Looking for some advice

[Steven79]

I've always dreamed of being a Marine, but never enlisted for some reason or another (it was always something). I've finally reached age 28, and from what I understand, this is the upper age limit ... so I gather it's now or never. I'd hate to go through life regretting never giving it a shot and am extremely tempted to enlist now. The problem is that I have only 1 year left in college before getting my Bachelors. But if I do take that year, I will be 29 when I get the degree (from what I understand to enlist as active duty in the Marines you have to be 28 or under). I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter? If I do enlist, my intention would be to get a UV contract and try out for recon.

[Steven79]

hmm, not sure how to edit my post ... that was a typo, meant UZ not UV. Also, I only mention it incase the age plays more of a role, of course I'm not overlooking bootcamp, etc

[OB MSG]

Yeah, age is a factor but only in keeping up with the younger bucks. I had a 31 year old Lance Corporal under me in 1999. He said he needed a change of pace. The only thing you have to worry about is getting the waivers. If you are in shape, you should be fine.

I would suggest that you finish that year of College, you don't want to lose out on that. Also, I believe that you would be beyond the cutoff for Recon. I not sure as I have never been Recon, but I'm about 75% sure I'm right.

Hell, go talk to a recruiter, the worst thing they are going to tell you is that your to old for Recon, but they never turn away a warm body unless there is good reason.

Goood Luck!!

[Old Marine]

If you happen to get into Recon you will have to change your name to Rodger.

[hermogenesm]

lets take it by the # 1 see a recruiter 2 sign a delay enlistment program 3 finish college 4 pack your sea bag 5 complet boot camp 6 complet mos school 7 O.C.S 8 if your lucky the war is over 9 if not pack your sea bag and get some combat time in. 10 you are now a candidate for recon.

SgtHermogenesm
Blinded Marine Veteran and formar Recon/Cag 1/3 RVN 70-71

[JordanB]

if youve only got 1 year left go as an officer man

[TJR1070]

I would talk to both an enlisted recruiter and an officer recruiter. They both will have slightly different info and options. Once you get all the info start posting your questions here and pick the brains of some of the Marines on this site. There are alot of differences between the enlisted and the officer ranks so some of the Mustang officers will probably have the best insights for you.

[Steven79]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I entered my contact info in the OCS recruiter form and am waiting to get contacted. Just a quick question ... how much of a disadvantage will I be at competing against people who have prior military experience? I hear OCS is much more of a competition with your felloww candidates than say bootcamp.

[MyCorps]

Steven79-

Glad to hear you finally made a decision. The recruiter you need to talk to is called an Officer Selection Officer. Don't sit around waiting for them to contact you, call them....go by their office to meet them. Stay on them.
People with prior military service will have some advantage over you simply because they know what to expect and behave. Remember, OCS is a selection process. Listen, do exactly as you are told and then go beyond others. Show that you can be both a leader and a team player. You will do fine. Start getting into shape now. Run, do dead hang pull ups and hand behind the head sit ups. At 28 you will be competing against people 5 years younger. Just put your head down and Never quit.

[Bulkyker]

You can be in the delayed entry program (enlisted) for up to 13 months. So if you joined today you wouldn't ship to boot until July 09. You would have time to finish your college, get in shape and you would be joining before you are old enough to need a age waiver. Just a thought.

[MyCorps]

Excellent point, Bulkyker.

[SlingerDun]

Steven i met a 29 year old Marine at infantry school who stood up in the middle of the company and told us kids his story: Boot Camp 69' got dropped shortly before graduation due to injury. Boot Camp 71 or 2 or 3? dropped again for some reason? Life got in the way and Marine infantry had been extracted from Vietnam but he still wanted the title and finally achieved it in December of 79'. I've yet to "meet" anybody who wanted and pursued it so doggedly. Thats bad ass.

--->Dave

[darkgreen0311]

Hey, Slingerdun you remember Castillo he was about 32 years old and an Ex- Mexican Cop. Who became a Marine and was a 32 year old L/Cpl.





Semper Fi 4 Life
Yours is not to question why but to do or die!!!

[SlingerDun]

Uh huh and a Tijuana scooter cop at that. Heard tell he still had "huss" south of the border but i never libbo'd with him

[Haffner]

We had a 31 year old in bootcamp. He wasn't prior service but he got waivered in for being in moderately good shape; had like a 270 PFT to begin with.

The insult to injury was he got a hairline fracture in, yes, I'm serious, his hip on the reaper. He was a good sport about it. He said stuff along the lines of, "God damnit...I was already called Recruit Archibald Henderson for my age...and I end up fracturing my damn hip, of all things!"

I think we had one or two 28/29 year olds also. They graduated no problem. I'll still always laugh about that other recruit though. He got the option to come back a year later and made it through (if he hadn't, I wouldn't feel justified in poking fun at him haha).