I'm thinking about joining the Marines instead of going to college. Good idea or not??

Jason

Do both..........

Semper Fi

Ancient Warrior DogueDe Bordeaux

I am a Marine............I am telling you please go to college, get a degree, if you still want to join, go as an officer

as an officer if you don't like it you can just resign your commission and go do something else with you life. If you go after high school you will remember this ugly Dogue de Bordeaux face and think to yourself "why didn't I listen to him"

Johnny Conservative

Both ideas are good, in fact, you can do both. Good luck no matter what you do.

swcasper2001

Joining the armed forces in any branch is a noble profession and anyone should be proud to serve your country. The pay is not always the greatest, but there is more to life than a paycheck. If you feel that it is something you may like, I say go for it. Only you know what you really want to do. Not me or anyone else who may think they have all the answers for someone they have never met. But it is a profession I would be proud to be a part of.

richfraga

that all depends on what you want. if you go to college first then the Marines. you'll be a officer. they have it easier, not a whole lot. if you do join the Marines and skip college. you'll experience a brotherhood that can't be put in to words, it's something you have to experience. thats something i will never trade. Semper Fi

Kevin M

what's your motivation ? answer that and you will be able to decide for yourself.

slice_n_hook@yahoo.com

I went to college for 2 years, got an associate's, joined the Marines for 4, and now I'm back in college. (25 yrs old) There are pros and cons. The biggest pro is the age. If I had joined when I was 18 I would have definitely done 1 more enlistment because there were things I didn't get to do that I wanted to. Sometimes it bothers me that my friends have already graduated college and I'm still working on a degree, but I've been places, seen, and done things that they can never imagine. I am definitely glad I joined the Marine Corps and I think it has helped me with going back to college. My work ethic and dedication is so much improved plus I've had time to figure out what I really want to be doing. That's change a lot since I was 18! The Marine Corps is definitely hard, but the lessons and qualities you will take away from it are well worth it. And you never know, you could find a career right there and stay for a lifetime. Good luck!

bk2texas

Many years ago that is exactly what I did. I am very glad I did. Going into the Corps taught me discipline and resolve. I don't know if I would have been as successful as I have been in many areas of my life had I not went into the Corps.

Shall we say I was a very "unruly" kid. I had loser written all over my forehead and I couldn't see it when I looked in a mirror. I was headed no where.

I went into the Corps, and yes it was hard, but it served me well as I hope I served it.

I now have five university degrees and work in a foreign country living a life I had never thought in my wildest dreams would happen to someone like me.

But, as an earlier respondent wrote, be sure to check your motivation then you can answer your question with the self assurance that you are doing the right thing for you! And, if I may be allowed to reference one other respondent about becoming an officer in the Corp, check out the ROTC programs at some universities. While in the ROTC you get some training and the military will assist with tuition.

Be proud of yourself for thinking these things through. Good luck....

smritish g

idea is good. choice is yours.

RaceNut17

I would look into ROTC. If you are smart enough to go to college the Corps will make better use of you as an officer. Also you retirement will be a great deal sweeter. Ask about "drilling" with a Reserve unit. It will be a start in military life. Also it will be some more $$ in your pocket.

It's a matter of what you're hoping to achieve down the road.
My advice to my son's has been to pursue a college degree first. Get your education completed and then If they're still interested in the Marines (Air force and Navy in the case of my sons), then they can at least join as an officer.

A career in the military is NOT a bad thing. I work with many who currently "double dip" (...getting a salary while also receiving a pension from the military.)

The military will instill in you discipline, organization, and team work, AND you will be challenged and driven to overcome problems. All of these aspects will serve you well through out your life.

Yhoshua

Your damn right its the most honorable decision you can EVER MAKE. Do it wisely, talk to former Marines or military people in your family, just educate yourself and see if its truly what you want.

United States Marine Recruit

Rhapsody

Hmmm a hard one. Go with your gut feeling. But I think college is the way to go. College opens up more possibilities and jobs for the future. The Marines are awesome, don't get me wrong but I think that in the long run, college is best for you.

