Should I join the Marines?

If you would like, I'll PM you my phone #, and we (You, me, and your Pop) can have a very frank discussion about what you and he can expect. I will give you this warning: I will not sugarcoat jack shit. I have never been a Recruiter, and will most likely try to talk you OUT of enlisting so you can finish College. Anyone can be a bullet sponge, we need good, dedicated, motivated, EDUCATED Leaders.

 

thanks man. I'm still just reading up and working out and getting fit. Mostly trying to decide between navy/army/or marines (i'm just trying figure out which will fit me better as far as a long time carrier after I decide to get out)

 

Choose anything in a technical field, and use the educational opportunities to get the associated civilian certifications WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.

 

well just an update for whoever is reading I'm now down to 223 so another 15 before I can enlist and I'm gonna talk to my recruiter about taking the actual ASVAB soon.

 

Good job man, keep at it

 

thanks man i'm hoping I can lose these last few pounds soon I'm ready to get things going in the right direction

 

Hey guys, there is a lot of really great advice here. I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but I have noticed a common theme. A lot of you ex-military guys say to go to college, get an education and then think about joining. Well I have done that. I am graduating next weekend with a bachelor's science degree in Broadcasting and Digital Media with an emphasis in English. I was close to joining the Air Force before college and scored very high on my pre-tests. I have also fought fire for the forest service the last two summers and will be doing it again this season. But after that I am really skeptical about my career opportunities.

As a college graduate what are my options in the military. I know it is a little cliche but I would like to see some combat or do some sort of intelligence work. I might make a good candidate for OCS eventually but my degree does not have a whole lot of relevance to military operations. I have basically learned how to be a journalist and produce documentary style films. Is there a route for this type of work in the military? I figured they outsource most of their recruiting propaganda films but maybe my expertise can be used in more technical environments, such as operating remote vehicles etc.

I am looking for some advice on a post-collegiate career and I am seriously considering the military. My brother is an officer in the Air Force and training to be a pilot. My grandfather is a retired Air Force pilot and my aunt and uncle are retired Air Force nurses.

Is it still a smart decision to enlist after earning a bachelor's degree? It is not like I will be trying to go 4 years for a GI bill and an education because I already have one. Does the military have a program for paying back student loans that are already accumulated? Any information would be great and once again I am sorry for hi-jacking the thread.

 

I joined the Army at age 25. I went to college first. Went in under 18X program which basically was a contract into Special Forces (Green Berets). As long as you passed everything, you moved on. Honestly out of about 40 guys in my boot camp with the same contract, 5 of us went on to teams. I loved SF, hated the Army though. For the one question earlier about BCT 30 mile ruck, that's what we did in 02 in Infantry BCT. It's that and some team type week thing. It wasn't bad. Nothing like SFAS or SFQC. Those are some real rucks.

Marines are tough, just ask any one of them, they'll tell you all about it. Same with Rangers, they have the hardest school...just ask one, they'll tell you all about it. I've got nothing against either of those groups, most are just young and arrogant though and that's part of the training and what's needed for their job duties.

If you want to be a professional soldier, look at SF. Guys are usually older and more mature. Very well rounded individuals.

If you want to just be a beast killing machine, look at SEALS. Those guys are younger but are absolute beasts and very honed in what they do.

If you want to do both, go Airforce JTAC. These guys get attached to SEAL/SF/Rangers and call in airstrikes. So they get to go to all the cool schools as well.

If you can't decide what you want to do, go reserves first. You get to keep your day job, your dog and your normal life.

SF was good to me. Made good money, got a great job as a contractor when I got out and really taught me alot about teamwork and responsibilities. Honestly the only reason I got out is we lost a few guys on my last deployment before my contract was up and my wife said it's either the team or her and the kids. She couldn't deal with seeing the husbands/fathers of her friends die. It's a hard life. So I got out.

From what you're saying, I think you'd be a fine Marine. Some of my best friends are former Marines. There will always be a competitive nature between the two branches. Each one saying the other sucks. Just get used to it.

I think if you want skills to use for outside the military and you're not SOCOM material, look into the Airforce or Navy.

You can always get a job doing military contracting though based on a Infantry MOS skillset, still you can't do that forever. You'll need a career to fall back on.

Don't enlist until you are 100% sure that's what you want to do. Take into consideration there is still a death rate among the military, family life is hard and the pay isn't great.

