Howdy everybody!
Here's the deal: I'm trying to figure out what to do with my life. Currently I'm heading into my third year of four at a rather nice university in California. I'm well educated in the typical sense (ie, I can write papers and participate in that academic bulls*** that I've come to loathe).

I'm very seriously considering joining the Marines after college. I'd want to be infantry or something to do with intelligence work. But frankly, right now my only reservation is whether I'd fit in. I don't usually go in for the usual macho manly bullshitting. I mean, it's fun but to stay sane I need to have very smart people around to talk about philosophy, the current international relations scene (ie, what's Russia up to now? What does it mean? How competent of a politician is Medvedev? ad infinitum).

All right. I hope I've made some sense. I'm just looking for some guidance right now. Any input is much appreciated.

Cheerio,
Roger

It seems, just from your cursory introduction, we have some things in common. Don't go infantry. I "been there done that". You would not fit in. Intelligence, however, might be "your thing". After a tour in the infantry I went intel, and well-

quote:

I don't usually go in for the usual macho manly bullshitting. I mean, it's fun but to stay sane I need to have very smart people around to talk about philosophy, the current international relations scene (ie, what's Russia up to now? What does it mean? How competent of a politician is Medvedev? ad infinitum).

Yeah. It's like that. Hell, you can even get a chance to learn Russian (though, typically, language schools fall to the enlisted Marines, but occasionally...). Recommend you check out MOS 0204 HUMINT Officer.

While you're thinking about it, look into some of the Marine Officer programs that are available. I know Marines usually get teased with those typical "low-intelligence" jokes, but some of the Marine Corps officers I knew were some of the smartest people I met. I had a Lt. Col. for a Battalion Commander at USNA, and this guy had two Masters Degrees and numerous leadership commendations. Granted, once you go Marine, you'll always have some Hoorah in you, no matter how hard you try to shake it.

I chose the other Marine: Submarine.
I chose the other Corps: Reactor Cores.

quote:

I know Marines usually get teased with those typical "low-intelligence" jokes, but some of the Marine Corps officers I knew were some of the smartest people I met.

Had a CO who cursed like a....Sailor. He was crude, direct and tactless. I loved him. He had an XO who was his exact opposite-- a slimy, political weasel who was offended by "bad words", who thought that he'd show up in the CO in front of us with a chess game. It was a really short game. The CO offered the defeated XO some tips-- and maybe he ought to read this book (written by the CO on chess strategy, on the back cover it stated the author was ranked 50th in the country). Yeah, sometimes they're pretty smart.

I always thought that the not-too-smart thing was nothing but propaganda (fool the enemy). There were some people in the Army with me who had to be told to come out of the rain (this is true).
They weren’t even chemical engineers!

Roger,

Joining the Marine Corps is a lifetime committment, even if only for 4 years.

Yeah, we have been typecast as indicated above, but check the history on the Marine Corps, and you'll make the corelation as to who is doing the typecasting and why. It certainly isn't coming from within the Corps.

Believe it or not, it take a good deal of intelligence to be successful as an infantryman. Stupid grunts are dead grunts.

You need to take a trip down to Camp Pendleton and meet some of these guy's, I think you'd be surprised at what you find.

Thanks for your comments and insights. I really appreciate it, and any further thoughts are welcome.

I've got an appointment with a Marine recruiter tomorrow.

Any thoughts on whether I should go officer or not?

Roger,

You are 3 years into a 4 year degree. Get the degree and then go in as an Officer. If you don't go ahead and finish what you started, you might at a later point look back with regret over that decision. Once your in, you are in and there won't be time to do both. The Corps will still be there when you graduate.

Why's it better to go in as an officer? I guess my line of thinking is that if I serve as enlisted, and then move up to officer, I'll understand a little better exactly what it's like to be enlisted.

I think I also feel that it might be a lot of responsibility to shoulder pretty suddenly.

Is there anything I should do to prepare for the meeting with the recruiter?

I'm pretty excited, but a little nervous for some reason.

It might be better to get a little taste of what the enlisted folks are all about, but you're already in college. It'd be taking a step backwards at this point, really. And it would take you longer to get to that commission.

Nothing elaborate needs to be done to prepare to see the recruiter. Is it a Recruiter or an Officer Selection Officer (an Officer Recruiter)?

Just be prepared to give a full resume, and be honest and up front. Think about why you want to join and what your goals are in entering the military.

It's an Officer Selection Officer.

Fun title. Do they have Officer Selection Officer Selection Officers to choose the OSOs?

I'll let you all know how it goes. The guy I talked to sounded pretty low-key, although I think he was a tad underwhelmed by my 150 pounds of sheer scrawn.


UPDATE:
It went pretty well. They were very nice and helpful. Gave me lots of information. I'm hoping that they'll call me up with information about joining a sort of workout group, because I want to get into better shape.

Still a little split about whether to go officer or enlisted. Enlisted offers the advantages of shorter time requirement, I think, and they could put me right where I want to be. Officer would have a lot greater responsibility, which is both an advantage and not, and be more of an unknown factor. Hmm.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RogerHavel,

From what I know about Marine Officers...they are much closer to their enlisted personnel than the other branches.
So I'd say follow these Gunny's advise.
Get the degree. Get in shape. Get your commission. Lead your troops.
See ya when you get by Guam...
You'll find me at the wx shack...
(or on the beach with my gal).