DallasGuy
03-04-11, 03:09 PM
Hello Marines,
I know most of you are aware of my age waiver to enlist in the Marine Corps. My recruiter advised me to get ready to ship to San Diego ASAP because of my age and the fact I'm not a polee nor in the DEP.
I'm shipping Monday, I just passed the final medical and drug exam at MEPS today and I'm ready to go. My recruiter will pick me up sometime Sunday (I don't know if he's going to take me to the airport or a hotel, I'm so excited I forgot to ask, I don't care where he's taking me on Sunday).
Monday February 28 was my last day at work and since then I have been working out, running 3 miles a day and getting ready for boot camp. I have been hanging out at the recruiting station at least two hours a day per my recruiter request and I have been helping some polees with their pullups. I have learned new Marine Corps language like "dress", "chow", "mess hall", "trousers", "trash", etc. and trying to learn everything about the Marines and boot camp these last two weeks. I'm not taking anything to boot camp except the clothes I''ll wear that day, the package my recruiter will give me on Sunday and my wallet with my driver's license, Green Card, SS Card and one debit card (just in case) along with a list of phone numbers and addresses. My recruiter said everything else will be provided at boot camp (underwear, toiletries). A polee was nagging the other day because he won't be able to take his iPod with him and won't be able to check his email or Facebook. These kids! I feel lots of sympathy for the recruiters, they have to put up with a lot of crap from these kids. But I wouldn't mind being assigned to recruiting duty if I ever switch from Reserves to Active Duty.
I kind of know what to expect at boot camp (I know, I won't know for real until I step on the yellow footsteps). I've been getting up at 5am every day since my age waiver was approved, been preparing mentally to the pressure the DI's will put on me, been working out and running daily. I know I have to memorize my rifle's serial number and recite a pledge to that rifle (I've been trying to memorize it the last two days), been studying Marine Corps history. The Marines at the recruiting station have helped me tremendously with all my questions and I have talked to a couple of Marines who just graduated from boot camp and are assisting in recruiting duty, they shared many stories about boot camp and what to expect.
I'm leaving everything in order for the next 12 months. From the mortgage payments, to the HOA fees, to monthly bills/credit card payments and who will watch my house while I'm gone. My recruiter said it could be up to 9 months between boot camp, MCT and MOS school so I'm leaving everything ready for up to a year, just in case. My job will keep my position for up to a year and it will be nice I will get paid while I'm gone (finances are not an issue for me but any amount of money helps). My recruiter also explained I have a 10 day leave after boot camp so it would be a good time to catch up with everything back home but I would rather worry about earning the title and worry about the rest later. My recruiter also explained I won't be able to take my POV to my MOS school in Camp Leujene but that's fine.
One last thing, on the thread Sgt. Lepruchan (???) closed a few days ago (about my age waiver) I would like add a couple of things:
-Age waivers are really hard to get. It has to be an extraordinary event in your life that kept you from enlisting in the Corps before age 29. In my case, the only reason why I got the waiver is because the Commander knew I only had a Work Permit prior 2010 and my Green Card was issued in 2010. If my Green Card was issued before 2009 (before I turned 29) he would have rejected my age waiver request no matter how fit and qualified I was.
-Another point on my favor was that I did NOT have any involvement with the law, not even a traffic ticket. I'm not married, no kids, have no criminal record, no tattoos or piercings, no drug and medical history and I'm financially solvent. If I had at least one of those, my recruiter and his Gunnery Sergeant would have rejected my request on the spot and my age waiver request would not have ever made it to the Commander. According to them, the Commander said 90% of his decision was about the Green Card and the rest was how clean and fit I was and the recruiters recommendation to grant me the age waiver. Once again, in order to get the age waiver, it has to be a special case and my case was one of those. With that said, I will not bring this subject again on this board unless a Marine here requests it.
Anyway, I might post here before Sunday but if I don't, hopefully the next time I'm here I will be a Marine. Thanks Marines for your time and attention. Have a great day.
