Marines, current and past, some questions.

[Maleficarum]

Lately I've been doing research on an interest that's always been in the back of my head but never quite grown to fruition, and that is joining the Marine Corps. I'm most of the way through my B.S. degree and I've decided that it would be a bad idea to stop at this point and join until I've graduated but i'm still curious. I've got friends who would hate the idea of me enlisting but I feel (at least in this point in my life) that it is a path to be the kind of man i want to be and if i decide to take that route then they can stuff it.

I've questions to ask, more to come for sure, specifically of the Infantry MOS's.
After boot what were your experiences, in training post- boot camp and also during deployment? What duties are likely to be assigned to infantry MOS's (as that is likely where i will head) ? What is procedure to enlist as an officer (assuming i've completed my degree at the time of said enlistment) and how does it differ?

I know very few people who have served and even less in the Marines. I've been told to ask someone who has 'been there done that' to get an idea, but those someones have proven difficult to find.

Thanks in advance, i'm sure i'll think up more questions.
-Mal.

[PyroFox79]

Go talk to a recruiter more specifically one for officers. They will be able to answer your questions.

[Maleficarum]

I plan on doing that but i'd also like to get some feedback from people who've been through it themselves.

[krazyk626]

Im a currently a Sgt. with the mos of infantry assaultman (0351), so I will be able to tell you about the enlisted experience. Some of my friends I went to MCRD with are officers now so I would be able to tell you what they told me about their experiences. Here is just a quick rundown of the enlisted infantry experience. After bootcamp if you are a 03, you will go to SOI (School of Infantry). There you will do first a basic 0311 training, then depending on what your actual MOS is in, you will go though your MOS specific training. After SOI, if you are active duty, you will go straight to the fleet. This will be your permanent unit for the majority of your first enlistment. As for duties, be prepared to do anything and everything. You will learn how to use every weapon system the infantry uses regardless of your MOS. Also until you pick up to a NCO rank, you will just have to suck it up and do what you are told to the best of your abilities. You will be giving a lot of s*** duties from priviate through lance, thats just how it is. If you have a specific question feel free to pm me.

[Call_me_Tom]

^^^the OP is asking about becoming a ZERO...0302

OP, PM me

[KCDS]

it would probably be a good idea to finish your degree first, but there is nothing like serving your country and the core..

the core?? the corpse?? the CORPS

to the op, finish your degree first, because they never send an officer to pick up cigarette butts at the parking lot

[USMC 82-86]

I would go with what the Sgt. said. I have been out for 25 years now. I did have a friend who went to MCRD Parris Island with me, that became a officer later. His father was what was referred to as a Mustang. He went through the enlisted ranks and retired as a Capt.

I can tell you be prepared for anything in the Corps, you may see it all. The Marines are known as the President's own. As a Marine you can see action very easily, I lost a couple friends in the truck bombings at the Marine barracks in Beirut 83'.

Good luck and I wish you well. Nothing like getting that title. U.S. Marine. Semper Fi

[turbomkt]

I'll echo getting the degree first and seeing an Officer recruiter (yes, you can see the Officer recruiter before finishing your degree). I have seen too many Enlisted recruiters looking for the quota instead of the right fit.

While officers won't specialize the same way, you have a lot of options. And at the heart of it all, every Marine is a rifleman first.

[Maleficarum]

thanks for the replies, gentlemen.
Keep the replies coming. The more i hear the more i learn and the better i can be prepared.

[Grassninja]

Since you're looking for reiteration, I would also recommend you finish your degree and then go the officer route if your heart is set on joining. I would not recommend you enlist with a degree, go for the commission.

[develown]

Since you're looking for reiteration, I would also recommend you finish your degree and then go the officer route if your heart is set on joining. I would not recommend you enlist with a degree, go for the commission.

+1.

[KALIDAWG8996]

I knew a guy who had graduated from USC and enlisted(nothing wrong with what he wanted to do, pretty commendable in my book) but he ended up failing out of the MOS school and ended up with something probably not what he had in mind.

You need to look at your long term goals and what you want out of it. Many enlist for various reasons....school, patriotism, discipline, etc.....same as with officer...leadership, credentials, opportunity to become and aviator, etc. Like many will say, the Corps is what you make of it. Just be sure whatever route you take, you're doing it for the right reasons and not blindly....

I highly recommend which ever route you take, you continue on with grad school. Also, look at the IT fields(cybersecurity, Information Assurance) and Intelligence fields....If you get a TS clearance and maintain it...= $$$ in those fields.

In this economy, you'll see many MANY highly intelligent, highly skilled, and disciplined vets with years of leadership and maturity beyond their years yet, unemployment is through the roof or they are vastly under employed. Your resume building should never stop.....and don't expect for everything to transfer over to the civilian side as many will tell you, there is still an aura of stigma about being a vet to many civilians who know nothing other than what Hollywood produces.

Choose wisely....

BTW, you'd be hard pressed to find a former Marine who didn't say it wasn't the best freaking time of their life! Unless they were a dirtbag.... Just Sayin......

[Maleficarum]

Since you're looking for reiteration, I would also recommend you finish your degree and then go the officer route if your heart is set on joining. I would not recommend you enlist with a degree, go for the commission.

Not so much looking for reiteration as i'm looking for more personal experiences and stories thereof from the men and women who've taken that path.

you'd be hard pressed to find a former Marine who didn't say it wasn't the best freaking time of their life! Unless they were a dirtbag.... Just Sayin......

Somehow i'm not surprised... :P

edit, what about that whole thing i hear about once a marine always a marine?