U.S. Marines

[Fitch]

I am writing to you seeking your impartial opinion.


I am in an interesting predicament. I have two options before me, and I am seeking genuine advice. I can either serve the United States as a Marine, and THEN go to college; or just go to school.

I am an intelligent, ambitious individual who faces an obstacle--money. Sure, I can take loans and pay them back later, but I can serve and get my education covered 100%. Furthermore, I can most likely get into a more prestigious school with my Marine background after my contract expires.

Clearly there are benefits for taking the Marine path, and then living as a civilian for the rest of my years. And there are its disadvantages...

I need to make a decision.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood," wrote the poet Robert Frost. "And I took the one less traveled by."

 

[itishe]

Become a Marine or if you wish, join another branch of the military.

Navy, Airforce = Focus more on intelligence (hence help you more for college)
Army, Marine = Focus more on physical attributes (perhaps more adventure)

Now days the state of mind is, "you HAVE to go to college right after highschool to be sucessful".

I say it's better to go off and do something for a few years and live in the real world eventually you'll know what you want to do. College is a mighty expensive place to "find yourself".

If you do go the college path, be sure to pull out the moment you start getting constant thoughts of "Do I belong here?".

 

[Fitch]

Let me clarify, since you must have misunderstood. I will definitely go to college. I have been looking forward to beginning college since eighth grade. I enjoy school, to be honest. In fact, I am pursuing a career in Law. I am really bent on this.

I am debating whether I should enlist for a few years prior to going to college to reap the Benefits. Plus, imagine when I am at the point of being recruited to work at a law firm. They will love to know that I was a former Marine, it's very respectable. I immediately built rapport.

I believe it gives me an edge when I apply to college. It may give me the necessary boost to get into Harvard.

 

[wavejams007]

it depends on your situation and state of mind. Many choose the military in order to pay for college and/or patriotic sense of duty. While soldiers are dieing in Iraq, they aren't dieing in the same proportions as WWII or the korean or vietnam war. So the military is still a safe bet. Ditto to most of what itishe wrote.

 

[itishe]

Fitch, you seem to have large concern over finances.

I say, go for the military then. Not only will they help with college payments, you'll also get to experience many things you wouldn't be able to as a civilian.

 

[shydude]

Watch the movie "jarhead" trust me after that you will not wanna go there. Its not 100$ safe becoming a marine, you will probably go to IRAQ were shyt happened. My brother is in Navy, basically all you do there is NOTHING, NAVY sucks, idk about airforce, Army same shyt, training and then Iraq. If i were you i would get a job somewhere as a waiter and go to an affordable college. But i am telling YOU, DO NOT go to the military. IT is all bulshyt, and you get paid little. Being a waiter u get paid about 100-300$ a day, depends were you working, in military its a lot less and a waste of time. Life is short and before you know it you will be a history.

 

[Fitch]

I have seen Jarhead.

Then in that case, isn't the Navy the best option if you do NOTHING?
I'm not expecting to earn 40K from the military. I hoping to make it out alive, and have the government foot my bill. After serving, they are obligated to pay for my education, and such. Furthermore, I heard that by serving in the military, you are looked upon more favorably when you enroll to college. That might give me the necessary boost to make it into Harvard!

But the impenetrable question arises: Is it worth it?

 

[shydude]

But the impenetrable question arises: Is it worth it?

NO Its not!!! Comen man!! wake the fukk up, dont believe shyt that you see on TV Ex "NAVY, exalarate your life" Thats bullshyt!! Everything is, the reason they tell you the crap like, everyone will respect you or whatever. YOU might get beat up in there every day. Ofcourse no one will tell you that, becouse USA needs teenagers to go to the dam MArines, that why they make those crazy ass movies, that military is good. I had a lot of friends that went there, been there, even my own bro is still in the NAVY, its just a waste of time

 

[shydude]

I have seen Jarhead.

Then in that case, isn't the Navy the best option if you do NOTHING?
I'm not expecting to earn 40K from the military. I hoping to make it out alive, and have the government foot my bill. After serving, they are obligated to pay for my education, and such. Furthermore, I heard that by serving in the military, you are looked upon more favorably when you enroll to college. That might give me the necessary boost to make it into Harvard!

