Enlisting.

[Firebird67dude]

One of the main reasons I went scarce for those few weeks is I was in the process of making a very important decision. I have decided that I am going to enlist in the Marines. Within the next two weeks I will be doing all the beginning things to get the ball rolling.

Since I have a bunch of college credits behind me I was told that when I come out of boot camp I will be a pfc and within for mnths out of boot camp I will be up for Lance Corpral. I came home today from a weekend trip of skiing and I broke the news to my mom. Basicly it was a 4 hour talk of her crying and all upset. I told her that I could DEP and that would mean I would be in inactive duty for a yr. Made her feel a little better, I figure that bcuz then she'll have a yr. to talk me out of it, which won't happen.

Just thought I'd let you guys know whats going on and how I'm doing.

[jimmyboy8301]

congrats bro, if thats what you want. just be careful and i hope you realize that RECRUITERS LIE!!!!

[Firebird67dude]

I'm positive this is what I want to do.

[Rich189]

congrats bro, if thats what you want. just be careful and i hope you realize that RECRUITERS LIE!!!!

:stupid: theyll do anything to get you to join... and can i ask why marines instead of another branch of the service?

[Ian]

recruiters do lie, that much is true. make sure you have EVERYTHING sorted out paperwork wise. I've heard horror stories about soldiers getting dicked out of a lot of their money because it gets tied up.

Can I ask why you chose the Marines? I know if I were to enlist, I' be a marine, but I just want to hear why you chose that branch.

[ZeroCool8891]

i have a friend who came back from boot camp hes going away on the 29th for a few months im friends with the staff sgt who is allso the recruiter

[Firebird67dude]

Well to answer your question Ian, I dont have perfect vision so flying a plane is out and the army idk I didnt like the recruiters style of bringing stuff up or how they talked to me.

[jimmyboy8301]

i would do the coast guard

[Jersey_TA]

Well to answer your question Ian, I dont have perfect vision so flying a plane is out and the army idk I didnt like the recruiters style of bringing stuff up or how they talked to me.

There are other jobs in the airforce besides flying planes. Pretty much everything from aircraft maintenance, to communications, finance, medical. You name it. What is your job that you're going in for? You do realize that after training you're probably going to iraq. The airforce doesn't go there unless your a cop or other certain jobs.

[Firebird67dude]

I'm going in for either Aircraft mech. or infantry. I'm not sure yet.

[V]

afaik, in marines everyones primary duty is infantry.

regardless of what you decide to do, we all wish you the best.

[Ian]

in the marines erveryone is a rifleman, that much is true, but you do get to choose an MOS that is something besides infantry. you're scores are gonna have to be damn high at the end of basic to get into infantry, thats what almost every marine goes for. good luck man.

[Rafterman]

good for you man. good luck with that.

[johnjzjz]

All the best to you -- start running now -- work out every day ( hard ) and it wont be a shock when you get their -- i met a pile of recon Marines when my son in law was a Marine -- the beach at Camp L is un real -- good luck again -- SEMPER FI -- as my Marine friends always send -- jz

[JerzLT1]

aircrft mechanic as in the engine or the plane its self? im a jet engine mechanic in the airforce. if you have any questions just ask. Rob works on the jets too so ask away. your in the right place lol if you have questions about the Airforce. 13000hp F16 engines are pretty fun to work on :)

[BonzoHansen]

Good luck.

The Navy has lots of planes too.

[Untamed]

Atta boy! Like it was said above, make damn sure you know what you want and when you are available to do it.

Once you go to the MEPS station you still have time to change your mind. They'll give you a million and one chances to back out, come clean on criminal records, etc. all in an attempt to weed out the weak willed and criminally ineligible. They dont wanna spend any more money on you than they have to.

Be adamant about the MOS you want. If your timing is flexible, you may wait months for a slot to open up. Don't be pressured into anything else. Sometimes basic will begin in the summer, sometimes winter, all depending on when you can get the slot in the MOS you want. The recruiters at the MEPS station will pressure the hell out of you to simply sign. Don't do it unless your (future) DD214 reflects the MOS you want.

Any choice you make can be a good one, though some will be more hazardous than others. In any case, military training and experience looks really good on resumes. Good on you for making the decision.

