Thinking about joining the Marine Corp after graduating....input needed.

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hillbillybob said:
1.) If you join with a degree, go to basic, and then OCS (officer candidate school) and become an office, you probably won't have the respect of the men you command. If you are wanting a desk job or otherwise in the rear with the gear, you should be fine.

True, Ive seen this first hand actually. I went to a program called DEVIL PUPS, its for teenagers..basically you go train with the marines for 10 days (its sort of like a bootcamp teaser / camp) and we had a Q & A segment, and I asked a sergent ( I think ) what he though of officers and he said he hates/dislikes officers and that he doesnt get along with them alot of the time..

Do you know the reason for this?? is it because officers are smarter or they have a degree ? I mean getting a degree is also tough for some.... I dont know how the respect thing works, but if i was a officer, I would want respect from them...any ideas?



2.) Second - joining with a degree means you start at a higher pay grade, and retire at a higher pay grade. That's a pro.

Are you aware of actual numbers ? or at least a range? I havent been able to find any pay scales....is it higher or lower than standard civilian jobs ? (ie: software engineering/ computer engineer)

3.) Third - USMC would have to be the toughest branch in the military as for basic.

Yea :) Thats part of the reason I picked USMC..my standards are high.

p.s: thanks for replying
 
alanb said:
True, Ive seen this first hand actually. I went to a program called DEVIL PUPS, its for teenagers..basically you go train with the marines for 10 days (its sort of like a bootcamp teaser / camp) and we had a Q & A segment, and I asked a sergent ( I think ) what he though of officers and he said he hates/dislikes officers and that he doesnt get along with them alot of the time..

Do you know the reason for this?? is it because officers are smarter or they have a degree ? I mean getting a degree is also tough for some.... I dont know how the respect thing works, but if i was a officer, I would want respect from them...any ideas?





Are you aware of actual numbers ? or at least a range? I havent been able to find any pay scales....is it higher or lower than standard civilian jobs ? (ie: software engineering/ computer engineer)



Yea :) Thats part of the reason I picked USMC..my standards are high.

p.s: thanks for replying

The pay is obviously lower, any government job usually pays much lower but they have good benefits which somewhat evens it out a bit.
 
Ya, here is a site that gives rank and pay grade (no numbers) for Army, Marines, Navy, and Air force. This includes Enlisted, Warrant, Special, and Officer.
http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/articles/military/paygrades.asp

Here is the basic pay rates for each grade, or rank - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_grade

According to my AF recruiter, it's across the board - your pay is going to be less than the private market. BUT - it's tax free, your housing, food, utilities, clothes, are all taken care of for you. Your basic necissities are there, the money you earn doesn't have to be spent on anything else but yourself.

As for respect, think of it this way. The officer is your boss, your manager. Do you always like or respect your boss??? No, they never work as hard as you do, they are always telling you what to do, they get paid more for doing less, etc. Just like Officers don't always care for the enlisted men, but everyone has their place. You can't have too many indians, and you can't have too many cheifs. I know that an officer who was enlisted first tends to have more respect from the men, but they aren't left with the unit they enlisted with, due to the respect issue.

Society tends to think that marines, in general, are not as "smart". I have seen both ends of the spectrum. I have seen some damned intelligent devil dogs, and I've seen my fair share that should not be allowed to reproduce. That said, what ever you do, do with honor, and everything else will take care of itself.
 
hillbillybob, Thanks for the reply that really helps...although around ~ $25,000-$35,000 is WAY less compared to a $65,000-$79,000 civilian computer engineering job...oh well..I think Im going to stick with joining the Marine Corps. Do you have any idea about the private market's View on former military ? specifically...former marines with a computer engineering degree (B.A or M.A) and done work with millitary electronics systems + worked as a flight officer with weapons systems etc.....

