CBR Shadow 53 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I've always toyed with the idea of becoming a marine but never pulled the trigger and enlisted.. I ended up going to college and getting an engineering degree instead. Now that I'm out of school and have a job, I find myself wishing I had done it. My life would be different obviously, but I sometimes get the feeling that I'm just "going with the flow" of life as a drone. I would like to tell my kids (dont have any yet) stories of more than just the daily grind of work, eat, sleep.. So anyways on to my question.. I make pretty good money right now (around 60k) so i'm sure in the military I wouldn't make that much especially over time if you factored in the fact that I'd make more here over time as well. So what're the pros and cons of joining at this point? Could I start at a higher point since I have a degree already? How does that work? I see a lot of you have military experience so this is probably a good place to ask. A friend of mine gave me the advice of joining the Air Force because it's "Easier" but that's not what I'm looking for. I'm in very good physical shape, 27 yrs old. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Kenny 144 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 You *would* take a pay cut. With a degree, you might be able to get in as an officer via OCS. That makes you a '90-day wonder'. Having done both Marine and Navy boot (long story, not important now), Marine boot was physically harder, but Navy was mentally tougher. Can you run 3 miles in less than 21 minutes, do at least 75 crunches in 2 minutes, and at least 5 chin-ups? If not, get there *before* you go in. Being in that good a shape will make your life a lot easier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I pretty sure you still get into officer canidate school and become an officer in the marine corp or the navy. If your feeling paticularly badass, you can follow that up with seal training. The path that you choose is yours, just remember that you'll start out as a ensign or 2nd Lue. which is basically lower than whale shit. Go here for Marines or here for Navy . Officers do make more from the start. the daily grind of work, eat, sleep that will contiue, you just do it a different way. The other thing to consider here that while it might be nice to tell stories, its even nicer doing it with all of your parts intact. Careful what you wish for, becasue some of the stories are just sad.......... carry on 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KC913 324 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I'm not sure how the degree would work as far as getting a better position, but, If it's something you think you need to do, and you don't have a wife, kids, etc right now to consider, it's the perfect time to jump in. Give it a chance and if you don't like it after your time is up, get out and you still have your degree to fall back on. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulyski 2,227 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I'd do it. There's much more to wealth than financial gain. It'll be a life altering experience. You come out actually knowing yourself & your limitations, never having to wonder. You know. And you'll likely find that your limitations are far beyond what you think they are. Learning just how far one can push themselves is an invaluable lesson & ability that will last a lifetime. There's nothing in the civilian world that compares. Not to mention, girls swooth as the very sound of the word "Marine". Trust me on that one. I was at Naval Training Center San Diego for my "A" school & our girls always wanted to go next door to the Marine base to check them out. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 (edited) I've always toyed with the idea of becoming a marine but never pulled the trigger and enlisted.. I ended up going to college and getting an engineering degree instead. Now that I'm out of school and have a job, I find myself wishing I had done it. My life would be different obviously, but I sometimes get the feeling that I'm just "going with the flow" of life as a drone. Me too, im also 27 and feel the same way you do. What about a girl or wife? Its good to have one of those before you have kids. And it takes time to know if you'll be able to get along with her for the rest of your life. Ill be with my girl for 2 year in sept and we just bought a house together. We'll be paying on our loan for 30 years. So we'll probably have a kid sometime in the near future which we'll have it for 18 years which will make me 47 or so when he is gone. Have you thought out this kindof stuff out if you're planning on kids? I plan on spending my 50+ years kid free. but thats just me. Ive always wanted to serve but can provide for a family better if I dont and I was a dipshit and ruined it for myself when I was younger. I would like to tell my kids (dont have any yet) stories of more than just the daily grind of work, eat, sleep.. So anyways on to my question.. I make pretty good money right now (around 60k) so i'm sure in the military I wouldn't make that much especially over time if you factored in the fact that I'd make more here over time as well. So what're the pros and cons of joining at this point? Could I start at a higher point since I have a degree already? How does that work? I see a lot of you have military experience so this is probably a good place to ask. A friend of mine gave me the advice of joining the Air Force because it's "Easier" but that's not what I'm looking for. I'm in very good physical shape, 27 yrs old. Thoughts? as some have stated, you'll make less, could possibly come back shy a few limbs or not at all, but you'll also have the honor of being someone who has truly served your country. And its not much but my respect aswell. ETA: Dad2142Dad, Pauly and KC913 all make very good points! Edited July 21, 2011 by AZG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CBR Shadow 53 Posted July 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I totally forgot to mention that I do have a wife currently. She's not hot about the idea of me joining, but is willing to go along with it if it's what I really want. Also supporting her wouldn't be a worry as she makes a lot more money than I do and our mortgage is pretty low. No plans for kids though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimdigriz 580 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I'll be contrarian to the rest of the posters and say don't do it. Stay away from war and its horrors and immoralities, and don't put yourself under the command of men like Bush and Obama who will send you on stupid errands like the wars in Iraq and Libya. People who enlist at this time of history make themselves enablers of our deranged and self-destructive foreign policy. (I will now await a negative reputation pile-on. Click away!) 