I look up to this guy, but he discouraged me from the Marine Corps..?

fingers

You are going to hear this a lot, but it is up to you to decide. I have been in both the Corps and the Air Force (as well as the Army.) They all had their advantages and disadvantages. I love the fact that I earned the title Marine, and I would not trade that experience for the world. The Air Force to me was a little bit too much like a corporation. Not to say it was bad, it just did not have the same "feel" that the Corps did. The Army was very much like the Corps. I imagine your friend feels pride in earning the title, but feels like he was somewhat cheated by his recruiter. That will leave a bad taste in someones mouth, to say the least. Long story short, you have to decide what is best for you without taking the word of others. Good luck in you choice.

Rob M

dont be a *****. join the Marine's and go shoot some towel heads.

AlmostaDevildog

You can still get a degree in the Marines, contrary to popular belief they actually take care of their people. Of course I am biased and I really want to tell you to be a Marine, but you will have to do what will make you happy. If you are not happy life will be hell. Besides the Marines don't want you if you don't want the Corps.

kevin c

My son is in the Navy under special duty and trains with Marines - he's a pretty insightful kid and I'm just trying to share with you some of his insights when we sit down and talk.

I'm sure your friend takes pride at having gone through hell and made it back -- Anyone whose been thru that takes pride that they came back in one piece - it's human nature.

The AF is lighter duty, but you have to have OUTRAGEOUSLY good ASVAB scores to be considered for OTS I know several that got 99+ combined and never made it .... otherwise you're scrubbing down helicopters or some such for 4 or 5 years.... Trust me- there's easier ways to go to college than the AF.

Have you looked at other branches? The National Guard looks good - so does the Coast Guard. Chances are you'd be doing some good over *here* rather than there -- Goodness knows we need help in this country just as much as anywhere else in the world.

The Military is a valid and very good stepping stone in life, but you have to know where it's going to be taking you-- otherwise, it can be a mistake.

I was a contractor for the military and I know people 20 years later after their experience in the Air Force -- most say it was not that helpful in their careers. Some are in Foreign consulates, some are computer programmers. One (who was an officer) is a manager at his father's company. The only one who like it retired retired as a major -- he just likes having the extra money,

Bull dog

Ok, seriously, you should listent to the guy.
They will promise you everything when you get in but everty thing changes. Don't make the mistake of thinking you have nothing else in life but to join. I was in the USMC and i know what is saying is true. The reason he's proud to be a marine isn't because he supports the military. He's proud because he went through a bunch of training that alot of people can't handle. So it makes you feel tougher and stronger than everyone esle. It gives you pride that you can do something alot of others cant. Thats how i even feel, but it really was a waiste of 6 years of my life, becasue i never got to do any school . They promised me it was easy to do school while i was in. Plenty of time to go to class and study... blah blah blah. . Trust me kid, you'll get out with no degree and the only job you might get is a police officer . "and thats ok" but you can go to school and be a police officer and with that degree, you move up rank in the police department. Because only degree holders become the cheif of police... ect.
Don't throw away your future because you scared you have no way of doing anything else.... like we did.

Bonkers!

You really need to do what you want to do, or you may regret it in the future. I have to admit, everything he's told you seems believable. If I had been told all that, none of it would have discouraged me. It can be hard, but you need to decide what you want to do on your own.

