Vanity post: Thinking of enlisting

To: RLK;the Bored One

They still run the language school, and yes, they train the Marines!
First and foremost, you will be an infantryman.
With your language skills, you will probably be assigned to what they used to call a radio relay battalion. Trust me, that ain't all it is. If I tell you more, I gotta shoot ya.
I had a misdemeanor, the Army took me, and gave me one of their higher clearances. All you gotta do is be honest, they don't want someone with a past that leaves you liable to blackmail.
Check out the USO Canteen FReeper Style thread from the middle of last week about boot camp. It has the info you need to get started, as well as some links to the services' web pages.
Good Luck!

21 posted on 04/27/2002 4:06:10 PM PDT by HiJinx

To: The Bored One

I served as a Marine from 1964 - 1970. If you decide to join, do so with the purpose of becoming a rifleman: (basic infantryman). If you want to choose a career path join a different branch of the service. The focus of the Marines is warfare and combat. If you have what it takes to make it through your first tour of active duty you will always be proud to have served. It isn't easy and it isn't for everybody.

22 posted on 04/27/2002 4:06:58 PM PDT by zchip

To: The Bored One

I hope you're in good shape medically. When I joined the Navy, I had to get 50,000 waivers (or something like that) for my mildly troubled back just to get past the physical at MEPS. And Navy boot camp is physically not so intense. The Marines will push you harder, obviously...but just a little.

23 posted on 04/27/2002 4:11:05 PM PDT by helmsman

Corpsman aren't really swabbies , are they :-? They seem so normal otherwise ;-P

Hey Bored One ,, ya only go around once, If you do join, and like it, don't be shy, stay and go officer.. They wear really cool dress uniforms :-)

24 posted on 04/27/2002 4:11:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

If you want to choose a career path join a different branch of the service.

Without wanting to be argumentative, I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I received some very good training with the Marines and spent nearly a full year in school after boot camp learning basic electronics, aviation radio communications, radar, and cryptology. I was even sent to Rockwell Collins (manufacturer of advanced avionics equipment) in Iowa for more specialized training. So the Marine Corps is not just for grunts. Much of what I learned, I was able to use in civilian life. I understand that your experience in 1964-70 might be different but the Marines have changed a lot since then (and even more since I was in).

Of course, every Marine is still a rifleman. I had to requalify at the rifle range every year like everybody else (and I loved it).

25 posted on 04/27/2002 4:15:20 PM PDT by SamAdams76

To: The Bored One

If you speak Arabic the CIA is desperate for guys like you. If your talking about doing the greatest service for your country I would check with them first.

26 posted on 04/27/2002 4:16:08 PM PDT by MissAmericanPie

To: CanadianFella

It used to be non-ambulatory was the only requirement. I went thru boot camp with many a reject along the way for many reasons. If you want to be successful and feel good about yourself, join... It was the Ride of My Life.

SEMPER FI
Norm
USMC MAG-36

27 posted on 04/27/2002 4:16:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

"You sound like a shoo-in rfor one of the language schools. The Army runs, or used to run, one of the finest in the world at the Montery Praesidio. I assume the Marine Corps has access to it, or has one similar."

The Presidio is quad-service. The problem that you may have is that the linguistic MOS's are all in military Intel. Those 12 misdemeanors on felony non-convictions may not keep you out of the service, but will probably keep you out of Intel, since you will have to get a security clearance, and mere innuendo and rumor are enough to do you in.

28 posted on 04/27/2002 4:17:16 PM PDT by cookcounty

To: The Bored One;tennessee_bob;teacup;howlin;jimrob

Do you want to fly, or what?

Have you thought about being a fighter pilot or also have you considered Rangers? Also you are at a young enough age where you can apply for positions elsewhere that are supportive of the security of the US. Park Police, Secret Service, , ATF and FBI come to mind. I have known some decent folks in each of the ones I have mentioned. Hope it goes well for you. Now is a proud time to be serving your Country; our Commander in Chief has restored honor and dignity to our Nation.

29 posted on 04/27/2002 4:18:47 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

To: RedBloodedAmerican

Unfortunately to be a Ranger you have to join the army first. Go Marine or Go Home.

30 posted on 04/27/2002 4:21:42 PM PDT by aimlow

I used to favor one over the other but the goal of them all is the same, and I am out of the pissing contest mode to support one over the other. Rangers, Seals, Marines, Guard...all of them and others are honorable, IMO.

31 posted on 04/27/2002 4:25:57 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

To: travis mcgee; marine inspector

32 posted on 04/27/2002 4:26:14 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

To: RedBloodedAmerican

I would agree with you except for one small point. When you chose a branch of service you are doing so with the knowledge that some require more sacrifice and dedication then others.

