PDA

View Full Version : determined wannabee has questions about joining with ged, getting waiver etc.



iwant2BMarine
01-09-11, 04:51 PM
hello to all,

little info about me and how i decided i want to be marine:flag: its a little long but hopefully one of you guys can help me out if i explain the situation.

ive been trying to join the military (seriously now) for about a month. i had it as a very possible career plan since 17 but took the last year thinking about if i wanted to just go to college or enlist in the marines. after checking out my school and comparing and contrasting both, ive realized that the marines is the perfect place for me. it offers me things that i need for myself and to build a better future and become a stronger and better person, from offering me a career to paid school to strenghtening my physical body as well as my mind. make me a better leader and more confident. in the past the military always comes up when thinking about future plans but i never took it serious mainly because my mother and family/friends and their views on the military have affected my decision.although i was considering seriously enlisting back in 2003/4 but thats also when the whole iraq/afghanistan war thing was just fresh starting and once again mainly because of my mother/friends i chose not to take that route.

i am now 22 have lived on my own for years now, and i dont let other people and friends affect my important life decisions anymore. i also feel like i wasted so much precious time. i truly want to be a marine and im now prepared to go through the process training hardship and pain to become one. i no longer fear going to war which i know is a possibility anytime you enlist, if thats what it takes for me to defend my country and protect my fellow americans then so be it! also i spoke to my mother about it a few days ago and she actually didnt respond the way i imagined.(maybe cus im older now too im sure it would of been a different story me telling her at 17/18). she actually says if its going to make me happy its my life and i can choose what i want and she'd support my decision in the end. :) i got even more motivation after hearing that from her.

i felt like nothing could possibly stop me now. unfortunately because of hardships starting at 16/17 and dropping out of highscool to work 2 jobs to pay rent and my father kicking me out the house(because i had gotten a earing and didnt want to go to church anymore) i dropped out of highschool at that age barely surviving completely on my own and making ends meet. since i started considering school or military now that im a bit more stable in my living conditions and am completely independant (not by choice but out of necessity) i got my ged this past april. i tried for school but cant afford it and after checking it out i know its not for me anyway. my career goal is to be a critical care nurse(ER), be able to save lives and deal to the best of my ability in situations of great emergency and pressure. i spoke to a friend who just got back home yesterday from graduating bmt. the change i see in him all i can say i admire it and im envious. so after speaking to a recruiter over the phone (i work 6 days a week 10 hours a day, sundays my only day off and recruiting offices are closed so i havent been able to go in person but requested a day off for week after next to visit) he told me this.

-nobody in the military (in general army navy etc.) arent taking geds (maybe because we're in a recession and there not as desperate for recruits because many people are joining anyway)
-if i had an actual highschool diploma from a highschool instead of ged id be in
-i have to take 15 college credits with the ged to be able to enlist
-unfortunately he wasnt very helpful and i felt rushed when i wanted to get possible options and ask alot more questions.

now this is a problem for me because i cant afford school even after financial aid because i recently moved to a new state and am still considered "out of state tuition" and have to wait another year before im considered a resident and can afford to actually go to this community college and still pay my rent so im not living in the streets. i cant afford to go back to my resident state to attend school because i have nowhere to live there now and also since i just found out about the semester fee last month 2 weeks before my school start date(i was suppose to be in school already right now to get the 15 credits as of jan 4th) ive missed the spring semester sign up and couldnt even go back to ny and sign up or just stay here in miami etiher way id have to wait til next january(2012!) to start college, do the semester and THEN get shipped out. i feel like im in limbo i cant do anything and i dont want to waste anymore time not going to school not being in the military and still in a dead end job having no important purpose in life, i feel like a superbum. i wanna feel like a marine.

now ive read online and everywhere i go it says that ged ppl can be accepted if they get a waver or score high on the ASVAB. also that they do allow small percentage enlist as tier II. ive taken a practice ASVAB didnt even concentrate too much on it because i was at work (im always! at work). but my score was 73 and im confident i can do better. i only weigh 130 im 5'9(a little skinny)but i used to run long distance track the 3 years of highschool(was very good, got medals came in 2 and 3rd place in queens wide race and 17th place in a state wide track meet with over 2000 other top runners in a 20mile long distance race), . i attended and have no problems with the physical part of it. i can do the 34 situps and 38 pushups in less than 2 mins, as i read on a website you should for bmt. im confident i will not quit i wouldnt dare to and that i would see this thru til the end!

so my possible options are these that ive came up with, after reading online and breaking my head trying to figure out how i can possibly join this year and not have to wait a year just to start school and go through another 4 months of school just to start the marines bmt:

1)request a waiver which im gon try tomorrrow asking the recruiter if its possible

2)asking to take the asvab test and if i can get a higher than average score if i could possibly have a chance like that

3)moving back to ny in another month and since ill have no place to live go to job corp(where i can study and live for free in a dorm style work n study environment.) and acquire 675 clock hours which is equivalent to 15 semester hours adding that to my ged would make me a tier I equal to someone with a highschool diploma or college credits.

