Hello I am 15 and askin about the Marine Corps...?

Question

Ok I am 15 years old and am Planning on joining the Marine Corps after high school, does anyone think i shouldnt join and if you think i should. Have you or do you know anyone in or was in the Corps. What should I do to prepare for it now?

Answer 1

a lot of these answers are great just to stress on a few get some college first and you will have a higher rank when joining. If you can't. just be prepared to be broken and rebuilt they will break you down and rebuild you into a soldier. Your life will revolve around the USMC you can't come and go as you please it is up to your ranking officer. I think the Army is a little slacker and not as tuff as the USMC both are standing for your country which is a great honor make sure you pick the job you want when you sign up because it is hard as hell to change once you sign those papers. Basic training and the schooling after sucks you do stupid jobs like kitchen duty and detail work. Defiantly start running/ it is up and at um every morning for PT during your first 6 months to a year. Lots of push ups and sit ups. But you build great bonds and great friendships and you make it into what you want it can be the best experience or the worst it is all up to you!

Proud to be an American

Answer 2

ok....I am a former marine and a vietnam veteran and this is my best advice. You still have a few years before you can join so enjoy them. Be a 15 year old. Don't rush growing up. But..you can still do some things to prepare just in case. First of all exercise. You MUST be physically fit. Run...work up slowly to 3 miles, do crunches and push ups..many of them...whenever you think of it several times each day. Always keep active..don't be a slouch. The second thing is work hard at school. The Marine Corps is no place for dummies. You need to be quick on your feet. There are a lot of jobs in the Corp that can use things learned in school. Math, geometry, trig...used in mortars and artillery all the time. Foreign languages are very valuable. Learning to communicate effectively is important as well as the ability to read and comprehend. The better you do in school the better you'll do in the Corps. If you work on these things and your grades are pretty good you might want to think about the naval academy. This is only if you are very serious about it and think you have what it takes to be a leader. If you are interested your H.S. counselor can help you, but you need to request an appointment to the academy from a senator or congressman. Only a very few are selected but if you make it, you get a great education and will graduate as an officer in the U.S. Navy You can then request to go to the Marine Corps at which time you will go to officer candidate school. When done you will be a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. there are other options, I just wanted to give you an idea of what is available. In any event, work toward your goal but don't rush into anything....you have plenty of time. Last but not least, whatever you do....NEVER EVER listen to an ARMY recruiter or anyone in the ARMY...especially a RANGER lol. Good luck.

Answer 3

The Marine Corps changed me forever. That's no TV ad either. My mother used to ask me where her son was after I went to Marine Boot camp. She said her son left and somebody else came back. She was right. Somebody else did come back. A US Marine. A new and improved son is what she got back.
Being a US Marine has directed my life. Being a Marine has made me a better individual, bother, uncle, son, man, stepfather and husband. I couldn't imagine what my life would have been like without the fact that I am a Marine.
Having said all that, the Marine Corps isn't for everybody. The road to becoming a Marine is hard both physically and mentally and shouldn't be tried by individuals who are not committed or driven to succeed, but more importantly the person should understand the commitment they are getting into.

Answer 4

There's nothing wrong with being 15 and knowing what you want to do after school. Most parents would love to have a kid with ambition and drive but don't.
Get into school sports like football, basketball, track, soccer, something that requires great cardio. Keep at it and you should be in shape when you enlist.
If you have a certain skill set now, like electronics, mechanics, math, computers, think about a job that would use those skill and develop them. The service DOES NOT make you sign an open contract, but that is an option.
College. You can start college after high school, then join the reserves to serve AND work on your degree. Or, join a military academy to get your education and serve as an officer. Or, serve your term then use the GI Bill for school when you get out.
There are so many choices, but don't commit yourself to anything yet. A lot can change in three years.

Answer 5

Personally, I think it's a great idea. I would offer you this suggestion though. When you're actively looking at the armed forces, no matter what branch, look for a specialty that you can use in the civilian world. Something like a heavy equipment operator, computer specialist, mechanic, some field that interests you that you can apply outside the armed forces. If after 4 years you find the armed forces aren't for you, you'll be able to leave with an education that you can use.

Also, make sure what ever the recruiter tells you, you get in writing. Most recruiters are Honorable, honest people, but some will promise you the moon and never deliver. Get it in writing!!

Final thing, the physical aspects of training aren't difficult, but if you go in woefully unprepared it can be arduous. The biggest thing I can recommend is get used to running, perhaps start an exercise plan now, and keep it up. Even if you change your mind, it never hurts to get in shape. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Okay kid let me tell you all about the marine corps. First off my husband is currently a USMC Lace Corporal deployed in Iraq so I am telling you my point of view as a military wife.

It is a great experience if you are ready to have no freedom, do expect to be extremely busy this is no 9-5 job. Many young people join the military thinking only about the money, i cannot lie the pay is pretty good, and about the benefits. But we are currently at war and this neither of this things will be of use to you if you end up dead, which is a possibility because trust me you will most likely be deployed.

Now if you have a girlfriend be prepared to lose her because it is very very very common for gf of military service members to cheat because you will be gone much of the year not only on deployments but for your 13 week bootcamp and then 8 week combat training and god knows how long for your schooling based on the job you will have.

So it all looks grim. I know i begged my husband not to join but he wanted to have a better future for us and now all i do is pray that he will come home alive to be with me and his new born baby, which he missed seeing born.

Okay like i said this is my opinion as a military wife, and dont get me wrong I am proud of him but I rather have him here with me than in what is called the sand box!

One piece of advice I can give you is give college a try, plus if you do end up deciding that the USMC is for you those college credits you earn will help you get ahead in the ranks, plus if you finish a 4 year degree you can join as an officer and have many more privileges!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Answer 7

If you have any questions contact me or IM me on AOL at smeagolyduck13
I'm a sophomore in NROTC (Marine Corps option) right now, working on becoming a USMC officer. If it's something you want to do then don't be discouraged by the few idiots who know nothing on this forum and just let the media affect their "insight" (some on here do have very good info though). Do plenty of research on the Corps and work hard in school and physically starting now--it'll help you more than you could imagine.

Answer 8

First off, you must graduate first. Remember though, when you join the Marines, you join to be a Marine. You may end up as a Cook on a Navy ship, or a working a shipboard Laundry. The Marines will enlist you into an open contract. You will do whatever job tehy want you to do, like it or not.

If that is still okay, and washing other men's skid marks is okay, then by all means, be a Marine. The title is all you care about and you will do anything.

If you want tough, and care about doing what you want to do, look into the Army. They will guarantee you your job, BEFORE you enlist.

Answer 9

Hey bud, don't listen to anyone but yourself. The Corps is a great idea. You'll gain leadership, money for college, and chicks dig it. No, but seriously the Marine Corps is something you want to do not something you think about doing. If you know you want to do, F@%& everyone else.
As far as training is concerned, start working on your pullups 20 max, 3 miles in under 18 min, and 100 crunches in 2 min. You will be set.

R.M.
Sgt USMC

Answer 10

Son... you make your own choice, but please wait unit you finish school. I have no idea why you chose the Marines but if that's your preference that's your choice, not someone else's. Best thing to do is go talk to the recruiter and tell him your thoughts but make sure you tell him how old you are and that you are only trying to make up your mind what you would like to do after you finish school. Just make sure your in excellent physical shape if your choice is the Marines, as it's an excellent branch of the military but they need stronger bodys for the type of duties they preform.
My best wishes and Good Luck to you.