Military/Coast Guard?

Question

I want to join the Marines as a Machine Gunner (0351). Im in pretty good shape and can shoot pretty good too; but thats w/ a 12 gauge, not some 240G or .50 Cal. I recently got engaged to a girl Ive been w/ for a long time, a really long time for a high school relationship. Ive always wanted to join the Corps since back in middle school, didnt really know what I wanted to do til later on but still.

Looking for people w/ experience or 2nd hand knowledge here please...

-How long are Marine deployments w/ the Wars in the Middle East going on?
-How hard does it effect a marraige, especially newlyweds?
-Will it be hard for her to go to college if Im always having to move stations ever 2 years or so?
-And would joining the Coast Guard be better for family life versus the Marines? I would much rather be in the Corps, but if itll help my life, and hers, that much then yeah.
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If you havnt noticed, Im an upperclassmen in high school just trying to get a couple ?s answered. Thanks

Answer 1

The guy above me did a good job answering the questions, but I would say if that what you want to do go for it.

Im enlisting the Corps w/ the same MOS as you, and according to ex, current Marines its not the hardest thing in the world to go in w/ a "0300" contract and become what you want to be in the Infantry. Hell, 2 people have told me you can actually get 0351 in your enlistment contract nowadays, dont know if its true but sounds like a pretty good deal to me. See ya around.

Answer 2

The marines get deployed about 6 months at a time. As a navy wife. It is hard on any married couple. Deployment will make you or brake you. Do college on line and she will be fine. I am also in the Coast Guard. You can go out to sea for about 6-8 months. If you are stationed on a cutter. If you get a shore command you can be home every night. Besides duty days. The Coast guard Does got ships right now over seas protecting the ports. I guess it comes down to, do you want to be a solider or sailor. Marines fight wars over seas. The Coast Guard protects their home so the Marines have something to come back too. Both will be hard on a family life.

Answer 3

Generally the deployments are 6-7 months.

The MC is pretty harsh on a marriage if the wife is not willing to suck it up and handle things on her own. A Marine wife will either sink or swim.

My husband was in for four years in the infantry and all he did was deploy. If he wasn't deploying then he was training for the next deployment. My husband was at the same base for three years and then did a one year tour in Okinawa. He deployed most of those four years but I never had to move. (I finished two years of school in there but honestly I never wanted to go to college.)

My husband says the best training you can get will be with the Marines. He also said that the Coast Guard can be better for family life. I think that you have considered two great branches of service though. Oh and you got engaged and you are most likely 18 or so. The divorce rate among that age group in the military is out of control. I cringe every time I see kids get married when I know they just are not able to handle the pressures of marriage in todays society. I know people that have gotten married at 18 and 30 years later are still going strong. Sadly 9 times out of 10 it ends in BITTER NASTY divorce. Some will make it even worse by having children right away. I would consider not getting married until you have been in the Marine Corps for a few years. This is just advice coming from someone who is older and someone who has been there done that.

Answer 4

-Marines are typically deployed for 7 months at a time.
-It can be rough, but if you truely love each other and trust each other, you will be fine.
-She can still go to school, you don't have to stay at school for 4 years at a time.
-Maybe, but if its not what you want then its not exactly better for anyone.

Personally, since both of you are very young, I would recommend you join the reserves instead. If you are lucky there will be an infantry unit in your state or somewhere close by. And that way you can choose your MOS as 0351, if you go active duty you will go with a 0300 contract and you could end up getting any of the 0300 MOS's.