Info from Marines about post USMC life

[jmsadair]

I am currently 17 years old, and last year I decided that I was definitely going to enlist in the Marines. However, when I recently told my parents my decision to enlist right after I graduate, a few problems arose.


They believe that if I enlist right out of high school without going to college first, then I am not going to go to college at all after I finish my time in the Marines, and that most people who join the military end up being poor or having very little success after serving (My overall plan was to serve and then use the GI bill to attend college after I completed my service).


My parents told me that I am too smart to enlist, and that they just want the best for me. I tried finding some statistics of Marines/ military members who attended college after serving and completed it but I was unable to.


I guess my question is: Will I seriously screw up my future success in life if I enlist in The Marines right after high school?


My parents seem very convinced that I am wasting my life and destroying my future by doing this; however, I believe that I'm still going to go to college after the USMC and I will have a good job as long as I'm hard working.


If those of you who enlisted provided your experience after serving, it would be much appreciated. Either way, I will be enlisting.


I was just looking for a little bit of clarity on this issue between my parents and I. Also, I wasn't quite sure where to post this. The Ask A Marine section seemed to best fit my question, however, if I am incorrect about this, let me know.

[josephd]

I don't know of any exact number or statistic but I am willing to bet that the number of Marines who get out, go to college, and lead great lives/careers is pretty high. I can't even count the number of people I know and have met in the last year or so who are prior service/retired Marines who now have college degrees and have very successful professions or own their own business.

The Marine Corps and your life/future after is all what you make of it. If you take the self discipline you learned and apply it to school and your personal life the sky is the limit as to what you can accomplish. But if you're one of the guys who get out and think everyone owes you something for your service you will end up in a sad state of affairs.

[crazymjb]

Umass has over 400 students drawing from the GI bill. If your family doesn't have a lot of money, have fun paying back 60 THOUSAND+ in student loans. The military offers a great opportunity to help pay for school, as well as have a pretty great and varied experience. That said, don't be an idiot about it. If you are smart, save your money, don't marry some random chick and have kids, buy a car at 100000% interest, etc. Plenty of military guys make a lot of bad decisions, plenty make a lot of good decisions, that will rest on what kind of a person you are.

You can leave the military after 4 years with 20-30k+ in the bank and a free ride through college. Or you can never make anything of your life, and have no money and unemployment checks which go straight to booze and strippers. Like much in life, the military is what you make of it. The too smart for the military thing is the biggest line of bull**** there is, however.

Mike

[jmsadair]

Thanks for your replies, josephd and crazymjb. Hopefully, ill be able to gain my parents support with my decision after talking to them again. I don't need their support but it would be nice if I had it. I truly believe that the Marine Corps will make me a stronger person.

[doc h fmf]

Join the Marine Corps son, as a former corpsman I see a lot of My Marine Brothers in leadership roles and medical I have a friend who is a Chiropracter and TOP TENNESSEEE was a Respitory Therapist,so it is not a mistake I think it is to your advantage to enlist. Good Luck son

Stephen Doc Hansen HM3 FMF

[devilbones2]

I did very well in school and went to recruit training two weeks after I graduated. The Marine Corps teaches you many skills that do not come from books but rather experience that you will never get from school. After getting out I have done very well and use my GI Bill to pay for my school. I have been in the work force for over 12 years and everyone can tell that I am a Marine, just by the way I get things done, I dont complain and have the ability to work with others. Remember your parents are going to be Marines, you are. Do it for yourself, not for them. They arent going to be there holding your hand. Besides you are not wasting your life serving your country. If it werent for men and women such as yourself they wouldnt have the freedom to make that type of rational. They could be savaging the landfills looking for plastic to recycle wishing that somebody would have stood up for them. Good luck and do what you feel is right.

[fl1946]

Wow, grasshopper. Your question is a circular answer, i.e., there is no one correct answer. As one poster said it's what you make of it. You are privileged -- and it is understandable that your parents want what's best for you. Bottom line though, you'll have to make your own life decision. Now's good time as any.

Philosophy aside, we can list countless benefits having served in the Marine Corps. For me it was the closeness of being part of a brotherhood which no other service can match. This is stuff you can't capture in a jar and sell it, but surely if told to a stranger that you were in the Corps, they will look at you differently! The Marine Corps does not have open enrollment. It's harder to get in. It looks only for the "Few." Good luck. Be well. Be wise.

