Matt, it's pot luck. No matter how bright you are or how much you excell -a lot of it still comes down to luck. If you're willing to risk it, and take the chance in having to serve in the Navy, go for it. If the Marine Corps is what you want and nothing else, I would recommend another route.

rgr, Marines are what I really want. I guess I have a while though to figure out how I want to approach joining the military

Ya well about the whole military going to school then the Marine Corps, ummm... I was thinkin about ( and tell me if im making a mistake or overlooking something.) but i wanted to go into the Marines RIGHT AFTER high school, and then i wanted to go to school from there, the enlisted ranks. I kinda wanted to go in and at least KNOW the men before im in command of their lives or whatever ill do. I just wanted to earn their respect and all that. But again i dont know how it will work out. Any people in here that have done that Personally, i HATE money, but as the guy in Its a Wonderful Life says, " It comes in pretty handy down here bub." I just want to join the Marine Corps because i think its right for me and i want to be part of something, really big. And to me thats the Corps. It might sound fairy tale ish. And you're right. And im making very awkward transitions...sorry.....Any body with any experience with a situation kinda like this, can you offer any advice

Thanks! SemperFi!
-SemperFi!

I dont know how everyone else will answer this but, I had more respect for the Mustangs than I did other Officers, just for the fact that they had been there already.

Originally Posted by 782.matt

Would it be the right move if one was to go to Annapolis and hope to be commisioned as a Marine Officer?

A freind and I were told by a retired Marine thats its best to go to Boot Camp because if you can make it their you can make it anywhere. (well not those exact words but close) But if you want to go into the Corps as a 2nd LT. go for it. Just remember "Respect is earned not given."

Yeah I have alot more respect for prior enlisted officers, as a matter of fact that is what I am gonna do. I am on Marine Security Guard duty right now, I will reenlist and go MECEP from there. About the whole job garentee thing what did you want to do that you think you will not get maybe I can tell you whether you will get it or not. You are however guaranteed a job feild. Combat arms is the way to go as far as I am concerned, that is the beating heart of the Corps though almost everyone is gettin some right now. I suggest you go enlisted pic an MOS that you like though supply and Motor-T really sucks and take some classes then when it comes time for you to reenlist go officer if you want. There are many carear opertunities in the Corps who knows you might want to be a CWO or a SgtMaj some day instead. At any rate it will make you a better person if nothing else. If nothing else you know you are doing something honorable and respectable and once you are a Marine no one can take that away from you.

Semper Fidelis

Originally Posted by Sooners1

I dont know how everyone else will answer this but, I had more respect for the Mustangs than I did other Officers, just for the fact that they had been there already.

My best CO's were either Mustangs or Gunners, the fact that they had served in my boots gave them much more respect in the platoon/detachment.

This thread has helped me a lot. Ummm, here's a question.. I think it was answered earlier, but I'm sure somebody won't mind answering it again. Would it be better to go to ROTC during college, then enlist in the Marines.. or join the Marine Reserves while attending college, then after college enlist in the Active Marines for a while?

I've heard it's quite common for a Marine to do that.

Originally Posted by MosquitoMan73

This thread has helped me a lot. Ummm, here's a question.. I think it was answered earlier, but I'm sure somebody won't mind answering it again. Would it be better to go to ROTC during college, then enlist in the Marines.. or join the Marine Reserves while attending college, then after college enlist in the Active Marines for a while?

Well here's the deal it is what ever works for you. You can do either very effectivly I know people who have done either who are very good friends of mine infact I have a friend who was a reservist/enlisted who is going to the next OCS class that lucky b*stard, but anyway depending on your MOS and unit in the reserves you may get called to get activated like what happpen to my friend here, he would have went a year ago but OIF happened. The quicker safer route to officer is ROTC, there is where your advantage is. If you are already in college and have some done go for ROTC and make sure you follow through. Instead of going through all that extra crap cause you are not really gonna get the respect as a prior enlisted officer unless you've done atleast a full enlistment first, they're just gonna say you were a tampon that got to go to OCS. If you are young though go for a full tour as enlisted first then put in a package for OCS/MECEP but hey that's just what I'm doing, If you want to be an officer right away then go ROTC. Does that answer your question?