View Full Version : Need help making this decision.
Army or Marines?
Ok so I posted this on military . com, but so far i am just getting that both services will give me what I am looking for.
Please read the whole thing before you answer b/c what i want is some reasoning behind your answer. Your answer will obviously be Marines, since you are Marines, but i just want to know why. I will also be posting this on an Army forum so that i can compare the answers.
Ok so I have completely researched both the Army and the Marines. For the Marines I know the exact path I am gonna take, and I am going to see my Army Recruiter again to see if the same basic thing is available.
I just want to know what you think is more suited for me based on the following things.
Heres what i want to gain from the military: (These are not in any order I just added them as I thought of them)
-A challenge
-Adventure
-To be physically, mentally, and emotionally sound
-To be able to overcome anything.
-Good social skills
-Finish college
-To be part of something bigger and more important than myself
-To be one of the best warriors in the world.
-To make the service my career, but still be able to do something else if i don't want to make it my career 10 or 20 years down the road.
-Make lifelong friends
-To serve my country and make the world a better place to be.
-Have no fears, except fearing God himself.
-
Thnx.
Also, my path that I want to take is first to go in as an E-2 (b/c I already have enough college credits) then do college while i am doing my job, probably want to be UZ (Recon) if I go marines. Then I would want to be an officer. Like I said before I don't know if the Army ranks work the same way but if they do then ill do the same just w/ a different job of course.
rvillac2
09-10-08, 06:25 PM
Go Army and be all you can be.
Mikewebe
09-10-08, 06:28 PM
The Army will allow you to graduate Basic as a specialist with enough college. Unheard of in the Corps. College the Corps has pretty much caught up with the other branches, I believe you can qualify for 47k. So go to a junior college first then transfer to a big University.
The Corps and the Army run differently, you can sign up for the 18 series guaranteed with the Army which is the SF pipeline. No such luck in the Corps.
Here is the basic difference, in the Army when you get a flat tire on a Humvee
you got someone to jack it up you got someone to grab the spare, you got someone to loosen and tighten the lugs. In the Corps YOU will do all. Your level of responsiblility in the Corps is increased.
@ rivillac2
Go Army and be all you can be.
Are you serious or not? Im sorry but I cant really tell, there is no tone of voice on forums :(
@Mikewebe
The Army will allow you to graduate Basic as a specialist with enough college.
Im sorry but a specialist is? Like whats the equivalent in the Marines?
And how much college?
Unheard of in the Corps. College the Corps has pretty much caught up with the other branches, I believe you can qualify for 47k. So go to a junior college first then transfer to a big University.
I don't really want to do this, part of the reason i want to go into the military is that i want to experience the world, travel to places, get out of this little community bubble I am living in. Gotta add this to my list.
I actual want to go to boot camp, I know it will be hard as hell, but maybe that is why I want to go there.
I don't want to attend a university I think i would be way to distracted and probably flunk out. If I enlist, I will gain the discipline to get it done.
The Corps and the Army run differently, you can sign up for the 18 series guaranteed with the Army which is the SF pipeline. No such luck in the Corps.
what do you mean here?
Like are you saying that if i want to be Special Forces that it is more guaranteed in the Army?
Marines... YOU will do all. Your level of responsiblility in the Corps is increased.
hmmm... thats something I like better
I am sorry I have so many questions but this one of the biggest decisions of my life. I want to be as informed as possible so i don't make the wrong decision.
Thnx for all the help.
Mikewebe
09-10-08, 07:05 PM
Look at it this way, as a Corporal in the Marines I was a squad leader for months, its a Staff Sergeants job in the Army, E-4 vs E-6. A specialist is E-4. You won't get more than E-2 out of the Corps unless you are the Company honorman. You will earn everything.
As far as Special Forces and the Army the community is bigger than the Corps, the pace a bit slower but longer. And the Army really only hits Germany and Korea as far as travel. You have the opportunity in the Corps for Japan, Korea, Okinawa, the Mediteranean and as a security guard several other countries, where we have an embassy.