^this 3rd option is looking like what i may have to do but i was just hoping that instead of wasting 4 months in job corp and studying any random technical thing just to be able to gain the hours and be elligible to join the marines when i'd rather just join directly and invest that time in bmt and my future mliitary career and instead of starting in 4 months be graduating from bmt in 4 months=)!

another of my friends is so lucky he got in with no ged because he got a waiver since he got a 82 on asvab and also they put him on some program that he gets his ged while in bmt or sumthin of that sort was what he told me.

PLEASE I DONT WANT TO WASTE ANYMORE TIME IF I WOULD OF JOINED ORIGINALLY WHEN I WAS 17/18 I WOULD OF HAD MY CRITICAL CARE NURSE CAREER MOST LIKELY AND BE SERVING AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE MARINES (OR EVEN SERVING AND MY LIFE WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER AND EXCITING, AND HAVE SO MUCH MORE PURPOSE RIGHT NOW BEING A MARINE AND BEING ONE OF THE FEW THAT GETS TO PROTECT HIS COUNTRY WITH HIS LIFE, AS WELL AS HAVING SOMETHING THTA WILL MAKE ME MORE ESSENTIAL IN MY CRITICAL CARE NURSE CAREER =(. DONT WANT TO WASTE ANYMORE TIME I WANT TO HAVE MY CAREER ON TRACK BY 25 AND THE MARINES WILL MAKE THAT A REALIZATION AS WELL AS IMPROVE MANY OF MY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE. I WANT THAT CHANGE I SEE IN OTHER BMT GRADUATES. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR BETTER/MORE ECONOMICAL OR FASTER ROUTES TO ACHIEVING MY GOAL WILL BE HAPPILY APPRECIATED. I DONT CARE IF I HAVE TO WAIT 2 MORE YEARS JUST TO GET IT BUT I PREFER NOT TO WASTE ANYMORE TIME IM ALREADY 22. i wanna be on the right track already no more deviating what i feel is what im meant to be as life keeps leading me right back to the same door ive refused to enter in the past.

SGT7477
01-09-11, 07:10 PM
Way too long for me, maybe Sparkie can help you out, btw it's Marine or Marines, Semper Fidelis.

Lisa 23
01-09-11, 07:22 PM
Talk with a recruiter face to face.

EGA1957
01-09-11, 07:27 PM
With this as a "plan," my career goal is to be a critical care nurse(ER), be able to save lives and deal to the best of my ability in situations of great emergency and pressure, going into the Marines would NOT be a step in recognizing that plan.

Why not seek employment at a medical care facility and work toward getting an RN certification outside work hours (such as an AA in Nursing)?

Then, if you receive an RN certification, then maybe the Navy or Army would accept you.

iwant2BMarine
01-10-11, 12:02 PM
how would Marines not help in a critical care nurse job?:devious: <br />
<br />
im a bookworm when it comes to science so i can deal and easily pass anything in college for that field but i want more than...

iwant2BMarine
01-10-11, 12:12 PM
i apologize for writing another essay ^:scared:...my lease is up soon and i have to figure my next move out very soon thats all, and im gonna quit this slave job as well im tired of being in dead end job/situation i want something thats gonna be great for my future, give me the changes im looking for and that will give me a higher purpose in life, like:
"fighting our countrys battle in the air, on land and sea,
first for right and freedom, and to keep our honor clean
i'd be PROUD to claim the title of United States Marine:iwo:

JMartinez
01-10-11, 12:44 PM
Just go for it! Do what you think is best for youself.Earning the title United States Marine is by far the best experience that ever happened to me! The friends that I made in the Marine Corps are my friends for life actually they are family.

iwant2BMarine
01-10-11, 12:58 PM
i admire that too...no matter which Marine you speak to, they all say the same^^^
->takin ASVAB tomorrow maybe if my score is high enough the Marine recruiter will change his mind hehe...shooting for 80 or better.

is the ASVAB the same exam for all branches, or is that also harder in the Marines?

