Marine Corps

[gixxer72]

So, my oldest son has been spending his evenings this week with the local recruiter. He's been talking about the military for some time and has settled on becoming a Marine. I don't like the idea of him being shipped over to some shithole-istan, but I do like the idea of him getting some focus and discipline.

Anyone here a Marine (or other branch)? Just looking for any thoughts or suggestions, do and don'ts maybe? I have not served, I grew up a brat and knew it wasn't for me!

[RandyO]

Corps

[eboos]

Is the Marine Core like the center of the Marine Corps?

I was active for 10 years. You get out of it what you are willing to put into it.

[gixxer72]

Corps

Fuck. Would a mod please correct the title? My apologies.

[Chippertheripper]

I did my time. I got out of it what I wanted, for sure, but it certainly wasnt the path of least resistance. Talk to him about big picture stuff, what he wants out of his experience, his life/career goals, and where he sees himself in 4 or 5 or 6 years after his first enlistment is up.

Knowing what I know now, I may have explored other options.

[csmutty]

So, my oldest son has been spending his evenings this week with the local recruiter. He's been talking about the military for some time and has settled on becoming a Marine. I don't like the idea of him being shipped over to some shithole-istan, but I do like the idea of him getting some focus and discipline.

Anyone here a Marine (or other branch)? Just looking for any thoughts or suggestions, do and don'ts maybe? I have not served, I grew up a brat and knew it wasn't for me!

I'm guessing enlisted?

[TwelveGaugeSage]

My brother and I were both Air Force and work with folks from all branches. Pretty much all agree that the quality of life is far better in the Air Force than any other branch. Better living arrangements, better benefits, better treatment from superiors, better post-military options for employment.

That said, some people just thrive in the Marines, or the other services. The Marines here on base are pretty down to earth, but they are reservists. More than anything, tell him to pick a job he will enjoy doing, as he will be stuck doing it for 4-6 years with few options out. The military opens a lot of doors, but it can be a miserable experience if you get a job or location that you hate. If I remember correctly, the active duty Marines get assigned a job, so you are stuck where they put you. Even infantry will open some doors on the outside, just not as many as other jobs that have real world versions. If he doesn't enjoy physical fitness, forget the military altogether. Some jobs deploy constantly, others never deploy.

As I am still actively involved with the military as a contractor, I'd be happy to help with any specific questions.

Finally, beware of anything a recruiter says. Many are not to be trusted.

[SRTie4k]

Former Marine here.

I'd recommend he takes a job that has some type of application to a career outside of the military. I did computers when I was in, which helped me land a job when I got out.

I also strongly recommend he enrolls in the GI Bill and any GI Bill extensions he can (dunno if that's even still optional or not), and takes the initiative to go to school while he's in, i.e. take college accredited classes instead of just sitting around in his room or blowing money at the bars. Yeah, people at that age don't think much about the future, but the relatively few credits I got when I was in (as well as the Post 9/11 GI Bill) helped me complete college when I got out in 2.5 years for a grand total cost of <$200. I am very thankful to the military (and by extension the taxpayers) for no education loan and a very successful job as a software engineer.

Lastly, if I had to recommend someone a military branch, it wouldn't be the Marine Corps, it would be the Chair Force. Much better quality of life, many more opportunities (since Marines are much more specialized/limited), and much easier. That said, I don't regret my time as a Marine at all, although I would have done more to further my education when I was in if I could change any one thing.

[gixxer72]

First thanks to Iglu for fixing my thread title, I knew something looked funny!

Thank you all for the input, I'll be speaking with him tonight about what type of job he intends to pursue after his service but I suspect he's clueless...

- - - Updated - - -

I'm guessing enlisted?

Correct

[gixxer72]

Finally, beware of anything a recruiter says. Many are not to be trusted.

Thanks, I don't like that he's speaking to them without me, but he's 19 so there really isn't much I can do to stop him. I want to review what they are offering in terms of specific jobs and any sign on bonuses, term, etc...

[Chippertheripper]

There may or may not be bonuses depending on many variables.

[eboos]

One of the biggest variables is the candidate's qualifications. If your son does not do well on the ASVAB, or has moral or drug waivers which may disqualify him from certain MOS's, do not count on bonuses.

[gixxer72]

One of the biggest variables is the candidate's qualifications. If your son does not do well on the ASVAB, or has moral or drug waivers which may disqualify him from certain MOS's, do not count on bonuses.

