Joining the Marine Corps. Should I go Infantry?
I was active duty from 2003-2007 and I too scored a high score on my ASVAB. Don't believe it was a high as yours, but I remember the recruiter making a big deal about it and telling me that I could do pretty much any MOS I wanted to in the Marine Corps. I didn't really want to do anything else and so I joined the Infantry and later after boot camp I became and 0331. Looking back now I wished I would have chosen another MOS which I could have used after the Marine Corps. Examples like being an aircraft mechanic, Motor T, data systems. Being out in the civillan world and a college student is pretty hard. Really could have used one of those trades out here. Really don't like working in security and there are only so many of those jobs out here available. But if I didn't join the Infantry I wouldn't HAVE the postive outlook on life as I do now. It is going to sound corny but it made hard in away. Little things that used to get to me don't so much anymore. I really do love how I view life now. Also if I didn't pick the 0300 field I wouldn't have met all the cool people that I did. I have met some of the best friends while I was in. We still keep in contact and drunk dial each other every once in awhile. You are going to have to ask yourself truly what your ultimate goal is. If you want to be a pilot then keep that in the back of your mind always in whatever MOS you select. The infantry however gives most 0300 Marines a bad taste in their mouths about the Marine Corps. I don't hate the Marine Corps but I do remember HATING LIFE a lot while I was in. You get f**ked a lot while in. Choosing Infantry could most likely give YOU a bad taste and maybe steer you away from trying for that commission. Also keep in mind friend, that during those 4 years you will change a lot as a person. I am not the same person I was who joined back in 2003. All in all you should be proud of wanting to become a United States Marine. Not many people have the guts or the will do something like we all did. Good luck in boot camp. Semper Fi
I'm not joining the Marines to be a badass?
I went in as an aircraft mechanic got valuable training and went to school GI bill and got my A&P license. Working for UPS now on freighters. The military is only a stepping stone & nothing else. The average recruit does their 4 yrs and out. People that think they are gonna do 20 or 30 yrs are crazy if think they can do this. Its near impossible to do. If I wouldve had a job at Ford Motor co after high school then hell no I wouldnt have joined the military. I think that your over analyzing this. After I got out I went straight to the National Guaed and did another 16 yrs. Being a weekend warrior is nothing like active duty. Now I have VA benefits at age 60 and a retired ID card. You already knew that you wouldnt marry until age 30 so youve got plenty of time. Your first kid will be 20 when your 50. Keep it simple.
Question about Lateral Move in the Marine Corps?
I will make this real simple for you. You are not gonna switch your job at the 2 year mark. They may say you can do it, but I have never seen anyone do it. Think about this. Right now to get infantry it takes almost 7-11 months because it is very full and many others are waiting to enter that job. So what makes you think that the USMC is gonna train you in one job only to have you leave that job for a job that is already filled and that has many waiting to get in? Don't fall for this trap. You will not lat move until you re enlist or under very special circumstances such as you are injured and can not do your job. It costs to much money to train you just to only have you do that job for a year and a few months. Makes no sense. The job you enter with will be the job you will have your entire first enlistment. The USMC would be a disaster if they let everyone change jobs after 2 years.
Another Marine Corps question: Switching recruiters...?
I went to the USMC recruiter earlier this year. The recruiter I was assigned to gave me vague answers and, while I say this with the utmost respect to the Corps, didn't have the answers I needed and didn't "gel"; he asked repeated questions and failed to give specifics in an 8 minute conversation and managed to push back our appointment by hours on the day of our meeting until the Gunny CIOC decided to cut his lunch break in half to make up for it, despite my initial decline out of willingness for patience. I understand recruiters are extremely busy so I'm not coming down on the first one, but I was really impressed with the Gunny and he had all the answers I needed and was very straightforward. I really liked him and made me feel very confident and comfortable in our interview. I don't know how this works, but is it possible or "right" for me to ask him to be my recruiter instead of the other one? Again, I have the utmost respect for all Marines and hope to enlist in the next year or so but I don't know if switching is "proper" as I could see it causing tension since they have a quota, much less if it's even possible. Desiring to be a Marine, I don't want to offend them. Still, is it possible to switch recruiters at the same office? It's the only one in my town. Thanks, J