Ross

You would not be following in his footsteps. He joined before 9/11 and before US involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq. He was not planning on serving in a combat zone:
"He said that when the war started, he regretted enlisting."
If your desire is to become earn a bachelor's degree and become an officer, he is giving you sound advice.
I suggest looking in to commissioning through afrotc, nrotc, nrotc mo or the Marines plc(platoon leader's course.) A student can participate in the plc at any college including a community college.
Marines PLC:
http://dcmarineofficer.com/platoonleadersclass.html
Certain community colleges have crosstown school agreements with afrotc or rotc programs:
http://airforcerotc.berkeley.edu/_crosstown-schools.htm
[20 of the 36 cross town schools are junior colleges.]
http://marineofficer.com/page/NROTC-O.jsp
More info about afrotc, nrotc, nrotc mo and rotc at this link:
http://military.berkeley.edu
There is also the army's ecp available at military jc's. This offers a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the army in two years.
http://www.marionmilitary.edu/programs/army-ecp.da
If you are a senior and want to do this. Today is the late registration deadline for the May 2 SAT exam.
Calculate regular military compensation at the link. Location makes a significant difference due to the housing allowance(BAH.) Single Enlisted Sailors and Coasties ranking below E-5, Enlisted Marines and Soldiers ranking below E-7, Enlisted Airmen below E-4 live in the barracks and do not collect BAH:
http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx
2nd Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Ensign(Navy, C.G.) = O-1.
1st Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Lt JG(Navy, C.G.) = O-2.
Captain( Army, Air Force, Marines)= Lt(Navy, C.G.) = O-3.
Advancement to O-2 around the 18th month.
Advancement to O-3 by about 42nd month
[On graduation from the university an ECP 2nd Lieutenant is advanced in rank and goes on active duty as a 1st Lieutenant with two years time in grade for pay purposes. He is making $17,000 per year more than a freshly commissioned 2nd Lt.]
If you have the grades and extracurricular activities for a service academy appointment or are near enough so after a year of prep you'd be competitive, this answer contains information regarding the appointment process:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AodQMYg9PwsBLze6O_LBAL3ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090321112755AAca1Ts&show=7#profile-info-pPzS2GTDaa
Good Luck!

(:kristen

I think he's just scared for you. Like, he was over there when "Operation Iraqi Freedom" first came into play. He probably saw a lot of stuff that he just doesn't want you to see. I think that you should enlist wherever you want. Yeah most people that have been over there will tell you never to sign up. But I think it's just because at the time they were scared, and they know what it is, and what it feels like to make their family worried. I don't know, maybe he just doesn't need another worry.. I'm seriously thinking you need to go do what you want even if he's discouraging you from that. Most soldiers will. Especially after they've experienced it. You know.. I'm sure all the soldiers were discouraged from it at once, becasue friends and family of theirs have seen it first hand, and experienced it. And I'm sure they felt the same as you. I bet they had second thoughts too. But they did it, and now they know what their friends and family were talking about. And now all they're going to do, is try to save one of their friends or family members. That's just how it works. But if you really want to join the USMC then do it. Don't let him decide for you. "The choice is yours." :]

toby1301

However much anyone persuades or dissuades you do what YOU want to do !

Alex S

Joining the corps because you want to follow the footsteps
of someone you look up to is not a good reason to join. It's
as stupid as

- they're going to pay me college
- I can be a cop later
- I don't know what else to do

His "rant" is actually valid. But it's primarily valid because he
was stupid. If he would have done what everyone actually should
do he would have tried to figure out things on his own and not
by talking to a recruiter. What you need to understand about
military recruiters is that their job is to get you in and not to
keep you out. They *should* tell you the truth but sometimes
the truth is rather stretchable and relative or the recruiter
just lies about it. Sometimes they actually don't even know
and pull something out of their a*ses to get ahead.

Most problems with guys or gals in the military are because
they did not inform themselves about it or only talked to a
recruiter and then realize that it is not really as they thought
it would be.

carlos o

The reason he may try to discourage you from joining the Marines is because it is hard. he may see you as a sister may not want to see you in any danger. which is why he recommended the Air Force. it is true, the USAF will be a safer decision and better chance of getting an education.

He is just looking out for his little sister and does not want to see you get hurt.

In the end it is your decision. don't join the USAF because some one tells you to, you may always ask your self "should i have joined the Marines instead?" good luck on your decision.

Chris S

Listen to him.

Timing for military career is important and this isn't good timing. Our government with almost one trillion in defense spending still WON'T GIVE A Pay raise to the troops. No, the soldiers themselves!

So, you migh experience a hypocrisy and injustice that will eat at you the rest of your life.

I'd look at something else. You can always get student loans.

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