I have served in both services and I will tell you the Army is a long ways from the Corps.
rvillac2
09-10-08, 07:20 PM
My response was as serious as your question. The Army is for half-ass motivated individuals looking for someone outside of themselves to guide them. Marines and all good Soldiers don't need to be sold on which branch of service to join.
It's a calling.
Mikewebe
09-10-08, 07:23 PM
rvillac2, West Cochina, I'm from Long Beach, born in Downey
DOWORK1
09-10-08, 07:35 PM
My response was as serious as your question. The Army is for half-ass motivated individuals looking for someone outside of themselves to guide them. Marines and all good Soldiers don't need to be sold on which branch of service to join.
It's a calling.
Could not have said it better myself
Echo_Four_Bravo
09-10-08, 08:21 PM
I'm going to take this a different direction. I'm going to focus on you wanting to be ricky recon and go to college at the same time.
I've said it here a thousand times- college is something you do when and if you have the opportunity while on active duty. Your training schedule and operational tempo make it possible or impossible to attend college classes. Simply put, the more "high speed" your job is, the less likely it is you'll be getting much college done. It is one of those times in life where you'll have to make a choice about which you find more important. The same would hold true if you entered the Army and went the Ranger route or into the SF pipeline.
I'm not going to talk bad about the Army. Simply put, America would have never won a war without them. I don't agree with some of the things they do, but some things they do well. Rangers are light infantry about on par with the Marines. SF is the best at what they do, just as the SEALs, PJ's, etc. are the best at what they do. (SF trains and works with native forces as a primary mission~ they do it well.) Not everyone can be, or should be, a Marine. If you decide to go the other way, I won't have a bad thing to say about your decision- but down deep you'll always know that you're not a Marine- and that really does mean something.
Marines and all good Soldiers don't need to be sold on which branch of service to join.
Im just doing my research, I want to make sure that I make the right decison, considering this is a very big decision.
Do the marines have any MOS similar to this:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/25b.htm
Mikewebe
09-10-08, 08:42 PM
What State do you live in Trone
What State do you live in Trone
He's from California.....
HEY TRONES,GO U.S.MARINE CORPS AND STOP THE BULLSH*T.......:evilgrin:
Mikewebe
09-10-08, 09:26 PM
Get your recruiter to take you to MCRD as mine did 3 times, or get it set up with another RS to go and see it first hand. I knew what I was getting into and ended up with the same MOS as my recruiter. No lies no crap just the real deal
Echo_Four_Bravo
09-10-08, 10:25 PM
That MOS looks a lot like 4066 to me, though I haven't read all of the Army description. The USMC did away with the 40xx field last year, so I don't know what the MOS has been reclassified as. It was called Small Computer Systems Specialist... ask your recruiter about it and see if that's what you're looking for.
Here you go E4 Bravo,
0651 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0651.htm) --Data Network Specialist
S/F<
CEYA!
Echo_Four_Bravo
09-10-08, 11:54 PM
Thanks Sgt. I figured it would be in the 06 field, that rumor had been going since 96 at least. Glad to see it finally happened, and glad to see it didn't turn into 0666 like some thought it would.
Ok I like that job, its just one of the requirements is two years active duty, which I will not have after just boot camp and MOS training.
Heres a few specific MOS I am interested in, I would like you to tell me what more you think of them/know about them:
-Special Intelligence Systems Administrator/ Communicator, 2651 (http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/marineenjobs/bl2651.htm).
-0651 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0651.htm) --Data Network Specialist (the one you mentioned)
-Reconnaissance Marine, 0321 (http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/marineenjobs/bl0321.htm).
-0317 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0317.htm) --Scout Sniper
For now thats all i can think of
Thnx.
Mikewebe
09-11-08, 12:10 AM
All are a long road do your homework on all of them and see which you feel you are most suited for. I can make a ghillie suit for example but I am not a regular good shot(at real long distance) so Scout Sniper not real good for me.
