Many Questions.

[FutureMarine993]

I'm 110% I'm going to enlist right after highschool. Should I be talking to a recruiter now? Senior year just started. The reason why I don't want to go talk to him now is because I want to study for...

[usmc3521]

You need to ask a recruiter. I've been a cross runner my whole life and my best was high 19's for a 5 k, I'm 32 now and run 21 mins. You have to be an animal to run 18 mins.

Yes it is time for you to speak to a recruiter and NO we don't want to hear about your ***** tits.

I'm sure you know how to use google so look on your own to find the pay chart for Fy 2011, google **** b4 you ask questions

Now go stop in to a recruiter on Monday

[usmc3521]

For us ignorant people? Are you kidding me u turd? Don't be a dumbass or we will treat you like one.

What is your iq? You obviously know that the Usmc has the hardest swim qual and you don't know how to swim? What the f*ck do you want us to tell you or are you that god damn mother f*cling stupid? Learn to swim you f*cking ditch pickle, that's your only option. Hell, maybe your man tits will act as floaties!

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Talk to one NOW. New FY opens in October and if you wait until, say, March or so when you *think* you are ready, the job you want might very well be taken.

To answer:

1: Worry less about perfect PFT's and more about better scoring on the ASVAB. You can begin studying for that today. Get a study guide.

2: The only way to get better in running is to...run. Yeah, I know, sounds simple and stupid, but that's just the way it is.

3: Glasses. Not a concern. Plenty of people wear em. NO big deal.

4: Swimming, yes they teach you how. Panic kills. You'll learn.

5: Stop worrying about pay. You'll make what a private makes and live in the barracks. Easy way to figure out what you'll be bringing in is to divide the monthly pay in half, that's your payday every 2 weeks. Taxes will take a bite but unless you are married with a bunch of kids it shouldn't be an over riding concern at the moment.

6: Gyne--what? Only the MEPS doctors can DQ you for sure. No idea there. BUT if you are that embarrassed about it so that it keeps you from swimming....you are gonna have MAJOR issues since Recruit training, and the Marine Corps, could give a rip less about your body/modesty issues. Expect to hear about your 'man boobs' early, often, loud, long, and continously. If you cannot deal with that, then the military is NOT the place for you. Hard truth but THE truth.

In closing, talk to a recruiter, the sooner the better.

[usmc3521]

Hey sgt l, i wouldn't tell this guy they will teach him to swim. All the people who couldn't swim got dropped. There was no remedial swim lessons, if they jumped off the high board and didn't swim back up we knew who couldn't swim. We lost 8 kids from our platoon because they couldn't swim. They got dropped back cycle the sent to holding platoon for ad sep if they couldn't pass the second time

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Really? They did 'back in the day'. Remedial swim, no kidding.

Interesting. I'll have to check the regs. Then again...the recruiter would be the first and best 'expert' rather than my old azz, huh?

You understand why the first post was eliminated, right? This one is FAR more helpful.

[FutureMarine993]

So I guess this commercial was false : /.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwaskivJrZE
This commercial was motivational for me. I guess they fked me over.
And thank you for understanding sergeant unlike some people. I have taken the ASVAB during my sophmore year ( I know It doesnt count, but it was still the asvab and I did excellent ). I got a 130 GT score so I think I would do fine in that area. That is why I'm concentrating on the PFT. Its the running thats fing me over. I timed myself at the gym and my max would be a 6:30min/7min/7:30min 3 mile. And like I said, I would take off my shirt in a millisecond gynecomastia or not, cause I know I have a better body than probably 95% of the guys that would be in MEPS with me. It really isn't that big of a deal because its not noticeable. Probably only to a doctors eye. And I'm a fast learner, So If they even give me the basics on how to swim, I will ace. I try to be the best I can be and hate people that bring me down. And moto, I've read the pay charts a million times. I wanted a accurate and realistic answer meaning like after taxes/food/clothing/electronics and other stuff that would come into affect. Other marine members of this forum also told me the D.Is ask If any of you can't swim before hand. This is because there were incidents were trainees died by drowning. If I drown, I drown but I'm still going to enlist no matter what anyone says.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Again, since my day was long before you were born, I honestly do not know. But I'm familiar with that commercial. Realistically, only a recruiter can tell you for sure.

Alas, since I don't know your financials, only you, based on the pay charts, can know how much actual money you'll have to work with.

Yes, recruits (that's the proper term) have drowned in training. It happens, but it hasn't in a long time.

Realistically, again, the recruiter will be able to help you with some of this. Keep plugging along...and keep us updated.

[Backhaus 1103]

As far as pay goes, no one can answer that. You could pick up rank quick or be a pvt for four years. You could want to buy a car or a huge tv. You could get married in two years and have five kids. There are a lot of what ifs. And believe me you're going to spend money if you end up at lejeune, there isn't **** to do that's free, maybe the beach...but you're gonna need beer.

[usmc3521]

dang I though my first post was BA!!!

The swim qual week is fast paced and there is no time for remedial swimming. They did not do it when i went to boot in 1997, you either sink or swim, if you sink you get dropped back to the next platoon going to swim qual. If you go UNK again, c ya bye bye.

I just checked with my cuz who is now a DI to see if things changed and he confirmed. No remedial swim qual there is no time.

[usmc3521]

if he has kids he could breast feed them..........


Sorry I could not help it lololololololol

[Sgt Leprechaun]

And there you have it.

Seriously, you might actually consider swimming lessons. The Red Cross gives them as do other folks. Might be worth checking out.

[USNAviator]

John

I see you live in Queens. Can't you find a YMCA, Boys Club etc where they can teach to how to swim?

