Thinking About Joining The Marines Advice Is Needed...thanks

[ybngifted86]

I'm currently thinking about joining the Marines-currently I have two yrs college experinces but a very low gpa that at the moment is preventing me from joining my dream school-also I'm stuck at a dead end job(no benefits either)-to be completely honest I'm looking for a postive life-changiing experience with a challenge-after doing some intensive research the position I would like to a have is a international realtions officer-the reason for this is because once I return to school after four yrs of service(hopefully without any physical injury(no pun intended) I would like to pursue a degree in political science:foreign policy. I know that join the Marines is no cake-walk-especially for women who must prove that we are just as capable as our male-counterparts. I have been told recruiters will say anythingn and make promises that can't be kept just to recruit a person and make thier quota-so if anyone can provide me with some sound advice especially if your a female in the Marines--I would greatly appreciate it....THANKS

[NRTrackChamp2004]

Looks like you're at a cross road in your life.

I'd say if you're physically fit, have tough skin, join. The Marine Corps isnt that hard to get into, and boot camp isnt hard to get through. I see a lot of chicks, and wonder how they made it through, I also look at a lot of guys the same way.

a lot of recruiters will pretty much say anything to get potential Marines to sign, especially if they're behind on quotas. This is a great place to ask questions, because a lot of us will try and help, we have first hand experience, versus your buddies that might tell you things, or your recruiter, who wont tell you things you need to know.

To be an Internation Relations Officer, you have to be just that, an officer, meaning you'll need to finish your 4 year college degree. You need to find an job on the enlisted side that interests you. Thats the first thing you need to do. You dont want to sign up as an open contract, or else they'll put you where the Marine Corps needs you, and you'll most likely end up with a crappy job.

[ybngifted86]

thanks for the advice-I don't want to join the marines just to be doing anything- I would to like pursue becoming a Intelligence analysis in the Marines-but It also seems to me that where one is placed for a job depends on their avsab exam scores? I do plan on going back to college but I just want a break to experience new and joining the marines seems like a good option-I just don't want to rush into making a decision without good information.

[Variable Wind]

thanks for the advice-I don't want to join the marines just to be doing anything- I would to like pursue becoming a Intelligence analysis in the Marines-but It also seems to me that where one is placed for a job depends on their avsab exam scores? I do plan on going back to college but I just want a break to experience new and joining the marines seems like a good option-I just don't want to rush into making a decision without good information.

Your ASVAB scores determine what jobs you qualify for and what are geared toward you. You will need a high score in certain areas of the test and a good overall score to qualify for intelligence jobs. Why is your GPA low? Is it the school work or is it that you cant stop partying. Either way you are going to have to straighten that up before getting in because you need brains and discipline to be in Intelligence especially in the USMC. Do something you like, but also do something that you know you can be productive in as well. Remember that as a military service member, the taxpayers are your customers and we want the best bang for the buck.

[ybngifted86]

my gpa is low because I struggled in math and I was unmotivated to do well in school- I'm not a party person. I just want to do something productive and meaningful...

[KrashKatz]

a lot of recruiters will pretty much say anything to get potential Marines to sign, especially if they're behind on quotas.

Its people like you who make recruiters jobs harder by spreading rumors like these. 9/10 recruiters will tell the truth about the service and the opportunities, they just fail to mention how 9/10 service members won't take advantage of the opportunities that are provided, then put the blame on the service about why they didn't go to school, get a job, etc. Then later on down the road, parents, teachers, family, friends, and eventually the service member assumes the recruiter lied to them.




Your ASVAB scores determine what jobs you qualify for and what are geared toward you.


Correct.



You will need a high score in certain areas of the test and a good overall score to qualify for intelligence jobs.

50/50, GT score of 100 to get an Intelligence job. However, you could score a 31 on the AFQT, or a 99 and it wouldn't matter. A GT score of 100 isn't high, its a pretty common score for most job fields in the Marine Corps.

[Variable Wind]

50/50, GT score of 100 to get an Intelligence job. However, you could score a 31 on the AFQT, or a 99 and it wouldn't matter. A GT score of 100 isn't high, its a pretty common score for most job fields in the Marine Corps.
Possibly, it depends on your individual subject scores that they look for in the job. I got a 98 ASVAB and they wanted me to go MI, but I wanted to get into aviation I qualified because of a high mechanical aptitude.

[KrashKatz]

Possibly, it depends on your individual subject scores that they look for in the job. I got a 98 ASVAB and they wanted me to go MI, but I wanted to get into aviation I qualified because of a high mechanical aptitude.