Honestly, I'd say just enjoy your college years first, then after college and after working in the civilian world, if you still want to join the military is always hiring.

Good luck.

 

What he said.

I think it depends on what you want to do in the military. If you want to be hardcore, and be a badass, try to get into some type of special forces, SF, SEALS, even the Marines will satisfy this need. If you want to join just to serve and get the experience and cash for college, join the Air Force and be a load master. You will see the world do a lot of cool shit, satisfy your need to serve, good chance of getting a good location. If you have an Air Guard/Reserve base you can do this in your hometown or nearby. Also look into flight nurse. It's a good gig with a good civi job on the outside.

 

Again, Air Force, keep your legs.

 

well the thing that has me so torn is "I" want to do something like recon or along those lines where my DAD wants me to do something with nuclear management (that sort of thing) and I know in the end it is my decision and he can piss of if he doesn't like it but at the same time you always want to please your dad and he has a good point of the civilian jobs. I know I still have plenty of time before I have to make a decision. but its just frustrating having to fight with your dad constantly about what "I" should do with MY life.

 

also talked to the recruiter about the ASVAB and he said that I need to focus more on dropping weight then my ASVAB (which doesn't make sense to me) and I only have 15 to drop before I can officially enlist

 

Of course the recruiter would say that. Don't want any "fat bodies" in the Corps. Study for your ASVAB and continue to drop weight. You'll lose probably another 15-20 at the depot anyways, I lost 35. Looked like I came out of Auschwitz, my family didn't recognize me. Good luck.

 

Get a Rating, MOS (job) that has A skill that can transfer over to civilian life once you get out. My hat goes off to the infantry guys, but you are very limited to what you can do with that kind of training once you get out.

Do not go in as an open contract!!!

Once you take the ASVAB and when it comes to picking your job and there's nothing that strikes interest in you, don't just pick anything. Ask if you can go back to MEPS again later on so you can wait for more job openings.

 

My two cents:

The words 'service' and 'sacrifice' are often used in conjunction with the word 'military' for a reason. You really won't understand why until you are in. Ignore the movies and TV shows, Discovery Channel specials about Navy Seals etc... Your impressions of what you think the military is probably bare no resemblance to what you will actually experience once in.

I was not in the Marines but served 6 years active duty in the Navy. Most of the people I saw who weren't compatible were those who joined for the wrong reasons--they were trying to impress someone, just going after the GI Bill for college, or were taking someone elses advice. In other words, they were trying to get something but were not thinking about the 'giving' part.

I am certainly not saying those who joined for these reasons would always wash out. However, those who went in with an understanding that there will be a lot of 'giving' were those who were most compatible and will find their time much more aggreeable. Those in the former are the ones more likely to despise the experience or encounter difficulties that lead to early dishcarge or other reasons for separation. Most didn't understand it is not just a job or something to do. They were thinking 'Hollywood.'

To really thrive and be able to look back on the experience with fond memories takes a commitment. You need to buy into the idea of what you are doing. There are some exciting things, you do travel to exotic locales, and you do form bonds of friendships. However, a lot of military service involves plain boredom, grinding work schedules, extreme periods of time away from family and friends. That's not to mention those in immediate danger of harm. It really is a sacrifice and should be looked on as such when making the decision.

For example, many who join the Navy think of South Pacific and sitting out on a csarrier deck watching ops. The reality is you will spend most of your time locked inside the innards of the ship and won't see the light of day for sometimes weeks. When you are done with your shift, you might be swabbing a stall, doing some other duty, or catching up on ratings in the study room. 12 hours on , work, study, eat, few hours sleep, back on 12 hour duty, etc.. Repeat this process 7 days a week for your deployment. You will also be working under people who are very anal about anything and everything--duty officers, watch officers, NCO's, Fun times? Yes. Liberty is exciting and takes you to places you haven't seen. This excitement is the exception, however. And you can lose your liberty easily if you earn chits. Too tired and slept an extra five and late for duty? 5 demerits. Late for call? 5 more. Caught drinking on the ship? Captains Mast, likely docked pay, liberty pass revoked for deployment. You can get yourself into trouble real quick if you do not have the discipline. Not talking about the Marines here, but anyone can get through Navy boot camp. The real anal stuff starts on duty. It's probably the only service where actual duty service is sometimes tougher and more rigid than boot camp. You are working in close confines with officers and NCO's all day long, and someone is usually micromanagaing your daily routine for six months at a time on deployments. Boot camp is pretty much structured with this in mind. Not real physical but getting you adapted to the close-confines type of living situations with your peers and superiors so when you go out on your first deployment, you know how to act, behave, etc..Navy Boot camp is really a head game, with a lot of instruction on shipboard life and emergency drill. A service like the Navy is obviously going to be nowhere near as physically demanding as the Marines. But it has its own challenges, usually in terms of day-to-day mental stress you find that comes with long hours and frequent long deployments.

