Airman to Marine

[JLGodinez]

I think I posted in the wrong thread earlier, I'm and idiot so lets try this again.

Hello Everyone, I am a currently active SSgt in the Air Force station in New Mexico. I just turned 30 and am less than a year from separating from the Air Force. I have decided to join the Marines after separating and while it is a bit of an unorthodox move it isn’t an impulsive decision, I have thoroughly analyzed this decision for the last three years. When I first consider joining the military Marines was the way to go for me, I have a great respect for that service but at that age my decisions where more logical and the air force offered me a bit of adventure and most importantly school. After 7 years in the Air Force I have managed to not get any education without lack of trying and hating myself choosing that route and the sacrifices on my personal life for nothing. Don’t get me wrong I heard great things about the Air Force from the earlier generations of Airman and have a great respect for the service but not the current quality of the force. A bunch of spoil entitled brats that wouldn’t know hard work if it bit them on butt. Not all are like this but the majority of the force is. I want to be proud of what I do and work with those that appreciate what they have earned. All I can expect from the Air Force in my future is to sit behind a desk and deal with the screw ups of airman who feel the Air Force is out to get them and don’t take responsibility for their actions.
Talking to a few recruiter I have found one that could really help me with this transition because he has dealt with a similar scenarios. After months of research I have only found two individuals who have gone through this process on this site specifically but I have not been able to contact them. I would like to go into EOD and am aware that it’s a lateral move later into the enlistment so I would like to hear from anyone about a career path I can take going into the Marines to help with me getting into EOD. I’m not at all afraid of hard work and won’t be expecting a walk in the park but if there is the slight chance I can make this happen I will work for it and earn it. Making this move will be a great risk because I will be starting over and pretty late in life but I would rather live with taking this risk over the regret of not trying. I not looking for anyone to talk me out of this I’m just looking for tips and advice especially from anyone who has dealt with this type of situation. ANY AND ALL TIPS AND ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

[josephd]

As I already posted in the "Marine Mentor" section...there is too many variables for you going into this to deem it a good decision.

I know you don't want to be talked out of this which I am not trying to do, just a dose of reality. Becoming EOD in the Corps is difficult and VERY selective.

Trust me when I say that being a 32-34 year old LCpl. is NOT going to be fun, especially considering you have a military background and was once a SSgt in the Air Force.

[Tennessee Top]

And, being a 30 year-old recruit would be even less fun. Your ship has sailed. Stay where you are and make the best of it.

[JLGodinez]

Thank You for the reply I do have my heart set on joining the Marines that is for certain but not on being EOD, I know thats a long shot but its worth a try and I can live with at least trying. Age has never been a factor for me since I have no current physical limitations and mentally I have never had issues with being older than most. I value all knowledge and experience regardless of age. I am single and am aware that I will be starting all over which is actually the exciting part of it all but the only risk I will be taking is for myself and no one else. I believe that the only risk ill be taking if the last three years are any indication is that i can't live with the regret of not trying. I have discussed my plans with several recruiters and age is not much of a factor since I am prior service and seven years is subtracted from my age requirement and that waiver is something that is pretty common from what i have been told and I have a clean record and no bad reports during my Air Force enlistment. The major road block i would have is barely meeting the physical requirements to join and I have been training to surpass the graduation requirements of boot camp to eliminate any doubt in my limitations for my age.

[mexbearlll]

I agree with Top.

[Tennessee Top]

I appreciate your positive attitude and self-confidence. Age is not a factor sitting in front of your computer. It is a totally different matter when you're being IT'd by a DI younger than yourself (their average age is 26), running the obstacle course, keeping up with 18 year-olds in formation runs, trying not to get knocked-out during the two-against-one pugil stick bouts, surviving the 54 hour crucible, etc. Have those recruiters explained the combat fitness test (CFT) to you yet? Have them take you out and give it a try sometime.

Not doubting your determination and I hope you prove me wrong. It's just, as someone who went through bootcamp right after graduating highschool, there is no way anybody could get me to try it as a 30 year-old.

[josephd]

I also understand you said you are talking with a recruiter already but I doubt they are gonna waiver you(just my opinion). With the drawdown and budget cuts the Marine Corps is leaning towards younger(as young as possible, 18-20 year olds) candidates/poolees with no issues/waivers

Just like most of us on here point out to some of these wannabes that have had past health or legal troubles.....if 2 wannabes go into the recruiting office, 1 has a clean record with no health issues and the other has something that needs to be waivered...who do you think the recruiter is going to put in the one slot they have?....there are tons of kids breaking the recruiters door down trying to join the Corps, those kids with no waivers WILL get picked over you...

