During my sophomore year at Pepperdine University, I wandered over to the Marine Corp platoon leadership program. I wanted to make my dad proud of me, since my sister graduated suma cum lauda. I felt I was the step child and dad wanted me to "serve my country". I signed up for the Corps PLC and was sworn in immediately in San Diego. Raising my right hand, I took the oath to serve the United States Constitution.
Since I was a pre med major, I knew the Corp had no medical school, although Marines are Navy and Navy has a medical program. I was informed every summer I would have to travel to Paris Island and get a Corp Jar Head appearance. So I informed the Corp that I was dropping out of the PLC program. This program guaranteed that I would graduate as a second Lt. and with combat experience I would return home as a Captain or Major.
I was immediately ordered to Pendleton to appear before a tribunal. A normal tribunal consist of Majors and light Colonels, but this time there were Naval Captains and two Admirals. They informed me that they could send MP's to Malibu and collect my belongings and start me off as a buck Private. I was scared. For some unknown reason they gave me a pass. I returned back to school and back to classes.
To this day, I sometimes actually regret never having served.
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