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 I'll be contrarian to the rest of the posters and say don't do it. Stay away from war and its horrors and immoralities, and don't put yourself under the command of men like Bush and Obama who will send you on stupid errands like the wars in Iraq and Libya. People who enlist at this time of history make themselves enablers of our deranged and self-destructive foreign policy. (I will now await a negative reputation pile-on. Click away!) No negativity here, if he wants to serve thats fine and his choice. Doesn't matter who is in office, war is war and people die everyday, it's not supposed to be pretty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KC913 324 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Having a wife does change things a bit. My brother is currently in the Marines and deployed to Afghanistan and he wishes like hell he wouldn't have joined. His woman cheated on him (I caught her and showed him proof) right after he left and it is now the biggest regret of his life, but he is stuck there. I'm not saying your wife would cheat, but having a wife is really a different story than being a young, single guy who wants to join. Just be sure it's what both of you want and she's not just going along with it so she doesn't feel like she's holding you back. You could also end up resenting her for "holding you back" later on if you decide not to join just for her sake. It's ultimately your decision, and a big one at that, but it does affect other people in your life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin.rose0@gmail.com 62 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 (edited) Being in the military, particularly in the marines or army combat arms, means you'll spend a lot of time away from home. It takes a heavy toll on relationships. How committed are both of your to yor marriage? People in the military have long-term successful marriages, but you'll find a lot of divorces. I'm not sure if the divorce rate is higher, but I think it is. Of course, 20/21 year old marines/sailors/soldiers married to 18/19 year-old girls make up a pretty good number of the marriages and many of them are doomed anyhow. Be aware that there are places you can be stationed for an accompanied tour that your wife isn't going to find a professional type job unless she is very lucky or a doctor etc. This can be extremely difficult for both of you. For pay, see http://www.navycs.co...litary-pay.html Basic pay for 01 under 2 is 2783 per month. There a bunch of special pays and allowances you get in addition that help out. For example, if you live in goverment quarters you don't pay rent, and if you don't get provided goverment quarters you'll get a housing allowance. These can be worth a lot of money. You will get regular and significant pay raises and promotions, so typically you'll be a captain and making over 60K before allowances in 6 years, so it isn't a vow of poverty. But you are crazy to do if for the money if you are making 60K/year. There is a reason that you will see more then a few Army and Marine captains driving Porsche's. People can accumulate many tens of thousands in pay when they spend many months with nowhere to spend the money and no time to think about life outside their AO, but that trick is a lot easier if you are not trying to support a family. Edited July 22, 2011 by KevinInNM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mayor Al 41 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 After several years of temporary jobs, lay-offs and other career disappointments My 35 year old son, BS in Business, Married and three kids, one of whom has leukemia (no insurance) decided that perhaps the military could be an alternative now that he had rejected earlier in life. He did his homework, both mentally and physically, getting in the best shape he has been in since High School, and working with the recruiters to get "the best deal" he could. Here's what he came up with--- Enlist in the Army as a Specialist (E-4) due to his college degree. Go to OCS directly from Basic trainng. Commissiond a 2LT (O-1) upon graduating from OCS Assigned to MI for his primary Branch, with a detail to Armor for the first term of service. Side trip to Airborne Training after OCS. (extra pay for Jump Status and good for the career file) Wife is/was a Marine Brat, so she knows what military life is like for the family. With him an officer, her status is built in, and she understands the meaning of that. Army guarentees that the permanent assignment for the famiy will be at a Post that has adequate medical facilities nearby for treatment of my grandson. Dad may be deployed, but family will be at a locations where the kid can get the care he requires. Frankly, except for him having to do Basic at age 35 with teenage corporals yelling at him, this is a damn good deal. Recently he talked to me (a retired teacher), and commented on how nice it is to have job-security for the first time. Knowing what to expect as far as fiscal matters and the steps for career promotion etc...a far cry from the bouncing around and empty promises the had thrown at hime in a series of bad job situations in the past. Nope, this is a Win-win arrangement for both him and the Army. Needless to say I am very proud of his taking life by the horns and doing what is best for his family. