What are my options to join the Marines?

Question

I am a smart guy, I get good grades but I fear just a tad bit too little for the academies. If I wanted to join for 8+ yrs, what are my other options besides inlisting or going to an academy? I am not talking the reserves.

I know with a ROTC program, you go to colledge and train in the summer, is there a similar option for non-reservists?
By the way please don't respond in order to push your political rhetoric. Don't waste my time.

I want to join the Marines because I want to serve my country and have held a passion and respect for the military all my life.

Answer 1

Enlisting is the only way to get in if you aren't going to college. If you do enlist there is testing done to determine if you qualify for specific jobs. I think the recruiter can sign you up to get you in a specific school out of MCRD (boot camp), if you meet the qualifications. Maybe something like aircraft mechanic, etc. I remember when we were testing there was someone who came in and asked if people had specific skills, like photography experience, mechanics, etc. while we were in orientation.

Answer 2

There are other branches you can join by the way... It is a mistake for a teenager to join a military branch because he wants to make a fashion statement in a uniform.

Consider what you will be doing when your 8 years are up. If you join the marines you'll be trained heavily in combat skills, which is great if you want to be a cop in civilian life. If you want to be more then consider joining the navy, air force or army. The USAF is great for teaching you skills in the IT field. You know those ITT Tech commercials that you see on tv every now and then? Well, the usaf teaches the same stuff, only for you it would be free. The army and navy have great programs too. There is also the coast guard which many people forget about, but they are heavily involved in the drug war (remember that?). Most of them have seen more time in combat than most usaf and navy personnel since they have to intercept drug shipments coming into our country by sea.

Now it sounds like you are very interested in becoming an officer. Why is that? Have you talked to your local recruiter about the pros and cons of being an officer versus the pros and cons of being enlisted? As an officer you assume more of a leadership role in the unit, and you assume the administrative duties too. As an enlisted trooper your responsibilities are much more limited. Basically, do what you are told to do. In both scenarios you would be serving your country.

If you want to be an officer, then I recommend that you go to college and enroll in an ROTC program. Upon graduation you will receive a commission as a second lieutenant. Do not worry about any academies. Your quality as an officer and a soldier will not be determined by where you go to school at, but by the type of person you are.

If you wish to be enlisted then the process is very simple. Go to your local recruiting station upon graduation from high school, choose the career you are interested in, and get ready for 2 months of paperwork. Minimum. =)

If you are really committed to joining the marines, then watch a couple of movies before you sign up. To start, watch full metal jacket. That will give you a good idea of what basic training will be like. Trust me it is accurate regardless of what others may say (including the recruiter!!). I've been there so I would know. The second movie to watch would be Jarhead. That movie is also accurate and more in tune with todays army..

I'm ex-USAF. I have nothing against the marines, but if I had a son who wanted to join the military I would advise him against the marines. That branch specializes so heavily in infantry combat that it really gives you nothing as far as job skills for the outside market. If you want to retire as a marine...then its a different story. The army has a similar function but there are so many more job choices there, and I feel that they take better care of their troops. The usaf treats their troops the best compared to all of the other branches. Join the usaf if you want to live a civilian life in a uniform.

Join the navy if you want adventure and lots of travel lol. Just don't become a submariner...its interesting at first until you realize just how long the cycle time on those ships is.. They are nuclear powered which means they can stay out to sea for a long time.

Finally, a few more options for you to consider.. If you are serious about serving your country, then learn farsi. I'm serious. Learn it at a university or join the usaf and learn it at their language school at monterey california. If you manage to take the course at the university level and also manage to complete rotc then great. Apply to the CIA so you can work either as a linguist or as an FSO.

They need people who can speak that language, also mandarin.. The reason I am mentioning this is because while it would sound great to your friends to don a uniform and point a gun at some arabs, it would really be better for your country if you served it as a linguist.

