Reply #116: I'm an Active Duty Marine Officer [View All]

[wmbrew0206]

If it is between the Army and the Marines, something to consider:

1. While the Marine Corps boot camp is harder than the Army's, if you can run three miles in 28 minutes and do about 5 pull ups, and if you want it bad enough you can make it through recruit training. Don't let the physical side scare you off.

2. With either service, do your own research and figure out what you want to do. Then tell the recruiter what you want and sign a contract for that MOS (military occupational specialty)and only that MOS. Don't sign anything until you sign a contract for that MOS. Everyone is right here when they say don't completely trust a recruiter.

3. With either service, you WILL go through a FULL and COMPLETE boot camp. Neither service has changed the length of their boot camps.

4. After boot camp with the Army, you go to your MOS school and then to any other school that you signed up for (I highly recommend jump school, it was great!) and then to your unit. MOS schools have not been shortened either. If your unit is deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, then that is where you will go. Do some research and you'll figure out who is where and when they are going over or getting back. With the Army, the 82nd, 101st, and the Ranger Bn's deploy the most. So if you want to get over there, ask for an assignment to those units.

5. With the Corps, you'll got to MCT after boot camp, then your MOS school and then your unit. Once again if your unit is over there you'll go, if not then you'll be stateside. You could even end up in Hawaii in a non-deployable job, it happens every now and then.

From what you listed you are looking for, you will find it in either service. I joined before 9/11 and it was the best decision I ever made. I just return from Afghanistan and headed to Iraq next, and I wouldn't change it for the world. While I in Afghanistan one of the things I saw was a little girl walking with her younger brother on their way to school. Seeing things like that and helping make the country safe for free elections made it one of the most rewarding experience of my life. If you have an other questions, post them and I'll try and answer them or PM you.