Unless your trying to get a bonus, you actual ASVAB (AFQT) score doesn't matter, as long as you pass. Again, for the Intelligence field, you need a General Technical score of 100 or higher, while the other scores do not apply to this field, (MM, CL, EL). The AFQT is only based on math and English, and has no bearing on your line scores.

I've been a recruiter for the past 14 months, so I could see how you would have a better understanding of how the assignment of jobs works in the Marine Corps, and how applicants would be qualified for those jobs.

[Variable Wind]

Unless your trying to get a bonus, you actual ASVAB (AFQT) score doesn't matter, as long as you pass. Again, for the Intelligence field, you need a General Technical score of 100 or higher, while the other scores do not apply to this field, (MM, CL, EL). The AFQT is only based on math and English, and has no bearing on your line scores.

I've been a recruiter for the past 14 months, so I could see how you would have a better understanding of how the assignment of jobs works in the Marine Corps, and how applicants would be qualified for those jobs.

Fair enough. I am sure much has changed since I joined. But there is no need for you to get sensitive about it.

[KrashKatz]

When people get fed a bunch of crap, granted that crap may have been true 5, 10, 20, 30 years ago, much has changed. New policies, programs, pay, training, etc. So if a potential applicant comes on a forum to try and find something out without being called or visited a recruiter, then when they are ready to join a service, they've already made their assumptions and decisions based on bad or misleading information.

So when an applicant has bad information, they assume that their information is right that they heard from their uncles-3rd cousins-step-grandpa, or read on a forum, is more truthful then what a recruiter has in black and white. So can you see why a recruiters job would be much harder than it needs to be when someone is getting outdated/misleading/wrong/etc information?

[Variable Wind]

When people get fed a bunch of crap, granted that crap may have been true 5, 10, 20, 30 years ago, much has changed. New policies, programs, pay, training, etc. So if a potential applicant comes on a forum to try and find something out without being called or visited a recruiter, then when they are ready to join a service, they've already made their assumptions and decisions based on bad or misleading information.

So when an applicant has bad information, they assume that their information is right that they heard from their uncles-3rd cousins-step-grandpa, or read on a forum, is more truthful then what a recruiter has in black and white. So can you see why a recruiters job would be much harder than it needs to be when someone is getting outdated/misleading/wrong/etc information?

No because when I worked in the recruiting office (back as a young E-3 doing all the work while my SSG was playing basketball at the gym) people always came in with some sort of wrong idea and you correct them. That is your job, and it is not that hard. Especially if you know how it was then you can say "Yes they USED to do things like that, but since then things have changed." Especially since at least when I was doing things, recruiting SOPs, rules, regs, bonuses ect changed almost daily. The HARD part is convincing them and keeping contact with them after they sign to make sure they show up when they need to. That and the dreaded cold calls. I always hated the cold calls.

[KrashKatz]

No because when I worked in the recruiting office (back as a young E-3 doing all the work while my SSG was playing basketball at the gym) people always came in with some sort of wrong idea and you correct them. That is your job, and it is not that hard.

Were you a recruiter or just helping out? You are also using Army abbreviations in a Marine Corps Recruiting forum. Point being, that services operate in different ways as far as qualifications and assignment of jobs. Again, folks getting wrong ideas and/or information.

[Variable Wind]

Were you a recruiter or just helping out? You are also using Army abbreviations in a Marine Corps Recruiting forum. Point being, that services operate in different ways as far as qualifications and assignment of jobs. Again, folks getting wrong ideas and/or information.

E-3 means I wasnt a recruiter...but I was doing the work of one. I was at the high schools, I was getting the paperwork together and explaining it so that when the recruiter sat down with him, all he had to do was watch the potential recruit sign. I also spent enough time at MEPS to learn that there really are very few differences between the services when it comes down to recruiting. Hell everyone takes the ASVAB in the same room. The differences are subtle, but again very few.

Recruiting is recruiting.

[THORSHAMMER69]

To get back on point here...the jobs that the original poster wants all require a 4 year degree. You need to stay in school. People who join the Corps for a job, rather than to become Marines, don't normally do well.

[Crystal_holt]

I'm in a similar position (female, low gpa, unmotivated, but not a partier, except i don't mind physical injury). I took the practice ASVAB and it wasn't that difficult and i'm not the brightest crayon in the box. Brush up on your Intermediate Algebra and English comprehension and it will make things even easier.
Good luck