Once I graduate from college I want to become a marine officer, what is it like in the corps? How does being a marine change a person? People have described the rush of marine life as addicting, do must marines stay in the corps or leave? As a young man who wants to become more responsible and grow overall as a person, how will the marines allow me to achieve that goal?
2006-12-27 08:48:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
You will go to Quantico for officer candidate school.
My husband went there and he said it was physically hell.
They will break you down mentally (not completely of course) then rebuild you, so if you have a Joe College attitude, be prepared to leave it at the gate. You will run minimum 3 miles a day in every weather, and expect some 20 mile hikes, and a couple of 5 miles runs in full gear. The basic physical stress is tremendous, and you are expected to be in better physical shape than the enlisted, as you must be their example.
You will then have a 6 month basic course in how to be a Marine infantry platoon commander, where you will learn infantry weapons, skills, tactics, etc. Then if you are not going to be in the infantry, you will receive training in your specialized field.
It is important to remember that every Marine is a rifleman, and all officers are expected to command a platoon, except possibly Marine Air.
You will grow tremendously as a person. You will test all of your mental and physical limits.
Marine life is hard, but very addicting. His commitment was an overall 6 years, but that was during the Vietnam era, unsure of what it is now.
Best of luck to you!
2006-12-27 09:02:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Being a Marine is one of the finest things a man can do.
I was a Sailor, having many Marine friends from our joint operations, and greatly admired their commitment and way of life, their bearing and manner 24/7/365. Even though I like being in the Navy and being a Sailor, it made me wish I had been one of them and made me sad in a way that the Navy didn't have "that" essence that I craved as part of the Military experience.
With your College credits, you would be in a fine position for OCS if otherwise qualified. Officers that "Mustang" over, come from the Enlisted ranks are usually the best O's around, so you might consider going in as Enlisted first, as you would probably go in as a advanced "E-3" as opposed to being a "E-1", and later after Mustanging over you would be known as a "O__E" which means more pay than a mere "O" would recieve.
Marine Officers are also very admirable people as well, ESPECIALLY Mustangs, and as others have posted, the training is a extreme challenge but the end result is one helluva person that becomes a part of something greater.
Regret is a terrible thing. Don't look back in Twenty years and WISHED you had tried. If you are sincere and MOTIVATED, go for the gold and be a MARINE.
2006-12-27 09:11:48 · answer #2 · answered by Middy S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HOORA for the Marines! You are making a wise decision to join the corps. Talk to the recruiter so he can tell you what responsibilities and advantages you have as a Marine. Marine boot camp is longer than the other boot camps of the military because Marines are the top dogs and the first ones on the field to protect us. To your question about people leaving or staying in the corps all I can say is "once a Marine, always a Marine".
2006-12-27 09:37:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I also think that you should spend some time Enlisted. You will make a better Officer if you spend some time as a worker bee. My boyfriend was a SGT in the Corp before he accepted a meritorious promotion to an officer during war time. I am enlisted in a different branch and I can tell it has made him not only a better man, but a better Officer and that is saying a lot since usually enlisted and officer types don't get a long too well. Good Luck!
2006-12-27 09:15:14 · answer #4 · answered by dwidmar 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to learn what being a Marine is all about,ENLIST,
the best officers come from the ranks.
The Marines will teach you all about responsibility and you'll grow more mature , able to make decisions and hit a man at 500 yards with an M-16 .
2006-12-27 09:02:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should join the airforce. I did. My cousin was in the marines( hence was) He did his time and got out. The bootcamp was hell.(none of the bootcamps are fun, but that is one of the most emotionally and physically challenging one) The airforce is a good career opportunity. Most of the jobs they offer inside, is available outside. The housing is good, alot better than army. I have trained at army bases and they suck.( just telling you about other branches too) When I was in tech. school, there were actually former army and marines, they crossed into the blue. If you go to the marines, you will go overseas. If you have a job like finance in airforce, chances are you wont. If you were a cop like me, you will go overseas. You can be an officer in the airforce. It is pretty 50/50. You will love it, or you will hate it.
2006-12-27 09:45:32 · answer #6 · answered by Brandy 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Talk to a recruiter and listen to your Gunny. He is the one who will keep you A__ alive!
2006-12-27 08:57:46 · answer #7 · answered by cantcu 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