i am considering joining the marines i want pros and cons from people who are in the service?

Question

I want to join the marines or the army. I am in college so i would join the reserves for the time being. After basic training i think i would try to go to ranger school. Give me some advice. Is there alot about the marines that they dont tell you when you sign up? Do they screw you out of anything? Is it worth it? I want serious answers, because this is a serious question.

Answer 1

There are a lot of good reasons to join the military. You get the opportunity to travel, meet people from backgrounds that are very different from your own, learn and continuously practice self-discipline, be part of a team, serve your country, hold a job where the ultimate goal is to defend our country versus make a corporation money, and to constantly push yourself and your limits further. There are the benefits like health and dental care, a steady dependable paycheck, and money for school (even grad school). The only cons are that to receive these things you need to be willing to sacrafice. You will sacrafice a lot of your personal time (this isn't a 9-5 job). You will sacrafice some of your personal freedoms, you are expected to live by certain rules and codes (all of which is completely achievable). You will have to sacrafice always being comfortable, a lot of what the military expects you to do isn't fun when you are going through it (it is the experiences that are the hardest when we are doing them that we learn the most from and are the most proud of later). In my opinion it is 100% worth it and I have never been "screwed out" of anything in my time (I haven't always gotten what I've wanted, but that is life).

If you are currently in college, you have a couple of different options. You could go through ROTC and consider a commission as an officer. There is nothing wrong with the option of enlisting and is just a different choice (and is certainly one to be respected). ROTC is for the Army although there is seperate commissioning program for the Marines (I would look on their web site if you are interested). If you really want to go to Ranger school you need to join the Army and make sure they put it in your enlistment contract. If you go in as officer it is a different process.

Whatever decision you make, Army or Marines, officer or enlisted, I wish you luck and hope you decide to join.

Answer 2

In response to yourdoneandover, who seems particularly jaded against the military, I suggest that you not cling to such a close-minded view of things. There are plenty of things to defend here in the United States, a people and culture so committed to democracy, individual liberties, and the Islamic facists can't stand it. That's why we have the two WTC bombing, the Cole bombing, and jihad.

As for the "horrer of the world [sic]" remark, I think there are plenty of more horrific things in the world than a group of men and women dedicated to serving their country. The Holocaust in Germany, oppression of women in Afghanistan, rape chambers and genoicide in Iraq. Oh wait, those are all things that the Marines helped put an end to.

I wish I could provide more factual evidence so that you could make an appropriate decision either for or against the joining the Marines (hey, it's not for everyone), but I unfortunately lack it. My best advice is to ignore anything yourdoneandover says. She's just mad at the world. And incompetent.

Good luck!

Answer 3

My perspective is dated (1979). There is nothing seceret about the USMC. It is a much smaller organization than the Army, and has a different mission. They can afford to be picky, and are looking for very motivated individuals. The Army has special units that have similar requirements.
It is all up to you, what you want, what you have to offer, and how you wish to serve. I wanted to know that I could manage the most severe environment short of combat, and be surrounded by people who were totally dedicated to the members of their unit, (namely me!) They expect you to expect a lot from yourself, and give you the tools to learn. It is not just mindless brutality.
Two friends joined the Army at the same time that I enlisted, and were pleased with their experience. They did not enlist in combat arms though.

Shame on those who did not have the decency to honor your request for serious answers only. It is a testament to their lack of character and maturity.

Answer 4

Not only am I on active-duty for the army, i'm also home on leave from Iraq, so I can give you a pretty good view of the GIs. In all honesty, it's not that bad once you get out of basic. BCT (basic combat training, "boot camp") is 9 weeks long (if i remember correctly). Then, you have AIT (advanced individual training) for whatever career field you choose. as for ranger school, that is something you may want them to put in your contract since it doesn't come up too often. you have to be either in conbat arms (infantry, field artillery, combat engineer, etc.) or attached to a ranger unit to get in. i think recently they opened it up to combat-support fields (military police, commo, etc.)

to be honest, this is going to be a decision you need to make after some well thought out discussions with your local recruiting office and your family. this isn't a side job, this is 4-8 years of your life.

Answer 5

There are RoTC programs for the army, af, and navy which has a Marine Option (what im doing...im in a Navy ROTC unit but an inactive Marine reservist).
You could go recon in the Corps (Marine special forces)
If you contact me id love to help you with your decision (in the hospital now, hard to type) Look at rotc and ocs programs if youre already in college.

As for me...MARINE CORPS all the way
SEMPER FI!!

Answer 6

I know whether your reserves or not, once you graduate MCRD you are eligible for combat duty, irregardless of MOS or College. Not sure if its the same way for army though

Answer 7

I think everyone should serve in the military. The military is a wonderful place to be, go for it, it will do you good.

Answer 8

morines, whoops I meant marones, whoops marines are just another ugly branch of a corrupt government , why don't you wait until there is something to defend, or someone to defend it from. In other words kid we are the horrer of the world, You know roman scum, egyptian trash, or the third reich okay thats exactly what we have become.

Answer 9

they screw you out of your life-you could die in combat, yes, this is a serious answer