So a US Marine recruiter called me today.....

[Shaw]

The other day I went the US Marine Corps site and filled out some info. Today he called me. He just asked me if I was interested in joining once i get out of highschool and I said it was a definate possability. He asked me some questions and what not and he wants to meet me this Saturday at an airshow. What can I expect? Will most the things they say be utter BS? And my hair is really long at shoulder length will i get a lot of **** from him for that? I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks!

[James]

You probably won't get **** for your hair - recruiters are amongst the friendliest marines you'll ever meet. Whatever you decided to do if you do decide to enlist, make sure you get it in writing. Don't rush into a decision like this.

[Shaw]

Will he try to pressure me into signing up right away? I'm not yet sure if its the decision I want to make all though it is a major possibility. I'm only 17 and have a year left in highschool to make up my mind.

[Turbo]

Ive talked to many recruiters and they have never asked me to sign anything

[DarkCypher]

Aren't recruiters supposed to be friendly? Remember they want YOU!

[James]

Will he try to pressure me into signing up right away? I'm not yet sure if its the decision I want to make all though it is a major possibility. I'm only 17 and have a year left in highschool to make up my mind.

He might pressure you. I don't know - I enlisted in 1993, and I don't know how things are now. :( Back then there wasn't much pressure. Now? Well, I think the Army and Marines are hurting a bit with recruiting becasue of Iraq and A'Stan.

Sorry I can't tell you more. Are you set on the USMC? I would be doing you a disservice if I told you not to explore options with the other services - esp. the Army.

[memphiz]

Sounds like a petophile

[scrybe]

Sounds like a petophile

lol

Recruiters in general will try to sweet talk you into joining; that is thier job. Although he probably will not blatantly lie to you, be careful about the things he says and promises you. Since you are 17, he will also probably try to talk you into the delayed entry program where you would sign up now, but not ship off to basic until after you graduate. Likes James said, it's very early to commit to anything, and make sure you explore your options. You are smart to come to a place like this that has a lot of experienced (hopefully honest and unbiased) posters.

[California Joe]

Ask him to buy you beer. And some hookers. But be careful with the hookers......*shudder*

[Turbo]

Ask him to buy you beer. And some hookers. But be careful with the hookers......*shudder*

hey thats not good advice for a 17 year old

[HooyahCQB]

I've been through this already. The recruiter I talked to hated his job. He was waiting to get transfered back to his Artillery company or something. We talked about the summer programs while i'm in college. He didn't pressure me to do anything, just gave me some free stuff and information, laid out what I had to do under different programs and I asked many questions about transferring services, minimum required time, etc. He brought a kid with him who graduated from highschool with me and went through boot during the summer this was over Christmas break). The kid didn't even look at me and looked uncomfortable, lol. He said to think about it and he'd call back in a week or so. He never called, lol.

[usm2b]

My experience with a marine reruiter was, yeah he was friendly... and its not that they pressure you into joining, but its like they rush it. Its like they act so cool, and like such a good friend that you don't want to let them down, by not joining. Its a numbers game for them, but if its what you want, then it shouldn't matter...

I went the same time you did, my junior year I talked to one to ask question, and I went back cause he invited me for a second visit, and he was like "do you have any more questions?" and I said "nope, you guys have been very informative!" Then he said, "ok bring in your parents tomorrow and we'll get you signed up". I was in shock and said OK. I was very lucky that my parents blew the roof and gave me a big hell no. Now im in college and in Marine PLC going after a comission.

So, its good that you realize you have a year left...at my barber, there was a Marine who had gotten out, and I told him about me enlisting, but I was thinking about going officer but i want to go now, he told me... the marines will be there when you get out of college... don't rush.

[askDNA]

The recruiter was pressuring me into doing all types of programs and he even tried to convince me to sign a freakin Reservist slot with an Admin. MOS when I told him I was interested in active duty 0311(rifleman). They can't do anything to you, just tell them what YOU want and don't sign until you get what you want. You've got plenty of time.

[TuNeRsHaRk]

some recruiters are bungholes, i know one recruiter from the Florida national guard that is an asshole

you never know what to expect from those guys

[JTAR7242]

He won't bother you about your hair, you're still a nasty civilian, you don't know any better. He'll let recruit training teach you to be a Marine, it's just his job to make you realize that is what you want to be and get you there.

Most recruiters are cool. They will try and sell you on it, but that doesn't automatically make everything they say bull****. Just make sure that you go in with an MOS that you want, and get it all in writing on your contract. And definitely check out the other services, at least cursorily, it is worth your time to make sure you're headed down a path you want to go. If you have more specific questions, before or after you talk to the recruiter, feel free to PM me.

[Fargin]

Ask him to buy you beer. And some hookers. But be careful with the hookers......*shudder*

hey thats not good advice for a 17 year old
I disagree.