Semper Fi,

[jmsadair]

Once again, thanks for the replies, Marines. The things my parents told me about former military members/ Marines just scared me a little bit. While I'm extremely enthusiastic about enlisting in the Marines, I still want a successful life after I serve. My parents made it sound like the chances of having a successful life after serving were very slim, and that in most cases, regardless of effort, former military members hardly ever go anywhere after they serve.


Thanks to the Marines on this website, I now fully understand that my future is what I make of it. My mind is 100% made up at this point and I will be visiting the recruiter for the first time very soon.


Also, understand that the opinions I posted of Marines are those of my parents, I just wanted to be clear about that because I understand that they could be offensive to some Marines.

[fl1946]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marines#E

Above is a link listing some highly distinguished people who were Marines. While no one can guarantee that you will achieve such honored status, we guarantee that you will walk amongst them as a Marine! There are hundreds and thousands of Marines -- like here on the chat site who are quite accomplished in their own right. More importantly, we are the only ones who can proudly call ourselves "Marines."

Good luck with your recruiter.

[jmsadair]

Thank you very much for the info, fl1946. I think I may show this to my parents to demonstrate that many Marines are successful and hardworking people. Like I said before, I am enlisting whether they support me or not; however, it does bother me that they have such a negative opinion of the Marine Corps. On another note, I grow more eager and excited each day to enlist. I look forward to boot camp and the day that I will earn the respected title "Marine".

[crazymjb]

In the end you don't need to justify your decision to anyone. Your parents are fortunately very mistaken. There are stigmas that come with being a veteran these days. Number for number, I'd guess those who serve in the armed forces end up more successful than their civilian companions. Think about what you are getting: Discipline, camaraderie, financial aid, networking, civil service preference, etc. Sure, some who serve don't end up going anywhere. Plenty of kids I graduated high school with who now have four year degrees are back living with their parents and out of work, nevermind those who never went to college, or didn't even finish high school. I am about to finish my BS, my fiance (also a Marine and veteran) just finished hers, not only do we not have student loans, but we have money in the bank. I am considering law school, she is almost certainly going to med school. the VA is helping both of us with grad school due to simple wear and tear injuries from service. I work with a bunch of veterans, all either with degrees or in school. I have gotten jobs with the aid of veterans preference, use it on my resume as a firearms instructor, etc.

If your parents truly believe military service disadvantages those who serve they need to do a little research. I find it more likely they just don't want their kid serving in the military, the Marine Corps no less. This is normal, especially after over a decade of war. Be respectful but in the end you are your own man and make your own life choices.

Good luck, and remember, go infantry or go home ;)

Mike

[jmsadair]

Thanks for the advice, crazymjb. Also, I do plan on going infantry, hopefully Ill get the recon contract I've been dreaming of.

[Changster]

I didn't realize there was a clause for recon. I'd bet it's more for a shot at it cause most fail the indoc. Maybe work on getting airborne at least...that's an easy one to get into and through! Anyway, lots of great advice on your decisions. Parents are simply that...they coddle, they overstate the tiny successes and filter the failures of their children. They clearly did not serve in the military, so the opinion is normal. I went to the corps cause it was the most challenging. I couldn't be prouder and neither could my parents. The thought of not doing well in life after service is garbage since it's entirely up to your own motivations in life. I'm retired now after enlisting. I have a Masters degree and am considering getting more. Success is based on personal interpretation, so you need to make decisions for yourself and based on your beliefs. I just know that I look for people of have served because they have character, they get the job done, no complaints, no job too big or too small, they're team players, they understand leadership, or when to follow, many have clearances, many are just motivated, they are all trainable!

[03GyRene]

(My overall plan was to serve and then use the GI bill to attend college after I completed my service). GOOD PLAN.

My parents told me that I am too smart to enlist, and that they just want the best for me. I tried finding some statistics of Marines/ military members who attended college after serving and completed it but I was unable to.
"too smart to enlist"?? Well, for one thing, being smart and having degrees are two different things. I have a Master's Degree, but I know plenty of people with no college education that are way way smarter than me. The myth of "dumb" enlisted people, especially Marines, is a myth that has been around since the poor, uneducated masses had to fight wars and the rich guys paid their way out of it. It is BS. Serve, get your degree, be successful, and prove them all wrong.
I guess my question is: Will I seriously screw up my future success in life if I enlist in The Marines right after high school?
One of the MANY GREAT THINGS about growing up in this country is that we can chart our own paths in life. Seriously. The only way you will screw up your future sucess is if you fail to plan. so, make a plan! Start with...i will serve my country, earn the title of United States Marine, kick ass and take names, then I will get out and go to college here, major in this, get a job doing that, etc etc. It is easy to get side-tracked and spend all your money and spare time on wine, women, and song (hehehe...trust me)..but that will be on you. Make a plan...then WORK THE PLAN. You can do anything that YOU WANT..don't let ANYONE put you into some category. You decide what you want, being a Marine is an experience that i would do over, and over, and over again with no regrets.

p.s. Remember the 6 p's: Proper Planning Prevents **** Poor Performance.