[shane27]

grats man. it takes balls to enlist in the marines. dont die and kill some terrorists for me :mrgreen:

....just hope hilliary dosent get elected while your in iraq

[bubba428]

....just hope hilliary dosent get elected while your in iraq

what it matter if he there or not...she gets elected we all die...

[bubba428]

o yea grats on the marines...i'da joined right outta high school but i'm fat and lazy...takes alotta work to accauly be a marine...good luck man

[jin1481]

congrats man, i'm in iraq right now in the marines. i'm a computer geek for them, networking and stuff, and its opened a lot doors for me when i get out. your either going to love it or hate it. don't believe everything the recruiter man says, its not you he can do for you its what you can do for him. keep your head up and keep motivated and enjoy. Semper Fi

[Teds89IROC]

good luck man, the MR2 will be waiting for you

[Brando56894]

Semper Fi! Carry On!

[BigAls87Z28]

Gunny- SNOWBALL!!
Snowball- SIR, YES SIR
Gunny- 0300, Infantry
Gunny- MYERS!!
Myers- SIR, YES SIR
Gunny- 0300, Infantry
Gunny- DAVIS!!
Davis- SIR, YES SIR
Gunny- 0300, Infantry
Gunny- JONES!!
Jones- SIR, YES SIR
Gunny- 1420, Engineers...you get to go out and find mines

Good luck big guy. Keep your head down. Oo-Rah.

[chevyt454]

Lots of Camaro guys in there. You'll have company. Best of luck

[baddest434]

good luck to you dude.

[NJSPEEDER]

if it is what you want to do, go for it.
my only suggestion would be to make your initial enlistment for the shortest term available. it leaves you more options for the future whether you decide to stay in or become a civilian again.
be very mindful of what the recruiter says and, much like any major life decision, don't believe anything they are saying unless they are willing to put it in writing.
as a marine your primary MSO will always be infantryman. they will likely let you make a short wish list of 2 or 3 secondary MSO's that you woudl prefer to study/advance in. take your time in making that decision, try to pick something that relates to things you already enjoy doing or a field you would like to be in shoudl you decide to get out eventually.

god bless man. be careful where ever they put you and always know that we all support you no matter where you have to go.

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

Good Luck! :usa:

[Firebird67dude]

Thanks guys. No if only my close buddies felt the same way. I figuered that they of all ppl. would see where I'm coming from in making the decision. Its not like I've rushed into it. I've been thinkoing about this for the past 6 mnths.

[79CamaroDiva]

good luck!! :usa:

[Silent Z]

Congrats! If I could do it over again I'd go Intell. There are many jobs in that field for when you get out.

[Tru2Chevy]

Best of luck man! Nothing any of us could say can thank you enough for being willing to serve your country in this way....

:usa:

- Justin

[Firebird67dude]

Again thanks guys and gals. means alot to have you people behind me. Now if only I could get my family behind me too.

[unstable bob gable]

Good luck, broh. I went into the USAF right outa High School, and it was prolly the best thing I ever did. 8-)

[lastcall190]

Good luck man, definitely not an easy choice to make. my mom reacted the same way and that was just when I told her I just got info, heh. Stay safe out there.

-J

[Firebird67dude]

I went out late late last night to a bar with two of my buddies and I explained what I'm doing to them. One punched me in the face and said I'm an idiot and the other bought my a bunch of shots.

It seems that besides you guys everyone else is divided on my choice of action. i really want to do this but I'm scared to tell my friend Jacqui. Shes kinda like a big sis to me even tho shes 3 yrs. younger than me and if shes against it its gunna kill me. My mom went on when I got home saying that I'm being selfish. I just don't get it. I can truely say that this is my first choice that I made concerning the rest of MY life and it seems majority of ppl. are pissed off about it.

[Ian]

First of all, its your life. if this is something you want to do (which it obviously is) dont let anyone change your mind.

And how can your mom say you're selfish? devoting yourself to protect our country is anything but. She's probably just afraid that she'll lose you and is frustrated so she gets it out by saying things of that nature.

bottom line: this is your life. you dont get a chance to start over. do what you want to do and give it your all.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I was seriously interested in joining the Marine Reserve but my rents would never let me think of doing that. Too close knit, and stuff like that. I guess it wasn't meant to be for me.

Much thanks for your duty! *salute*

[slugger27nj]

Best of luck, and I 2nd what Justin said :usa:

[BonzoHansen]

Lay out all your options on paper (marines, college, job potential, etc.) - and go out like 10 years. Your answer will jump off the page at you. And you will be better able to explain to to all that matter to you. Really.