I have no clue if this is a GOOD thing or a BAD thing...its nothing like the TYPICAL I.T/Computer guy job you know ? .... Thats another concern....if I will get a great deal/job AFTER the military..gotta think of the big picture..

thanks :cool:
 
Military systems don't have a whole lot to do with the majority of your private sector jobs. So experience with "this" system isn't going to play a huge part. With previous military experience, they are looking for an honerable discharge of some sort, and highest rank attained. That shows the ability to stick it out, and the willingness to do the job. That, and the fact that you can take orders. Not something you see too much with the younger generation. (I say this like im old. im only 24) A dishonerable discharge really looks bad, real bad. If you do become an officer, that means you can manage people, time, and resources. That just another feather in your cap. It's also one heck of a reference. Honerable Discharge, a bachelors degree, and at least a Non-comm. rank, I would say you would be sittin pretty good. If you are looking at a government job, post-military, then they will generally put a preference on you, with a degree and military experience. Why not, your already in the system. I know as a GS-x (civilian government pay grade system) you will not be able to get above a GS-7 without a degree. Doesn't matter what degree, just a 4 year degree. Plus, private or public service, with prior military experience you are generally considered to be more mature than the rest of your age group that doesn't have military experience, but does have a degree.

Now, with that said, post military honerable discharge, with degree in hand, and you go apply for a job with a military contractor, they will snatch you up ASAP, and you can almost name your price. To pilot, you have to have a degree, warrant officers are the only air-drivers that don't have to have a 4 yr degree, but they generally have an associates.

Word of advice - if you have a steady girl now, don't count on having her too long after you join up. Im sorry, but i've seen it happen way too much, and my ex broke up with me when I even started talking about joining the Air Force.

I don't mean to offend anybody, that's just been my experiences.

I don't know how old you are, but maybe I'll be able to provide some air cover for your squad sometime. (if I join. Think ill get my degree first)

Good luck, and give 'em ****.

BTW, when are you planning on joining, anytime soon?
 
First, let go of the titles (i.e. "Computer Engineer"). You know what you know and the wise will recognize this and request your services.

As for the Marine Corps, I served 8 years (6 active/2 reserves as an enlisted grunt. It will most likely be dfferent for the Warrant Officers training. It is unlikely that you will attend Boot Camp at MCRD San diego, or Parris Island. Do you know? Is it West Point or similar institution?

If it's at a MCRD I hope that you have a strong constitution. The Marine Corps will either consume you or spit you out. I don't know what the standards are today (although I heard a disturbing rumor of "Stress-cards") for training but you will be broken and then remolded. You will emerge victorious, stronger of will and character, or you will be sent home - many do not make it. Some will literaly snap (emotionally) - Iv'e seen it, crazed screaming, sprinting toward the very distant fenceline madly waving hands above head. A most embarassing exit to the hardest thing they will ever attempt.

And you will be punished for giving anything less than all that you have, two words: Island Hopping

...but don't let me discourage you. As a CWO you will probably attend an Officers School.

As for post-employment? An honorable Discharge on your DD-214 will show potential Employers that you can start, follow through, and complete a long-term objective that is challenging. Much like your Bachelors' degree (Congrats BTY!!).

I say "Semper Fi, Do or Die!"
 
I didn't read through the replies since the first 4 i read were just kinda stupid..

Anyway, I'm a military officer (army) (prior enlisted marine) with a computer science degree.

Bottom Line up front: You make ****.

You will never make as much in the military as you will as a civilian. But, pay raises are decent, you'll live comfortably, and you get to be a leader in the most powerful military in the world. Plus side, when you have been in for a couple years, companies will start trying to recruit you, offering you jobs as soon as you get out. They will generally be very high paying because you have the degree, but you also have the leadership skills that come from being a combat leader in the military. Fortune 500 companies know what kind of leadership comes from the military. People who get things done, and get them done correctly.

I highly encourage you to do it. USMC OCS is tough, but if you want to make it, you will. On average, each pay grade raise O1 to O2 is approx 10k / yr. they're nice pay jumps, but still dont compare to the civilian market. A friend of mine went through the same degree program as me. We both graduated with 3.9s. He is making 97K working for Ciber in STL, i make 48k in the army as a 1LT (O2).

OCS takes place at Quantico, VA. You won't be going to Parris Island or pendleton. It's 6 months long, it's rigorous and tough. The marines don't let (pardon the term) pussies become leaders. You better really want this! I wish you the best of luck!

Semper Fi.
 
i agree join marines after collage rotc, you get school paid for + looks nice on job app.
 
hillbillybob said:
[BFourth - as a Marine, expect to be thrown in the 5h1T. The Marine training standard - Every soldier is a Rifleman
[/B]

um, buddyI know marines that are doctors in the marines, computer network specialists, and intelligence specialists.
the marines is like any other branch in the kinds of jobs
 
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