[Rocky C]

Ask your parents if you can bring a Marine Recruiter over the house to speak to them.

I guarantee by the time he/she leaves they will have gained a whole new insight and perspective about The United States Marine Corps.

[Kegler300]

Ask your parents if you can bring a Marine Recruiter over the house to speak to them.

I guarantee by the time he/she leaves they will have gained a whole new insight and perspective about The United States Marine Corps.

Heck Rocky, his parents will want to enlist!

[Rocky C]

Yes indeed Kegs :)

[jmsadair]

Thanks for all of the advice, Marines. I plan to contact a recruiter soon. I would have already done so, however I have had very little time due to vacation and work recently. Hopefully, the recruiter will change my parents view of the Marines since they are so upset about my decision. Also, Changster, I do believe there is a recon contract ( I'm nearly sure this is the correct term for it. If not, please correct me Marines). I do understand that it only guarantees me a shot at the recon indoc and not the MOS (unless I graduate the course). Of course, it depends on my recruiter and whether he will have one.

[jmsadair]

Hey Marines, I thought I would post an update on my situation. Today, my parents sat down and had a talk with me. They said that they had been researching and talking to previously enlisted Marines. They said that the majority of Marines they talked to said that they regret their decision enlisting. Also, according to my parents, all of these Marines are behind in work (as in getting promotions, raises, etc.), and will never catch up to their non-Marine coworkers. They also provided this example: My uncle enlisted in the Marines (I'm not very close to him, so I was unaware of this) after high school and is currently making decent pay, but nothing spectacular. My other uncle is a successful doctor who went to college after high school. Both uncles grew up in the same household and environment. They said that the Marine is hardworking, but in terms of success, him and my other uncle are miles apart and that the only difference between them is that one enlisted in the Marines. While I still believe that my future is in my hands, it frustrates me that they have these ideas about the Marines. After reading countless posts on here, it seems impossible to find Marines that wish they never enlisted. They told me that they believe I am not making the right decision and will not see a recruiter with me. I will have to wait until I turn 18, in June, to enlist.

[usmcrro]

Thanks for all of the advice, Marines. I plan to contact a recruiter soon. I would have already done so, however I have had very little time due to vacation and work recently. Hopefully, the recruiter will change my parents view of the Marines since they are so upset about my decision. Also, Changster, I do believe there is a recon contract ( I'm nearly sure this is the correct term for it. If not, please correct me Marines). I do understand that it only guarantees me a shot at the recon indoc and not the MOS (unless I graduate the course). Of course, it depends on my recruiter and whether he will have one.

The 'recon' contract is known as the UZ contract (at least when I went in in 2007). You enlist as an 03xx with a chance at INDOC and if you pass, BRC. You get 0321 once you graduate. Right now, there is some demand for recon to where they are letting Marines lat-move over so there should be a chance at getting a spot.

If you don't- dont worry. You can still attend INDOC during SOI (they will take most Marines from ITB more than MCT but MCT Marines sometimes get in). Or worst comes to worst, you lat move to recon.

[John Price]

It's a big argument I know. I enlisted right out of high school, my mother said the same thing to me. My father however was more positive about it(being a retired Marine himself). I know plenty of guys who got out and went to college. Instead of failing you'll find bigger success. Go with however you feel.

[crazymjb]

Hey Marines, I thought I would post an update on my situation. Today, my parents sat down and had a talk with me. They said that they had been researching and talking to previously enlisted Marines. They said that the majority of Marines they talked to said that they regret their decision enlisting. Also, according to my parents, all of these Marines are behind in work (as in getting promotions, raises, etc.), and will never catch up to their non-Marine coworkers. They also provided this example: My uncle enlisted in the Marines (I'm not very close to him, so I was unaware of this) after high school and is currently making decent pay, but nothing spectacular. My other uncle is a successful doctor who went to college after high school. Both uncles grew up in the same household and environment. They said that the Marine is hardworking, but in terms of success, him and my other uncle are miles apart and that the only difference between them is that one enlisted in the Marines. While I still believe that my future is in my hands, it frustrates me that they have these ideas about the Marines. After reading countless posts on here, it seems impossible to find Marines that wish they never enlisted. They told me that they believe I am not making the right decision and will not see a recruiter with me. I will have to wait until I turn 18, in June, to enlist.