But like Top already said, I hope you prove us wrong

[JLGodinez]

I really appreciate the input. While the Air Force is not necessarily physically demanding, specially aircraft avionics, I have develop a fitness addiction enlisting into the Air Force and over the years it has grown and I have challenged and conditioned my body. I have research nutrition and fitness acquiring my personal training certification in the process. The reason I mention this is because I didn't let the Air Force career become my crutch in my fitness aspirations and age is a factor that has motivated me. My last supervisor was 24 years old and already dealing with major back problems. Half my unit is dealing with these types of issues and many of them 2-3 years younger than me. The Air Force just waivers them and hides them away. It won't be easy but I have learned so much about my limitations and I wouldnt try these if I didn't know I have a great chance.

[devilbones2]

I say go for it, what have you got to lose? You need to bring something to the table that will make them want to help you though. I have heard so many stories of people saying they are going to join the Marines when they get out of the Army/Navy/AF. If you really want it, make it happen. You may be too old though and I don't know if they are allowing waivers for that now. There was a guy in my platoon at boot and he was 34, but this was in 97. Good luck.

[JLGodinez]

Thank you, I will make it happen or at least get closure from the guilt I been having not trying. My goal over the next year is to not just meet but surpass the graduation standards to remove any doubt of my physical limitations.

[Marine1011]

Classic case of making a decision, staying with it while complaining. SEVEN years in, could have gotten out, doesn't like the USAF, not realizing there will be things not liked about the USMC either. Grass Is Always Greener Syndrome. Just saying. Sounds like a dreamer, where things don't always measure up to posters standards.

[JLGodinez]

While I do agree to an extent I and making myself well informed and don't expect the grass to be greaner on the other sid, quite the opposite. As a mentioned the marines is something I wanted but the air force at the time seemed logical. I have not once during my serviced complain about the circumstances and opportunities I have had and pride myself in that, not that i havent felt that way, but being that I was in the workforce at the age of 16 and enlisted at 22 I can truly say I know hard work and dealing with the cold hard world. I have seen kids straight out of high school going into the air force and get spoiled rotten and at times given unearned authority then ***** the moment things don't go they're way. When I feel that I'm thinking like and becoming like the spoiled individuals I work with I loose myself and would rather be struggling to survive out on the streets than forget how I was brought up. Don't get me wrong I am grateful for the opportunities the air force gave me but if I feel the need to ***** and moan it will be feeling proud to do something I truly wanted and not just another logical choice. I can take the BS and have proven that for six years in the workforce and seven in the air force but in the marines I'll take the BS knowing that at least the title was earned and its what I wanted.

[Mongoose]

We had a 29 year old Air Force veteran that got out and joined the Corps, back in 67. You do know that you will be singled out in boot-camp. Here's the kicker.....being physically fit is only part of boot-camp. It's just as much mental, as it is physical. The Air Force vet. that was in our platoon, lasted one week. Good-luck.

[JLGodinez]

I expect to be singled out, the same happened in Air Force boor camp because I just happened to be the oldest one in my group. It only happened in the the beginning. I don't think Marine boot camp will be a cake walk like Air Force but mentally knowing that everything that happens to me there serves a purpose to a better me its what will keep me striving through it. Life has backed me into a corner several times and I feel at my best there because there is only forward to go.

Thank You everyone for your input it is really helping, both positive and negative are welcomed and appreciated.

[Marine1011]

Nothing personal. Some of my best friends served in the Air Force. What caught my attention was the generalizations about services, I guess. But it's a free country to post what we want. No problems. Just be cognizant of the idea that sweeping generalizations tend to detract from what someone is trying to get across. Good luck with your endeavors, maybe you could let us all know how this turns out?

[JLGodinez]

Marine1011 I want to apologize if I have offended you sincerely. I don’t want to give the impression that I don’t respect the Air Force I do and you’re right I’m being unprofessional. My best friend who I meet through the Air Force is now separated. As an NCO we are expected to lead by setting and enforcing the Air Force standards all while serving the airmen entrusted under our care not the other way around. I was led to believe the system is flawed but I disagree, the core values follow a simple moral code but I have seen individuals manipulate it to meet their needs. The service has lost numerous good airmen because of the lack of integrity like my friend but there is still many great airmen and I still believe the Air Force is great service and my desire to leave is mostly due to an unfulfilled dream more so than the disappointed over the expectations I had. All the branches deal with the same issues, some more than others and I not naïve into thinking otherwise. Again I Apologize and did not mean to belittle any one branch over the other, my opinions where based on my own experiences which might be different from others.

