View Full Version : New to the forums, need some input.
Hey, My names Alex and I live in Massachusetts about 15 minutes north of Boston. I'm new to the forums and decided I'd create an account as I have some questions regarding my experience in the Marine Corps.
I DEP'd into the Marines on June 2, 2007 and since then haven't chosen a job. I can say that I thought I really wanted to do Security Forces for a while but now I'm having some lingering doubts and thoughts. I have a friend in FAST Company and another who was a TOW Gunner. The TOW Gunner now works at Raytheon with a good job after going to college with the assistance of the Montgomery GI Bill and the one in FAST is now basically a mercenary working with Blackwater doing VERY well for himself. Both of them ended up with great carreers and said the Marines was the best decision of their lives.
I, on the other hand, am kind of stuck with what I really want to do. I love to travel, and would like to do so as much as the Corps. lets me. I don't mind being deployed to Iraq, thats pretty much an inevitability anyways. I really want to go to Japan, as I may choose to live there some day. So being stationed in Okinawa would be something I'd be VERY interested in. Does any MOS have the opportunity to go there? I was also told by my recruiter that the high security clearance given to those in Security Forces and Intel and such is very viable and something that is great to have. My ASVAB score was an 84 and I have NO drug use or police involvement in my lifetime. Honest truth. My interests so far were: Military Police, Intel, Security Forces, TOW Gunner (0352), and Combat Engineer. I'd like to learn more about combat engineers and trust me, I have done extensive research on "about.com" and have google-d all of these MOS's. I just would like some more personal feedback on the topic at hand. I have to choose my job in a few days so some comments would be really appreciated. I know I want to be a Marine 100%, it's just the job I'm truly unsure about. Life after the Corps. is also important to me, ya know? I would like a job like that of Raytheon or another corporation that isn't too strenuous. I want to have all the adventure and fun while in the Marines. I also would like to meet some great people and develop some friends, thats also very important to me.
I know it was a bit of a long message, but I'm new to the boards and would love if some of you could provide me with some information. Thanks a bunch.
Cheers,
Varium
Guess I haven't inspired anyone to respond. You can't tell me no one has any of these jobs, or would like to share their advice/personal experiences. Any MP's? TOW Gunners? Combat engineers? Security Force-ers?
Help a poolee out!
Chumley
07-11-07, 02:30 PM
Varium,
Ahhh to be young and blindly ambitious again. Your desire to enter into the Marine Corps and to accept the MOSs you list is certainly commendable. I hope you actually measure up, because you've picked some of the hardest and more exclusive areas we have. These fields certainly need people like you, dedicated to being MARINES first, crazy enough to want action all the time, and intelligent and strong enough to pull it off and survive.
HOWEVER, I might suggest a slightly more balanced approach. First of all, if you are thinking about your future after the Corps, private militarys, while somewhat lucrative, offer zero real benefits like health insurance or a retirement - and, oh yeah - your odds of survival go way down. You are on the right track to be thinking ahead to life after the USMC though. TOW gunners, very valuable to the Corps are barely sought after in the civilian world, unless you get a degree and learn to make them too.
Sounds like your successful friends mostly incorporated their brains to attain degrees that got them good jobs and careers post USMC. There is no secret - hard work and a good game plan win most often. Your friends were Marines who learned how to succeed and survive in the worst environments, and most employers love to have us. Therefore, my advice: Optimize your odds for success but taking advantage of technolgical fields that will start your military career off with something strong to fall back on, just in case you don't actually stick around for 20 plus years.
You are young after all, and most Marines do not retire. Your recruiter may not have mentioned that many of the most technical MOSs have enlistment BONUSes too!! Hmmmm. If you do really cut the mustard (PS - you will not know this until after you've actually made it through boot camp, Infantry school, MOS school, eventually NCO school) - you can change MOS's during your career. If you go in and let's say you become fighter mechanic in an air-wing (giving you a very good paying civilian career field) you could certainly move into other fields - you could change to a TOW gunner or try out for Recon, etc. My good friend is still in - going on 18 years now. He was an accountant first (yes I said accountant), then a DI, picked up Gunny, picked up Warrant Officer, has been to Iraq twice. All I'm saying is that it's not all glory being a grunt.
Take the first steps first. Once you are in, instead of doing what myself and most of my best Jarhead friends did ie spending every waking moment in the bars and strip clubs, try dedicating your free time and money towards getting a degree or two (well, occaisionally strippers, but, I digress). My last roommate now makes over $200K a year as a software programmer - he always had a book in his hand back then, and somehow still had time to drink and chase tail.
PS - no offense intended to my 03 brothers, but my best advice is to develop into an MOS that has a more civilian friendly side. Once you are a Marine, you can almost always slide into a police job, a security job, and a number of other roles, so why not do yourself a favor and get the free technical expertise. My bro who is a M1A1 Crew Chief is also a Microsoft Certified Network Specialist amongst other things, because his tank is run by MSWindows (kinda, but you get my point). Don't just settle to be good with weapons-start there, and move on.
