Need Advice Regarding Joining...

[kemel]

I'm not sure where to start...

I have been interested in joining the Marine Corps for some time now. I have a recruiter, but it seems like it has been really hard to get exact answers for what I can and cannot do in the Corps.

I am squared away in every aspect besides my credit. I racked up quite a bit of debt a few years ago (around $22k) being young and foolish and unfortunately have not been able to make payments on it due to living expenses and lack of a decent job so it is all in collections now. I want to pay it back in FULL and I'm not trying to run away from it or avoid taking care of what I have done. I am trying to set up payments with my creditors and start to pay back as much as I can each month and was hoping in joining the Marine Corps and paying even more after I join.

Basically, everytime I talk to the recruiter it is a different story. I really want to get into law enforcement later on and I wanted to get into Security Forces. I was told it recquired a Secret to Top Secret Clearance depending on what you do. I was first told I would be okay in getting just a Secret Clearance and I was very excited to get everything going. I was scheduled to take my ASVAB today (I scored an 88 on the practice with no sleep) and my physical on Wednesday, but when I arrived at the Recruiting Station this morning he told me that I cannot get a Secret Clearance now and I should just go reserves and get a job doing supply and then use the signing bonus I would receive to pay down my debt and then try out for Recon. As I said, I have been talking to this recruiter for a while now and the issue with the debt and the clearance has come up before and each time I go down there the answer seems to change (yes I could get one, then no I cannot).

I have been working extremely hard lately doing PT nearly 8 times a week, working to save money to start making payments on the debt, and I have GED so I am finishing my last college classes so that I will have 16 credit hours at the end of this semester so I can join.

I do want to be a Marine, and I really wanted to get into Security Forces... It is hard for me to sign a contract to be doing Supply or Mechanics for the next 4 years when I have no real interest in it.

I am just unsure what to do at this point and if I am or am not eligible for atleast a Secret Clearance. If I am... Should I find a new recruiter? If not, what should I do from here? I'm so lost at this point. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and I appologize for this wall of text.

Thank you!

[0231Marine]

Chances are, your recruiter isn't jerking your chain here. Massive amounts of debt like you have is a real issue when it comes to getting any clearance. The issue is that the Marine Corps worries that if you have too much debt and no means to pay it off, you will become desperate and have a reason to sell classified information. You wanting to become a Marine is not a good enough reason to allow your acceptance when it's dealing with national security.

Have you thought about trying to find a full time job for a while in order to pay down that debt some and then going back to talk to the recruiter. The Marine Corps isn't going anywhere and you sound like you're still pretty young.

[NoRemorse]

I agree with the CPL completely but I'd add one thing. You're 23, you can get several part-time jobs and nearly work yourself to death paying down this trash as well as settling out.

I'd suggest you settle out anyway, you'd pay less and your credit would take a hit but the letters you'd get from the creditors showing a paid/closed status would help with the clearance as you'd have no outstanding debt and you wouldn't really have the means to get more in the way of credit.

[slimmy07]

Look, if you really want to be a Marine then I suggest do it. I don't suggest waiting any longer for he simple fact that your qualified to join. Yes, you cant get a clearance, but I have seen things happen to the applicant that makes them not qualified later on. I have seen it happen quite a few times while on recruiting duty. A young man is qualified now, but chooses to wait then comes back later not qualified for whatever reason. One that comes to mind i a young man getting in a car accident and breaking his arm which required plates and screws. Look, bottom line is you want to be a Marine and get into law enforcement after. Your experience as a Marine regardless of MOS will help you reach that goal. I have served with a ton of Marines who are now police officers. Some were bulk fuel specialists, Motor T, Infantry. No MOS is going to help you be a police officer, being a Marine will.

[kemel]

Thank you all very much for your answers! I think at this point I'm just goign to keep working and finish my classes until I decide what I'm going to do.

I was also very interested in the MOS 7051 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/7051.htm) --Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist, and according to usmilitary.about.com it does not require any type of Secret or Top Secret clearance (not sure how accurate that information is). I tried talking to my recruiter about it and he said I am not eligible for that job because it is under an "AE" contract and some of the jobs within the contract require a Secret Clearance and there is no way I can get that job unless I went reserves (but the base near me doesn't have it). Is there any way to try and get that MOS or am I stuck again because some of the jobs within the "AE" contract require a clearance even though that job supposedly doesn't?

Thanks again for all your help.

[Cash2053]

You cannot choose a specific mos such as 7051 unless you go reserves. To go active duty, you have to choose the airfield services field. Which means you could end up in 7011, 7041, or 7051. 7041 does require a secret security clearance. Your recruiter is giving you good information. You have two choices. Get a mos that does not require a secret clearance or get your bills squared away and then join.