My friend and I are in college and we want to join in the reserves for now. We are going to go to basic training thru the summer and do the split option-where you go to basic during the summer then school for the year then the AIT the following summer. After we get our bachelors degree can we go into officer training? or would we have to re-enlist? and if not would it be hard to get into that? Plus I want to hear some boot camp stories. I want to prepare myself. I already know what I need to do physically. But I also want to be mentally prepared.
2006-09-10 11:53:14 · 11 answers · asked by Metal 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Marines go to MCT not AIT, but anyways. It takes a while to go from enlisted to officer. The paper work has to be done (and its a lot of paper work) and then you have to do officer training. Just do what you are told and you will be okay. No one cares if you think you had it hard or grew up ghetto or spoiled. Be ready for anything and everything. Take everything with a grain of salt. Team work, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. That is what boot is about, knowing what has to be done and getting it done. Good luck. Semper Fi!
2006-09-12 12:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by fin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bound's hubby here:
If you are going the college route, it would be foolish to enlist the way you suggest. If you do it your way, you are committed as an Enlisted man for "x" years, and you would have to apply to go thru OCS, no guarantees, they now have a body.
Your wisest move would be to enroll in NROTC or Marine PLC while in college, you would hold an enlisted rank, draw a stipend (when I did it, it was $100 a month while school was in session), and do your Basic and AIT as you and your friend are considering. The difference is, when you graduate, your service time will be completed as an officer. If the college you are attending does not have NROTC or PLC options, see if a neighboring school does and if you can enroll their for just the Military Science classes (usually this is permitted). Otherwise, you may want to consider transfering to a college/university that offers these programs.
Do not address these options with a reuglar recruiter. Contact an NROTC or PLC program at a college or university for your best answers!
Good Luck!
2006-09-10 19:21:37 · answer #2 · answered by gonefornow 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as training and requirements, a Reserve contract is typically 6 years on (if you take the GI Bill) and 2 on the IRR. After boot camp and MOS training, you will report to your nearest Reserve unit and drill once a month. You can apply to OCS and upon acceptance you'll attend either PLC or OCC (depending on whether or not you have your degree). At that point, your Reserve contract is superceded by OCS. As far as I understand, between OCS and TBS you can continue to drill and train with your Reserve unit if you chose. I hope this is helpful.
2006-09-11 13:27:10 · answer #3 · answered by Katie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just so you know, basic training and AIT are the Army. Marines go to boot camp and MCT/SOI. You can go to PLC while in college and then go in as a commisioned officer after you graduate high school. Check out these two sites, they are about PLC and Boot Camp.
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/marinetrng/a/marineplc.htm
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/marinebasic.htm
2006-09-10 19:10:02 · answer #4 · answered by Curt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go through college while still enlisted if you get accepted to an ROTC program or apply for the Naval Academy (yes Marine officers go there too).
Good luck and simper fi
2006-09-10 18:57:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband is an ex-marine. He said when he was in boot camp, they made the recruits believe that their families had abandoned them by not allowing any communications with their families until they completed their training. He said it was hell because they basically break you down just to build you back up.
2006-09-10 19:11:56 · answer #6 · answered by I love my husband 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I can tell you is that the point of boot is to break you down mentally and physically then rebuild those that are worth it and weed out those not worthy. The people doing the breaking down are experts at it.
2006-09-10 18:57:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
go what everybody says in here go the NROTC or MARINE PLC route. it will be more easier than enlist then apply thru OCS to much time wasted. if you do become a marine remember to take care of your CORPSMAN. for all of you devil dogs out there they know what i'm talking about. HOORAH!!!
2006-09-10 19:35:51 · answer #8 · answered by Rusty Shackleford 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be ready to be torn down completely, and then built back up again. You will loose your personality for awhile, but it will return, a little starchy at first though. had a hard time standing at Parade Rest for 5-hours!
2006-09-10 19:04:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you might wait until you're closer to graduating or do rotc. I'd hate for you to get ait done then get put into active duty with no chance to finish your education.
2006-09-10 19:06:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