Military Recuiting

[BeanMak]

I put this in the parenting forum, but would also like some info from those actually in the service. Do you feel your recruiter was honest with you?
My 18 yo (my baby, my marshmellow ) is talking to a Marine Recruiter. I think the military might not be a bad idea for him, but the MARINES??? I am SO a child of the 70's. This is SO outside of my relm of experience. I don't know how to council him.
I want him to talk to the Air Force too. But he is 18 and you know how they are
Anyway, I would appreciate any help, ideas etc.

 

[Jacey]

I put this in the parenting forum, but would also like some info from those actually in the service. Do you feel your recruiter was honest with you?
My 18 yo (my baby, my marshmellow ) is talking to a Marine Recruiter. I think the military might not be a bad idea for him, but the MARINES??? I am SO a child of the 70's. This is SO outside of my relm of experience. I don't know how to council him.
I want him to talk to the Air Force too. But he is 18 and you know how they are
Anyway, I would appreciate any help, ideas etc.

Please feel free to PM me if you'd like some specific advice.

It all depends on what he wants out of the military that should define what service he joins. If he just wants schooling and a good quality of life, and isn't too concerned about getting dirty and learning infantry and combat skills, then the Air Force would be for him.

If he wants to be the best, have pride in himself and his service, and go through the toughest training, the Marines is it.

Recruiters are very sneaky and slippery. Have to make sure everything they say is in the contract your son signs.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Recruiters paint a pretty picture, no matter which service he talks to. The Navy and Air Force are the two "civilized" services. The army is a little tougher - as far as basic training. They all change you. They all make you grow up. My personal opinion is that almost everyone can benefit from joining a service, unless you're absolutely 100% sure what you want to do with your life. M

 

[USincognito]

One thing to keep in mind is that most of the services will recruit you for a field, a specialty or handful of job choices, but the Army is the only one (at least this was the case 15 years ago) that will place you in a specific job before you even state your name. I should qualify this to say it applies(ied?) to Active Duty. If you're joining a reserve unit I'm pretty sure all branches will recruit for a specific opening they have to fill.

 

[RufustheRed]

I can only offer my personal experiences and feelings. I spent 21 years in the US Army and dearly did not want to retire, but there were mitigating circumstances, i.e. developing physical disablilties, family problems that required more of my time than I was capable to devoting to. I LOVED the Army! I retired in 1988 as MSG on the SGM list! I was definately lost for a while in this civilian world.

On the other hand, my son went into the Army and blew out his knee in the second week. If what he says is true, the cadre was only interested in getting him discharged. The medical people were just as eager. (This was a year prior to 9/11 - one wonders if their attitude might have been different.)

I encouraged him to enlist, which, as I look back, was a mistake. The Army had changed so much since I left. The DIs were all reservist which was a point I was not aware of. If someone is to be trained in basic or AIT, it should be by career personal.

Bottom line. The military is not for everyone, IMO.

Sven

 

[onionring]

Air Force would be my suggestion to anyone joining the service. Marines dumb you down and bulk you up. The Army is a nice second choice to the AF, but they don't have anywhere near the level of comfortable living and freedom that the AF has.

Here's the order of preference, based on schooling, benefits, level of comfort and job-related skills you can apply to the outside work-force.
1) AF
3) Army*
3) Navy*
4) Marines

*Truthfully Navy is probably better; but I was Army and it's hard to let a 'squid' get top billing over me.

 

[Jacey]

Air Force would be my suggestion to anyone joining the service. Marines dumb you down and bulk you up. The Army is a nice second choice to the AF, but they don't have anywhere near the level of comfortable living and freedom that the AF has.

Here's the order of preference, based on schooling, benefits, level of comfort and job-related skills you can apply to the outside work-force.
1) AF
3) Army*
3) Navy*
4) Marines

*Truthfully Navy is probably better; but I was Army and it's hard to let a 'squid' get top billing over me.

The Marines do not dumb you down. I get so sick of hearing this........

 

[MichaelFJF]

The Marines do not dumb you down. I get so sick of hearing this........

There are some very intelligent Marines. Based on my personal experience in the service, they keep them very well hidden though. M

 

[onionring]

The Marines do not dumb you down. I get so sick of hearing this........

Sadly, it's not a stereotype. They train marines to follow orders and kill; not to run around as autonomous thinkers. Why? Because they are going to be the first-in bullet-stoppers that break the beach/front-lines. Every branch trains differently, for different overall functionality and purpose.

By "dumbing down", I mean, they train you to react and follow orders. So, it may sound bad, but it's really the truth,...albeit, in non-flattering words.

 

[Jacey]

There are some very intelligent Marines. Based on my personal experience in the service, they keep them very well hidden though. M

I'm kept locked in a cage in the basement, with only my computer and a supply of twinkies. I haven't seen sunlight in years.

Well, believe me, there are plenty of stupid Marines, but I tend to work with the smart ones.

