Planning to Join "A" branch

[LHSwrestler]

I've been looking into the Navy and Army. But then I added the Marines into my sight because a senior from my wrestling team recently went off to basic training. I have set my sites on the Marines, and haven't taken them off. What also makes the Marines more appealing is being better prepared in hostile territory.

I plan to enlist my senior year, and would be interested in being a rifleman or Indirect Support Fire Specialist. Could anyone who has been in either of these jobs explain life, and what I could do after leaving the Marines?

[GRS4870]

LHS I hope someone comes on and answers your questions for you. I being a retired Marine agree, who would want to be in the Army or Navy if you can qualify for the U. S. Marine Corps.

My specialty was not in Support Fire or a rifleman; however, every Marine must qualify as a rifleman. In any field you are taught leadership that you can use after getting out. Our Governor here in Oregon was a Corporal in the Marines. There just are not too many jobs in civilian occupations that require the training of a rifleman with maybe the exception of police work. My advise to you would be to get a good education and college if possible. If you do enlist right after high school continue your education through correspondence courses or night school if available. With knowledge you will be more valuable to both the USMC and your contry, plus bettering yourself. Good luck to you.

[Chuck]

LHSwrestler ..

MSgt GarvinRay is correct. As a Marine you will always be a rifleman first and any other job will be second.

We that have been there and done that can not stress education too much. You need that education to get anywhere within the Marine Corps. Promotions are picked from within the Corps. One of the first things they look at is your education.

If you have the right stuff they will put you through college as they did me. But it is not a given. You must earn everything that is given to you. Everything you get in the Marine Corps must be earned. There will be 10's, 100's, or even 1,000's of other Marines going after the same job you want. High School is nothing compared to what you will go through in the Marine Corps. We would all tell you to go to College before thinking of joining our Marine Corps. Give yourself a change at getting what you may end up being after. The very best thing you could do is to go to college and attend ROTC. Take a shot a becoming a officer.

This comes from a retired command officer that went to college while on active duty. The Marine Corps gave me my life after serving my country until I retired. With the VA plan I was able to start another career and own my own business. I am now retired from that second career. With nothing but the good life in front of me. You can retire from the military and still be very young (less then 40 years old) with a life time income to help you along in your next career.

[LHSwrestler]

I greatly appreciate your response, and this part of your forums. Until right now I had been pondering if I wanted to go to college first or enlist. I am still worried about keeping in shape while attending college, because simply if I take a class it's going to be the hardest, and who is to say that pressure will put me to sleep over running 5 miles across the school grounds.

What of college education while in The Marines? Navy has some special college courses you can take while deployed, do The Marines have something along that?

[LHSwrestler]

Found my answer, Thanks for the help
For reference for anyone with the same question about education in The Marines: http://www.marines.com/main/index/quality_citizens/benefit_of_services/education