:usa: :salute:

[SpeakersGoBoom]

Whats up man? Long time no talk. Haven't been here in a while, but I figured that this one deserved me to chime in. I'm also going into the millitary. I'm enlisted in the US Navy in Aviation Support. Did you go to the hackensack recruiting station? Thats where I'm doing DEP training out of. Anyway, if I can offer you any advice, its have an idea of what you wanna do, but be flexable. When you go in for meps, as im sure your recruiter probably told you, you take a test. Your score on this test determines what positions and branches your eligable to take part in (until you mess up on something on day two like the depth perception test. Let us know how you do on the depth perception test. I failed it with flying colors, and as my recruiter said when i told him, "we've put 40 people through meps since that test came out and, according to the test, all 40 of them have no depth perception whatsoever.") Anyway, you may find that you scored really well on the entrance exam, and you'll find that your options are wide open. I scored a 93 on the entrance exam (in the navy, a score of 70 means you are, on paper at least, qualified to do anything except fly the planes.), and I was approached by an officer from the NPP, informing me that I qualify for the Nuclear Propulsion Program. I took the Nuclear Propulsion test, and I passed that too. In the end, I decided to stick to Aviation Support, but it's really nice to know that the option of being a Nuclear Machinist Mate is open to me, if i decide to take it.
Responding to what someone else said, yes, you do have the option to back out at meps if you want to. You dont officially enlist until the end of the second day, but they will do everything they can to try and get you in, so be careful. Best of luck to you, man!

[trans-am nut]

I'm a U.S MARINE, and I'm stationed in Cherrypoint, N.C, just do what your told and keep your mouth shut. That will work the entire time your in. When you tell ppl that you want to be a Marine, and they say my friend or my cousin is in the Coast Gaurd...,or some other branch or I was gunna do it but... Or just try to tell you what's it's like and never did it. Just tell them to go f*** them selves. Because they are trying to be badass or trying to scare you. GOOD LUCK, it's only as bad as you make it, and do what ever it takes. I give everyone credit who's joining now no matter what branch you decide on.

[Batman]

Well to answer your question Ian, I dont have perfect vision so flying a plane is out and the army idk I didnt like the recruiters style of bringing stuff up or how they talked to me.'

Who says you need perfect vision to fly a plane? That is only for the fighter jocks and htey have a pretty crappy quality of life now. Being in the airlift business I would highly recommend it. You don't get the front page glory but it is a great life and you really DO get to see the world. Plus you can be enlisted and fly in the airlift business. The pay and promotions are also alot better in the Air Force Whatever you decide good luck but I highly recommend the Air Force or the Coasties. PM me if you want me to answer any questions and good luck!

[trans-am nut]

Go for it bro, it's one of the best moves you can make no matter what branch you choose. I have a little under four months left in the Marine Corps, and am very happy and proud of how I have spent the last four years of my life. Everytime I go home ppl are doing the same ****, working the same jobs they were when we were in high school. I come home with pics. from all over the world, and they have never left the county let alone the state. for ppl that are telling you you are thinking about your self... you should be you have to set your self up right, mostly they are just sad that you are leaving or jellious that they can't do it them selves. Plus that making your own decisions is what it takes to be a man. I honestly am very happy at the branch of service that I have chosen, no matter what base, country ,state etc EVERYONE knows who you are and knows what you represent. Marines are the best and that's it. Read about all the battles and the history that is involved. You will be very impressed. Either way you won't regret it and it's worth it.

[trans-am nut]

Also college is paid for, and I'm collecting an extra $800 off of the G.I. Bill, just to give you an idea of everthing.

[Batman]

Marines are the best and that's it. Read about all the battles and the history that is involved. You will be very impressed. Either way you won't regret it and it's worth it.

While I don't disagree with that, NO branch of the military can survive on it's own nowadays. We are all interdependent on each other and never forget that, it really is a team effort nowadays.

[trans-am nut]

While I don't disagree with that, NO branch of the military can survive on it's own nowadays. We are all interdependent on each other and never forget that, it really is a team effort nowadays.

If you have read my other posts I've never stated anything about it's only the Marine Corps doing all the work. The very first post I gave everyone in all the branches credit. :hammer: