Vanity post: Thinking of enlisting

[Grut]

On the other hand, if you join the Air Force you will never be farther than a short walk away from a flush toilet.

[RnMomof7]

FYI

[rabidralph]

Could someone say in what kind of physical shape they expect you to be to get in?

No matter how good your physical conditioning, they'll yell at you as if you weighed 300 lbs. If you can run at least two miles without stopping (8 min-10 min miles) you'll be fine. You'll run as a company and they set a very slow pace the first couple of weeks. But the important thing is to never fall out. Be able to do a minimum of 30 push-ups in under 2 minutes. The recruiter can tell you what the physical requirements are or you can visit the service website and it should tell you.

[SR71A]

Cryptography with those skills. Go for it.

Actually, a strong background in mathematics, particularly number theory, is of much more importance in cryptanalysis than language skill. He would be invaluable, however, in anything that was derived from cryptanalysis.

aimlow, I say that your remark about sacrifice and dedication is fatuous. All military service, including the Coast Guard, require it to an equal degree.

SR71A
United States Air Force, 1966-1975

[aimlow]

Bullshi+. Otherwise anyone could be a Marine. To say that those who join to gain a future job skill and those who join to claim a title of Marine is the same, is crap.

[Melas]

I held off an answering this until I spoke with a childhood buddy who I speak to every Saturday evening online. He's been a marine all of his adult life, the last few years in the reserves, and did a stint as a recruiter.

He says that it depends on the charges. They may amount to nothing in the eyes of the corps, they may disqualify you from entering, or they may limit your choice of an MOS. He says that your recruiter might not be up on the current rules, but that the pencil pushers at MEPS will know it inside, outwards, and backwards. He suggests visiting your recruiter, and letting him set everything up. At the worst you'll spend the night in a hotel room at the government's expense and get to eat the really tasty box lunch. Go for it.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I had a coworker who had been the Crew Chief on Marine1 for a long time. He "let me have" once and he must have thought he was still enlisted. Man, I still cringe at the thought of it. He would holler (but not like 'yelling') from way down deep. It was a wonderful experience, one I shall never forget!

[Mr Rogers]

Don't waste time with aimlow. He lives & posts just to criticize the USAF. I'm guessing he's discharged Air Force and a Marine wanna-be.

BTW - my daughter is considering enlisting in the Marines this summer. I plan to have her read this thread. Cheers!

USAF current

[dpa5923]

If you stay in pass your initail enlistment, do a tour as a Marine Security Guard.

That right there is the best advice you could ever recieve. In my short time in the Corps, I have met recruiters who hated every minute of recruiting duty, I met drill instructors who would never go back (I was a DI as PI and Quantico and actually enjoyed it), but I never met a Marine who went on Embassy Duty and didn't enjoy it. (I was the Company GySgt for HQ Co, MSG Bn at Quantico and met many returning Marines from embassy duty) It is the best kept secret in the Corps!

Now go talk to a recuriter Bored One.

[aimlow]

Actually I don't. But if you want to bring up the point I hold about the Air Force and it's lack of concern in training for CAS, well all too sadly once again a couple of ground pounders have paid the ticket. My name has nothing to do with the AF but if it bothers you I will just take it as a bonus.

[lowbridge]

bump

[skipjackcity]

Your question reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw the other day. It went something like this, "Join the Army. Travel the world. Meet interesting people....and then kill them". Anyway, good luck on your quest.

[HiJinx]

Interesting. FReeper 4TheFlag's daughter just graduated Marine Basic in San Diego...
FReeper LadyX lives, breathes, is Corps through and through.
Have your daughter look 'em up...or come on over to the USO Canteen FReeper Style...

HJ

[Dianna]

You will have enough things to worry about in boot camp besides the physical training, so get yourself in good shape!

When my husband was in boot camp there was a guy in his unit who argued with the DI (I think that's what he was called) about the most efficient way to fold his clothes and store them in the locker. LOL!!

[Marine Inspector]

It is the best kept secret in the Corps!

You got that right. If I had stayed in, I would have gone back on Embassy duty at the first opportunity, and stayed there until they dragged me back to the Fleet.

Semper Fi,

MI

[RaceBannon]

If you know those languages, they might be begging for someone like you now. Be honest about your past. If you are doing drugs, stop now, and I mean NOW, and then keep your mouth shut, and never take them again!! That includes pot or whatever is the craze in your neighborhood, that is an immediate disqualifier for anything.

Start exercising now, too, get in shape before you see your recruiter. Once you sign up, you HAVE to exercise with him, that is a new thing, you have to show up for PT to make sure you are ready!

[fnord]

and don't forget you are directed to report back here and let us know how it turns out :-)

[CanadianFella]

any news? (bump)

[CanadianFella]

any news? (second try bump)