Posted on 06/16/2010 11:34:05 AM PDT by keats5
My 20 year old son has informed us that he intends to enlist in either the Army or Marines, after his first year of college. He did alright in college, but he is not set on any particular civilian job. What he really wants to do is something in the military, and he wants to do that full time without waiting to complete another three years of college.
He was majoring in exercise science with a mild interest in physical therapy down the line, but he's not enthralled with those majors. He would seriously consider being a lifer in the military. He has also expressed interest in Police, FBI, CIA type work.
He is in amazing shape, as he is a gym rat who gets up at 5 AM every morning to work out 2-3 hours before work/ school. (By the way, he did not get this drive from his parents.) He is above average intelligence, fine at math, science and well written. He has talked to an Army recruiter and was told he would have to decide on a job before he began training. So far, he is interested in the pathway to an Army Ranger. He still needs to talk to a Marine recruiter.
Do any of your FReepers have some wisdom to share? He would like to eventually get his degree, ideally while in the military. If he serves his four years, could he gain some college credit in the military? If he switched into the reserves while he got his degree, would that affect his pension? Which civilian jobs could he aim for from a Ranger background?
Anything you could share would be most appreciated. Thanks.
As long as Obama is CIC, neither.
I’m a Navy guy, so I say Marines.
However, it pains me to say that I do not recommend the military at this time. The Pentagon has become very political, and troops are hung out to dry in an effort to fight PC wars. See Haditha.
Now they are encouraging “Compassionate Restraint”, and even awarding medals for it.
Military service is honorable, and I believe the Marines will do a better job than any branch of looking out for each other. But I suggest that he really pray about it.
Hopefully we will get some new leadership in both the WH and Pentagon.
Marines
Otherwise...it depends upon what he wants to get out of it. Is he looking to gain a skill that is readily transferable after he gets out? Is he looking to do something uniquely military? Does he want to deploy? A lot?
Each branch of the service has unique pluses and minuses. And a whole lot more advice would be needed before being able to give any suggestions one way or the other.
Biographies might be the best way to choose a branch, especially for the Marines. The Marine bio I’d recommend is “Chesty.” about General Chesty Puller ... who rose from the ranks.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller
As a former Grunt,I recommend the Air Force wholeheartedly.
If it were my son I would guide him in this order:
Air Force, Navy, Army, Coast Guard
My best friend in High School became a Marine and I went into the Air Force. He regrets not joining the Air Force, Navy or even Army as he would have had a better chance coming out with a marketable skill set.
I have a recent personal experience with the Marines where a family member was poorly treated after becoming paralyzed.
Those are good points to consider.
My daughter’s friend did that. He is in Kandahar now.
Sounds like your kid was a lot like me. Smart, energetic .... bored with College. If he really wants to work both his mind and his body, have him look at special forces. Communication engineer if he likes computers and electronics, construction engineer if he like to blow things up, medial if he wants to go that path.
Your son is a Marine, through and through.
Congratulations.
I think the key difference to consider are:
(1) in the Army, you have a wider variety of MOS’s and can truly use your time in the Army as prep for a civilian technical career. The Army relies heavily (or at least moreso than the Marines) on technology to get the job done. The Army is more plodding and bureaucratic. In the Army, you are a soldier as long as you are in; you’ll have your band of brothers, but not like the USMC bonds formed. In the ARMY he’ll encounter more slackers and “why are you even IN the ARMY?” types. Being in the Rangers will help with that.
(2)The biggest difference with the USMC is the ethos and creed and culture and history of the Marines — you become a Marine — it’s what you become as a person as well as what you do. It’s a culture of lifetime physical fitness and discipline. I believe he would be prouder to have become a Marine than to have been a soldier. The USMC has fewer MOS’s, and it’s often lower tech, but he’ll get more training and field ex time with the USMC. I think he’ll enjoy better leadership and opportunities for advancement in the Marines.
My vote will always be for the Marines, but he won;t lose out if he makes it in the Ranger track. He could also consider SEALS or special boat service in the Navy.
My brother was a soldier, who completed Ranger and jump schools but ended up in Sigint in the Corps of Engineers. My dad was a Naval aviator. My mom was a Wave. My middle son is in NROTC-Marine track at Auburn. I was never in as I was NPQ due to a soccer injury. I have been around DoD types for years in my career.
As an Army vet, I say Marines. The officers and NCO’s will prepare you for any combat situation. Too often, Army officers are simply there to get their ticket punched.
Check with the AF, they send the officers out to face the enemy and leave the enlisted back on the base for logistic support.
AIR FORCE- !!!
intellectually, he will find the smartest people there (including supervisors), especially if he has technical interests and talents.
IF he has pretensions on being a lifer, in the long term his assignments may be more stable in a large service like the uS Air Force
But if he has the psyche to kill an enemy face to face, then the USMC. They have the best attitude toward life and authrity and not sweating the small stuff (the US Army obsesses on small stuff, like dates of rank)
Just imho- after 20 years USAF (10 years in Joint Service assigments)
Thanks. I was trying to steer him into medical myself. I’m a nurse, so I think like that. However, I’m not sure that’s his area of interest so much anymore. I’ll show him your comment.
In the Marines he will be associated with the finest people this country has to offer. I enlisted at 19, was commissioned at 20, and intended to stay only a few years. But I enjoyed the Marines I met so much that I made it a career.
Semper Fidelis,
Air Force and Navy have the best technical training. Army has the worst facilities. Marines get what the Navy doesn’t want.
Forget CIA or FBI without a 4 year degree.
United States Navy!
LOL. I wish he would take the ROTC route. I think certain guys just can’t take K-12 schooling and come out looking forward to another 4 years of college. He wants a long break from school, and he’s not going to take it here in our house.
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