[PhillyMobster]

The other day I went the US Marine Corps site and filled out some info. Today he called me. He just asked me if I was interested in joining once i get out of highschool and I said it was a definate possability. He asked me some questions and what not and he wants to meet me this Saturday at an airshow. What can I expect? Will most the things they say be utter BS? And my hair is really long at shoulder length will i get a lot of **** from him for that? I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks!

First off, don't worry about your hair, the guys I'm in the DEP with could all use a hair-cut. (Ok, so I get mine buzzed, but thats just because I think it looks cooler) He's a recruiter, not a Drill Instructor, so he better be nice to you. If he isn't, call the complaints department, and ask for Dilbert. He should be able to help you.

Remember, you're still a civilian, and don't worry about hurting his feelings. If you don't want to do something, you don't have to. He won't outright pressure you, but he'll try and get on your good side, act like the best friend in the world, and just when you think you can trust him with anything, he'll slip some papers under your nose, and, to avoid insulting him, you'll sign. Be 100% sure you want to go that route before you sign anything.

I didn't have this problem, because I went into the office voluntarily, but I've heard of it happening to other people. Just be careful, and make wise, concious decisions. (My recruiter probably thought 'score!' when I went in there. He didn't even need to do any work to get me in. :P )

[Romulus]

Ask him to buy you beer. And some hookers. But be careful with the hookers......*shudder*

hey thats not good advice for a 17 year old
I disagree.

As do I.

[oregongrunt]

Join-up

[Pandy]

I told my recruiter that all I wanted to do in the Army was to get my Jump Wings and my CMB!... (Combat Medical Badge..) I got my EFMB and I'm happy with that..... I guess, :(

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

When I was considering joining the navy a few years ago. By god do they tell you some bull****.

When I spoke to a mate in the navy who joined 12 months earlier and I told him about it. He said yeah your told nothing but BS

[DUCKIE]

Is it true that the Marines can chnge your MOS?

[disabled1]

a recruiter is a very friendly liar that can blow so much smoke up your ass he'd make cheech and chong look like amatuers

[JTAR7242]

Nope. You will get what you go in as. However, a big mistake many military entrants make is signing up for a job field and not a specific job.

Like my MOS, 7242 Air Support Operations. Air Traffic Controller, like those at airports, is in the 7200 field. However, what I do is far different than what they do (and more exciting in my opinion). Some Marines in my job field I know came into the Corps thinking they were going to be ATCs and were disappointed when this one got assigned to them because they signed up (whether they knew it or not) as Occ Field 72, Air Control/Air Support/Anti-Air Warfare/ATC. However, if you get 7257 (Air Traffic Controller) on your contract, they can't change it and make you something else. Though, to be fair, your recruiter may not be able to guarantee you a specific job at a certain time. You may have your wants, but the Corps has its needs too.

[Ratamacue]

Nope. You will get what you go in as. However, a big mistake many military entrants make is signing up for a job field and not a specific job.

Like my MOS, 7242 Air Support Operations. Air Traffic Controller, like those at airports, is in the 7200 field. However, what I do is far different than what they do (and more exciting in my opinion). Some Marines in my job field I know came into the Corps thinking they were going to be ATCs and were disappointed when this one got assigned to them because they signed up (whether they knew it or not) as Occ Field 72, Air Control/Air Support/Anti-Air Warfare/ATC. However, if you get 7257 (Air Traffic Controller) on your contract, they can't change it and make you something else. Though, to be fair, your recruiter may not be able to guarantee you a specific job at a certain time. You may have your wants, but the Corps has its needs too.
So if I were to sign up for the 0300 field and not a specific MOS within it, I could end up being anything within that field, from a rifleman to a mortarman to an LAV crewman?

[USMC-Congbuster]

thats the just of it bro

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions on the recruiting process and MEPS

[PhillyMobster]

Nope. You will get what you go in as. However, a big mistake many military entrants make is signing up for a job field and not a specific job.

Like my MOS, 7242 Air Support Operations. Air Traffic Controller, like those at airports, is in the 7200 field. However, what I do is far different than what they do (and more exciting in my opinion). Some Marines in my job field I know came into the Corps thinking they were going to be ATCs and were disappointed when this one got assigned to them because they signed up (whether they knew it or not) as Occ Field 72, Air Control/Air Support/Anti-Air Warfare/ATC. However, if you get 7257 (Air Traffic Controller) on your contract, they can't change it and make you something else. Though, to be fair, your recruiter may not be able to guarantee you a specific job at a certain time. You may have your wants, but the Corps has its needs too.
So if I were to sign up for the 0300 field and not a specific MOS within it, I could end up being anything within that field, from a rifleman to a mortarman to an LAV crewman?

Correct. I belive the elegibility for the specific job depends on your ASVAB score. If you score above 70%, you can have a new contract written that would guarentee you a certain MOS. However, if you score below that, I think you're stuck with whatever job they give you. I don't know all this for sure, because I'm still getting this stuff sorted out myself, but thats my understanding of it.

