reagan, 1985.