No waivers or anything like that, he just took a sample asvab with the recruiter and scored 88 out of 90. They started right in with the "any job you want" pitch. He's intelligent, just not focused. I totally support him becoming a Marine, I just want to be sure he doesn't agree to something less than what is available to him. His mother, not so enthusiastic...

[obsolete]

Air Force here, Vietnam Marine step-father said to me "Al, you're way to smart to be a marine. Join the Air Force." If I did it all over again I'd go Coast guard. I'll echo SRT4iek and say he needs to get a job he can do on the outside and fully fund the GI Bill. After exhausting my military educational benefits I have an AS, two BSs and an MS for for a grand total of 15k. I'll also add tell him to get stationed overseas. Getting to see the world was a benefit I didn't get because I was dumb and picked a job that sounded cool and didn't: A. Have a direct transfer of skills to civilian life and B. Had little options to be stationed elsewhere. Also, don't get married young.

[Chippertheripper]

he should accept no less than a MOS which directly correlates to outside employment. I can't emphasize this enough, ask him what he thinks he wants to do AFTER.
the recruiter is going to sling ALL types of bullshit at him, but in the end, he's just a notch in that recruiter's belt. if he did well on the asvab, the world is his oyster.

[Garandman]

Could have gotten most jobs in any service. Joined the Infantry because you can’t get that experience anywhere else. Where else can you get paid to jump out of airplanes? YMMV.

A family friend has been talking to a USMC recruiter, who has told him Infantry slots “Are filling up fast,” and that he has to sign a contract as soon as he takes ASVAB. Neither of these things are true. Ever.

If he doesn’t know what he wants to do, he should keep talking to services about what opportunities are available to him. Pretty sure all the services are struggling for numbers at the moment.

[TwelveGaugeSage]

Another thing I thought of, if he finds a job he wants, tell him to wait until they can guarantee that job. They use impatience to fill the less desirable jobs. I wish I had the option to wait for one of my dream jobs. I was ASVAB qualified for any enlisted job, but time was my enemy as I was quickly approaching the age limit for active duty Air Force when I went through the process of enlisting. There are some really cool jobs for enlisted like photography(sitting in a fighter taking pictures of other aircraft in flight?), applied geophysics, weather, etc.

I do, however, love what I do and wouldn't trade my job for many others out there. Air Force fuels is an amazing career field that I would highly recommend, even if it sounds less than glorified.

[Pigman]

My step son just shipped off Monday and we got the call at 2am, he arrived at Parris Island..... Happy he is living out his dream. We are a little ahead of you in the process. So if I can answer and Qs let them rip...

I am very proud he chose the USMC as my grandpa was a 30yr retired USMC and as all have said he is in good hands

[02redhawk]

I'll second that having the conversation about what his long term plans are. The $$ for college is a definite plus. Some of the skills learned inside will translate to civilian life but not as much as they hype. Most of the HI Tech can be just board swapping and basic troubleshooting. Much of that can be had on the outside w/o the 4-6 year commitment or people shooting at you.

If he goes in tell him to spend more time doing online course vs hanging out of at the bars and strip clubs. Leave that to the rest of us.

[loudbeard]

Have him take a look at Air Traffic Control. Do 4 years, get out and make great money. Median income is like $120k/year.


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[02redhawk]

ATC is a pretty sweet deal. That's the path I took though it was just as Regan canned the PATCO controllers so there were plenty of opportunities. Air traffic control work's a bit dry until someone pulls a bone headed maneuver in the local airspace. Then its exciting.

[e30addict]

ATC is a pretty sweet deal. That's the path I took though it was just as Regan canned the PATCO controllers so there were plenty of opportunities. Air traffic control work's a bit dry until someone pulls a bone headed maneuver in the local airspace. Then its exciting.

Hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror?

[jeantarrou]

I did 3 years in the Army National Guard, if I could do it all over again I'd enlist in the Coast Guard.

And I think the best military career that translates to civilian life would be fixed-wing aircraft pilots, then the medical fields, maybe some sort of engineering after that.

I don't know the current benefits offered through the GI Bill, but IMO they aren't all that great considering what you're giving (up)...


Edit: Any sort of military service does look good in some public sector jobs, ie. Police and Fire...

[RandyO]

ATC is a pretty sweet deal. That's the path I took though it was just as Regan canned the PATCO controllers so there were plenty of opportunities. Air traffic control work's a bit dry until someone pulls a bone headed maneuver in the local airspace. Then its exciting.

mandatory retirement @ 55 ?

[TwelveGaugeSage]

The problem with ATC is that they have a very high wash out rate, and then you are stuck wherever they throw you.