Chris

just a pointer going to the marines IF you get out alive they pay for your college, but if you ever want to leave, they OWN YOU, you will not be allowed to leave unless they say you can, weather you have a breakdown, cant handle it or not, you are now part of them if you join. so make sure its what you wanna do, then if you get out alive you could still go to college but for free.

cabbie

Do it!! I was in the Marines for 12 years and i went to college at the same time. I have no regrets. I even went to Iraq before, during, after the war. I don't agree on being in Iraq but duty calls first.

ibsawdust

Sit down and write out the pros and cons of both...
By joining the Marines , what field might you be in? will it be a career? or just a four year deal? would you want to go to war? do you have a child and wife? Marines don't make very much money . Is it something you have always dreamed of doing?
College... were you good in school? did you learn easily or struggle through? Do you have anything in mind for a Major?
Could you possible go to college for just two years and get a degree..several jobs only make you have a two year degree..
My son has several friends who joined the service..all of them like it in the two years they have been in it....It's really something only you can decide, but if you aren't positively sure.. take a year off and work full time.. Good luck in what ever you decide.

stygianwolfe

As someone whom didn't serve(when I was 18 it was still the anti war etc era,scars from Vietnam etc)Now at 42 I often wonder if my life would have been different,had I served.I'm sure I would be in a better position right now.All the advice I can give you is"there isn't a day that goes by that i say to myself,I'm glad I didn't join." it haunts me that I didn't take the chance and opportunity.Do what you feel is right,you know there is a chance you could die,and not by war but by a training accident.Then again you could get shot by a whacko in college also.Think it through and list the good and bad of both.Best of luck,and if you join,Listen to your D.I. and learn,thats what hes there for.

raiderette86

You could always be an officer. That way you can go to college, and be in the Corps. Whatever you decide, good luck!

hockeyman25158

great idea im doing it... you can do some pretty cool things, plus its 4 ur country

Nicholas G

Here's something better....
Do a reserve or national guard component of any military branch. Personally, I'd go Air Force. You'll get such benefits as fees paid for college, get paid to go to college with the Montgomery GI Bill and its Kicker. Plus, you'll serve one weekend a month, two weeks a year. Right now, I'm over in Qatar serving my country and then when I get back home, I'm going to Pennsylvania for a couple weeks (which will be my two weeks for the year) to learn how fiber optics work. Plus, I'm getting paid the whole time. It's a wonderful thing.

Daniel

If you have money to go to college then go college ..if not then go marines they offer good pey ..and then go college...

john stud

join the Marines, experience, travel, adventure, take college courses while in the Corps!
then decide from there, stay in or get out after your first enlistment!

rummy1978

If you think you need to have your life very strictly structured to stay focused, you should join the marines. If you are very independent and self-motivated, college might be better for you.

Barry auh2o

Are you motivated to succeed in college., Are you emotionally ready for it. Then go to college.
If you aren't sure, if you aren't motivated, then join the Marines.
One red flag. You can drop out of college after a semester- after a week, if you don't like it. With the Marines, you don't drop out,
, and they aren't too sympathetic towards quitters.
A suggestion Look into the Marine reserves/ You're only gone a couple months.then it's a weekend a month plus two weeks summer camp although you might get deployed. but it isn't 3-4 years solid without interruptions.
Good luck, I hope you make the desicionwhich is best for you.

tomjohn2

go to college first, while your mind is still in the learning mode. with your degree, you can become an officer, should you still want to join.

in terms of a career and earning power, i think that you will be selling yourself short by joining. there is too much available to any young person, right now. why have someone tell you how to run your life.

will you be able to pick up the educational mindset once you are out? while you have it, stay with it. the military will be there.

seriously look into the decreasing va benefits for veterans.

chipsybaby77

join the air force...its easier and u wont go to war ...im joining very soon and im only 17 yr old and a girl....so i think that the air force is the best thing....and they pay for college too :D
good luck

You are all, weirdos.

Sure it is, just don't die

BrigadeGeneral

IMO, it`s totally meaningless & idiotic, to "join the marines".

Hans B

Depends on what you want to get out of it. Its not like one is the same as the other, they are two completely different paths. They both have great advantages, but the military has the serious risk of you dying, but its for a good cause. You could do both, the military will pay for your college and give you an awesome job afterwards.
Good luck.

RiaH

if u into marine...do the right things.
Good luck

rcadam1947

Better you then me.

Ronna

If you do then don't wimp out. Make it a career. Don't go in there and get married and have a bunch of kids. Yes, military life is a good career, but I don't think they pay enough. At the least get two years of college before. Better if you have a BS degree in something and go in as an officer. If you love life, don't go! There is always that chance you will be brought home in a box. No, don't do it, unless you have explored all you options. Wait, why are you thinking about going? Has to be the right reason. If you are young, 16,17,18,19...go to college first, stay fit, make good grades, work a part time job, get that degree BS, then make the military pay for your outstanding tuition. Just be smart about it. Research everything first. But I say, college first...depending on how old you are. Enjoy a little college life first, but don't waste that college life and get nothing completed. Study first, play second.

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