25, married, expecting and want to enlist

[maxwell0700]

I wanted some insight from those who may have taken a similar path.

I'm 25yrs old, married, and maybe a little one soon too but I want to serve my country and enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve. Under way with docs right now, please chime in and let me know what you think, what I should be prepared for, what should the wife prepare for, etc.?

Thank you.

[cheesyhybrid]

If you are joining the reserve, then I would tell them to prepare for poverty. Your monthly drill pay will basically cover your health insurance for your family. Congratulations on the kid. Go active duty for the shortest contact possible, then extend if it works well for your family. If you don't already have an education, trade or career, go for the pogest mos possible and go to school while you're in.

[wpage]

+1 on reserve route...

[BigStiCK]

Kinda off-topic but the CHP is hiring. Great way to serve your community and make a good living with medical & a solid pension.

[Hadies157]

I say it is always honorable to serve your country no matter the commitment. Reserves is a way to serve (occasionally) many people who join the reserves wish they went active. I will say reserve works much better for families minus the pay. You will still need a good paying job to sustain your family. Make sure you think about what you want to do after the military. You will get out sometime and I remember grunts sitting there saying damn there are no machine gun jobs in the civilian world what am I going to do. Also go to school it should be a Gail to get at least 2 Year’s done by the time you get out. I did 12 years and if I could go back I would have done things a little different.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I wanted some insight from those who may have taken a similar path.

I'm 25yrs old, married, and maybe a little one soon too but I want to serve my country and enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve. Under way with docs right now, please chime in and let me know what you think, what I should be prepared for, what should the wife prepare for, etc.?

Thank you.

[maxwell0700]

A little more info on me. I have my BS in general management and am currently a office manager for a small real estate firm. I tried the officer route but couldn't keep up physically and because of some smaller injuries and was disqual after 3 years in the program. Oso said he see commitment so i can go this route and try again once I'm back from reserves.

Financially I feel that my family will be alright. I know there are other ways to serve but I've always wanted to be a marine and I just can't let this one go as I told my wife.

Plan after is to come back and complete the officers program as a reservist as well so I can take care of my family esp as the eldest son and my wife and kids.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

P.S. Even though Boot Camp and M.O.S. Training are the same for reserves and active duty, you will never be seen as an equal by the AD component. Not a complaint, just a fact. That should not deter you, especially if you take it seriously and conduct yourself in a manner befitting the uniform.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Kinda off-topic but the CHP is hiring. Great way to serve your community and make a good living with medical & a solid pension.

Meh coppers!

[JMercer]

You'll certainly need another job on top of the reserves. I'm active but transferring braches soon. Better chance for me to go east coast that way.
*edit*
I'm also 25, married and have two kids. It's not impossible like a lot of people are saying. It really depends on your maturity level and mos demands. But being reserves would help minimize the stress of the second.

[CG11]

Thank you for your willingness to serve, and I wish you the best in your quest.

[jarhead714]

It's still an 8-year hitch for USMCR still isn't it? Depends on where you live if you want to get into a good unit. 4th LAAAD in Pasadena, artillery in Pico Rivera, ANGLICO and artillery at Seal Beach to name a few. I went reserves then active once I figured out swingin' with the Wing was the way to go for my POG ***.

[gunsmoke50]

Be prepared to abandon all your preconceived notions about the USMC, the military, and yourself. If you think you are hot ****, your ego will be your worst enemy.

At 25, you're seven years older than most recruits, and you're going to have a harder time keeping up with them physically. You're going to have to put out 110%, especially I'f you have prior injuries as you say.

If you want to be an officer of Marines, you are going to have to volunteer for everything, and push harder than everyone under your authority. When they are fading, you have to be relentlessly confidant and lead them. Marines expect nothing less of their leaders.

I had the opportunity after enlisting to get an ROTC scholarship. Upon self-reflection, I came to the conclusion that I would make a mediocre Marine officer; I could definitely do the job, but would not excel. I felt that enlisted Marines deserved better than that, so I remained an enlisted man.

Best of luck, and Semper Fidelis!

Sent from my 6045I using Tapatalk

[jarhead714]

^Gunsmoke's talking square biz' right there Devil Pup. I was 21 when I stepped onto those yellow footprints. I was considered old even at that age. They used to call me "Pope" because I would always preach to my fellow non-rates about how to not F-up or to perhaps suggest a better use of a young Marine's time than writing (shows how old I am) letters to some broad back home that Jody's banging. More will be expected from you because of your age, most especially common sense. Reserve or not, you earn the title just the same. Reserve-asses can be studs just like anyone else.

It's rare though.

[maxwell0700]

Yea I see, thanks gunsmoke50. But no i dont think im some sort of hotshot or anything of the like. I do know that I maybe a little slower than those younger guys but Ill be able to more than make up for that. Appreciate the honest reflection and insight as well.

The day will come when i can "Semper Fi" you as well, in the meantime kill!