It seems like the difference is one uncle went to med school and one did not...

Anecdotal "evidence" means jack ****. The fact is the Marine Corps is 4 years of leadership training. Take it or leave it.

My father is an attorney, he works with other attorney's who were enlisted Marines. My buddy is making 60 thousand a year having just got his BS in Mech Engineering which he didn't have to pay for, by the way, because he was hired with veterans preference. So I can give anecdotes all day long as well.

When you are an adult, make an adult decision. The reason my parents signed when I was 17 (I still shipped at 18) was because they are smart, and realized it A. Comes off your IRR (stop loss-able) time, and B. Gives me a head start in selecting an MOS. I don't come from an "anti-military" family, but one with VERY little experience with the armed forces, apart from a grandfather who was intel in the USAF.

For what its worth, the military has helped me get every part time job I have had while attending school, which they are also paying for. As I mentioned earlier, my fiance just got her BS, just got hired and has offers from other places, making good money, and still is planning on going to med school as a Marine combat vet.

I don't know what to tell you other than your parents are either seeking out ****-ups, have a skewed sense of worth, or are just trying to brain wash you into doing what they think is best.

Here are some accomplished Marines you can tell your folks about... Maybe they've heard of people like John Glenn, Ted Williams, Drew Carey, or companies like FEDEX which was founded by a Marine.

Sorry, your folks are full of it.

Mike

[jmsadair]

Thanks for all the help, Marines. Especially crazymjb, you have been extremely helpful with my situation. I really am firm in my decision to enlist, but when my parents talk to me I sometimes feel like I am over looking flaws in my decision to join because I am so in to the Marines. However, I know this is not the case after looking at these replies. Anyways, today I copy and pasted some replies from this thread on to an email to my mom. I'm hoping that these opinions expressed by enlisted Marines will help change her view on it, since she refuses to visit the recruiting office with me. Like I said before, I'm %100 in my decision to enlist and I do not need their support; however, I would really like to enlist now for the benefits crazymjb listed and also because I'm simply enthusiastic to start the process. Also, I only copied and pasted the text, so it is completely anonymous. I will update soon.

[Rocky C]

I hope you didn't yet !!!

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[m14ed]

Thanks for all the help, Marines.
Especially crazymjb,
when my parents talk to me I feel I am
over looking flaws in my decision to " ENLIST "
I am so into the Marines.

((I'm hoping that these opinions expressed
by enlisted Marines will help change her view, *
she refuses to visit the recruiting office with me.))

I'm %100 in my decision to enlist
I do not need their support;
however, I would really like to enlist now
for the benefits crazymjb listed
and also because I'm simply enthusiastic to start the process.


SWEETPEA...
you don't "Join the Marines"

Lots of things in life will you influence .
Hopefully , your mothers love is NOT.

Understand ,, she may or may not look
favoribly on the CORPS, with or with out
your sorrya$$ ....

She and your father are looking out for
you and what they think is the best for
your future...Take it from there....

[jmsadair]

The email was still a draft when I saw your post, Rocky. So I did not send it and deleted it. Next time I will pay more attention to the copyright notice. Also, m14ed, I understand that my parents are trying to do what is best for my future, I was just hoping that they would at least talk to a recruiter with me and be a little more open minded about it. Maybe they will change their minds over the next few months (its only been about 3 weeks since I told them about my decision to enlist), so I don't have to wait until I'm 18 to enlist.

[jmsadair]

I thought I would update you Marines on my situation. This time it's a bit more positive. Just yesterday, a Marine recruiter called my mother because he wanted to see if my sister, a recent graduate, was interested in enlisting. My mother actually told him I was interested and gave him permission to come have a meeting with me at my school. My parents are still really against my enlisting, but I think they realized that I have my mind made up. So if everything goes well, I should be changing my status on here from "Marine friend" to "Poolee" in no time.

[Changster]

That's good to hear......I think......I guess your sister is more valuable than you? lol just kidding.

[fl1946]

Congratulations. Your parents' decision says a lot about them: they care and RESPECT you, unconditionally. Good life experience lesson. Remember this.