As a civilian n the USA, i am thinkin g about enlisting in the military(USMC) what do you think of the idea?

Answer 1

I think you would become one of my heroes.

I had the courage to turn in my draft registration card when they were thinking of bringing it back many years ago; first one in my high school.

I did NOT have the courage to volunteer. The courage and ethics of our men and women in uniform awes me and fills me with hope for our nation.

I would also be teaching my daughter that you are one of our heroes. (She's too young for you, trust me).

Answer 2

What's the difference between the Marines and the other branches? Only one thing, their reputation. Marines depend on their world class public affairs office to keep up the image that they are the toughest, most elite fighting organization. The truth is that if you are willing, you are able. The Marines are tough but not too tough for anyone that isn't physically disabled. In this day and age no branch can afford to be too picky. With the Marines, its all about image. Ask yourself if it is worth it. The needs of the Corps come first. Even if that means you have to do a job that you don't want to. They say that every Marine is a rifleman, but a more accurate description is that every Marine is a janitor. Depending on your occupation, most of your time will be spend cleaning. Cleaning your barracks, cleaning your workspace, picking up trash where ever you go, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. The jobs that other branches hire civilians to do are left up to Marines to do as collateral duties. If you want to sweep sidewalks in Iraq during a sandstorm, then you might enjoy it. What it comes down to is your experience is dictated on the whim of your superiors. If your superiors are jerks, your life is going to be four years of never ending hell. If your superiors are cool it will be a good experience. If you don't have a defined mission, they will make up stupid things for you to do, like cleaning or stupid busy work or something more sadistic. You always work long hours for no overtime and you will never have a personal life. This is the life of a Marine. Living under the image of the old Corps, usually under incompetent leadership, and doing every other job but his own. It's all what you make of it but everyone gets the big green weenie sooner or later, you can count on that. Make sure you call the shots when you visit the recruiter and don't let him put you in a spot you don't want to be in. Be a grunt first of all and then lateral move into another job. That will make for the best experience. The infantry in the only place in the Corps where the image of greatness still survives. It will be very hard but anyone can do it as long as they keep on going. No one is brainwashed, no one is hazed, the mothers of America have taken the tough out of the Corps. Gone are the days where you could take Marines out back to settle your differences, today the leaders are burn crazy, giving non-judicial punishment out like its candy. These days if you have too many of them, they won't let you re-enlist. So don't get in trouble, stay quiet, do your job well and stay physically fit, and you should be OK. That is, if your superiors don't have a personal vendetta against you. You have to make a decision if all this is worth it just so you can have the title and undeserved reputation of Marine. I would rather join the air force where you do your job and there is no BS. Just a little tidbit: In a survey of service members the air force recorded the highest quality of life, on the other hand the marines had the lowest.

Answer 3

I joined the Navy when I was 19 and it was, by far, the best experience of my life! I travelled the world, spent time in the Arabian gulf, and made friends I will never forget. I am 26 and a civilian now, but i have no regrets about serving my country. Don't listen to the people who say that the Marine Corps brainwash you. They just don't understand what it takes to be a Marine. I know plenty of Marines, and they are not brainwashed. I think the people who live believing the media are the ones who are truely brainwashed, hehe...

I have utmost respect for Marines! Talk with a recruiter and pick a good job (MOS) when or if you should enlist. Serving our country is a wonderful privilege! Semper Fi. :)

Answer 4

Don't worry about being brain washed. As stated earlier, the general public are the ones brainwashed into believing that people in the military are robots. Don't even worry about boot camp. I'm not sayin you'll enjoy it, but it goes by fast and will be over before you know it. Talk to a recruiter and pick an MOS. If you find an MOS that you are interested in, make that very clear. When you go to MEPPS for your physical and processing, they may try to tell you that they are not taking anyone for that MOS at that time. Don't let them bully you into a job that you are not interested in. Politely tell them that you want to be a Marine, but only for whatever MOS you have chosen and that they should contact you when they are ready to take you. They will! Before you go, write down why you are enlisting - college, travel, whatever. Don't forget the reasons you joined! Many people join the military, never take advantage of the benefits available, and then leave before accomplishing what they wanted to.
On a personal note, if you do enlist - congratulations on making a difficult decision to serve your country.

Answer 5

I have nothing but respect for the Marines. I went to Navy bootcamp in San Diego and every day we saw the Marines next door running running running running. This was 1966. I almost joined the Marines, but one day I stormed out of my parents house and went to the nearest recruiter's office; if the Marines had an office in my town, I would have gone there. As it turned out, I became a Seabee and went to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina where we went through advanced infantry training (every year + machine gun school). I ended up with a "globe & anchor" (Marine) insignia on my Viet Nam service medal, which I'm kind of proud of. If you've got it in you to take what they give out, without whining and writing home about how bad it is and you make it to graduation, you will be able to do anything in life, not the least of which is defend your country and your country's valuable allies around the world in support of freedom and democracy. I would do it all over again in an instant. -Mike.

Answer 6

Joining the military is a good thing for the certain type of people. Make sure you know what you're getting into and that you can handle it. Also make sure that you are enlisting for the right reasons.
Do some research on the basic training, what MOS you want, etc.

Answer 7

Do what you like, but keep this in mind. Within the last month 3 Israel soldiers have been kidnapped and Israel went to war to get those soldiers back. About a month ago 2 USMC soldiers were kidnapped in IRAQ and we went looking for them and couldn't find them. They both came up mutiliated and dacapitated a week later. The Military did nothing but chalked it up to another travesty of WAR.

Answer 8

Go for it. The military is a great place to live, work, and get educated. Personally, I joined the Army, and retired in 2004. My brothers were in the Air Force and Navy. I have had two cousing join the Marines, one couldn't hack it, the other is on his way to retirement.

The choice is yours, and it's a great choice.

Congratulations and good luck

Answer 9

Go to the nearest military camp of the USMC in your area and apply for enlishment to the USMC. Bring your pictures, school records and birth certificate.

Answer 10

It is not what we think of the idea. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you think. Don't let anyone tell you why you should or shouldn't sign up. The choice is yours and you just need to spend the time to reflect on the reasons why you want to join.

Answer 11

Good for you! However, I'd wait till Dubya is out of office so you can more likely be sent somewhere where you will actually be able to defend our freedom and not the oil pipeline they're currently building in northern Iraq.