Infantry vs. naval mechanic

[cmdell]

Ok gents, I am going to weigh in here. Seems that you need the input of someone who spent time doing both active and reserves. I spent one year in Iceland and almost three years with Cco 1/8 as infantry. I got out as a Cpl and transfered to HMM 277 in Norfolk, VA when I started school at Old Dominion Univ. I dropped the reserves because it dug into school too much. I have kept my IRR current while attending school in case I felt a burning need to reactivate to the reserves, but it was more important to finish school and earn the rank of 2nd Lt and be an Officer of Marines.

Enough bio. The issue here is whether mrtheshaggy is on the right track. I say if you have the endurance to take all that on, more power to ya! You have my support. BUT, I caution you. There is a guy in some of my classes at Central Michigan that just got back from a year in Iraq in Aug. He got activated mid semester and had to retake all those classes because he didn't make it all the way to mid-terms. that is a loop. Make mid-terms and you keep your grades, leave prior to that and you get a refund check. Bad news is, his unit just got a warning order on the past week to BPT deploy to replace the 82nd airborne. So much for graduating on time, eh?

My point is not to scare you off. There are plenty of reservists who finish school on time or early, but you must consider all the possibilities.If you are doing it for the Mustang status, it may not be worth it. The term "Mustang" is generally associated with an officer who spent a significant period of time on active duty, and sorry to burst all the reservist's bubbles, but there is a general contempt for reservists by the active duty Marines, at least in the 03 line companies.

Before you all lynch me, I don't know how the OIF thing will effect those views. Res. units have done some great things and continue to be a vital element in OIF and Afghanistan. Anyways, just check all your options and do what is best for you. Whatever you decide, we've got your back. Marines take care of their own, active or reserve.

Semper FI

 

[E5B]

EA-6B1, I also had no idea about reserves or PLC when I was in high school. Hell I didn't even know the Marines had "MOS's", I just thought every Marine was in the Infantry! lol Yeah, I went to the recruiter and said "I wanna sign up" and he said "OK, sign right here". He didn't bother telling me about it either, probably made his quota for the month or something. So I went infantry (0341) and had a friggin blast. Looking back on it now, I would have never had the discipline to go to college and hold a decent GPA.

MrtheShaggy, now that you know what your in for, if it still feels right, then what are you waiting for! Like JBoomer said, you'll have no regrets. I had the time of my life. I was 19 years old, and already been to 14 or so different countries and all my buddies from high school were still doing the same ol things. And yeah, there's a little friction between reservists and active duty bubba's, but there's friction everywhere in the Corps, it'd be boring with out it.

Like I was telling someone else in another thread, make sure you have as many people as possible write you. Mail is a huge moral booster and if there isn't enough folks to write you let me know and I'll send ya a few post cards or something, and I'm sure a few other folks on here would do the same, because like CMDell said, "Marines take care of their own".

Good Luck.

Beetle

 

[Banjo33]

Something I thought of last night too. MAKE SURE you are enrolled to receive the GI Bill (whether it be the active or reserve one). Most recruiters will push this on the poolee, some may not though.

 

[airwinger]

I'm not claiming 4 years reserves is the same as 4 years AD. But neither is 4 years as an Airwing enlisted guy like 4 years infantry. This is a good example of what is politely called elitism. We had an ex SSGt in my TBS squad who'd spent 12 years active as an admin guy. No deployments..just years spent updating OQR's and SRB's. Heck to this day we still joke about his attempts to pass on experience. I'm sure though when he wound up as an admin guy he had all the experience one would need, and his enlisted Marines had lots of respect for him.

Week 1 of bootcamp our DI claimed that until you had 4 years active duty, you were not a Marine. As you have seen from comments by CMDell, Frogfly and Pat1. They all have their own view on what a prior enlisted Marine is. The CMC's view however is that bootcamp is the only way to be an enlisted Marine.

As far as the experience goes I've served under 13 company grade officers and I've known where maybe 3 of them went to school and have no clue what any of them studied or how well they did at TBS. I do know which of them were prior enlisted(reserves or active) and we gave them points for it. Then from there we judged them on their abilities. Thus some guys were (to quote my platoon sergeant) "typical ossifahs" while others were "good to go."

 

[Pat1USMC]

Well, it looks like people get a little touchy about this subject. Boomer man, are you a little stressed? I know what you did, and it worked for you. Thats great, but your original situation was not his. He's already halfway through his freshman year and wanted to graduate early. Everybody is just skimming through my posts and reading what they want to read and immediately getting offended like i'm putting down the reserves.
Anway, mrtheshaggy, take all this advice and make the decision that is best for your situation.

 

[Killer2]

Hey look I have done PLC JR's and I come to a school with a lot of PLC guys and reserve Marines. One thing I know is I wouldn't have gotten through OCS without their advice and help. I also hear alot of their complaints. One of my buddies did the reserve thing and then PLC, he is set to graduate this AUG, but not anymore he's off to Iraq to do his 0311 thing in Mar. He is just waiting to graduate but thats on hold till he gets back from Iraq.

