kemel
09-22-09, 01:59 AM
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!
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!