33 posted on 04/27/2002 4:28:40 PM PDT by aimlow

To: The Bored One

A tip from a civilian...
read Thomas Ricks "Making the Corps".
Good coverage (and fairly current) about the history of the Corps from the Vietnam era forward,
the other half is about a group of recent recruits...and who makes it to
being a Marine and who doesn't.
And why.

If you do sign up, I suspect "The Bored One" will be your ex-handle!

34 posted on 04/27/2002 4:29:44 PM PDT by VOA

To: The Bored One

Just make damn sure you get a guaranteed MOS. A lot of times, misdemeanors will disqualify you in a particular MOS due to clearance requirements. But, if you stick to your guns, you can get almost anything waived. There is no sense in not being able to use your language skills.

35 posted on 04/27/2002 4:30:10 PM PDT by antidisestablishment

To: RedBloodedAmerican

Good point. And I am only promoting the Marines because that is the branch with which I chose to serve my country. All of the branches deserve their share of our best and brightest.

36 posted on 04/27/2002 4:30:17 PM PDT by SamAdams76

To: The Bored One

Ok, I served a little time in the Corps, and here are a few things I wish I had known before I signed up. Stream of consciousness: Your friend may be wrong about the felony thing, it may only be if you were convicted, not just charged. Talk to the recruiting Sergeant, and tell the truth. If they let you enlist and find out you have some criminal issues in your past when they investigate you after you sign up, they'll just boot you out later and you may not even get an Honorable Discharge because you came in under false pretenses.

If you're overweight, lose the excess poundage before you sign up or look forward to a 24/7 diet of rabbit food under the not so friendly eye of a Drill Instructor while you're serving in the Fat Man's Platoon. If you smoke or do drugs, quit and quit now. You will be routinely tested for the drugs and Heaven help you if you fail. While the smoking lamp used to be lit on a regular basis while I was in, it's my understanding that no service is really "friendly" to smokers any more.

Take the shortest tour you can sign up for. Don't be talked into taking any more years than necessary for your first hitch. You can always re-up and reenlist for more time later. If you're in and don't like it, you'll be stuck.

Don't even think about going over the hill or breaking any regs, even out in the civilan world while you're on leave or liberty, or you will be in serious trouble. If you want to know what a Marine Corps brig is really like, think Maggio in From Here to Eternity. They will lock you up - and keep you locked up - if you screw up bad enough.

Try to think long term and consider other services besides the USMC if you want to have some kind of job skills that will make civilian employers look upon you favorably after you're out. Most Marines are folks who are looking to put ordinance on the target or work to support those that do. There isn't a whole lot of call for expert machine gunners or tank drivers in the civilian world. While there are some technical billets available, chances are you won't get one unless you negotiate it with the recruiter before you sign up. Even then, the most you'll probably get guaranteed is an offer of a certain school after you complete boot camp and your infantry training course. If you flunk out of that training school, you'll probably be reassigned to an infantry unit, not that that's really a bad thing.

Now then, if this hasn't already completely put you off, I'll just close by saying that service as a Marine will pay off in ways you won't even recognize until you get away from it. For me, it was learning one simple lesson: in life, more often than not, I'm going to have to do things I don't really like and/or want to do. A simple lesson but a valuable one. Good luck in you decision. Sam

37 posted on 04/27/2002 4:33:27 PM PDT by SamKeck

It seems they all require dedication, but maybe some more sacrifice(?) I suppose there are some who go in half-heartedly for whatever reason and don't have the dedication (not to remain for life, but dedicate themselves to the task at hand). I would guess there aren't any two who join any branch for the exact same reason. Amazing how it all comes together.

38 posted on 04/27/2002 4:36:02 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

To: The Bored One

Where did you learn Arabic Russian and a little Chinese?

How many college credits do you have? Depending on your language quals, SATs, high school GPA etc the military may want to pay you to finish your degree in an ROTC program and commission you as an officer.

Please do not enlist until you have COMPLETELY examined the chances of wangling a commission and serving your nation as an officer.

If you are smart enough to learn 3 of the most difficult (and different) foreign languages, you are absolutely "officer material", and will be able to better serve your country, and yourself, as a commissioned officer from the get go.

39 posted on 04/27/2002 4:39:06 PM PDT by Travis McGee

To: The Bored One

If you have a college degree, I'd recommend talking to the Department of State. They might be very interested in talking to you...

Good luck,

40 posted on 04/27/2002 4:40:47 PM PDT by Capitalist Eric

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