PS - Unless it's changed, all Marines must do at least 1 year in Okinawa every eight years. Sometimes it varies, but you would likely get there more than once in a career. Join the Marines, see the world, travel to new and exotic places, meet new people, and kill them. Good luck on your long term objectives!
Chumley
Chumley
07-11-07, 02:34 PM
Varium,
Ahhh to be young and blindly ambitious again. Your desire to enter into the Marine Corps and to accept the MOSs you list is certainly commendable. I hope you actually measure up, because you've picked some of the hardest and more exclusive areas we have. These fields certainly need people like you, dedicated to being MARINES first, crazy enough to want action all the time, and intelligent and strong enough to pull it off and survive.
HOWEVER, I might suggest a slightly more balanced approach. First of all, if you are thinking about your future after the Corps, private militarys, while somewhat lucrative, offer zero real benefits like health insurance or a retirement - and, oh yeah - your odds of survival go way down. You are on the right track to be thinking ahead to life after the USMC though. TOW gunners, very valuable to the Corps are barely sought after in the civilian world, unless you get a degree and learn to make them too.
Sounds like your successful friends mostly incorporated their brains to attain degrees that got them good jobs and careers post USMC. There is no secret - hard work and a good game plan win most often. Your friends were Marines who learned how to succeed and survive in the worst environments, and most employers love to have us. Therefore, my advice: Optimize your odds for success but taking advantage of technolgical fields that will start your military career off with something strong to fall back on, just in case you don't actually stick around for 20 plus years.
You are young after all, and most Marines do not retire. Your recruiter may not have mentioned that many of the most technical MOSs have enlistment BONUSes too!! Hmmmm. If you do really cut the mustard (PS - you will not know this until after you've actually made it through boot camp, Infantry school, MOS school, eventually NCO school) - you can change MOS's during your career. If you go in and let's say you become fighter mechanic in an air-wing (giving you a very good paying civilian career field) you could certainly move into other fields - you could change to a TOW gunner or try out for Recon, etc. My good friend is still in - going on 18 years now. He was an accountant first (yes I said accountant), then a DI, picked up Gunny, picked up Warrant Officer, has been to Iraq twice. All I'm saying is that it's not all glory being a grunt.
Take the first steps first. Once you are in, instead of doing what myself and most of my best Jarhead friends did ie spending every waking moment in the bars and strip clubs, try dedicating your free time and money towards getting a degree or two (well, occaisionally strippers, but, I digress). My last roommate now makes over $200K a year as a software programmer - he always had a book in his hand back then, and somehow still had time to drink and chase tail.
PS - no offense intended to my 03 brothers, but my best advice is to develop into an MOS that has a more civilian friendly side. Once you are a Marine, you can almost always slide into a police job, a security job, and a number of other roles, so why not do yourself a favor and get the free technical expertise. My bro who is a M1A1 Crew Chief is also a Microsoft Certified Network Specialist amongst other things, because his tank is run by MSWindows (kinda, but you get my point). Don't just settle to be good with weapons-start there, and move on.
PS - Unless it's changed, all Marines must do at least 1 year in Okinawa every eight years. Sometimes it varies, but you would likely get there more than once in a career. Join the Marines, see the world, travel to new and exotic places, meet new people, and kill them. Good luck on your long term objectives!
Chumley
Was going to post but Chad hit the nail on the head...freaken great post with excellent advise...What Chad is saying is what most of us learn as we get older and wiser, good post brother.
killerinstinct
07-11-07, 04:38 PM
there are alot of jobs that go to oki or mainland japan...
Mainland japan is an airstation so mainly to do with aircraft iwakuni. theres an airbase in oki too but the f-18's are mainly on iwakuni since for some reason on c-130's and helos fly out of futenma.
anyways i loved oki and the water is just awesome. also mainland is awesome too just in a different way better public transport and stuff..
check it all out and read about the bases on their websites to find a bit mor about the units etc.
also in your school you can request east coast west coast overseas and more than likely overseas is japan
chili77bowl
07-11-07, 07:31 PM
ok, time for me to put in my 10 yen
1. Go 03XX. greatest job field and you WILL travel.
2. Okinawa Sucks! I can't wait to leave "The Rock"
3. If you ain't 03XX infantry, then you are just support.
sgt tony
07-11-07, 08:53 PM
As most have said if you are looking at travel the most it will be 03 grunt or Air wing. You can get some of the best training in the Wing and you can get some sweet jobs when you get out. But if there is a possibility that you might stay then that 1st choice is one that you really want. As far at OKIE or Japan I went as a 0311 then went back again as a 1173(no longer) but I served in Maintenance shop work, Hospital (Mash like unit) in the 1100 field.
Just remember that it will be something to make a good decision.
Echo_Four_Bravo
07-11-07, 11:48 PM
Since you are planning ahead it all depends what your goals are. Blackwater is recruiting hard for former spec ops types- meaning Force Recon, Rangers, Special Forces, PJ's, CCT's, and SEALS only- need 8 years in military and at least 1 in Iraq. They are recruiting so hard that they'll pay anyone that refers an individual.
