I want to join the military. The army or marines. I'd like to be a sniper i definatley don't want to get. A desk job. But my mom wants me to go to college. Any thing you guys think I should major in and any tips to get a head start along with army or marines cments would help. I like both these branches but I hear you are supposed to join the marines at eighteen. Also heard it is harder to become a sniper because you can't choose it. So anything on what I should do would help. Any current or past snipers I would definatley like to talk to you. Thanks

I was Navy, but back in my day we did what we wanted to after we turned 18. College will definetly help you become an officer, but for most enlisted in the military get a college degree for them selves, and for after their enlistment is up and they get out of the military.

With all due respect (and I'm not kidding), you shouldn't join the military.

You don't choose to be a sniper... Maybe you've seen too much "Full metal jacket" ("you gotta be a killer"... and all that stuff).
I was an officer in the Artillery of the italian army: I fired guns, rifles and machine gun... and it was good to realise the enourmous power a weapon can give you. So, you don't shoot just like you are in a video game.
The most important quality of a soldier is RESPECT: RESPECT FOR YOURSELF, FIRST AND FOREMOST; RESPECT FOR YOUR COLLEGUES AND (NEVER FORGET IT) RESPECT FOR YOUR ENEMY.
YES, IF YOU GOTTA KILL SOMEONE IN ACTION (GOD FORBID, I HOPE), YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER HE'S A MAN LIKE YOURSELF.

I give you a good piece of advice: go to the college and grow up as a man. I'm sure your passion can be better pointed to a career in the studies.

Respectfully
Alex

You can chose to be a sniper, we have sniper slots in my Squadron. If you are motivated and are a top notch shooter you would request to be moved into a sniper slot. If there is a open slot and you are worthy they will send you to sniper school. Our dismounted scout troop has quite a few sniper slots. You will need to be a 11B (Infantryman) to be a sniper. You can get pretty much any school in the army if you are a stud. It's a matter of proving yourself and letting your chain of command know they are not wasting a school slot on a guy who will fail. This is on the Army side of the house.

With all that being said you would need to score at least a 270 on a PT test and shoot in the high 30s before they would even consider sending you to the school. Talk to a recruiter.

Originally Posted by alessandro.pirisinu

With all due respect (and I'm not kidding), you shouldn't join the military.

You don't choose to be a sniper... Maybe you've seen too much "Full metal jacket" ("you gotta be a killer"... and all that stuff).
I was an officer in the Artillery of the italian army: I fired guns, rifles and machine gun... and it was good to realise the enourmous power a weapon can give you. So, you don't shoot just like you are in a video game.
The most important quality of a soldier is RESPECT: RESPECT FOR YOURSELF, FIRST AND FOREMOST; RESPECT FOR YOUR COLLEGUES AND (NEVER FORGET IT) RESPECT FOR YOUR ENEMY.
YES, IF YOU GOTTA KILL SOMEONE IN ACTION (GOD FORBID, I HOPE), YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER HE'S A MAN LIKE YOURSELF.

I give you a good piece of advice: go to the college and grow up as a man. I'm sure your passion can be better pointed to a career in the studies.

Respectfully
Alex

Respect for your enemy?
Only good soldiers have the brains to respect their enemy. They tend to die of old age too

You can also choose to be a scout/sniper in the Marine Corps. You just can't enlist for the MOS.

You must hold an 03XX Infantry MOS

You must shoot high expert

You must have the GT score

You must have a first class PFT score of at least 275

You must have high proficiency and conduct marks

Then you can apply for open billets in the STA Platoon and go thru OJT and eventually S/S course.

Some 02xx Intel Officers can also go thru scout/sniper course but their numbers are very few.

Originally Posted by wolfen

Respect for your enemy?
Only good soldiers have the brains to respect their enemy. They tend to die of old age too

This is the most famous commonplace about soldiers...

Didn't they teach you that defence must always be proportional to offence?

This is the first thing I've been told the first time I fired a round... And, be sure, italian soldiers don't lack courage...
Sure, it's easier to fire at will whenever you see an enemy far from you, hiding yourelf behind a gun or a rifle.
You need courage and, again, respect to be a soldier. The old age is not assured, but courage - often - is the only weapon that escapes from many, many soldiers...

I have never had the privilege of combat... but I've never thought of being a soldier like going to kill my enemy at all costs...

Respectfully
Alex

Alex Sir,

This young man is american, therefor he is more likely to end up in a combatzone than you average Italian, not to mention average Swedish soldier.
Fact is, we have a few guys from the states on here that are in combat MOS,s and have or are about to deploy.
Let them give the advice they see fit to this young man.

We both know the respect your enemy part are tought to the soldiers at an early stage.
Up to him to take that advice for what he reckon it being worth just like anything they teach him in his early days in.

Stay safe and sound Sir.

Stoonaroon, why sniper?


//KJ.

Really I don't know what your getting at but the Snipers in the US Army and USMC are drawn from the top troops and generally expieranced troops. So they understand respecting the enemy...maybe I'm reading you wrong.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

Really I don't know what your getting at but the Snipers in the US Army and USMC are drawn from the top troops and generally expieranced troops. So they understand respecting the enemy...maybe I'm reading you wrong.

Was this directed at me?
If so I know damned well what snipers are mate.

//KJ.