But the impenetrable question arises: Is it worth it?

NAVY? HAHAH let me tell you something about that. They will give you about 20k a year for college, you can make more than that in 6 months working as a waiter,plus you will waste 4 years in the NAVY!! Instead you can be 4 years in the college, YOu said you wanna be a lawyer?? Well thats awsome, if u wanna become a fukking good lawyer u will be in college for 8 years, then after you become a lawayer you will be making load shyts of cash! But dont waste those years, go to college now and you will be a young lawyer that makes mills a years.

 

[Fitch]

There are benefits to serving, though. Example: Full tuition coverage, special consideration when applying to schools, and its something nice to but on the resumes.

It builds rapport.

Do you disagree?

NAVY? HAHAH let me tell you something about that. They will give you about 20k a year for college, you can make more than that in 6 months working as a waiter,plus you will waste 4 years in the NAVY!! Instead you can be 4 years in the college, YOu said you wanna be a lawyer?? Well thats awesome, if u wanna become a fukking good lawyer u will be in college for 8 years, then after you become a lawayer you will be making load shyts of cash! But dont waste those years, go to college now and you will be a young lawyer that makes mills a years.

A lawyer goes to college for seven years. And I plan to do just that. However, I was wondering if it makes sense to serve for the United States for two years prior to enrolling into college, followed by law school.

I have my sights on the ivy leagues. Unfortunately, Cornell only accepted me this year and I am not going there. I received more financial aid from Syracuse University, and that school is crap. Due to my financial disadvantage, I will end up at Syracuse with a SMALL chance of getting accepted to other schools if I TRY to transfer. It's unbelieveably hard to transfer.

I think after service, my chances for Harvard will increase significantly--special consideration, and such.

 

[itishe]

Watch the movie "jarhead" trust me after that you will not wanna go there. Its not 100$ safe becoming a marine, you will probably go to IRAQ were shyt happened. My brother is in Navy, basically all you do there is NOTHING, NAVY sucks, idk about airforce, Army same shyt, training and then Iraq. If i were you i would get a job somewhere as a waiter and go to an affordable college. But i am telling YOU, DO NOT go to the military. IT is all bulshyt, and you get paid little. Being a waiter u get paid about 100-300$ a day, depends were you working, in military its a lot less and a waste of time. Life is short and before you know it you will be a history.

This post kind of pisses me off.

I have a family history of serving in the military and to hear a guy try to persuade a guy on the basis of watching a movie is somewhat trivial.

I'm sure he's aware there's the possibility of pain, losing limbs, death and so forth in the military. But he'll be damn proud of his time spent.

Because we all know being a waiter is a much better experience compared to that useless, waste of time military job. :crackup:

 

[shydude]

This post kind of pisses me off.

I have a family history of serving in the military and to hear a guy try to persuade a guy on the basis of watching a movie is somewhat trivial.

I'm sure he's aware there's the possibility of pain, losing limbs, death and so forth in the military. But he'll be damn proud of his time spent.

Because we all know being a waiter is a much better experience compared to that useless, waste of time military job. :crackup:

Arrghh!~ Comen now, i didnt say anything bad, and forget about the movie(it was bad idea to talk about movie) All movies are bullshyyt anyways. Every member in my family served in the military, exept my mom. And all i am saying that its just a waste of time, well it a desicion that YOU are suppose to make on your own.

 

[Fitch]

Arrghh!~ Comen now, i didnt say anything bad, and forget about the movie(it was bad idea to talk about movie) All movies are bullshyyt anyways. Every member in my family served in the military, exept my mom. And all i am saying that its just a waste of time, well it a desicion that YOU are suppose to make on your own.

Yes, I know, but I'm a bit confused. I need some advice.

 

[shydude]

There are benefits to serving, though. Example: Full tuition coverage, special consideration when applying to schools, and its something nice to but on the resumes.

It builds rapport.

Do you disagree?