I do not say any of this to try to form any opinion for or against the idea of joining the service. Just being candid and offering straight advice. Is this something you would see yourself being able to handle? The fact is, for many, life in the military(of any branch) is probably not something that really resembles what they think it is.

Some people are not compatible with military service. It has nothing to do with not being tough or lack of patriotism, etc..Some people are just not going to be compatible with the lifestyle, for whatever reason. I know just as many people who joined who hated the experience as those who enjoyed it. I know people who were thrown out, separated, never made it through bootcamp even, because they did not have the drive or just wanted out so they got themselves thrown out and now have a permanenet blemish on the record whenever they apply for a job. Some people could not handle being away from home at sea and have jumped off the ship and went overboard to get out. You can't just quit if you get tired of it-- not without serious consequences that impact your future. Joining the military should be a decision you make of your own accord and you should not do it on the advice of others or because of other factors such as image. From my experience, those who do the best in military service are those who went in with realistic ideas about the service and understand you are going to sacrifice and serve and these are not just neat words that sound nice. You are going in to serve the nation, not earn something.

Also, just so I don't sound too negative--

There are benefits and positives, obviously. You are indeed rewarded for your service and sacrifice. The GI Bill is nice and has paid for many college educations. Contrary to popular beliefs, the pay is not all that bad for a kid just out of college. Certainly better than anything you will get on your own at that age. In addition to college, considering you get food, housing allowances, free healthcare etc..when combined with your base compensation, it is not bad at all. For the reasons mentioned, I wouldn't use this as the sole basis for joining, but it certainly is an enticement and incentive for those who think they are compatible with military life but undecided about if to join. Just be sure you have a realistic idea about what you will experience in your chosen service/MOS.

As far as the Marines, it was not my service, so I cannot offer any input on experiences. Obviously, it has a reputation as being the most physically demanding and challenging branch. I would probably just be honest with yourself--is this something you really want to do with service to the nation in mind or is the main reason for wanting to join primarily related to personal desires such as image? Most people's answers are probably a mix of both, regardless of the service. I would think, however, that if the main reason was the latter then this might be an indicator of any potential compatibility problems you might encounter once you get firmly immersed into the life and discover, like everyone else does, that there are a lot of things that suck about life in the service. It's the idea that you are doing something for the nation in your service that will let you get past the difficult parts and make good use of the time. You need that motivation, however, and it has to come from more than personal ideas like image and status, getting compensation, etc..If not, you will most likely be spending all your time thinking about the day you finally get discharged and set free.

 

Ok, so I am going to go against the grain here cuz i say HELL NO to being an officer. I understand the benefits of being an officer, I really do. College can only add to the opportunities you have in the future and I support the decision to go to college. OCS and war college teach you to lead the hardest of men. Its a hell of a thing to be a Marine Officer and they have my respect as long as they can find their ass with both hands. On the other side of that, there is nothing like being an enlisted Marine. Yes, its long hours of training and shitty pay and shitty living conditions and shitty work. But its the fucking Marine Corps, not the Red Hat Society Lunch Club. You work hard, play hard, drink hard, live hard, and become hard.
There are so many opportunities that are available as you progress in rank:college, leadership courses, temporary duty, crazy places to visit and work. I ran out of money in my 3rd year of college and joined upThe men beside you will become your life-long family. Even if one of them is the psycho cousin you never talk about. The Marine Corps gave me the discipline and self-confidence to handle my self in any situation at any time, anywhere, any condition. The leadership skills i learned help me run a successful hotel with almost no turn-over employment and guest service standards in the 90% month after month.
I know this is long winded, but i want to make sure you understand that there isnt a damn thing wrong with being a private or a Gunny. Hell, even Colonels are afraid of Gunnys lol.
Good luck, good job on the weight loss and preparation, you have my prayers and my support.