EGA1957
01-10-11, 01:43 PM
In that recent tragedy in Tucson, there seems to be a lot of recognition given to a &quot;by-stander&quot; who not only took charge of what to do, BUT his skill and composure and leadership UNDER DURESS may...

sparkie
01-10-11, 03:01 PM
Way too long for me, maybe Sparkie can help you out, btw it's Marine or Marines, Semper Fidelis.

Don't load that onto me, Bro. The 1st paragraph gave me a headache.

advanced
01-10-11, 03:05 PM
how would Marines not help in a critical care nurse job?:devious:


ANYWAY THANKS FOR NO GOOD ADVICE.... to the people that actually bothered on reading my long essay...to just tell me to try something else.

i decided i am going to join the National Guard becuase i spoke to a recruiter and he said he has 125 slots open for ged holders and that if i hurry up he can reserve one for me. i will score above 75 on the ASVAB this im sure of. this recruiter made an exception since he knows i have no days off til week after the next

FOR WHOEVER TOLD ME TO SEE A RECRUITER IN PERSON...

HOWEVER I STILL WANT TO BE A MARINE!!!!!!!!! S

You disrespectful little shiit. How dare you disrespect Marines that are attempting to help a little twit like you. I don't believe you belong in our Marine Corps. You think you've got it all figured out, all you are is a drop-out that thinks he's conned his recruiter.

If you think it's hard for you now, you have no idea what Parris Island is like. You can't quit there. All of your sentences are in the negative. Go join the National Guard because they'll take you. Of course they'll take anyone.

You're not fit so just go away.

P.S. No one cares for you long-winded posts either.

JMartinez
01-10-11, 03:33 PM
All right then listen (iwant2BMarine). Do not come in to a Marine website domain and compare us to the National Guard. To be honest with you the National Guard is not in the same league. In the Marine Corps you earn everything it is not given or promised. If you want to be a Marine then you must earn it. You have a lot of Marines that have been disrespected by your comments.

03Mike
01-10-11, 03:57 PM
how would Marines not help in a critical care nurse job?



Just to settle down a bit... if you want military training to be a nurse or any kind of medical professional, then the Marines aren't going to be able to help you. All of the medical personnel who serve with the Marines are US Navy personnel. Yes, as a Marine you'll get basic first aid training, and if you are an infantryman (or several other MOSs) you'll learn some trauma specific first aid.

So, just to be clear - the combat medics in the Marine Corps are actually U.S. Navy Corpsmen. The surgeons who operate on Marines are, by and large, U.S. Navy doctors.

That's what these Marines meant when they questioned how the Marine Corps would particularly help you become a critical care nurse.

Now, one quick note... in order to be a nurse in the military, you have to possess a bachelor's degree. An associates degree in nursing (RN) isn't enough.

As far as enlisting in the Corps with a GED, understand that the odds are against you. The Marine Corps is a relatively smal force, and as a result, are selective in who is eligible to enlist and attempt to earn the title. The slogan "The Few, The Proud" isn't just some saying - a lot of folks try, but don't make it. During these current times, quite frankly, there are more people who want to enlist than there is room for. Congress is cutting the size of the Corps, so enlistment will become even more selective. As a result, the initial screening looks for reasons to not take someone, rather than reasons to take someone. Statisically, over the year, recruits with a GED have a higher rate of washing out of boot camp - thus, only in rare cases will a recruiter offer a slot to someone with a GED over someone with a HS diploma.

The recruiter's goal isn't to help you fulfill some dream, it's to put enough of the right people into the Corps - enough of the people who have the highest chances of success at boot camp and the highest chances of being top notch Marines. This isn't a ding on you or anyone else - I'm merely trying to lend perspective.

Sometimes, regardless of how badly someone wants something, the answer will be "no" - whether it's the Corps or college or marriage or a job -- that's life.

Figured a long post deserved a long answer...

