Any Marines in here?

[motocrosser]

I'm currently enlisting in the Army but am giving the Marines a shot. Here's why... A few months ago I chose to enlist in the Army because I though it would be the easiest to get into. Due to blowing my knee out last Oct.. I've went to MEPS, passed physical, ASVAB, all the other testing and etc.. And got recommended for a medical waiver at MEPS and the Waiver's board and when it finally went to the "utlitimate chain in command that says yey or ney, he said I have to wait a year after my surgery to get in, but he said he would approve me when that date came around, which is this Nov. 8.

Now everything went smoothly and all, too smoothly. Due to my Doctor being a well known doctor and all. So I've considered the Marines. ( Well actually I always wanted to but I figured my chances would be shot but I talked to a recruiter over the phone and he said he just put a guy in with a bummed knee.

I'm meeting with a Marine recruiter this friday at noon. Just wandering if their is any fellow Marines that could give me some advice. Anywhoo, lift hard,

Andrew

 

[Code]

Sand Bags, chime in!

 

[Crazy Ivan]

ur post is fukked

Ur situational awareness is fukked , common sense fukked too

ur fukked!!!

Now listen to me, shut ur fuken window w/ that 100mph u gonna like so much .

U know why u belong to the beloved Marine Corps - because u are DUMB and they gonna like u there!!

 

[big_bad_buff]

I know 3 marines, they are all friends, they joined at the same time. One of the three guys has advanced far up the latter, while his two buddies are still grunts. Why? I asked, simply because everyone liked the taller, bigger built, more out going guy, who never tried as hard as the other two that bust their balls trying to impress and do their best.

If you’re not liked, or you don’t go out of your way to get in good with the boss man, get your tooth brush and knee pads out, and I'm not shitting. Those two marines bust there balls 10 hours a day once a week brushing their rooms spotless. While that third guy is being paid $760 a month for his own pad, plus $200 a month for food, plus whatever he makes an hour. Moral of the story. Hope you have good luck and a good attitude that your superiors like.

 

[I.B. Orpheus]

Chesty should be all over this.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Moto,

I'm a Marine veteran as well as an Army Reserve veteran. I don't want to ruffle any Army vets out there, but my best years were with the Marines. You'll make some life long friends and you'll learn to appreciate the meaning of "freedom". Just remember when you get to boot camp, do as you're told as fast as you can and you'll do just fine. It's all mind games (with a little physical stress thrown in). Good luck and.....

SEMPER FI!

 

[-SD-]

Go with the Army. More options.

 

[motocrosser]

SEMPER FI! [/B]

Curious as to what that means?

I'm making a list of questions for the recruiter. I feel guilty though If I get in becuase my Army recruite as put some time in on me. But in the end it's about what I want though.

I do have to agree with you on the quality life you get in the Marines and I hardly realy "know" what you guys are. Just by seeing how hardcore your guy's training and missions are really says it all.

I look at it like this, the more I work and suffer and sacrifice for something, the more rewarding it is!

 

[motocrosser]

Oh also, I love that guy on the History channel's "Mail Call"

 

[motocrosser]

Any tips you have for me as the whole enlistment process goes from meeting the recruiter to basic?

And thanks for informing me. It's cool coming from a Maine Vet.

 

[-SD-]

How old are you bro? Im an ex marine, and I can tell you I went in the corps for what I thought I wanted at the time, but I was wrong.

 

[motocrosser]

age 18, turned 18 just last July. A few months ago when I started the Army's enlistment process I was 17 and had a Parent waiver, but that doesn't matter now.

I want to because I want to do something everyday I can look forward too. Now as crazy as that sounds in the military, especially the Marines, I love to challenge myself and work hard to reap rewards. It's basically how I trained my state of mind and body for motocross and it's carried on.

my 2 cents..

 

[queena_82]

My boyfriend is a "former" marine I say former bc i got corrected when i said ex once.....once a marine always a marine. anyways...he lookd at the army too but he decided on the marines for various reasons. He's on the board if you want to ask him what he thinks...Kingc_79 just pm him, he'd be more than happy to help you out. Good luck man!!!!

 

[jackangel]

Curious as to what that means?

"Semper Fi" is short for "Semper Fidelis" which is Latin for "always faithful."

 

[Rex]

My boyfriend is a "former" marine I say former bc i got corrected when i said ex once.....once a marine always a marine. anyways...he lookd at the army too but he decided on the marines for various reasons. He's on the board if you want to ask him what he thinks...Kingc_79 just pm him, he'd be more than happy to help you out. Good luck man!!!!

Sorry queena I'm going to have to correct you on the term "former" Marine. The technical term for those Marines that get out are "Prior" Marine.

Moto: I sent you a PM.

 

[biteme]

Yea. I was a marine for 3 weeks. Until they told me that I could not be an agnostic and that I would have to go to church. Dumbest move I ever made out of desperation.

 

[Rex]

Few tips for you.

