Up and Coming!

[Patrick8605]

Just wanted to say that my cousin is signing up and scheduled to ship out in December. OOH-RAHH for him!!!

[CrazyBrave83]

Congrats to your cousin on taking the first step! I also am shipping out for Parris Island in December. Where is he going to Boot? What's his actual ship date? Thanks.

-Poolee Sullivan

[Patrick8605]

He'll be going to Parris Island for Boot, I'm not sure of his exact ship out date because he just told me today. He should know soon though.

[Sixguns]

The ship date is also known as a PADD (projected active duty date) and is determined at the time of enlistment and swearing into the DEP at MEPS. Best wishes to your cousin as he prepares to join the brotherhood.

SIXGUNS

[Watchstander75]

Apparently the Corps ain't hurting for young lads who want
to earn The Title. My eldest has had two setbacks in the last week on his ship date to PI......The Recruiter indicated that the local RS had to slow down as Receiving @ PI was maxed out..........
The original ship date was 8/3, the 8/5 and now looks like 8/10......I explained that this was just the first of a long string of very valuble axioms......"Hurry Up and Wait" . Sound familiar?
Sure wasn't like this in the Old Corps. Oooh Raaah.

[ProtectnServe]

eh my original ship date was supposed to be August 4th, and I got pushed back to the 25th, I'm wondering if pooleewomack got pushed back as well

[Patrick8605]

I have a quick question. What do people in the Marines think about those witha GED?

[Dan_Mills]

Re: GED's. Actually they are not supposed to think anything different, but in the back of their mind is the thought that, "Failed in his 1st test, couldn't/wouldn't suck it up and finish." Hey Watchstander75, "Old Corps"?:p

[firstsgtmike]

You're talking about two points in time, and I can only answer for one of them.

I don't know if current recruiting regulations make a distinction between a regular and a GED diploma in order to enlist.

Once at MCRD, and beyond, no one will know, unless you tell them, and I doubt if anyone will really care.

I earned my GED while in the Marine Corps, and in 1968 I was one of twenty five Marines selected for a two year college program.

[Patrick8605]

Well I'm at the point where I sick of school and I had a talk with my dad. He told me that since I want to go so bad I should just get my GED and he'll sign me up. I think thats what I'm gonna do.

[JChristin]

Patrick8605,

I hope that you really consider the actions of not earning your high school diploma and settling for a GED. It may affect your career opportunities later in life. This is a serious point.

When I was in high school, and always in trouble, I wanted to quit school. My mother, God bless her, set her foot down like I have never seen her. She was red in the face. Good old Mom was adamant that I earn my diploma. She said if I ever did anything with my life it was going to get that piece of paper. **** me off!

Thank goodness I was blessed with a wonderful mother who really cared. A few years later when I joined the Marine Corps, guess what? Females where required to have a high school diploma, a GED was not good enough. How many times I thanked my Mom for leading me towards doing that which was right. She passed away a few years ago. How blessed I was to have her.

Time passes quickly. I hope that you will stick it out in school. Think long-term gain versus short term want. Before you know it, you could earn that piece of paper that states "High School Diploma." I hope you will not settle for second best. In todays world, you may end up selling yourself short.

Know what is better than winning?

Nothing.

semper fi,
jchristin

[Lake0300]

Patrick,
Although the Marines WILL let you in with a GED. Its somewhat rare. The question asked was "What do Marines think about those with a GED?" You have to get in with a GED first. I believe they gave the recruiters a 5% allowance with GED graduates this year. So your chances of even getting in with a GED are slim and none. :-/

I agree with JChristin to a point, you're a lot better off with a Diploma then you are with a GED. You have to think about life AFTER the Corps. And that includes finding a job with a GED? I hope you like McDonalds man. At the same time, if YOU DO choose a GED. That doesnt make you "second best" or any less of a person than anyone whos earned their diploma. You'll find that Marines are respected through rank, and rank is earned through the content of your character.

Finish High School, you've made it this far, spent so many years cramming work, or in my case copying it. So just finish what you started.

[JChristin]

I wasn't implying that a GED makes the person "second" best. I was stating that a GED is second best to a high school diploma. That would imply that having neither is third best. Any person with or without a degree is just as equal, where human concerns are regarded, as everyone else. I refer you to the United States Consititution.

For female Marines, at least when I entered the Marine Corps required the top notch piece of paper. The requirements for the male Marines where not as strict. uhmmm...scent of discrimination, but that was how the game was written and played then. Sixguns or those more current on the rules of today could answer these types of questions for you.

Lake0300 is right on the point by stating, "you're a lot better off with a Diploma then you are with a GED."

semper fi,
jchristin

[thedrifter]

Patrick8605

I do beleve You need to Stop and Re-Think You Actions, because it will effect You for the Rest of Your Life.....
Education is a Major Tool in Everybodies Life.....
There is No Short-Cuts.....
You Must Work Hard to Achieve and bring out Your Best Qualities.....
Those Qualities are Needed and Wanted in Our Beloved Corps.....

So I hope You Stop, Read the Advice Given and Rethink Your Decision.....

I do believe Sixguns has covered this topic already, so why don't you look over the posts till he is able to answer your question........

MARINES Never Quit........