[James]

I enlisted in 1993 on an 0300 contract. In SOI we were allowed to make a "wish list" of 4 0300 MOSs. My 1st choice was 0311, then 0341, 0331, and 0352. Guess which one I got. ;)

[Ratamacue]

So is it possible to get a guaranteed MOS in your contract?

[Fintin]

what ever you do...dont get in james trunk....its a bit stuffy in here and the monkey keeps throwing poo

[usm2b]

ahhhh.... ok, on one of my two week trainings in the sea cadets( STFU! its alot more rugged and manly then it sounds) there was a pfc and he told me he signed up to be a aircraft firefighter (or something like that0 but they made him an aircraft mechanic. He liked it, but I thought to myself (wow, he signed his contract and the corps changed it....).

Now it makes sense. Thanks for bringing that to light JTAR...

[FallenAngel]

Nope. You will get what you go in as. However, a big mistake many military entrants make is signing up for a job field and not a specific job.

Like my MOS, 7242 Air Support Operations. Air Traffic Controller, like those at airports, is in the 7200 field. However, what I do is far different than what they do (and more exciting in my opinion). Some Marines in my job field I know came into the Corps thinking they were going to be ATCs and were disappointed when this one got assigned to them because they signed up (whether they knew it or not) as Occ Field 72, Air Control/Air Support/Anti-Air Warfare/ATC. However, if you get 7257 (Air Traffic Controller) on your contract, they can't change it and make you something else. Though, to be fair, your recruiter may not be able to guarantee you a specific job at a certain time. You may have your wants, but the Corps has its needs too.
So if I were to sign up for the 0300 field and not a specific MOS within it, I could end up being anything within that field, from a rifleman to a mortarman to an LAV crewman?

Correct. I belive the elegibility for the specific job depends on your ASVAB score. If you score above 70%, you can have a new contract written that would guarentee you a certain MOS. However, if you score below that, I think you're stuck with whatever job they give you. I don't know all this for sure, because I'm still getting this stuff sorted out myself, but thats my understanding of it.

hehe...I didn't have to take the ASVAB. Confused the hell out of the cute female airman at MEPS when she opened my folder. :lol:

[askDNA]

So is it possible to get a guaranteed MOS in your contract?

A recruiter told me only Reservists get to choose their specific MOS (0311) and Active get to choose their field like 03xx

[Scrim]

I did TAD as a recruiter for a year in the mid 90s, things may have changed, but I will tell you what I can from back then. James and others have pretty much covered it.

If you do well enough on the ASVAB you can pick your exact MOS ie 0311. We had a program called the QEP or Quality Enlistment Program. It guaranteed your MOS, choice of duty station and meritorious PFC. It was a six year contract. I believe you had to score in the 70s on the ASVAB.

If you just do OK on the ASVAB you will choose your MOS field ie 0300, you will get one of the several jobs in that field depending on the needs of the Corps.

If you do really **** on the ASVAB and have some waivers (drug use, GED, misdemeanors etc) they may offer you an "open contract", this means you will get whatever ****ty job needs to be filled, usually a cook.

Yes, Reservists pick their exact MOS because it is based on location, no point being a Grunt if the nearest Infantry unit is 8 hours from your house.

Now the difference between the Army and Marines way of doing things.

The Army will allow you to pick your exact MOS. However you take the ASVAB and do all the swearing in at MEPs first. Then go back to your recruiters office and talk about jobs. If you did **** on the ASVAB or your job is not available, you may get stuck with something you didnt really want.

The Marine Corps allows you to take the ASVAB first, then go back to your recruiter and talk about what job field you want, then you go back to MEPs and swear in with your MOS field already in your contract.

So both systems have their pros and cons really.

Once again this was back in 96 so things may have changed since.

[PhillyMobster]

So is it possible to get a guaranteed MOS in your contract?

A recruiter told me only Reservists get to choose their specific MOS (0311) and Active get to choose their field like 03xx

That can't be true. I'm in the DEP right now, going active after boot, and my recruiter is getting my 0311 contract worked up right now. Were you working with a USMC recruiter, or some other service branch?

Scrim, nothing has changed as far as the QEP. The lowest you can currently score on the ASVAB, to be eligible for it is a 70. (The average is 47)

[askDNA]

So is it possible to get a guaranteed MOS in your contract?

A recruiter told me only Reservists get to choose their specific MOS (0311) and Active get to choose their field like 03xx

That can't be true. I'm in the DEP right now, going active after boot, and my recruiter is getting my 0311 contract worked up right now. Were you working with a USMC recruiter, or some other service branch?

Scrim, nothing has changed as far as the QEP. The lowest you can currently score on the ASVAB, to be eligible for it is a 70. (The average is 47)

Yea it was USMC