SGT7477
01-10-11, 05:20 PM
The national guard will NOT prepare you for our bootcamp by a long shot, they don't even compare so if you want to talk army trash this isn't the place this is a Marine site, Semper Fidelis.:evilgrin:

SGT7477
01-10-11, 05:21 PM
Don't load that onto me, Bro. The 1st paragraph gave me a headache.
I got one too when he brought up the national guard,:D,Semper Fidelis.

iwant2BMarine
01-10-11, 05:29 PM
uhm i never compared you to national gaurd if you read what i put it says i know your bmt is harder i just rather go through 3 months with national guard then 3 months with college itleast national guard CAN OFFER ME something similar(comparing to a regular college!) to Marine BMT, id be putting some type of physical and military training. lol and how do i think "i con my recruiter?" i just mentioned he says he has 125 slots open for GED thats not a con. and i also mentioned i didnt want to be NG but oh well if it gets me closer to Marine i heard i can apply for for D-368.


and MIKE thank you so much your answer was exactly the type of answer and explanation i needed

and ADVANCED maybe you shouldnt of came to my post in the first place if you dont care about it or are too lazy to read the whole thing...yet you bother on commenting and responding to it. and calling me a disrespectful little sh1t WHEN THE FUK did i compare national guard to Marine my emphasis this whole post is that THE ONLY THING I WANT I DONT GIVE A FUK ABOUT NURSING, OR IF YOU THINK I SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE else... I DUNNO WHY IT KEEPS COMING UP JUST A CIVILIAN JOB IDEA I HAVE AND I ALSO MENTIONED I WAS LOOKING AT COP OR FIREFIGHTER, BUT REALLY PRIORITY OVER ALL A GIRLFRIEND A JOB MONEY HOUSE THE LOTTERY NURSE COP MY LIFE I DUN GIVE A FUK IS TO BE A UNITED STATES MARINE, NATIONAL GUARD WOULD BE A WAY AROUND MY GED ISSUE!!!!!!!!!

and dont start talkin sh1t about me being a dropout too you piece o sh1t ive been honors all my life im not a retard or a lazy person. i dropped out of highschool because i was kicked out of my house at 16 and had to work 2 jobs and sleep only 4 days a week to pay my motherfukin rent because my father "disowned me" @ 14 and my mother is on welfare and trying to support my other 3 little brothers and barely making her own rent. besides the Marine BMT and anything Marine which of course you have over me, lets compare your life to mine BEFORE JOINING THE MILITARY. i bet you had a nice little life with parents who love you and a nice extended family, and let you live with them and probably never knew what rent was til after 18 or 21 or today. you probably dont know what its like to eat a piece of bread and a chocolate shake every night for a month and that was my lunch breakfast dinner. or having your first car die in the middle of a snowstorm cus its a super hoopdy and having no family or person to turn to and waiting 18 hours in acar that turned into a fridge and getting frostbite and sick and after all that and som 1 coming to rescue still have to go to work the next day(few hours later) or not be able to make rent and getting evicted. man and thats not even the beginning ive been through so much sh1t in my life that you cant even imagine and dont feel like sharing. i can tell i have a shot. i can take anything and i KNOW I CAN MAKE IT.

BUT anyway im not one of those ppl that like to give sob story cus in the end everything just made me stronger so thank you God. thanks for those who helped with this post....those who didnt i rather you of not commented than leave smart aleck remarks or telling me to go somewhere else like you know me or assuming already "i wont make it" or "im soft". We'll see....

sparkie
01-10-11, 07:51 PM
Good I gotta say Goodby. The Marines are for the 'Big Dogs'. Let the pups lick themselves.

advanced
01-11-11, 01:36 AM
iwant2Bnationalguard - You have made it crystal clear that you are not made of the right stuff to earn the title or serve within my beloved Marine Corps. You have both anger issues and you most definitely are a whiner.

You may be a small time player on the street in Miami but the Marines here have been around the block a few times. 03Mike gave you a wonderful post, but I notice that you ignore that which you choose not to hear. And as others have posted the ng does not prepare you for the Marine Corps, it would actually make you less desirable if that is at all possible.

You have disrespected my fellow Marines on this site and you have certainly disrespected me. Don't you get it, no one here cares about your crappy life. You have been talking to real Marines and we don't care very much for your I've had it so bad story. To us you are simply a quitter with no direction in sight. BIT OF EDUCATION: In the Marine Corps the only thing lower than whale shiit is a quitter. To us to quit is to die, and I mean that literally.

And please stop trying to recite my MC hymn, you are debasing it. To you it is just words, to us it brings tears to our eyes and we will fight to the death to uphold it values.

P.S. As hard as you think your life is now, it don't mean nothin. At Parris Island you become born again hard.

There, I was gentle this time.

iwant2BMarine
01-11-11, 11:20 AM
lol well i believe i have all the info i need after asking around and doing my own research. wether you like it or not im gonna be in soon. ill let my actions do the talking.

p.s.
i love you guys attitudes:evilgrin:
....and im not being sarcastic.