P.S. I can't wait for boot camp.
I know most of you are aware of my age waiver to enlist in the Marine Corps. My recruiter advised me to get ready to ship to San Diego ASAP because of my age and the fact I'm not a polee nor in the DEP.
I'm shipping Monday, I just passed the final medical and drug exam at MEPS today and I'm ready to go. My recruiter will pick me up sometime Sunday (I don't know if he's going to take me to the airport or a hotel, I'm so excited I forgot to ask, I don't care where he's taking me on Sunday).
Monday February 28 was my last day at work and since then I have been working out, running 3 miles a day and getting ready for boot camp. I have been hanging out at the recruiting station at least two hours a day per my recruiter request and I have been helping some polees with their pullups. I have learned new Marine Corps language like "dress", "chow", "mess hall", "trousers", "trash", etc. and trying to learn everything about the Marines and boot camp these last two weeks. I'm not taking anything to boot camp except the clothes I''ll wear that day, the package my recruiter will give me on Sunday and my wallet with my driver's license, Green Card, SS Card and one debit card (just in case) along with a list of phone numbers and addresses. My recruiter said everything else will be provided at boot camp (underwear, toiletries). A polee was nagging the other day because he won't be able to take his iPod with him and won't be able to check his email or Facebook. These kids! I feel lots of sympathy for the recruiters, they have to put up with a lot of crap from these kids. But I wouldn't mind being assigned to recruiting duty if I ever switch from Reserves to Active Duty.
I kind of know what to expect at boot camp (I know, I won't know for real until I step on the yellow footsteps). I've been getting up at 5am every day since my age waiver was approved, been preparing mentally to the pressure the DI's will put on me, been working out and running daily. I know I have to memorize my rifle's serial number and recite a pledge to that rifle (I've been trying to memorize it the last two days), been studying Marine Corps history. The Marines at the recruiting station have helped me tremendously with all my questions and I have talked to a couple of Marines who just graduated from boot camp and are assisting in recruiting duty, they shared many stories about boot camp and what to expect.
I'm leaving everything in order for the next 12 months. From the mortgage payments, to the HOA fees, to monthly bills/credit card payments and who will watch my house while I'm gone. My recruiter said it could be up to 9 months between boot camp, MCT and MOS school so I'm leaving everything ready for up to a year, just in case. My job will keep my position for up to a year and it will be nice I will get paid while I'm gone (finances are not an issue for me but any amount of money helps). My recruiter also explained I have a 10 day leave after boot camp so it would be a good time to catch up with everything back home but I would rather worry about earning the title and worry about the rest later. My recruiter also explained I won't be able to take my POV to my MOS school in Camp Leujene but that's fine.
One last thing, on the thread Sgt. Lepruchan (???) closed a few days ago (about my age waiver) I would like add a couple of things:
-Age waivers are really hard to get. It has to be an extraordinary event in your life that kept you from enlisting in the Corps before age 29. In my case, the only reason why I got the waiver is because the Commander knew I only had a Work Permit prior 2010 and my Green Card was issued in 2010. If my Green Card was issued before 2009 (before I turned 29) he would have rejected my age waiver request no matter how fit and qualified I was.
-Another point on my favor was that I did NOT have any involvement with the law, not even a traffic ticket. I'm not married, no kids, have no criminal record, no tattoos or piercings, no drug and medical history and I'm financially solvent. If I had at least one of those, my recruiter and his Gunnery Sergeant would have rejected my request on the spot and my age waiver request would not have ever made it to the Commander. According to them, the Commander said 90% of his decision was about the Green Card and the rest was how clean and fit I was and the recruiters recommendation to grant me the age waiver. Once again, in order to get the age waiver, it has to be a special case and my case was one of those. With that said, I will not bring this subject again on this board unless a Marine here requests it.
Anyway, I might post here before Sunday but if I don't, hopefully the next time I'm here I will be a Marine. Thanks Marines for your time and attention. Have a great day.
P.S. I can't wait for boot camp.