The Drifter
:marine:

[Sixguns]

Don't be a quitter. If you think school is tough and you can't handle it, you need to question what you will do when training and life as a Marine gets too tough. There is a difference between a traditional High School Diploma and a GED. The Corps has restrictions on how many GEDs it can enlist, usually less than two percent of all annual enlistments. Essentially, you would be fighting to get one of 600 GED slots nationally. Most Recruiting Station commanders are very picky about who they give these slots too. Sometimes those who score higher on the ASVAB get them. Sometimes those who are willing to ship in December get them. Too many variables with the GED route. Stay in school and get your regular diploma. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble when you try to enlist.

SIXGUNS

[Sixguns]

Here's one last question to ask yourself when considering quitting school to get a GED.

IF YOU QUIT SCHOOL, WHAT WILL YOU QUIT NEXT????

Everything becomes easier to quit when you start by quitting school. You essentially have set a precedent that will plague you for the rest of your life. Soon you will be quitting jobs, quitting goals you once had and quitting to give a damn about all that was ever important. Don't start down that path.


SIXGUNS

[firstsgtmike]

Patrick,

In all of the responses you received to your Diploma or GED question, there are opportunities to ask "Yes, but what if.........?" "Suppose that........?" "What about ...........?"

EXCEPT for one point made by Sixguns the resident expert, for which there is NO argument.

600 openings PER YEAR for GED holders.

Being ultra conservative, I'd say there were 1,800 Recruiters. That means one out of three recruiters is allowed to enlist one GED applicant PER YEAR.

A three-man recruiting office would be allowed to enlist one GED holder per year. That slot will usually go to the neediest, and not necessarily to the most deserving with the highest scores.

A case in point. During the Vietnam era, we were limited as to the number of 17 year olds we could accept. I attended monthly conferences of all the Recruiters in the greater San Francisco Bay area. To get a slot for a 17 year old, we had to justify why this applicant and not that one. Sometimes, it even came down to; "You had the last one, now it's my turn."

Three Recruiters fighting over one GED slot per year?

If you're feeling lucky, buy a lottery ticket.

Stay in school, tough it out, and use your time wisely.

[Patrick8605]

Well...I'm not a quiter so I'm not saying I'm quiting school. I'm homeschooled so wether or not I get my GED I'm still considered a Tier II. Its just something I wanted to get some feedback on. Thanks.

[greensideout]

Getting your High School Diploma is good advice!

Why? It allows you to be a kid longer. Don't know that it really means more then that now. When I was recruiting in 1986 I had an applicant who had flunked all but 2 courses in his last three years of high school. Did he receive a diploma? Yes! It's value---?

I received my GED in the Marine Corps. Was always promoted ahead of my peers. Given training opportunities ahead of my peers. Etc--. Graduated from college with a 3.8 GPA.

I guess that what I am trying to say to you is that a piece of paper won't make you any more or less of a person. It will always be up to you to learn and achieve.

Stay in school, have fun and achieve. (Fun is the best part, you will miss it.)

GSO

[lurchenstein]

Patrick8605,
I was at a similar crossroads 30 years ago before my senior year in high school (entered DEP in Aug. 1973). My dad signed for me so I was free to choose between finishing school or just going on to Bootcamp. The Marine Corps recruiter encouraged me to finish high school and I decided it would be better to finish (shipped 3 days after mid-term graduation). I understand a high school diploma doesn't guarantee good math skills, writing skills or reading comprehension; however, good skills in those areas can only help you in Bootcamp & MOS schools. (This is based on my observations as a student and instructor for several years at C&E School, MCAGCC 29 Palms & a tour of Inspector-Instructor duty with a Reserve Training Detachment.) You had plenty of good feedback here; however, hope this nudges you closer to finishing what you've started and being better prepared for the reading, writing, and 'rithmetic part of Marine Corps training.

[Phantom Blooper]

Does your H.S. offer early graduation? One of my children graduated in December one year before the holiday break,she had the credentials that she needed to persue her life and she had the option of going back to commencement ceremonies ect.and walk across the stage with her classmates if she chose. Tough it out young man or look into other options to get a H.S. diploma. Many fine people have a GED but........ To reinterate a little- If you are sick of H.S. what happens in bootcamp and your enlistment career? I.E. Service schools.......... "I already know everything, pertaining to my MOS, Sgt. Instructor.............May I get my certificate before the rest of my class,so I can move on to my first duty station?........I think not ..Not in my Corps! Think it over carefully and weigh your options before you quit! Semper-Fi! Chuck Hall:marine:

[Sixguns]

FirstSgtMike,

You are really close on those numbers and have helped to explain how tough it is to get a GED slot.


SIXGUNS

[Patrick8605]

Thanks for all the feedback.

To Phantom Blooper and everyone else, thanks. I'm not in regular school though, I'm homeschooled. But with what you all have told me I'm not going to get my GED. If I start this other homeschool program I'll only need 4 of 5 credits to graduate....So thats what I'm going to do. Like I said before I'm not a quiter.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[firstsgtmike]

Patrick,

You made the right choice!

In a way, I guess I was home-schooled too. I spent more time at home than I did in school, except we called it playing hooky.

When we were absent from school, we needed a note from our parents before we could return to class.

SOP was to bring an envelope and paper to school and have a friend write the note.

One day I was called to the principal's office. My mother was there. When told that I had been absent 67 days that term, she obected and said it was only one or two days.

Out came the notes. She looked for ones with her handwriting, and found two. She asked about the others.

The principal told her that according to the other notes, my grandfather had died six times that term, my grandmother four, enough aunts and uncles to wipe eliminate a family tree, and I suffered from every disease known to man.

But, the capper was;

"Dear Mr. Vian,

Please excuse my son, Michael, for being absent from school yesterday. He had cancer.

-------------
Thanks for the memory.