If you are wanting to work in corporate America- then picking intel is a great choice. The Top Secret clearance will do wonders for you.
If you just want to have fun, then TOW gunner is a good way to go. I spent some time with those people in the reserves after I got off of active duty. That isn't a bad job at all--- and you know you aren't walking anywhere.
Being an MP is like being a law enforcement officer outside of the military. It is a calling of sorts. You watch SWAT or COPS and see the cool things they do. They don't show you the hours of doing boring things like taking a report that someone keyed a car or sitting on the side of the road waiting on a speeder. It isn't all fun and games, but if it is for you, you wouldn't be happy doing anything else.
As for Oki, I wouldn't want to do it- but if you do it shouldn't be too difficult to get there. It isn't the most requested of locations.
Covey_Rider
07-12-07, 06:20 AM
I'm a combat engineer and I enjoy my job. As far as Blackwater goes, it's amazing the recruiting that they're doing...They're somehow managing to pull Special Forces Marines into the company before their contract is up with the Marine Corps. Chili I'm sorry but I'm going to have to partially disagree with you about Oki...I will admit that it's not the best place in the world...however I've gotten to enjoy myself and do things out here that I wouldn't have experienced in the states. I'm loving it out here so far...I can't say much however because I've only been on island for a few months. If you want to know more about being a combat engineer let me know and I'll tell you. Every other Marine here has given you excellent advice so I won't beat a dead horse with what I have to say...
Covey, thats nice that Blackwater is getting our experienced Marines before their enlistment is even up.
Covey_Rider
07-12-07, 08:07 AM
They're desperate. I'm sure the Corps is still getting use out of them...just in ways that we aren't legally allowed to.
If they are attached to Blackwater are they still technically in the Marines or what?
Chumley
07-12-07, 09:05 AM
Thanx for the compliment JETDOC! Yes we get older and wiser. Hard to believe I'm 37...had I stayed in, I'd be around E7 or so and getting real close to retirement #1. One more little piece of advice - My senior DI said in boot camp that when you get "back on the block" back home, almost all your old friends will still be there, doing the same old shtuff they always were. I did only 4 years. I came home and found out SDI SSgt Jones, PI 2056, was 100% correct. Didn't miss a freakin' thing. I still talk about a lifetime ago like it was yesterday....great times!! I always heard OKI sucked, BUT I sure wish I had been in a more deployable MOS. At least those Marines got to go to OKI to see if it sucked or not for themselves. The biggest and best side effect of being a Marine (besides the cool tattoos) is all the places you will see, all the friends you will have and some fantastic memories and stories to tell. I do advocate making a career as an 03XX or any other MOS. Even at it's worst, being a Marine is the highpoint of my life there is nothing else like it. Very few people see the world in such a short time as career Marines. Most civilians never see that opportunity. The sky's the limit Varium!
Covey_Rider
07-12-07, 09:55 AM
From what I'm told...they're contracts are terminated early in order for them to go to Blackwater. Blackwater just has that much pull with the goverment...however it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were still accepting missions from a high source within the Marine Corps. I don't see why else the Marine Corps would give up an asset like that. You don't take one of your star players and let another team have him. Just doesn't work like that.
Wow, thanks for all the responses so suddenly. I really appreciate it. I talked to the boss of my recruiting office, a SSgt, and we discussed my jobs. After a long talk I ended up choosing Security forces, then MP, and then Infantry in general (LOL). I can change my job because I have such a long time since I ship, but infantry jobs usually go quick, or so he says. He said that everyone who wants to join the Marines wants to be Infantry.
And as for TOW gunners... They're CLOSING THE MOS. :cry:
That was one of my first choices but apparently the MOS is becoming sort of antiquated. How much armor do the Iraqis have...?
So I have my three choices set up a little early, and are subject to change. I will most definitely be able to get promoted to PFC by the time I ship, June 9th of next year, and I've been helping the recruiters when I can find time. Since the boss likes me, he gave me the $50,000 college fund, which I am greatful for. I have no police involvement or drugs filed and I don't technically "need" the Marines like a lot of other messed up characters who walk into the office, and the SSgt likes that. I'm definitely counting on a very promising carreer in the Corps. and plan to go to college afterwards. Does anyone know anything about the college fund though? Like if it's applicable to all schools? Thanks again for the help.
Stay strong.
From what I'm told...they're contracts are terminated early in order for them to go to Blackwater. Blackwater just has that much pull with the goverment...however it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were still accepting missions from a high source within the Marine Corps. I don't see why else the Marine Corps would give up an asset like that. You don't take one of your star players and let another team have him. Just doesn't work like that.
Thats what I was getting at, why would the Corps give up assets like that? I hope we are still using them in some capacity.
No problemo Chumley.
rvillac2
07-12-07, 08:41 PM
Thats what I was getting at, why would the Corps give up assets like that? I hope we are still using them in some capacity.
No problemo Chumley.
They could just be on the IRR portion of their contracts.