I'm not a computer geek so anything with that is out. Search yourself find your strongpoints and go with that. I was a good Infantryman but only cause I was focused on it and its what I wanted. I trained hard and earned it. Now I am finding that if I get to re enlist I need stronger computer skills, so its an evolution. Be prepared for anything, expect everything, and roll out.
CHOPPER7199
09-11-08, 12:43 AM
This Is Simple. You Will Not Find The Brotherhood Like The U.s.m.c.
Echo_Four_Bravo
09-11-08, 12:53 AM
Recon and Sniper are both jobs that many people want, and few will get. Run a search on this forum and you'll see how many people want to be there. Simply put, if you sign up wanting to be one of those people, be OK with being an infantryman for your entire enlistment- it may be where you are.
The 26xx field seemed like fun to me, but I don't know a great deal about their day to day life. The network specialist guys loved life, they had their job to do and were pretty much on their own to get it done. Of course, many of them got out and had great jobs waiting on them in the research triangle in NC- and I am sure that hasn't changed.
I didn't read this thread, hell I didn't even read the first post - I don't need to. The decision is quite simple, if I had a kid in your situation I would shoot him in the foot before I let him join the Army. Not because i'm some motard Marine who loves the Corps and refuses to acknowledge the existance of any other branch, but because i've served with the Army in combat, i've seen how poorly they operate, i've seen how complacent they are, i've seen how poorly trained they are to the point where they do not even know the simplest of basic infantry field knowledge, i've seen then do stupid **** time and time again that will get people killed and put my life and the lives of my Marines at risk because of their laziness and the fact that troop welfare comes before mission accomplishment.
Benefits, training, job skills, money for college, a huge enlistment bonus... all that **** goes out the window when you're lying 6 feet under because your buddy didn't have enough discipline to stay away during a 4 hour post in the middle of the night.
Only benefit of joining the Army over the Marine Corps is your family has a better chance of getting your $400,000 SGLI.
outlaw3179
09-11-08, 07:56 PM
Dude ,
Im a National Guard recruiter. Join the Marine Corps . Unless you like being 2nd best, unless you like not having pride in your uniform, and being aroudn a bunch of nasties.
What about section 8 of the Marine Corps contract? Where it says "(dont (remember this part)....however the Marine Corps can have you do any duty they need." Thats not the correct wording, but its the same idea, and you have to sign it!!!!
darkgreen0311
09-11-08, 09:23 PM
I can't believe you would actually come on a Marine site and ask that question. What do you think Marines are going to say? Of Course we're going to say we're the best, and that's because we are. I had a reunion this past Labor Day weekend. With several guys i served with and hadn't seen in 22 years.
We were in the lobby of a hotel doing some drinking.We had scarlett and gold t-shirts with the eagle, globe and anchor and with our unit B Co 1/7. We ended up meeting 2 other Marines at the bar. One had just recently got out and the other one was a recruiter.
You should of seen the hugs and love these guys showed us just because we are all in the same fraternity. The recruiter gave us his card and said if there was anything he could do for us just give him a call. So Trone i hope i made your mind up for you.
:marine:SEMPER FI 4 LIFE!!!
Well I did post this at an Army site and Military . com so I could compare the answers. Its not so much the actual answer I wanted, its the reason for that answer.
outlaw3179
09-12-08, 12:29 AM
I can't believe you would actually come on a Marine site and ask that question. What do you think Marines are going to say? Of Course we're going to say we're the best, and that's because we are. I had a reunion this past Labor Day weekend. With several guys i served with and hadn't seen in 22 years.
We were in the lobby of a hotel doing some drinking.We had scarlett and gold t-shirts with the eagle, globe and anchor and with our unit B Co 1/7. We ended up meeting 2 other Marines at the bar. One had just recently got out and the other one was a recruiter.
You should of seen the hugs and love these guys showed us just because we are all in the same fraternity. The recruiter gave us his card and said if there was anything he could do for us just give him a call. So Trone i hope i made your mind up for you.
:marine:SEMPER FI 4 LIFE!!!
100% correct. It never fails. Marines for life. The most amazing gun club you will ever join. Semper Fi Marine!