Shipping Bonus

[Sykes]

I recently joined the DEP back on September 21, 2009. My ship date is July 26, 2010. I was told yesterday that there is a high chance I will be shipping towards the beginning of January. My question is, I was looking at the paper that shows the different jobs in the Marine Corps and was wondering what make you eligible for the Shipping Bonus : $5000. I did not decide to join the Marine Corps for a bonus, if I wanted a bonus I would've joined the army, but my mom is freaking out because she works in a army hospital and she wants me to get some kind of bonus because all the army people there are talking about their big $20,000 bonus's and crap.

Any information is much appreciated.

[dds0113]

People get a bonus for shipping? When did I miss that bus?!

[USMC Sokol]

If I were you, I'd take it..Most people start to get eager to go to training, but not for some people.

It's all up to you. Your decision.

Are you ready for it? Physically? Mentally?
Could you use more time to train up?
Do you know all your knowledge?

There's lots to think about. And don't worry about the Army. The Army just gives away money like crazy.

[Sykes]

Ohh no no, I was curious on how to get it. If the spot opens up for me early, I will most definitely be on the next bus to Parris Island!

[Capital M]

Mommy needs to pipe down, her son is going to be a man in a few months. No lol, only joking, my parents wanted me to go to OCS just so i could make more money.

To get bonuses you basically have to bug the hell out of the recruiter or join with a MC band contract (so I'm told). There are only a certain amount of funds for bonuses per region per year. Some of them are special contracts (Band, 5 year secruity forces, etc) Some of them are allocated to people who ship early (there was a kid at my RSS who was in the same situation, got asked to leave like 8 months early, did, got a $4000 bonus to go with it, kept his contract.. bastard) Just keep dropping subtle hints to your recruiter. If he can do it, he can do it, if not, oh well. It's kinda just the luck of the draw.

Doesn't really have a lot to do with personal qualifications either. I have a Bachelor's degree, scored a 93 on the ASVAB, line scores like all above 110 or something (GT 129) and am running around a 260 PFT, I only got contract PFC, and thats the way I like it.. its the Marine Corps way.

Good luck man, hopefully you can ship early

[jinelson]

The pride and honor of becoming one of the few is the only bonus you need, its worth much more than any amount of money that our nation can give you. Moms will never ever understand that.

OOHRAH!!!

Jim

[Capital M]

That is exactly what I told my parents SSgt. I followed up with some other explanations, but they got the gist of it.

[Sykes]

Thanks for the information guys, I hope I do get a spot in January. I can't wait to earn the title!

[derikdrock1989]

Well dont expect to get that fill 5000 smacks. Taxes will eat that alive. Youll be lucky to get 2 or 3k of it which is still 2 or 3k more than what you have now. But just dont expect all of it. My recruiter just got a reenlistment bonus of 9k and only got 6k.

[sparkie]

Bonus????/ You can be my Brother for life. Bonus enough? Sit your grandkids on your lap and tell them Marine Corps history, Bonus enough.

[Torres90]

My bonus will be when i become a Marine Fighter Pilot... being a Marine+Pilot=Two birds with one stone... yup I'm dreaming big lol. :)

[Poolee Johnson]

I signed a 5 year AG contract and got a $4000 when I graduate boot camp.

[dds0113]

Telling my grandkids sounds great and all but my student loans scream for bonuses.

[durtydawg]

I signed a 5 year AG contract and got a $4000 when I graduate boot camp.

I signed a 5 year AG contract with a $0 bonus :p

[VuUSMC]

Hey Marines and Poolees, my buddy Marine just got back from boot camp awhile ago and told me he got a $5000 bonus when he was in boot camp, but spended most of it and came back with $3000. Is that the same thing?

[goldeneye517]

I had the same thing happen to me . I DEPed in on August 11 2009 and i leave for parris-island may 10th 2010. I was quickly told that because of when I leave for boot-camp , that I would be getting a $4,000 shipping bounes. And I sighed it and my SSGT told me that I would be getting the money in a lump sum after MCT.

[USMC Sokol]

Was there a reason why you got a shipping bonus though? Or is it completely random? lol

[goldeneye517]

As far as I can tell it was random, it was like they had the $ just sitting there and had to give it out before it went away. Really all they told was that I was getting it because " Your ship date is inside window of time to get a bounes".

[atimmons]

I signed a 5 year AG contract with a $0 bonus :p

Ha I hear ya. Same here. 5 year ad, 3 year ar.

[papaditto]

I got a 4000 dollar bonus to leave jan 25th.

[MarineCorps0300]

The bonus is the chance to become a Marine.

[POOLEE DEYO]

the only bonus that i have ever heard of is the Recon bonus. I believe that you have to be a contract recon and the first enlistment is for 7 years.

[atimmons]

I just heard that the Marines do have bonuses to hand out. I'm going to talk to my recruiter and see if I can get one for shipping in Jan. since it's hard for them to get people to ship early in the year.