I am a 17 year old senior in high school. I scored a 95 on the ASVAB and I am close to getting my associates degree. I can enlist and am promised to be an E2 out of boot... and my recruiter (exceptional recruiter, puts a lot of time with all his recruits) is working with me so I can excell in boot both physically and mentally so that I can come out as an E3. After boot he says I can take 10 days vaca and then work with him for 15 days, and if I am actually productive he can recommend me for a promotion to E4 based upon my leadership personality and work ethic. Is all this too good to be true? I don't feel like he is just talking because he says this infront of other recruits and tells them "Sorry man, cant do this for you because I feel like you need at least a year of characted development in the Corps before you start climbing the ranks.".

Second question. I am qualified for every job within the military and so choosing one is very difficult. I am looking to get a lot of schooling and am not afraid of a challenge. I want something that isnt the same thing day-in-day-out, that will engage my mind regularly... has opportunities for advancement, and that will give me skills that I can transfer to the civilian world for a lucrative career.

Third question. My recruiter told me to think of 2 things and get back to him. 1) Do I want my job to be a land job or avionics job. 2.) Do I want to be an officer (because he wants to get me in a program to make me an officer.) So what are the pros and cons of land jobs and avionics jobs, as well as the pros and cons to being an officer.

Hope that I didnt leave anything else and that my questions were clear! Thanks for anything you can tell me. Any opinion is welcome.

Don't you mean your High School Diploma? If you want to be an Officer, you really should get at least your Bachelor's if not more.

Here's some free advice, go to college and if you still want to join the military then do it.

Every person who I have known since joining the military right out of High School can't wait until they are out. One is in Iraq right now, Marine Corps. The others are in the Navy and Air Force.

It is extremely rare to see anyone get E-4 right out of boot, even after spending 15 days back with the recruiter. I'm not saying it can't be done, however it is exceedingly unlikely. Besides, a boot E-4 is almost as dangerous as a newly minted Lt.

This E-2 promise out of boot, is it in writing in your contract?

If you can get into Officer Candidate School, take it.

Avionics....interesting job. You do know what it is? OK, avionics relates directly to all the little black boxes in aircraft, and the support of them. This includes remoavl and installation, troubleshooting in the squadron levels, and at higher level the repair of the circuits and testing via test benches.

Your question concerning land job? Pretty broad spectrum. Anything from grunt to air traffic controller. You need to be aware of one thing son, the Commandant of the Marine Corps has declared that EACH and EVERY MARINE will deploy into the theater of operations moving forward. This means Iraq, and Afganistan, and on board ships.

I mean my associates degree. and my highschool diploma. I havent been at my highschool in almost 2 years. I am taking college classes at the local community college and get highschool credit as well. I will be 18 with my associates degree when I go to basic.

I dont know what my recruiter meant when he told me to decide if I want an avionics job or land job, he just told me to decide.

If you want to become an Officer, you should join the local ROTC at the community college or state college. Since you will already have an Associates, you would work for your Bachelor's in school while becoming a Marine.

ok, just who are you and what have you done with the Fox Mulder that we all know?