"Elites" Man Up, Too. So what's Jason Mattera's excuse?

From the LA Times:

After we celebrated the Fourth of July with a family barbecue, my 18-year-old son, Sam shipped out for Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego. The idea of having a son in the military still seems strange, but I'm starting to get used to it.

When Sam first announced his decision, it seemed mystifying that my not-terribly-athletic, bookish son would decide that what he wanted most of all was to be a Marine.

My friends were shocked and offered plenty of advice -- he should see a psychologist; he should consider the Navy; did I realize how underhanded the recruiters could be?