[Marine1011]

(almost) never a need for anyone to apologize here for anything about their own opinions and things like that. I myself came across too harshly, perhaps, just commented about generalizations, but hell, we all have views and opinions, did not mean to come across like a DI. Accept my own apology! We all wish you the best in your attempt to do what you described as a goal.

[USMC 2571]

Very true---very rarely do we feel called to apologize for anything in the way of opinions or whatever. Welcome to the site, keep us posted as to how you make out with what you want to do.

[JLGodinez]

No need for an apology. You did not come across too harshly at all, it just brought to my attention that I was being petty. My opinions is not why I'm here and its not right for me to force them on anybody. I'm here to learn from everyone willing to teach and give advice. I always welcome the individuals that call me out on my BS because I want to be better than that.

[Tennessee Top]

Let us know how your age waiver goes and good luck.

[MunkyVsRobot]

If its what you want to do might as well just dive in and swim just bear in mind it is going to suck. They may be a bit more lenient to you if they know that you "Get It" but also if you dont get it stand by to get hazed, you will also have a lot of hard time getting used to being an NCO giving orders and having airmen underneath you to being a fresh boot PFC possibly being given orders by an 18 year old lance and possibly even having to roger up to him your every day business.

I went through recruit training at 27 and I was the 30 year old lance for a bit it isnt fun. Now i am in the intel community so i could get away with a bit more and I had more of my own chance to lead because a lot of intel is based on what you know not your rank.. But there are times when rank comes back into the equation where it is a lot less fun thank it seems.

[JLGodinez]

I appreciate the support. Yes I'm an NCO but not by choice, I'm not ready to lead Airmen but that's the card I was dealt with and am making the best of it for the time being. The time will come when I truly will feel like I can lead I will embrace it fully. I don't mind at all being led by those more knowledgeable than myself regardless of age.

[USMC 2571]

Well, you have a good attitude and seem to know what you want, so go for it, and be sure and keep us updated by resurrecting this same thread, even if it falls to the bottom of the pile in no time at all, due to all the new threads in this section. Good luck.

[MunkyVsRobot]

30 years old and not ready to lead airmen? that is a scary statement you just made how is that possible? You should have some leadership if not even just life leadership skills. If you cant lead Airmen as an NCO how do you expect to lead Marines as not an NCO?

There have been times Marines who are LCPLs have had SNCO type duties so if you think being an NCO somewhere and feeling unfit to lead is going to translate into you are a great leader and not an NCO youre gonna have a bad time. In the Marine Corps junior Marines are sometimes tasked with monumental leadership tasks.

In the Marine Corps you dont always have tome to be fostered into a leadership role or be shown what properleadership is like. You have to be able to adjust on the fly and go. The Marine Corps mentorship program is still supposed to be a thing but I have never once been properly mentored.

Im not trying to jump down your throat or discourage you but that last post you made would make me start to question.

[JLGodinez]

MunkyVSRobot i don't take it as discouragement at all. If the situation calls for it I will step up into the leadership role as I always have and will do it to the best of my ability. I would rather earn the title of a leader than have to be thrown into it, but i realized that might be far fetched. I don't think is wrong for me to want to follow for the purpose of learning and improving. I has been mentioned that the Marines is a different world on its own and from the Air Force so it would make sense for me to start from the beginning and earn my way through the ranks to build the desire to lead and be all the better for it. When is say I am not ready for it doesn't mean i'm not competent in it, I have proven that several times, I just don't have the desire for it just yet. I should have clarified that.

I appreciate the concerns and questions, they really get me thinking and prepare me for this process to not go in blindly.

[josephd]

Just understand the Marine Corps pushes leadership/command down to the lowest level(Rank) possible. You WILL be placed into leadership positions early on, especially being "prior service", whether...

[Tracker]

I was stationed with a guy who had been in the Army for four years and the Air Force for four years before he joined the Marine Corps. He was about 28 or 29 years old when he joined the Marines. He was plenty squared-a-way. We were only stationed together for about six months, but I bet he made a career out of the Marine Corps. John Basilone a legendary WWII Marine was in the Army before he joined the Marines. Good Luck! I certainly wouldn't want to try it at 30 years old.