My little brother (18) tried to go to bootcamp right out of high school for Marine Corps. infantry. He did fine until he got to rifle qualifying, where he shot terribly and accidentally fired a round while an instructor was speaking. He was recycled for an additional 3 weeks of hell after which he still couldn't shoot well. He was released with no good or bad implications and his paycheck.
Now, 5 months later, he walked down to the Marine Corps. office and told him his story and they got him back into boot camp again, saying that they "need all the soldiers they can get". He ships out for bootcamp on valentine's day and was told by the recruiter that since he is an infantry machine gunner if he passes this time he will be going to the Middle East for sure.
I am very upset about this, my little brother is not the brightest tool in the box and he is very innocent, I don't want him killing people and I don't want him to be killed. Everyone in the family has tried talking him out of it but he just does what he wants, should I support him since he is going anyway?

You do still have something to look forward too though. Maybe he still wont pass the shooting part while he is in bootcamp. The shooting part is the only thing keeping him from going right? Well, just hope and pray that he never passes and ends up no being able to go because he can't shoot a gun.

Tell your brother that I thank him for his service. It takes sacrifice. You should be proud.

Blame it on our FFFFFFFFFINNNG president..

You should try to because it's HIS decision to do this. I have a couple of friends over in the middle east and they are the last people you would've suspected to voulenteer to fight. Sometimes you just think you know people, but they find a way of proving you wrong.

I hope everything works out for the best. Just try to see his side of things. And try to support him.

you should. but support him even more when he comes home. i live in germany, my dad was in the army for 21 years. he didn't go to iraq this time but in the first war. my brother in law and all their friends were sent there. they all came back different. noone thinks about it or talks about it. i can imagine that it will be hard for an 18 year old to go back to the life he led before shipping out. like i said, write letters, send packages, talk to him on the phone while he is over there.

living here, with all the bases and people who were flown out, really put everyone right in the middle of things.

Your brother is doing an honorable and noble thing. I have to thank him. Tell him I said thanks. Support him. Your bro is serving his country, even in a bad time. He is a first-class American patriot, and America should commend him and all the other soldiers for doing a deed such as this.