 

[Jacey]

Sadly, it's not a stereotype. They train marines to follow orders and kill; not to run around as autonomous thinkers. Why? Because they are going to be the first-in bullet-stoppers that break the beach/front-lines. Every branch trains differently, for different overall functionality and purpose.

By "dumbing down", I mean, they train you to react and follow orders. So, it may sound bad, but it's really the truth,...albeit, in non-flattering words.

When and where did you serve in the Marines? I've been trained to be a thinker. Yes, I follow orders. I've also learned how to give them.

The Marine Corps doesn't want robots. We want smart, strong, disciplined fighting men. Why do you think we very rarely take someone with a GED and the other services do all the time?

 

[MichaelFJF]

There are plenty of stupid Fly Boys too - one of the reasons I got out. M

 

[onionring]

.... I've been trained to be a thinker. Yes, I follow orders. I've also learned how to give them.

Good for you. But taking and giving orders isn't thinking.

....The Marine Corps doesn't want robots. We want smart, strong, disciplined fighting men.

What the Marine's want was never in question. What they do with what they get was the point I was making.

....Why do you think we very rarely take someone with a GED and the other services do all the time?

My guess is because they have the smallest budget, the best dress and probably get some of the dumbest recruits volunteering...they want to join because they like the way the uniform looks. The Army was trying to get some of that action in making berets the universal headgear of the Army. They reason it would raise moral. Retarded. Retarded. Retarded.

But hey, I don't hate the marines, but when it comes to "high"-technical training, individualism and free-thinking, the marines are the most lacking. And for good reason...to accomplish their specific purpose.

"Think" about that.

 

[lucypevensie]

MOD HAT ON

Can we all agree that each branch of the service is necessary and appreciated? If so there is no need to debate who's smarter and dumber. Let's stop with the little insults and get back to helping the original poster.

MOD HAT OFF

 

[MichaelFJF]

MOD HAT ON

Can we all agree that each branch of the service is necessary and appreciated? If so there is no need to debate who's smarter and dumber. Let's stop with the little insults and get back to helping the original poster.

MOD HAT OFF

Good point, but I had to laugh when I read it, and realized that this is EXACTLY the kind of conversation the original poster's son will be getting when he joins. No matter which service he joins, he will be convinced that the others are full of morons. Just couldn't resist. M

 

[lucypevensie]

Good point, but I had to laugh when I read it, and realized that this is EXACTLY the kind of conversation the original poster's son will be getting when he joins. No matter which service he joins, he will be convinced that the others are full of morons. Just couldn't resist. M

 

[Jacey]

Good for you. But taking and giving orders isn't thinking.

Ok, how about you give me a good definition of "thinking" and we'll work from there.

and probably get some of the dumbest recruits volunteering

Show me stats on where we have the dumbest volunteering.

See, I work at a recruiting headquarters. The Marine Corps has made mission for more than 100 straight months. As a result, we don't have to do like the other services, and just take whoever walks in the doors, and give them waivers, and still not make mission.

they want to join because they like the way the uniform looks.

Yes. Everyone I've talked to in the past 7+ years wants to join the Marines because of the uniform. Profound.

The Army was trying to get some of that action in making berets the universal headgear of the Army. They reason it would raise moral. Retarded. Retarded. Retarded.

It's morale, and you're right.

But hey, I don't hate the marines, but when it comes to "high"-technical training, individualism and free-thinking, the marines are the most lacking.

So, show me where you get this information from, I'm dying to know. Because my friend who joined and went to intel school, and myself, a combat correspondent, are curious (and it's easier for Marines to get follow-on MOS training because there's less of us, and we consider training of utmost importance, because, you know, we don't want stupid people out there.

"Think" about that.

According to you, I'm incapable of thinking.

 

[Jacey]

Good point, but I had to laugh when I read it, and realized that this is EXACTLY the kind of conversation the original poster's son will be getting when he joins. No matter which service he joins, he will be convinced that the others are full of morons. Just couldn't resist. M

Hahaha, isn't this the truth?!?!?!

 

[desi]

The Marine Corps is the best of all the services for several reasons. It will make your son the best and he will know it. The world will be his oyster, he will have unstoppable confidence in his abilities by the time they are done with him. They also offer competitive perks like student loan payback and if he takes classes while he is in the Marines I think they still offer the best coverage, 75% of tuition-they did when I was in, he should check it out to be sure. Finally, the Corps is terrific on a resume. It's helped me get into many places I might not have gotten into, professional school etc... had it not been on the resume. I look back on my experience as a Marine with thankfulness and I look toward my and my family's future with confidence. Have your son look into things so he gets the best deal he can from the Corps then let him sign up.

 

[BeanMak]

Thanks for the replys. The Sargent came by this evening and we talked for along time. I worry for his safety, but I think this might be a great opportunity for him. I will seek God's wisdom, and his peace on this one!