Damn Marine Corps

All right, so I know that's not very respectful--and I really do have the greatest respect for servicemen & women, especially the Marines.

But when my brother Zack makes it through 9 weeks of Marine Officer Candidate School and then gets sent home a week before graduation for being "Not Physically Qualified", I get somewhat bitter. There's something wrong with his right leg: it was swelling so badly below the knee that he was on bed rest for the last days of training. The Board told him Friday that he'd missed too many days of training, he can try again next year (application process, tests, and all) and sent him home Saturday.

We are so disappointed, upset, and in shock, especially Zack. He's still mostly in the shock stage: said it's crazy being able to do what he wants, when he wants, eat whatever he wants, etc. I think he'll really have to grieve over the whole thing like someone has died. He wanted this so badly, and worked so hard, and the reason they let him go was completely out of his control.

So now he's stressed out about getting a job, making student loan payments, making it to physical therapy (Marines are paying for that, luckily), etc., and I'm stressed for him too. The good news is that he'll be around in January when his nephew is born! Small consolation to him, though.

So please keep Zack in your prayers. I'm really worried about him!