Question for Marines on PM

[dieselbuilder]

Hey guys, I posted a thread about bootcamp a couple of weeks ago and I decided that I want to join the marines. I have a few friends who are marines and they set me up to meet with a recruiter.

I understand the difficulties of it (as much as one can without being there) and that some do not make it. However, my question is about leaving the marines. My father wants me to find out whether or not you can become a marine and have an option for deployment or stop after bootcamp or infantry school. I understand that I can join and he cannot stop me, but I am doing it out of respect for my old man. He is just worried and I want to assure him that I can walk away after bootcamp or infantry school. I know it seems pointless to do that, and I will not do that, but it is just to make him more comfortable with the idea of me going.

So to recap my question, can I enlist, finish bootcamp and/or infantry school as a reserve and then decline to continue as a marine?

Thanks guy and please dont flame me if it sounds stupid! It is just to keep my old man happy!

 

[ssdark1]

lol. i dont think so. i could be wrong but i dont think the military is something you do at your convenience. i think once you swear in and sign on the dotted line you will do what your told.

edit: im not a marine so i really dont know

 

[dieselbuilder]

lol. i dont think so. i could be wrong but i dont think the military is something you do at your convenience. i think once you swear in and sign on the dotted line you will do what your told.

edit: im not a marine so i really dont know

Some of the guys told me that you can walk away afterwards. But I know sometimes people say one thing and its the other. I am meeting with a recruiter Friday, but I just want some insight on this topic...

 

[mekanikal]

There are ways to leave after bootcamp. However, they carry serious consequences that will follow you through life. An other than honorable discharge or general discharge at best. To the best of my knowledge you can leave DURING bootcamp with no repercussions other than a flag placing you as a risk to re-enlist. IMO either go for it 110% or choose a different path. It can be a very long four years if your heart is not into it. Can be a blast if it's what you want to do.

 

[vintagemuscle]

To be honest unless you are willing to complete the terms of your enlistment contract it would be better not to sign up. I don't think it is easy to simply walk away from an enlistment contract unless you have physical or mental circumstances.

Vintagemuscle

 

[Marvin Martian]

Dude..... If you are even thinking along the lines of "can I get out" you wont make it anyway.... The Corps is a true brotherhood unlike anything else in the world.... It is tough to become a Marine and that is why no matter where you are in life after you leave the Corps there is an INSTANT sense of connection... Semper Fidelis is not just a cool thing that Marines say to one another.... I am not trying to discourage you.... By all means I hope you test your true mettle and become on of us.... It is a proud day to stand on that tarmac and think of the hell you just went through and to know that you have faced and beaten the toughest challenges that life can throw at you... If you do become one us I guarantee you that there will come a time in life when you will overcome an obstacle and will attribute it to your time in the Corps...

 

[cjjrwe]

You join as a Marine Reservist...you cannot go to basic and infantry training without a commitment to Uncle Sam, so you will either be active duty or a reservist, and will owe some years.

 

[The Booger]

So you're only wanting to join to please your dad? Not better your life or do something you really WANT to do?

I had a handful of friends join. The ones who joined because they wanted to, absolutely love it. The two who joined because they wanted to get away from my hometown and because their uncle was a Marine, both hated it and regretted wasting their time. All they ever do is bitch about how hard it was. The others rant and rave how great it is. Two of the three that enjoyed it have signed on for multiple tours in Iraq (Crazy bastards).

Just something to think about. All or nothing commitment. I couldn't do it, so I didn't.

 

[slide]

So to recap my question, can I enlist, finish bootcamp and/or infantry school as a reserve and then decline to continue as a marine?

Thanks guy and please dont flame me if it sounds stupid! It is just to keep my old man happy!

No, you cannot finish bootcamp and then decline to continue as a Marine (others have discussed repurcussions for trying). If you are going in as Active Duty, you will be signing a contract for eight years (four years active, four years inactive reserve).

We do not take people to see if this is something they can do and then have them say "later." Either a make a commitment and follow it through or find another way to make the old man happy.

-slide

 

[deadliver]

Thats a big ol' negative, sorry bud.

 

[dieselbuilder]

thanks for all the help guys!

 

[BostoN SnaSa]

hey buddy.. i just enlisted myself. active duty, leaving november 16th for boot camp. i think the only way to get out of your obligation is to get kicked out, and from what i hear, its not a nice thing to go through and it stays on your permanent record for life bro.. make sure its what YOU want to do before you go and sign anything. good luck!!

 

[LEX]

wise words....also remember that recuriters are used car salesmen, their job is to sell you so keep that in mind when talking to them. Ask guys who are in and how have been in for the real facts. And like the other guys said if your heart isnt in it now its gonna be a long ass hitch. good luck to ya.

 

[bigraf]

From reading your post I'd advise you to think long and hard about what your getting yourself into. If you have the chance speak with Marines who have done a few tours. Realize that we are at war and as a Marine you will most likely get deployed regardless of your MOS. The best advice I was ever given was to ask myself what I was willing to sacrifice, if you can't see yourself making it through another day with a missing limb etc. You should reconsider, must of us get bumbed when we get a partial muscle tear. Not trying to frighten you brotha, but this you will never hear from a recruiter. If becoming a Marine is what you have your heart set for more power to you for enlisting in a time of war, I just advise that you research it as thoroughly as you have this sport.

 

[dieselbuilder]

Yea, my heart is in it. Its all I think about.... and I when I picture my future, I see myself as a Marine....

thanks for the help

 

[coreyv93]

and dont forget...

When in bootcamp and they ask you for you want the GI bill, say yes.
i dont know about these days but when i went thru bootcamp, back in '88, if you said yes to the Gi bill, you had to pay like 100 bucks a month, taken from your check but it is money very well spent, especially if you plan on college after you leave the Corps. i forget the numbers, but with GI bill and VA benefits, you are eligible for, wut is it, 50-60k for a 4 year education? that really helped me out when i was in college.
Anyways, good luck.

 

[BostoN SnaSa]

its actually 85k now

 

[tflexxin]

Sorry bro, but you sign on the dotted line, you're in. USMC stands for U Signed the Mother fucking Contract
If you are thinking you might want to get out after boot camp, you are not ready to take the plunge and become a Marine. It's a LIFE long committment bro. I served 6 years, and not a day goes by where I don't think about my Marine Corps days.

 

[coreyv93]

us military boot camp lengths...

Air force (or wut i affectionally call Flight Attendant school) is 6 weeks. Army/Squid boot camp is 8 weeks, USMC, 12 weeks.

 

[6packguy]

I am a former marine myself. The corps is not like the army or the navy. When you join the marine corps you join to go to war and kill people. Plain and simple. I have 3 deployments under my belt and know guys who were admin and have as many tours.If you join the marine corps you are going to deploy. No matter what the recruiter tells you. It's tough but in the end it's worth it.