A lawyer goes to college for seven years. And I plan to do just that. However, I was wondering if it makes sense to serve for the United States for two years prior to enrolling into college, followed by law school.

I have my sights on the ivy leagues. Unfortunately, Cornell only accepted me this year and I am not going there. I received more financial aid from Syracuse University, and that school is crap. Due to my financial disadvantage, I will end up at Syracuse with a SMALL chance of getting accepted to other schools if I TRY to transfer. It's unbelieveably hard to transfer.

I think after service, my chances for Harvard will increase significantly--special consideration, and such.

Well, if you going for 2 years, then i guess thats ok, cause those 2 years will pass by before you know it. And try taking college in the military, And yes you can do that in NAVY, IDK about other militarys.

 

[Fitch]

Well, if you going for 2 years, then i guess thats ok, cause those 2 years will pass by before you know it. And try taking college in the military, And yes you can do that in NAVY, IDK about other militarys.

You can for all the other militaries as well. The best is West Point, for the United States Army. It's like Harvard.

I wouldn't mind going there. Instant prestige, and I get to be an officer, however it's a difficult process.

 

[The Master Disaster]

I have friends who have been in the military and some who can't get out. Scary stuff, the people that DO come back aren't the same. They often have some wounds some don't have all there limbs or fingers. Some just commit suicide when they get back. It's dangerous stuff man. You must be 100% ready to die because who knows when a stray bullet comes your way. The military ruines lives if it doesn't kill you. It is messed up when someone I know comes back from IRAQ they just sit at the foot of the bed looking at the wall all night. They come back saying stuff like their best friend died while a stray bomb hit them, or they've seen more death that anyone should. If you ask any marine or military man who has served over in IRAQ if they could go back in time and not sign up 90% wouldn't even take 2 seconds to answer that.

 

[shydude]

You can for all the other militaries as well. The best is West Point, for the United States Army. It's like Harvard.

Well then I think you should go. For as long as you stay alive and all.

Good luck, you will need it

 

[shydude]

I have friends who have been in the military and some who can't get out. Scary stuff, the people that DO come back aren't the same. They often have some wounds some don't have all there limbs or fingers. Some just commit suicide when they get back. It's dangerous stuff man. You must be 100% ready to die because who knows when a stray bullet comes your way. The military ruines lives if it doesn't kill you. It is messed up when someone I know comes back from IRAQ they just sit at the foot of the bed looking at the wall all night. They come back saying stuff like their best friend died while a stray bomb hit them, or they've seen more death that anyone should. If you ask any marine or military man who has served over in IRAQ if they could go back in time and not sign up 90% wouldn't even take 2 seconds to answer that.

I agree with this guy. So better go to NAVY, you wont go to Iraq while being in the navy.

 

[Fitch]

I want my military career to carry weight though! It seems that the NAVY is really b.s. unless your an officer.

Whereas, Marines or US Army (West Point grad, especially) carries so much weight and prestige.

 

[The Master Disaster]

Going to West Point is different it is free and you dont have to deal with a lot of stuff enlisted people have to. You sit at a desk and go over stuff withother officers. Not to mention West Point is free if you can get it. You need a 4.0 and one of the cleanest records.

If you do enlist, I just wanted to tell you a true story about my brothers friend who came back for 6 months and got called back, unfortuneatly his contract ran up in '05 but they wont let him get out. Get this he signed up September 10th, 2001. His name is Sam. He grew up with my brother I got to know him pretty well. He was fun loving but he didn't have the direction in life so he enlisted. He did training for his first year. Became a Dog handler (I forgot what they call it). He was sent to IRAQ in 2003. He came back in '04, '05, '06 and '06 was his last patrol. They said they wouldn't call him back but they did in '06. He is currently 2 months away from getting out of there and who knows if he will go back again. He came back to my town the last time and he would stay up for hours and hours. He would get drunk after getting drunk and he became an alcholic. He basically ruined his life with alcohol. I asked him why he drank so much. He didn't answer. He just looked and me and smiled. Sam got blown up by a bomb in a city right out of baghdad a month ago. He was only 24.