P.S. Dont forget: "Eagle Globe and Anchor brings the bettys to the door, Stripes on the Shoulder drops the panties to the floor"

 

^this

 

I will add my .02 worth. What the hell. As for your father, you need to stand up, be a man, and remind him that this is YOUR life, not HIS life, and YOU are the one who will have to live it, not HIM. when I asked my dad to sign my papers when I was 17, all he said was "Is this what you really want?" When I said yes, he signed. No bull, no telling me what I should do. This is YOUR decision to make, not his.

As for what to do: There are a lot of people with obviously different advice. Their advice is based on their individual experiences, and desires. Nobody here knows what YOU like, or want to do but yourself. My advice is follow your heart. You have many years ahead of you in life. You WILL make mistakes. You WILL make bad decisions. EVERYONE does at some point. Personally I don't blame my recruiter a damn bit for what happened to me when I signed. He told me that there were no spots for Tank Crewmen available. I COULD have just waited until there were spots available. Instead I CHOSE to go ahead and sign. Can't blame the recruiter. The thing to do is your OWN research. you can look up a lot of what is going on and what is and is not available. Until you sign the final paperwork at MEPS, and complete your last physical, and swear in, you are fully capable of walking out. They can't FORCE you to sign.

READ everything, and if you don't like what it says, get it changed if possible, or WALK AWAY. Most people that are pissed at their recruiter if they looked inside would realize a lot of what they are pissed about is a result of their OWN failure to research. You get all "Gung Ho" and all patriotic and you don't THINK before you sign. Use your heart to guide you, but your HEAD to make the decisions. Only YOU know what you want. Personally I wanted an MOS that you could never get in the civilian world. Not going to find very many car dealerships looking for a mechanic for their latest M1 Abrams, or the old M-60 tanks! I LOVED that I was doing something that gave me skills (I learned about hydraulics, towing and recovery, diesel mechanics, turbine engine mechanics, and a host of other personal development skills) that complimented me when I went job hunting. I have NEVER been more than 3 days between jobs since I graduated high school because I had skills that were in demand.

Again, only you know what you want to do in life. So think about what YOU would like to do, then look at the different MOS's that are out there, and which ones will give you the basic skill sets for your future. It is YOUR life, and nobody else has a right to tell you what to do with it. Not even us. Read the GOOD information. Everyone has an opinion about the service. Personally I wouldn't trade the 8 years in the Marines for a damn thing! From boot to end of my contract. I met some great guys, lost some who were good buddies. Such is life. Anyone who tells you that you can join a branch of service and be "safe" is bullshitting you. ANY job has inherent risks. Yes, some MOS's are less risky, and some branches have lower risk jobs. Is that what you want? A low risk job? Or is that not for you? Only you can answer that.

My personal experiences involved a nice trip to boot where I learned the PROPER way to tie my shoes, take a crap, dress myself, kill a man, eat my dinner in 60 seconds or less, and general knowledge of military life, including history and combat proficiency. I also learned that even when you think you are in GREAT physical shape, the Marines will show you that you were WAYYYY wrong!

I went to my MOS school where I learned that a lot of Army soldiers don't like it when Marines are training on their bases and taking all the women. (Meant as humor guys, don't get all in a twist) I learned mechanical and electrical skills that led me to a better ability to perform my job, and have a skill set when I got out.

After school I learned that life as a Marine was not all sugar and cream, but it also wasn't a huge pain in the ass either. We has plenty of free time to work on our pysical fitness, education, or just have a general good time. I loved every minute of it. yeah you have inspections and surprise details. but overall I had a good life. I wasn't rich, but I was comfortable, and felt good about myself and what I was accomplished.

I was proud to be a Marine.

 

Again, There's nothing wrong with wanting to be a bad ass. If that's what you want do Marines or some kind of Special Forces. There in every branch. If you go Air Force only go if you're in some type of air crew role. I recommend this if you want to join to do something serve, and get away. Quality of life will be better too.

I originaly went to Quantico for Marine OCS, I broke my leg in training and was sent home. I had the option to return a yr later but by that time the AF accepted my application and I went that route thinking I could get started earlier. I was wrong. Looking back it's probaly my only regret in life.

Just don't let the propoganda fool you.

 

thanks guys for all the great advice still losing weight and ready to take the asvab