If you were in my boots

[DevilDog0187]

Hello Marines,

Ok so here is the situation, I ship for boot camp in one week, I DEP in Dec 9th... So I had little time to think about this.

I went to my recruiter and I wanted to be active duty, after talking and getting to know what my what my goals were with USMC he said I should go Reserve. He gave me 0151 MOS so it will be easier and I could focus on school. Ok so Im 21, no college credits. I scored a 73 AFQT (I was stressing out that day, I got a 86 on the Pretest, I know I can get in the 90's) 130 MM, 127 EL, 128 GT, 120 CL, 126 GT.

I want to be a pilot, Hopefully I will fly a F-18 or a F-35 one day. I know it will be a long hard road, but I am ready for the challenge.

The problem I am facing is the fact that USMC selective reserves will bring in basically no income, and will give me no TA. I know my time is running out and I've got to get my degree within the next four years to stay competitive for flight school, and available jet spots.

My current plan is to get back into school with the money that I will have saved up from boot camp, and then do PLC next year. I want to major in Physics or Aerospace Engineering


My question is, how hard is it to get a degree while active duty? What are the best MOSes while getting a degree (most free time wise).. My HS GPA wasnt to awesome, so there is no getting into MECEP for me.

Thank you for reading,

Pool(ee) Edwards

[firedog974]

It is pretty hard to get your degree while active, but not impossible. I knew quite a few guys who did it, but it took them a lot longer than 4 years. There are a few options for you while on active or while in reserves. One of them is MCECP (Marine Corps enlisted commissioning program)while active. If you have good SAT scores and did good in high school, you can apply for this program after you pick up Cpl. I have 2 friends who went through it, and both are officers now. If you are reserves, you can always live off student loans and part time jobs. My best friend put himself through medical school and payed for all his living expenses with student loans. You have time to look at your options and decide what is right for you. If you can't figure it out in a week, go reserves so you will still have options.

[WKranz]

Why not do four years active, do what schooling you can, get out, go to school, then go officer or go back enlisted whatever. You can go to college when you're 40, but you can't join the Marine Corps then.

[DevilDog0187]

Why not do four years active, do what schooling you can, get out, go to school, then go officer or go back enlisted whatever. You can go to college when you're 40, but you can't join the Marine Corps then.

You missed the point. I want to be a pilot, I have to be an officer to be a pilot, and I have to have a degree to be an officer.

[DevilDog0187]

.

[Wyoming]

You missed the point. I want to be a pilot, I have to be an officer to be a pilot, and I have to have a degree to be an officer.

The point was not missed.

You did not get the answer you wanted, so you got a bit snippy with a Marine.

Take out the 'or go back enlisted whatever', and you have the answer.

[DevilDog0187]

Im not aware of what kinda of answer Im looking for, I just want your honest feedback on my situation. His answer wasnt even in the same ballpark of my question or my situation in general. I can't try and be a pilot when I'm 40.

[commdog7]

I'm a few months away from finishing my bachelor's on active duty. It is possible, but it's something that you really have to hard to achieve. If college is one of your main priorities, you should probably go into the reserves.

[Wyoming]

So sorry.

Discussion over, at least on my part.



But before I leave -

My question is, how hard is it to get a degree while active duty? Up to you. Read on. What are the best MOSes while getting a degree (most free time wise).. I love that one. Thanks for sharing. My HS GPA wasnt to awesome, ... and what makes you think you can be a Marine, and get a degree, when you couldn't do HS? so there is no getting into MECEP for me.

[MLMonk]

I would stay reserves. Apply for the PLC program after you get accepted into a 4 year college, and go that route. You will be doing the same thing I am trying for, the only difference, is I made it through bootcamp/MOS school. To even be eligible for the flight contract for PLC, you need to apply before you 28th birthday (if you went active duty, there is a high chance you will pass that age), and you MUST pass the FAA flight exams. If you are thinking about income, it is no differance then if you didn't join. Think of your end result goal, to be a USMC pilot. You don't need to be enlisted, at all, to even achieve that. The reserves and PLC will help get you there, but that is not the only option.

[DevilDog0187]

So sorry.

Discussion over, at least on my part.



But before I leave -

Thanks Marine.. If your intend was to waste your time and mine, and not offer any piece of advise at all.. you met your mission..

[firedog974]

Thanks Marine.. If your intend was to waste your time and mine, and not offer any piece of advise at all.. you met your mission..

Look dipwad, I offered you a TON of advice, but you chose not take it, or did not take the time to see it. Now you have made a decision to call out a fellow Marine...I suggest you slow you roll. You need to take your arse back to whatever hole you crawled out of, and apologize to Al. If you want to be part of OUR ranks, your little ass need to learn respect. Digress, and let's move on. Otherwise, find a new place to play.
We are here to help, but if you let that mosquito ass run that lion mouth, you will get what you have coming.

[DevilDog0187]

Look dipwad, I offered you a TON of advice, but you chose not take it, or did not take the time to see it. Now you have made a decision to call out a fellow Marine...I suggest you slow you roll. You need to take your arse back to whatever hole you crawled out of, and apologize to Al. If you want to be part of OUR ranks, your little ass need to learn respect. Digress, and let's move on. Otherwise, find a new place to play.
We are here to help, but if you let that mosquito ass run that lion mouth, you will get what you have coming.

You did offer me a ton of advise and I thank you for that. Nothing that I said before was about you.

[firedog974]

You did offer me a ton of advise and I thank you for that. Nothing that I said before was about you.

Oh, but it was. You mess with one, you mess with all. You are out of line, and, in my opinion, have no chance of EVER becoming an officer with that little school boy chip on your shoulder. You obviously do not know where you stand on the pecking order at this juncture. Like I said....you may want to apologize.

[Lisa 23]

Thanks Marine.. If your intend was to waste your time and mine, and not offer any piece of advise at all.. you met your mission..

Listen up there young man, you need to RESPECT the Marines that are giving you advice, whether it's the advice you want to hear or not.
A lot of you wannabes and poolees come here asking questions because you all feel that your recruiter is feeding you some kind of BS, not telling you the truth and so on. We're not recruiters. There may be some former recruiters who come to this site every now and then.
You are way out of line to talk to a Marine, BigAL, in the way that you did. I do believe you owe Marine BigAl an apology.

You mess with one Marine, you mess with us all.