Joining the Marine Corps?

I'm just finishing my first year of college and not sure i really like it. I've always wanted to join the marines, I don't want to sound like a pussy or anything but I'm not into doing the Infantry jobs...is it a good idea to join and do maybe Admin or aviation?

Public Comments

1. You want to join the marines to be a secretary???
2. Don't join the marines, join the Navy or Airforce. You will get much better training, pay, lifestyle, and more opportunities in the civilian sector.
3. All Marines are Infantry men first! If you can stick it out, I would stay in school and become an Officer, you get treated better and are paid much better. The advice I gave my son when he went in the Marine Corp was to get a job that he can transfer into civilian life. It is worth it in the long run!
4. I agree with the other post - join a different branch. Air Force has some of the best training as far as when you get out and being able to apply it towards a real life job. Marines arent all that successful when integrating back into a civilian lifestyle. its because of the training. The marine corp is great don't get me wrong. im related to plenty of them and they are amazing guys but their service didnt do them much good once they got out. Maybe right now your just not ready for college. Choose a different branch and later you can change your mind and be better qualified for life after service.
5. If you join the Marine Corps, go air wing. My husband is in a some what unique MOS. He works with computers. He has been in 12 years and has never deployed. Not to say that he never will. People in his MOS do and have deployed it is just not that often. A lot of people in his MOS have never deployed and if they have it has only been once. He wants to deploy but I am glad to have him here with us. We also haven't had to move around much. Just once in 7 years for a year. This is bc his MOS is located at 3 units in the Local area so he has moved around amongst them but we have not had to physically move. His job is definately family friendly for Marine Corps standards.Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
6. Look, if you want to be a Marine...by all means do that. There are benefits to being in the military period. Regardless of what branch. Marines are all riflemen before whatever else they do because that offers a base to grow on. Don't be foolish and do something you don't want to do. Like I said, If you want to be a Marine then go be a Marine. I'm in the Army and I love it but that's my thing. This is probably yours. My advice: Stay in college and stick it out become an officer. If you wanna be aviation thats the only way to go anyway. Do Platoon Leaders Course or do OCS or whatever else they've got going on. Talk to a recruiter but above all do what makes you happy. Good luck!
7. People always say...stick out college and go officer. Yes, that's a good way to go but I wouldn't trade being enlisted for anything. Awesome comrads, good times, bad times...we go through everything together. P.S. If you don't join now, you'll look back when you hit 30 and too old to join and regret it. Don't be scared of signing up...a few years goes by really fast.
8. I hear ya on the whole, I don't want to joint the infantry deal. I was in the winger and my husband still is. What walk when you can ride, right? All kidding aside. Like others have said, all Marines are riflemen. Meaning, you will have to qualify with a rifle at boot camp and the years after. The Marine Corps is a awesome way to learn about yourself and about life. Like you, I had two years of college and then joined the Marines. I loved every minute of it. I did talk to the other branches, but I just knew that I would not be happy unless I was a Marine. If you feel that way too, then don't let anyone change your mind. I do however, recommend talking to all branches just to be sure. There are lots of jobs in the Corps. Even if you pick one that you don't use in the civilian community, you still get a lot of benefits from just having the Marine Corps experience. First, you would be suprised at the number of prior service Marines out there just waiting to give other Marines jobs. Also, people from other branches know that most prior service people appreciate having a job so that works in your favor as well. Second, all Marines are leaders. This is a skill you pick-up just going through training. Most likely you won't get this at college or in your regular life. Then there is the G.I. Bill and the other education opportunities that you can take advantage of while you are on active duty. I didn't go to school much while I was in, but I have gotten my B.S. and part of my Masters with my G.I. Bill since getting out. Much better grades this time around too. As far as jobs go, there are tons of them. Yes, a lot of tem relate to infantry, but a lot of them don't. I will tell you now that regardless of what you decide to do, you will work. There are any easy jobs. I was a crew chief on a helicopter and had a blast. I thought the wing was great. You get to see a lot and do a lot. Ultimately, it is all up to you. Do what you feel in your heart. Yes, you might find that you don't really like the service once you are in, but you do your time and get out. I promise you that you will walk away a better person. At least I did. Good luck!
9. For every combat soldier of Marine, there is another to back him up. Many jobs are non-combat. I believe in Desert Storm and Iraqi freedom, the command centers were in another country, in the middle east. The war was controlled via video in a lot of cases. In every Marine infantry battalion there is a Headquarters and Service company. I can tell you this, there are not a lot of Rambo types in H&S Company. H&S is primarily a support company for the line company's. It can consist of supply, food, transportation, medical, and communications. These are all essential support groups that help the grunts to keep on shootin !