BYE!:cool:

Lisa 23
01-11-11, 11:32 AM
Going in the NG doesn't mean you can get into the Marine Corps....it's not as easy as you may think or have been told.

There are many who do not require any waivers of any kind who will get into the Marine Corps long before you do.

Oh, and try using spell check.

EGA1957
01-11-11, 12:50 PM
lol well i believe i have all the info i need after asking around and doing my own research. ... im gonna be in soon. ... .
BYE!:cool:
Chalk up another one for the good guys.

An interested bystander came to the "table," asked around, got what he was looking for as far as informative direction, and left as a satisfied customer.

Glad we could be of help.

iwant2BMarine
01-11-11, 01:44 PM
yes i know unfortunately they said most likely the d 368 form wouldnt get approved that its not as easy as it sounds(ya'll were right i was just mad cus all the obstacles and denials ive been getting has been frustrating).
i spoke to an actual Marine recruiter because the place i went to had army, national guard, navy and Marine recruiters so i could speak to both at the same time which was convenient. i dont wanna wait til school in january(a whole year from now and then go through 4 months/semester).

SO!.. just to let you guys know im going to job corp next month....ill be ther for 3 or 4 months depending on how fast i can get the 675 clock hours and then im good to go i become tier I and im single no kids no wife no criminal background never been arrested no medical problems no drugs live on my own, i did track for 3 years so running im pretty good(top 3 in highschool, but 1st out of my grade, before dropping out) and the first physical assessment situps pushups and the 2 mile run ive been doing almost every day this month before or after work so there shouldnt be any more obstacles getting in the way after that except seeing if the bootcamp will make me or break me=), looking forward to it and the amazing transformation ive seen in other Marines i know. theyll be nothing left but to prove myself in 4 months. =)))

advanced
01-12-11, 10:21 AM
I guess you're showing me you little twit. All you need is someone in your corner piissing you off. I can't believe you've never been arrested (I'm also an X-Cop), I guess you didn't get caught.

If you do what you say, come back here and I'll be the first to call you Marine. But, reality check, I'll probably never hear from you again so I'll forget you.

P.S. I came out of the streets of NY myself at 17 - I'm still standing.

SGT7477
01-12-11, 01:04 PM
You will never make it to our famous yellow footprints,lol,is it true the army uses pink footprints? Semper Fidelis

iwant2BMarine
01-12-11, 01:54 PM
ok so then im just like you came out of streets of NYC at 16. And just like you im persuing what i believe is a honorable career with the Marines instead and im still standing, stronger than before.(100% on my own still, 5 1/2 years later).

And get caught for what i've never committed any crime. my worst offense in my life is driving with a suspended license (which i wasnt aware of).

Fact is things can be harder when you do things the right way if not i could of easily taken routes ex-friends have and start making that fast money or being a bum instead of the constant struggle i had to put up with just to make ends meet. But no matter the odds i do w.e to survive and make it the legal way. Got good at it too i reported 14k at age of 16, 24k @ 17, 34k 18, 42k at 19, 48k at 20 and 55k at 21. Not that many people i know my age are willing to put in the work i have or accomplished things i have. yeah i may of had to work 70 hours a week some weeks but i still made it. im willing to do what it takes til the end. Nothing in my life has came easy. Not even my "childhood" if you want to call it that.

But alright sounds good i already saved a copy of this forum in my email couple days ago...its motivating and i want to have a hitlist to came back to and show off my success for when i do make it.(advanced you keep advancing higher on that list)

p.s. I know you think i have anger issues but im always smiling when typing up my respond to you.:cool:

Sgt Leprechaun
01-12-11, 06:16 PM
First, your grammar SUCKS.

Second, you don't come into MY house and disrespect Marines. Period.

That just bought you a 7 day vacation. THAT will give you time to research the site and determine your next course of action.

Be glad I'm not tossing your punk-azz out of here permanantly.

Also, YOU screwed up your OWN life. Not us. YOU chose to drop out of HS, etc etc etc. Don't come here with some sort of sense of entitlement just because you take up oxygen on the earth and Oprah tells you you are 'special'. News flash....you ain't.

IF you return to my happy little kingdom, I expect full on respect, humility, and a use of capitalization, spell check, and whatever else it takes for those of us with a High School diploma, to READ your posts. Otherwise, I will summarily delete same as I've done here.

Life is tough....it's tougher if you are stupid. Look that up. Live it.

And the ONLY reason this particular thread still exists at all is as a warning to others.