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Questions about joining the Marines

C

clubmaule1

New Member
Put college first!! Go ROTC for whichever branch you choose, but first before you do that and waste time being part of a ROTC, take there officer test (Air Force-AFOQT, Navy & Marines-ASTB, Army-AFAST) if you don't do well on these there will be no money or contract. As far as picking a branch, depends on what you want to do.
 
whalepelt

whalepelt

New Member
clubmaule1 said:
Put college first!! Go ROTC for whichever branch you choose, but first before you do that and waste time being part of a ROTC, take there officer test (Air Force-AFOQT, Navy & Marines-ASTB, Army-AFAST) if you don't do well on these there will be no money or contract. As far as picking a branch, depends on what you want to do.
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I won't comment on the AF or Army tests, but the ASTB has no bearing whatsoever on getting an NROTC scholarship; it is used ONLY to help determine whether you go to flight school. If you're primarily interested in Marine Intel or Legal, you'd almost certainly never even take the ASTB.
 
BINGO

BINGO

Member
Eryca,
Coming from someone who did Air Force ROTC for a year, I'll tell you somethings about the Air Force.

First off, the Air Force supports a completely different mission than the Marines do. Its a completely different mentality and your going to either fit in, or your not. That simple. I wasted a solid year of my life with the Air Forces program only to see it wasn't for me.

The Air Force is about air superiority, space, and missiles. If thats what you want to do, fine. Just know your career is going to be very different than the Marines.

The Air Force does push for you to finish that degree, but if you go enlisted, it'll be hard to make the time trudge through it depending on your job.

If you decide to go Marines, I would honestly say, earn your degree first. If you can find a way to pay for school (student loan, scholarship, etc), PLC is the best route IMO to becoming an officer. I've met some guys who went the reserves route to pay for school and it set them back for quite a while.

Find out what you want from your life. If your going to come join the Marines, realize your going to be a Marine FIRST. Everything else comes after that.

If you decided to go Air Force... Well, good luck. I don't have to many good things to say about it from my experience besides they've got nice toys and clean bases.
 
rhinoh82

rhinoh82

Member
The goal of becoming a Marine and completing a degree at the same time is a realistic one. I did it and so have others! I enlisted when I was 17, had my parents sign the waiver and went to boot camp July after I graduated from HS.

I will tell you that this is definitely the "road less traveled". It WILL eat up a lot of your free time, while your fellow devil dogs are out partying their butts off. You will also be expected to be a MARINE FIRST!! Anything else comes second. You can also count on at least one deployment during your first enlistment (I was part of the invasion force for OIF and stayed on for OEF), but maybe not as Legal Admin. Especially if you're attached to a base personnel billet at a Headquarters Battalion.

I will disagree with an earlier statement someone made about going to a college/university out in town for your Bachelors Degree. Several Colleges and Universities have special programs for military members and you can attend classes on the base. All bases have an education office and all units/squadrons have an education officer. These two combined can point you to a school that is offered through the base that affords the opportunity for an "accredited" 4 year degree. I graduated from SIU without ever setting foot on their campus.

In the end it is worth it to finally have that degree, the title Marine and know that you've earned both. I would definitely recommend the Legal Admin route as stated before. That would maximize the amount of time you can spend on your studies. I would also recommend the active duty route so that you can capitalize on the GI bill and also 100% tuition assistance. Meaning they'll pay your tuition you just buy the books and go. Good Luck!
 
LOSLOAR

LOSLOAR

don't bring your coffee to FOD walk
I think we've all seen plenty of young enlisted with a bad attitude because they "didn't know what they we're getting into". I've always told people that unless you REALLY want it, don't. Seems like things for those who change their minds once they're in only get worse and worse. On the other hand if you do really want it, it's probably the best job around.
 
D

DSL1990

VMI Cadet 4/c, MIDN 4/c
Eryca,

not a marine here- not even a wannabe :D

just wanted to say that if you are an hs senior and you can afford a year of college, you could go the NROTC route. you'd go to 1 of the colleges on this list: https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/colleges.cfm
you'd fill out a paper to be in the NROTC "College Program". after a few months in the program as a marine ROTC student, you could start applying for 3-yr marine-option NROTC scholarships. i hear that they give a lot of them out. a lot of people who go into NROTC without scholarships are able to get them while they are in NROTC "College Program".

just an idea.
 
usmarinemike

usmarinemike

Solidly part of the 42%.
pilot
Contributor
LOSLOAR said:
I think we've all seen plenty of young enlisted with a bad attitude because they "didn't know what they we're getting into". I've always told people that unless you REALLY want it, don't. Seems like things for those who change their minds once they're in only get worse and worse. On the other hand if you do really want it, it's probably the best job around.
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For that matter there are plenty of officers that throw similar tantrums because they didn't grasp the full gravity of their new adventure. Many college students get shell shocked at their first career as well. The cream rises and all that. And are you prior enlisted? If you are, then carry on, this next part isn't really for you.

If not, then how the hell do you know anything about enlisted peoples' attitude in life? How many young enlisted people have you even seen in your life? Or are you just going off of what you think they're like from movies and documentaries (the kid in "Fortress at Sea" comes to mind)? They'll do anything you tell them to do including put themselves in a situation where they'll probably die, so be careful with your prejudiced.

Like I said, of you're prior enlisted, then you're entitled to that opinion even though I think it is short sighted. If not, then get some experience before you show that you loathe the men and women who make the military go.
 
LOSLOAR

LOSLOAR

don't bring your coffee to FOD walk
usmarinemike said:
For that matter there are plenty of officers that throw similar tantrums because they didn't grasp the full gravity of their new adventure. Many college students get shell shocked at their first career as well. The cream rises and all that. And are you prior enlisted? If you are, then carry on, this next part isn't really for you.

If not, then how the hell do you know anything about enlisted peoples' attitude in life? How many young enlisted people have you even seen in your life? Or are you just going off of what you think they're like from movies and documentaries (the kid in "Fortress at Sea" comes to mind)? They'll do anything you tell them to do including put themselves in a situation where they'll probably die, so be careful with your prejudiced.

Like I said, of you're prior enlisted, then you're entitled to that opinion even though I think it is short sighted. If not, then get some experience before you show that you loathe the men and women who make the military go.
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Yes, I am, and you know the kinds of marines i'm talking about. ;)
 
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