Answer 3

If you are not talking about the Reserves..there is no program that is a "non-reservist. On the active duty side, certain fields you have to join for 5 years. Avionitics...Air Crew...the training is almost a year long...and the Marines want to get the other 4 years of "their" active duty time. If you want to just help out, go find you a Young Marines Battalion. They are always looking for volunteers. You will learn a lot about the Marines just through them. Those kids are squared away. You would be impressed. Well good luck.

Answer 4

You pretty much answered your own question. You can enlist, and go to boot camp (Parris Island, SC or San Diego CA, depending on where you live), you can participate in an ROTC program, preferrably Naval ROTC. You can apply for the Naval Academy, or another military based school, such as the Citadel, Virginia Military Academy, etc. Or, you can go on to college, earn your degree, and then talk to a recruiter, who will refer you to another recruiter that specialises in officer recruitment. From there, you would go straight to OCS (if you are accepted).

Another option is to go ahead and enlist, if you already have some college under your belt (2 years). Once you reach your first duty station, you can apply for a program called MECEP, which, if selected, means that you will be discharged from active duty, and sent to college (any college with a Naval ROTC program, in which you will participate). The government will pay for your tuition, books, room and board, and you will be paid as a Sergeant. Upon graduation, you will be sent to The Basic School, which is the second part of officer training.

Your last option, after enlisting, is to apply to the Naval Academy as an enlisted member of the Marine Corps. This circumvents the requirement of Congressional endorsement, as a certain number of midshipmen will be selected from the enlisted ranks to fill the next freshman class.

I applied for the Naval Academy as a Lance Corporal in 1998, I was number 190 on a list of 700 enlisted Marines and Sailors.

36 were chosen.

Good Luck, Semper Fi

If you choose to enlst first, and then get your commision, you will become a "Mustang" Marine, commisioned from the ranks. In my experience, Mustangs earned and commanded more respect from me than a regular officer.

Answer 5

2009 replace into the 1st time each and every of the branches have been given this sort of recruits they needed with no need to grant numerous waivers. 2010 is going an identical way. they haven't any could desire to offer significant waivers with the extreme sort of people who desire to connect perfect now. They became him down. He can attempt to get Lasik accomplished and notice if that brings his imaginative and prescient to interior in standards and notice in the event that they take him. Or they can supply him a 2d turn down and all innovations are long gone. OR He can wait 5 years for the financial gadget to show around and that they've few volunteers. if so they'll as quickly as back be prepared to grant greater waivers and that they can supply him one. inspite of the incontrovertible fact that, the Marines are the pickiest of the centers so I doubt the surgical treatment or waiting 5 years will do it for him. If he's unwilling to evaluate the different branch, then he had greater desirable get use to being a civilian.

Answer 6

Do you want to be an officer or enlisted? If you want to enlist, just go talk to a recruiter. If you want to be an officer, there are 2 other ways to get commissioned. You can go through ROTC during college then go active duty, or there's OCS. I'm not sure about Marine OCS, but with the Army's you have to either have a college degree or be enlisted already.

Answer 7

I have no military experience. But I read that it depends on where you live, where you have to go for training. East of Mississippi River, Parris Island, SC; west, in San Diego (Hollywood Marines). On your way there, make sure you get plenty of sleep and take only what you absolutely need: basic Id's and the clothes on your back. Apparently, you will spend the first 24 hours filling out forms/answering questions, orientation, etc.

Answer 8

You speak of always wanting to join the Marines, and to serve your Country. do your research, talk to some vets,at your local VFW or American Legion.

No one can make the decision for you military life s not easy. but it is very rewarding, the pay is always there, the meals are provided, the medical,dental,etc.

After your research , make your decision, and follow through with it, no one can live your life for you.by the way SEMPER-FI

Answer 9

take the as-fab (sp.) test, the higher you score the more technical of a job you can go into. you'll get free paid training in that job Field and plenty of experience for a good job when you get out. good luck to you.

Semper Fi !!

Answer 10

Air Force National Guard

trust me contact me if you want more info.