DaJoker SS Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 (edited) Well ive been really looking into joining the marines. I think the experience is like a one in a lifetime thing and i really want to see what its like. They pay for your school which is good and wut better then to serve your country. Edited July 5, 2007 by DaJoker SS (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobradh77 Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 I personally think if that is how you feel you should definately go for it. You and everyone else who joins the armed forces are better men than me. I personally do not like the lifestyle military brings but some relish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaJoker SS Posted July 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 I personally think if that is how you feel you should definately go for it. You and everyone else who joins the armed forces are better men than me. I personally do not like the lifestyle military brings but some relish it. thanks for ur opinion brad. by the way the stickers awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Why not? Go for it. I'm 28 year sold, single, working in corporate america making near six figures...and I'm getting out and joining up with the NAVY in the spring. I plan on going to OCS though, I dont want to enlist. Starting pay is only $37k/yr for me, but they will pay for my law degree and after 5-7 years, I can be making about the same as I am now. Some things to think about... The military is one of the last institutions to offer a FULL pension after only 20 years of service. Medical Benefits are not amazing, but very steady and handy in most situations. School paid for. Free training in a good field (dont choose general infantry). If they say you are smart enough for a technical field...do it. Most succesful people I know from the military did a technical field like electronics specialists, paramedics/medical, etc. Driving a tank wont get you anywhere when you get out. 30 days vacation per year unless deployed...(expect to go to Iraq or overseas at least once, if still on by the time you get down with basic). Be very clear about the GI bill, there are loop holes to screw you out of your money...make sure you know what is required of you and meet those requirments, no exceptions. Ask you recruiter what you can do to get a head start on college while in service. Take as many credits part time as you can. Ask about becoming an officer while enlisted (you will have to complete a 4 year degree in order to probably qualify) Good luck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogx Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Are you ready to fight for your life? Are you ready to watch people you know and are friends with get sent into harms way sometime not returning as the same will go for you? Are you ready to spend a year plus in a dirt hole with it 120+ degrees while people you are trying to help are shooting shoulder mounted rockets at you? Are you ready to possible go through this entire scenario for many more years to come as this war over in that region is really just beginning IMO? Are you ready to be in situations that you never even dreamed of happening before and remaining cool and calm because other people are depending on you? If you answering yes to a lot of these questions then i would say go for it, if you are doing this for free college tuition i would say no and it would be a big mistake IMO for you to enlist. From the marines i know and who have served in a time of war, most times they want nothing to do with the recruits who joined up for the tuition money, i cant say first hand but this is what i have been told by a few marines who depend on their crew to be there when they need them and not some water under the ear recruit freaking out because he cant handle the situation and just wanted to join so he could have a easier financial time for college. If the tuition is only kind of the after thought then i would say also go for it, i only said what i said because from the mouths of other marines that i know, kids that join up for that reason only are usually a liability to themselves and worst to their entire crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 If he answers NO to alot of those questions, then he should consider the air force or navy...not that they arent put into harms way, but definetly the more plush accomodations and cleaner assignments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogx Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 If he answers NO to alot of those questions, then he should consider the air force or navy...not that they arent put into harms way, but definetly the more plush accomodations and cleaner assignments. And in no way shape or form do i want people to think I'm talking down about the other branches as they all have a important role and help this country tremendously and they all have a dangerous aspect. But to be a marine takes a little something different IMO, they have without question the most dangerous job in this entire world right now patrolling that @#$@ hole in Iraq and Afghanistan. Amazing that the most dangerous job in the world only pays 37k a year, i really hope our next president looks into that and changes it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobradh77 Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 nah they will never get a pay raise the congress is to busy voting themselves one every session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 $37k is for officers. Marines have it the hardest, Army