I am one of the few exceptions that ignored everyone's advice. I got married as a 22 year old pfc in the Marine Corps. I really heard about that. Immediatley after getting married, I deployed overseas for six months. In the following 3 years I spent a little over 13 months with my wife. Then I decided to become a pilot. Talk about ignoring the odds! I am now gone anywhere from 3 to 8 days at a time with absolutely no schedule.

Despite all of this I have been happily married for almost 7 years now. We have 2 children and we argue, but it is wonderful. I think the most important thing is that you share the same religious and personal beliefs. After that everything else can be worked out. This sounds simple but the fact is that few people have moral or religious beliefs to begin with. Not that you don't, just make sure you find someone with whom you agree on th big issues.

I can count on three fingers the number of succesful marriages I have known in these past few years. I know of litteraly dozens more that failed. In six months in Okinawa, 5 of my newlywed Marines recieved dear John letters. Most of those also came with empty bank account statements.

So in short, people like me are the exception. You probably shouldn't get married.