-Don't feel bad for the Army recruiter. Don't feel bad for the Marine recruiter. You're a pawn to them. They may be cool, some are honest, but they still have quotas

-The day you and your recruiter agree on for you to leave for bootcamp is up to you. I agreed to Aug 26. The liason at MEPS tried to make me go for Aug 20. Difference? A different company. I wanted to be 3rd Bn, leaving sooner would've made me 2nd.

-Don't be persuaded into something you don't have interest in for a bonus. The money ain't worth being unhappy.

-A gaurenteed MOS field is not a gaurenteed MOS specialty. eg. I signed for 13xx thinking I would be a 1371; however, I was ordered to be a 1391.

-In bootcamp. Shut your mouth and don't try to stand out. There is always that one fuck who thinks he's God's gift to the military, and tries to lead shit. Regardless of how good a leader he may or may not be the DI's pick their honor grads by who has family with prior service. One guy in my platoon was a rock. His uncle served as a sniper in Vietnam with our company 1st Sgt. He got promoted.

-The people to get in your pocket are the scribe and guide. They pretty much control fire watch roster. Control them, and control your sleep. When they ask who can write neat, or has taken college classes don't raise your hand. That's how they pick a scribe. He has a lot of shit to do. Takes down who is going to what church, sick call, light duty, fire watch. Control him...don't be him.

Feel free to Pm me with any questions.

 

[Lumberg]

The Marines are the most hardcore serive in the military. Their boot camp is harder and being a Marine is harder. They have the most stringent PT requirements of any branch. Ever seen an out of shape Marine?

Marines probably have the most comeraderie because they have the toughest time.

Only join the Marines if you are a glutton for punishment and really want to be something for yourself. Also you should be patriotic as hell.

I have the UTMOST respect for Marines, as well as anyone who serves in our armed forces. Just beware what you're going to be getting into. It's gonna be harder than being in the Army.

 

[javaguru]

If you're looking for advancement in the ranks the Army will offer more opportunities. I made E-5 in a little under two years serving in the army while friends of mine ended their Marine enlistments as lance corporals. Combat arms MOS's also offer more advancement opportunities but since the ASVAB scores are so low the people under you will be less "intellectually developed." If you ever have a family, the long deployments and low pay will definitely weigh on you and your relationship. Likewise, in combat arms you spend a lot of time in the field away from social activities/family( months at a time). Learn to not be uptight about bureacracy and bullshit because there will be plenty of both.

Keep in mind the army still probably has a much better college program than the Marine Corps. Right now you're eighteen and entertaining the idea of a career in the service but you may change your mind in a couple years and end up behind the game if you do want to go to college, keep your options open.

I would also like to add that many have said the Marine Corps is much tougher than the Army, which is true IMO at the "average soldier" level. However, there many opportunities in the army to challenge yourself and go above and beyond. Just because the APFT minimum and maximum is x doesn't mean that should be your standard or will it be your unit standard. Our platoon sgt considered anything under a 275 a "failure" and you would be doing remedial PT out the ass. I never scored less than a 285 and usually maxed it because I set a higher standard for myself, which is what it really comes down too. Likewise, you can also opt for ranger school or the Q course if you want to seperate yourself from the pack.

Finally, whatever you're expecting out of each branch will not be the reality of the situation.

 

[Code]

If you're joining the Marines to be a lifer or to get discipline, go for it.

If you're joining to get something out of it you can use in the civilian world (skills), DO NOT JOIN.

 

[milo hobgoblin]

...

DONT DO IT.

I joined the Marines when I was 17.. had my dad sign for me. Was the biggest waste of 4 years of my life. I worked for idiots who were barely literate and only stayed in because they could NEVER get a job on the outside.

Most Staff NCO's are complete losers... and they are the ones you'll be working for. You living conditions are SHIT and all the bullshit abput going to college is exactly that... BULLSHIT.

You'll have envious staff seargants making sure you get duty on the nights you're supposed to be in class and taking exams.

If you're single you HAVE to live in the barracks usually with 1 or 2 roommates... either some brother from the ghetto or some stupid redneck from some inbred state.

The MP's are total pricks and will pull you over for doing 2 miles over the speed limit and getting on and off base is a pain in the ass.

These may sound like small things but remember... you have to LIVE in these conditions every day. Think about how much you hate traffic and all the little daily hassles you have to put up with now any magnify it by 10. Thats life in the Marine Corp.

Oh by the way the pay SUCKS and SUCKS BAD.

 

[Rex]

Friends to make in the Marine Corps

-Cooks: Keep you fed
-MP: Keep you out of trouble
-Armoror: Break balls on cleaning your M-16 when checking out.
-Supply: Makes gear accountability not a problem.

STOBEASASAP= Stay Out of Brig EAS [End of Active Service] As Soon As Possible.

There are some dick heads in the Corps who joined b/c they have an inferiority complex and can rely on rank. There are some cool ones though.

 

[longarms]

After what i've seen the last 8 months, I would say without a doubt...

JOIN THE AIR FORCE!