next (cousin was airborne, he filled me in on Iraq and Afghanistan), then the Navy (small ship quarters when at sea sometimes), and then the Airforce (all stationary for the most part and usually the first to get barracks/etc in a war zone). Base pay for an E-1 is about $22-25k per year inculding BAH. You get your housing and food taken care of and about $1,500-1,600/mo...comes out to about $25k/year. an O-1 in the Navy makes $2,500/yr + BAH. You can opt to get your BAH in cash at some point if you are allowed/choose to live off base...but then you are on your own for housing, food, etc. Alot of military bases have expensive housing around them, like San Diego, Norfolk, Hawaii, etc. You're better off living in base housing...If you are in the middle of Missouri...you can probably afford to live off base. If you have some college credits going in, you might be able to get in as an E-2/3 and that can make a difference of a couple hundred per month. Being that I am just starting to get into this myself, I believe most is accurate, but I'm sure some may correct me if I am wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmids5.3l Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Just start liking PT, love being told what to do, love being treated like crap, and expect to go to Iraq for at least a year or two. If you think you might want to stay in the Marines for a while, expect to go over seas more than once or twice depending on how long we are going to be there. By the time your out of training G.B. won't be in office for very long, so who knows. Money isn't great, the average guy at the Mcdonalds window probably makes more and eats better food, there's also whole new set of rules and laws. I'm in the Army reserves, I went reserves because I didn't know if I would like the way of life, and I'm glad I did. Iraq isn't too bad, don't let someones horror stories freak you out. It's a much nicer place now than it was back in 03 and 04. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packjh Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 ah i made the choice along time ago marines/army...infantry well i dont feel like getting filled with bullet holes. Plus some of the rules for the army and marines are a lil wacky navy...well screw being on a boat coastguard...i really dont know why i didnt chose this cause they have so many differnt things you can do. I mean yes your on a boat but not for months at a time. airforce... well im lazy, i grow my hair a lil longer. I usually have nice facilities when i deploy. Oh yea i fix the most bad ass airplane ever. Id look into everything first. The hidden secret of the military is the air guard. These guys have the best jobs. They do their weekend duty. And they can volunteer to deploy or go tdy. The money they make is alot more than what i make. Look around and talk to people dont just jump into something and regret the next 4 to 6 years. I dont regret it i just want to move on and try other stuff now. I wish i could just do a differnt job every year and still make good money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Go for it, follow your heart.......Best of luck to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertss Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 i saw more of the world from 76-80 than a country boy from louisiana ever could dream of. i went into the navy. did 4 yrs an 29 days.. been on every continent (including antartica) i had the montgomery gi bill for college. they paid me almost a grand a month, plus the tuition and books of go to school.. you got to be one brave sob to enlist in the marines. but they do have the coolest uniforms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixxerrider Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 (edited) I am Navy so here is my plug for the Dept of the Navy..... The Marines fall under the Navy. By the way Marines hate it. if you want to join a branch no matter what it is you may spend time in the sand. This is monthly base pay. 2007 Basic Pay Rates for Enlisted with Less Than 14 Years of Service Rank < 2 2 3 4 6 8 10 12 E-7 2339.10 2553.00 2650.80 2780.70 2881.50 3055.20 3152.70 3250.20 E-6 2023.20 2226.00 2324.40 2419.80 2519.40 2744.10 2831.40 2928.30 E-5 1854.00 1977.90 2073.30 2171.40 2323.80 2454.90 2551.50 2582.10 E-4 1699.50 1786.50 1883.10 1978.50 2062.80 2062.80 2062.80 2062.80 E-3 1534.20 1630.80 1729.20 1729.20 1729.20 1729.20 1729.20 1729.20 E-2 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 1458.90 E-1 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 1301.40 E-1 with less than 4 months of service 1203.90 2007 Basic Pay Rates for Commissioned Officers with Less Than 14 Years of Service (Senate Version) Rank <2 2 3 4 6 8 10 12 O-8 8453.10 8729.70 3913.60 8964.90 9194.10 9577.20 9666.30 10030.20 O-7 7023.90 7350.00 7501.20 7621.20 7838.40 8052.90 8301.30 8548.80 O-6 5206.20 5719.20 6094.50 6094.50 6117.60 6380.10 6414.60 6414.60 O-5 4339.80 4888.80 5227.50 5291.10 5502.00 5628.60 5906.40 6110.10 O-4 3744.60 4334.70 4623.90 4688.40 4956.90 5244.60 5602.80 5882.40 O-3 3292.20 3732.30 4028.40 4392.00 4602.00 4833.00 4982.70 5228.40 O-2 2844.30 3239.70 3731.40 3857.40 3936.60 3936.60 3936.60 3936.60 O-1 2469.30 2569.80 3106.50 3106.50 3106.50 3106.50 3106.50 3106.50 Edited July 7, 2007 by gixxerrider (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmids5.3l Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 You should PM "Marine Sgt", My guess would be he would have the best info for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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