Fear of water is natural and healthy. You're out of your element in water but learning to swim will not only benefit you for your quest to join the Corps but in later life

[Sgt Waldy]

Don't worry about bc glasses if you wait you can have the mc pay for you to have lasik. swimming, well you better hit the pool. Two reasons one to learn how to swim and two its good conditioning. If you jog like 4 miles every day for 5 days and take two days off when you actually have to run 3 it will be no cake. Using an ipod or having someone to run with helps out alot. your puffy nipples, no one will really care. If there real bad the DI's will prob rape you about them but o well it makes you tough. It's hard to tell how much you will make in 4 yrs bc you dont know how many times you will get deployed. If you dont have any dependets I say go as many times as you can. You can make bank plus its an easy way to save.

[usmc3521]

I didnt learn to swim so to speak until weeks before my ship date. I could always swim, I just couldnt jump in to deep water, I always thought I would drown lol So i was at the pool with my friends, said if I dont come back up please get me lol. I jumped in and was like wtf? You naturally come back up. So go for it, go to the y or something with lifegaurds tell them to watch you. jump in and you will be fine after that.

[FutureMarine993]

I didnt learn to swim so to speak until weeks before my ship date. I could always swim, I just couldnt jump in to deep water, I always thought I would drown lol So i was at the pool with my friends, said if I dont come back up please get me lol. I jumped in and was like wtf? You naturally come back up. So go for it, go to the y or something with lifegaurds tell them to watch you. jump in and you will be fine after that.


That truly is how I feel. I could always swim around the 5 foot end but once it goes past 6 ft I would be the biggest pus. I'll be speaking to my recruiter this week, thanks alot.

[usmc3521]

yep, just go somewhere with lifegaurds and tell them to save your ass. Trust me you will know how to swim back up. Once you do, you will feel a huge weight off your back and be even more pumped for boot.

dont worry about your moobs either, no one at boot camp will have the time to worry about your tits when you take a 30 second shower

[Zulu 36]

That truly is how I feel. I could always swim around the 5 foot end but once it goes past 6 ft I would be the biggest pus. I'll be speaking to my recruiter this week, thanks alot.


They don't play the "I'm scared of deep water" game. The swim instructors say, "Jump" and you jump. Not doing it is a refusal to train and it gets ugly.

I was (and still am) a poor swimmer, but I managed to qualify 3d class. Damned near drowned once, but I got through it.

[SGT7477]

Hey sgt l, i wouldn't tell this guy they will teach him to swim. All the people who couldn't swim got dropped. There was no remedial swim lessons, if they jumped off the high board and didn't swim back up we knew who couldn't swim. We lost 8 kids from our platoon because they couldn't swim. They got dropped back cycle the sent to holding platoon for ad sep if they couldn't pass the second time
In my time it was either drown or swim.:evilgrin:

[usmc3521]

yep same here. they yelled jump and pushed you at the same time lol

[Phantom Blooper]

There are a lot of what ifs

If a frog had wings...he wouldn't bump his azz when he tries to hop.

So he needs to be careful in which direction he jumps.

But he always jumps.... he gotta keep flies on the table.

Whether he busts his azz again....or not.

Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.


Choose.


And then jump...or tread....your decision .....become a Marine and get with the program.....or not.

Most Marines aren't going to look a your boobs.....you ain't the right gender....

So just do it and quit procrastinating....:evilgrin:

[Backhaus 1103]

I was talking about "what ifs" as far as pay went....I think I'm already a Marine, but I'm not sure...

[Phantom Blooper]

I was talking about "what ifs" as far as pay went....I think I'm already a Marine, but I'm not sure...

I know what you was referring to....but I was using your " what ifs" as an example of "what if" the OP didn't jump in the water....on his own.

Then he wouldn't be a Marine....

"What if " he did it own his own....with the intestinal fortitude .... inner motivation...and "PRIDE" from within....then he would jump....and "JUMP" and jump into a world of being a United States Marine.....instead of a dream.

There can be allot of "What ifs" in life it just depends on which one is chosen to take the right course and road.


Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.

Choose.:evilgrin:


Semper-Fi!

[viper1833]

There where alot harder things in the Corps than not knowing how to swim. I didn't know how to swim, went to MOS School still didn't know how. Finally got to the fleet, and had a Sgt. who took me to the pool for one on one swim lessons. Learned in about two weeks, now I can't stay out of the water. I had no choice I had to learn or move to a different MOS. Being an Assault Amphibian Crewman you kinda had to know how haha :D

[viper1833]

Sitting on the bottom of a pool in the deep end with bricks will teach you how to swim real quick. Thats what Sgt. Grunwall did to me hahaha :D

[JCampbell]

Ok..a little clarification on the swimming part. I went to boot camp in January completely unable to swim. They will teach you how to back crawl and float...and thats it. The tower will scare the **** out of you, but follow the instructions given to you and you will be fine.

And as far as remedial..I missed the first two days of swim week from being at medical with pneumonia and went through the afternoon of the day I got cleared just fine. Most of the recruits do swim qual 4 the first day, and the other three days that week that they do swim quals for the guys that need higher for their job, and the ones that haven't been able to pass yet.

There wasn't a swim drop in my entire company, and my SDI said he has never seen someone fail out, and he's been there for a couple years. I wasn't the only guy that couldn't swim at all, and we all made it just fine.

Long story short...get some time in the pool before you leave if possible. If you can't, then take boot camp one day at a time and worry about the pool when you get to it. I guarantee you that you'll be gut checked long before you touch the water at MCRD.