So what I am trying to say is all these guys did there thing most likely before OIF and now you are in a time where people are going over there for a year or more reserve or active. I am not trying to scare you just educate you. I wish you the best of luck with what ever choice you make.
S/F

 

[Banjo33]

Pat..hell yes I'm stressed! I've sat here on a FAM hold for 7 weeks twiddling my thumbs, checking airwarriors twice a day looking for some action! But, I'm pretty passionate about how I feel in regards to the whole Reserve/college deal. I think it's one of the military's best kept secrets...especially for people with an interest in a military career AFTER school!

Unless he's got scholarships and grants that are currently paying for his entire college education (which most would be placed on hold, due to military service...something he would want to check into), then regardless if he started school yet or not, it's not a bad idea.

Noone's saying you're "putting down the reserves." I just don't think you're giving the whole experience enough credit.

I also think you'll have to decide between the reserve thing and graduating early....probably not going to finish early if you miss that much school (why is that important to you?).

As far as OIF goes, I would have given anything for the opportunity to serve in that role (granted that's my own opinion) and it would be an AWESOME experience. IF he were to be activated, then so be it, that's what he's being paid for....and just more experience to bring to the table as an Officer (let's face it, nearly all of us won't have it.....kinda sucks being a 1stLt or Cpt and all your PFC's and LCPL's have combat experience and you don't).

Anyway, it all boils down to what he does with the opinions and information supplied by ALL that have answered his post.

 

[airwinger]

Dude, Stucon says it could be two more days or two more weeks!!! The good thing is they're planning a Key West det in Feb for all of us lepers still left in the T-2. Heck...we should be in town just as spring break begins.."Yeah honey, I fly the red and white attack guppy, over 30 scary missions in downtown Meridian"

 

[PU Grad]

Originally posted by Pat1USMC
Well, it looks like people get a little touchy about this subject.

Darn straight we are.

Originally posted by Pat1USMC
Everybody is just skimming through my posts and reading what they want to read

What ever gave you that impression?

Originally posted by Pat1USMC
i'm putting down the reserves.

You heard it here first folks. Pat1USMC is putting down the reserves. The nerve of him!



Now for an actual comment type thing.

Originally posted by Pat1USMC
Anway, mrtheshaggy, take all this advice and make the decision that is best for your situation.

This is great advice that we should all follow.

Kobyra

P.S. People were getting WAY TOO touchy so I had to lighten things up. Hopefully no bad feelings Pat1USMC, you just had the best post to do it with.

P.P.S. So, I can't spell.

 

[Pat1USMC]

No problem man. This is what happens when have too much time on your hands. I'm sitting in my apartment with nothing but a computer and a dog and cat, waiting to move to Whidbey. And Boomer, my buddy from TBS, has nothing to do while he waits to fly so we just bicker on the internet. Good fun.
But to the people waiting to start, don't worry, you don't always have this much free time to waste...

 

[PU Grad]

so how long is your wait? My wait for joining is becoming shorter and shorter by the day. (I need to wait until this Co-op session is over).

Kobyra

 

[FrogFly]

Friggin Dell, you scribe! Quit trying to beat me on your squad evals and get back to your school work!

 

[Pat1USMC]

My wait to move? I'm leaving Sat. morning for Thanksgiving leave with my family, and then driving to Whidbey for the Prowler NFO RAG. Its weird, it feels like a couple months ago that I was still in college, waiting to hear from the PLC board. It goes quickly, don't worry.

 

[Shaggy]

Heh, I seemed to have missed something. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do. While joining the reserves sounds dumb to you it seems like an incredible oportunity to me. I want the extra training, the experience, and even though I'm not active I know a hell of lot more than someone fresh out of college.

I'll get about 1500 a month from reserveist pay and GI bill combined. Also I get promoted to E2 because I already have over 15 college credits. I don't have to crap my pants when I go to the harder ocs boot. And there is something about being a mustang that has just made me want it since the first time I heard it. My enlisted friends say the first thing they look at on an officer is not his rank but his enlisted bar and that really jumped out at me.

I've always wanted to go to war. The only way to change my mind about the topic is to send me. So if I go mechanic which would be a help to my future career (as I wanna be an f18 pilot) or in infantry (where if i do or don't go to war I'll get the taste and training of the ultimate war weapons etc...).

So having said all this and none of it being BS I'm afraid I'd have to kick my own butt if I didn't join.

 

[Banjo33]

"I'll get about 1500 a month from reserveist pay and GI bill combined"

As a Reservist, I brought home $200 (as an E4) each drill weekend, $250 a month for the GI bill (as a reservist, you only qualify for the Reserve GI bill not the Montgomery GI Bill..there's a HUGE difference), and once I finished PLC Jr's I brought home an additional $950 or so a semester (Tuition Assistance). That was enough (along with scholarships and grants) to keep me from having to hold a job my first two years of college. But, once I got married (things got expensive) I had to hold a full time job and take out student loans.