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dudethebagman 222 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 (edited) In the past, I've decided to "challenge myself" in order to become a "well-rounded person." Inevitably I discovered that I could do these things, but that they never were much fun or felt natural. There are reasons I had avoided these things. My advice is to do what you're good at. I also think there's something else going on here. You have a degree, a wife, and a pretty good job (which a lot of people don't right now) and NOW you want to join the Marines? That's interesting timing. It sounds to me like you're bored and want to sabotage yourself. Or you're considering this to please someone else. What do you have to prove? Regardless, there are reasons you didn't join up before. Remember what they are? It's your decision, but I think you'd be crazy to join right now. If you're looking for an outlet, try to find something that doesn't involve becoming government property - like rock climbing. I certainly wouldn't trust Congress or the President (or their corporate owners) to make decisions with my life. Edited July 22, 2011 by Dudethebagman 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theorangeplanet 968 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Well, if you go the route of becoming a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps, another thing to consider is your leadership potential. In a year, you could very easily find yourself commanding a platoon of infantry Marines in a real 'bad part of town' somewhere being responsible for their lives and conduct. You need to have your head and heart in the right place to be successful in that kind of situation... not something you want to get into because you just want a change of speed in your life. Just my dual pennies worth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan 2,343 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 In my opinion there are better ways to find adventure and have something to tell your kids about. If you're doing what you are told to do instead of what you want to do, then you're just along on somebody else's ride. I have all due respect for those who want to serve in that way but ironically while they are fighting for freedom they give up a lot of personal freedom while doing it. The military is one option of course, but you can also push yourself to your limits in the great outdoors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 figure starting as an O-1 here's the pay scale: http://www.militaryfactory.com/military_pay_scale.asp I don't know if going into the military will give you what you're looking for, but if I was making 60K a year I'd look else where. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bernerz 11 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 You shouldn't join the military for the pay. You join because you want to serve your country, because it is the right thing to do. That is what I was always taught and what I believe. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CBR Shadow 53 Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 A few people are making it sound like I said I wanted to join for the money.. I said I know the money will be less than what I'm making currently but I want the adventure. Thanks for the info everyone - lots of good points and lots to consider. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 A few people are making it sound like I said I wanted to join for the money.. I said I know the money will be less than what I'm making currently but I want the adventure. Thanks for the info everyone - lots of good points and lots to consider. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 there are plenty of better ways to get adventure than by serving a country that would turn you around and fuck you in the ass the first chance it got Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 there are plenty of better ways to get adventure than by serving a country that would turn you around and fuck you in the ass the first chance it got Russian hammer said it well. Never join the military with a Democrat in the White House. At least wait until after the 2012 elections. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin.rose0@gmail.com 62 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Russian hammer said it well. Never join the military with a Democrat in the White House. At least wait until after the 2012 elections. Screw that. It doesn't matter who is in the White House. By the time you get through OCS, TBS and any additional specialty training and get to a unit the election will be long over. The decision is a good or bad decision regardless of who is in the white house. You are not going to enjoy everything you have to do no matter who is in the white house. No matter who is in the white house you are going to at least once think that joining up was the worst decision you ever made. No mtter who is in the white house some days you'll think that signing up was the best decision you ever made. You are going to enjoy the hell of being in the military some percentage of the time, you should try to make it a high percentage, no matter who is in the white house. The military is gonig to take you away from your family for months no matter who is in the white house. No matter who is the white house you are going to think that your chain of command is nuts from time to time. No matter who is the white house you'll serve under commanders and with NCOs who will show you what leadership is all about. No matter who is in the white house you will serve with people who will impress the hell out you with their competence and willing to drive on no matter what is going on around them. No matter who is in the white house you will encounter troops who can't find their ass with both hands and a map and "leaders" who will stab anyone in the back if they think it will help increase their chance of promotion 1%. It doesn't matter whether you are sent to guard a base with an empty rifle in Beirut by a Republican or as a "Peacekeeper" in Mogadishu by a Democrat, you salute and do the damn mission the best you can and try to return with the same number of healthy troops as you left with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I served under a democratic president and the moral was horrible. Funding cuts, base closures, and little if any incentives to re-up. The elections may be over, but do you really want to serve almost six years under Obama? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 no matter who is in the white house they are going to fuck you, if anyone for one second thinks that a politician wouldn't fuck them if given the chance just because they are conservative is delusional Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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