Should I join the Marines?

Go to school, get an education, learn a trade and if you still are looking for a military gig, consider it.

 

There's ASVAB prep tests and books and whatever else. I didn't do any prep so dunno for sure but had two buddies ship after me who did.

I would imagine a larger book store would carry some sort of ASVAB prep along with all their ACT and SAT prep stuff

 

And the most crippled after. . .

Everything's got its pros and cons, can't just measure pros

 

When the recruiter says "there aren't anymore active duty slots so we will put you in the reserves. When you check into your reserve unit, they will process your papers for active duty and you should be outta there within 2 months," RUN THE FUCK AWAY

 

ha what does that mean?

 

I am a little bias but I suggest the Air Force if you're looking to have a life besides the military. Props to all branches, but Marines, Army, and Navy spend crazy amounts of time away from family. You will be in a little safer environment in the AF. thats my .02.

 

Just to add to this, what he says may be true for the Marines, the other branches are different. The Navy isn't going to allow you to bring your vehicle (if you are single) to any school immediately following boot. In my case I was married, so it didn't count. BUT... recruits going into Electronics could be in Great Lakes for a little over a year with NO vehicle.

Army Infantry went straight from boot to AIT, so no vehicle allowed there for a few months. Then you ship. I went straight off to Germany. Back then you couldn't have a vehicle in Germany unless you were e-5 or married.

 

^smart cookie. Keep your legs, acquire a real job skill. You can't put I'm really good with rifles, explosives, and urban assault on most job applications. . . May sound cool when you're young but if you're just looking to take a few years to figure life out and get out like most people end up doing go Air force and enjoy being treated like a human being with regular job hours ha

 

You can if you have my job

 

But you make a good point. If you don't love it and can't stay in it when you get out you are left with little to go on but if you love it and don't mind your life being shitty for a while you can start off at roughly 178.5 grand for about 6 months of work. So I decided I can stay in it.

 

That means if you're looking to go active duty and if the recruiter tells you "active duty slots are filled up but we can put you in the reserves and then'll you'll be able to go active duty" then that means he's bullshiting you and trying to fill his reserve numbers a.k.a."quota."

If you want active duty, make sure you get it. Don't settle for the reserve side, thinking you'll be able to go active duty because that's just a lie.

 

well I went and talked to a recruiter today to find out what all I need to do and pretty much all I got to do is get a ticket taken care of (CHECK) and lose another 25 pounds . he had me take the ASVAB pretest and I scored a 87 which he told me was excelent so.

 

The military is paying $357,000 a year?! Where do I re-up?

To the OP:

If you are a bit overweight and are serious about the military, you should start a physical training program, not just a diet to lose weight as Basic training PT can be pretty rough for someone who is out of shape.

As I recall we ran about three to four miles each morning after about thirty minutes of calisthenics. Later, we would march ten miles to the rifle range then back and about twice a week the drill sergeants would run us out for an hour of so of "grass drills" (intensive PT) just before dark. We were not even allowed to get into the chow line to eat unless we completed a good many "monkey bars" -- the bars were right outside the door of the mess hall. Once every couple of weeks we would go a forced march (i.e., jog, in full gear) of up to 30 miles. We also had a practice PT test each week to see how we were coming along. Oh yes, then there were the confidence courses, where you climbed towers and ropes and crawled under barbed wire, etc. but they were sort of fun. But then you had to go out and march around like a stupid 17th century ceremonial guard for an hour each day, which was tedious, boring and useless in my opinion. To top it off, every time the drill instructors were bored it was "Drop and give me twenty," push-ups that is. Mess up, which I never did -- I was too tired to sass back -- and you would be run out to do some personal drills after lights out.

Edit:

LOL, my Dad always told me that Army PT was a breeze. I didn't think on much until the second day of Basic when every muscle in my body was on fire. Then I remembered that Dad had been a Big 8 national champion long distance track runner and track coach before he went to Basic. The Army was different back then -- nowadays if you have a college degree you will go in as a SP4 or go to officer's training. Dad said that he had several lawyers, high school teachers and college instructors in his unit who were privates just like he was.

 

30 mile ruck in bct?
I've never heard of rucks that long...

 

well I told the parents tonight. mom took it pretty well dad... not so much

 

As far as I know, the final 30-mile march forced march was a standard part of training in the 70s. How far do trainees march today?

 

The first time my parents knew I was going into the service was when I called from the induction station and asked them to mail the Army a copy of my birth certificate. Dad took it in stride, being a veteran himself. Mom completely freaked out, but she has a tendency to do that.

If you are 19 then you are considered an adult. I'd already served a year when I turned 19.

 

I signed when I was 17 haha told my parents the consent papers they were signing were just so I could get a medical screening, drove 3hrs to the station, joined, came home, SURPRISE! haha

 

Longest march I did in boot in the mid 80's was 17 miles.

 

thanks guys I'm really excited obviously a little nervous but can anyone confirm that what the recruiter told me about the ASVAB?