i been decidin since 2007 if i should sign up or not. most of my friends signed up and been trying to get me to sign up also. every time i ask one how it is in the corps they all say the same thing. u either hate it so much u cant wait to finish ur term or ull luv it so much that ud never wanna leave. only thing holding me back is thinking about the boot camp, im a really heavy sleeper and comin back with a missing arm or something. i really dont want to go back to school next semester cuz i really hate it and would def like to go somewhere in the middle east or somewhere outside the US. so let me just ask u Marines this, how do(or did) u like like in the corps and is it honestly worth signing ur life away to the government?
im single, not plannin on school next semester, my job sucks since i barely have anymore hours, honestly dont feel like im leavin anything behind. i wanted to do airforce cuz i always wanted to fly a jet but its a lot of school and looks crazy
Boot camp... will suck of course, while you are there, but that passes and in the end everyone looks back at it and is like whatever. Most everything that sucked for me while being in I look back on and feel it wasn't all that bad and even look back on it favorably. Heavy sleeper? No worries, I have a horrendous time getting up int he mornings and trust me if I can manage anyone can. As far as deployments in combat zones and getting hurt and all, it's something that you will need to decide if you are willing to accept that possibility. As you will deploy, no way around that. Psychologically, being in the service, training, doing all of your work ups and everything for the deployment is actually a long methodical process that helps prepare one for such things. Many of my friends tell me they either admire or don't understand how I can do it. I tell them it's like them in graduate school. They've been doing essays, papers, and all that for years so when it's time to do their 50 page thesis they just get down to it and start knocking out pages. Me? Even if it was the last thing I had to do for my degree if I was told a I had to do a long a$$ thesis like that I would quit right there and then. I haven't trained, and am not prepared for that, not having had so much school and workloads. I've spent months and years prepping for what I do and so have they for their stuff. I enjoy deploying to be honest. I get to be out there kicking in doors, killing bad guys, and saving lives. I get to do my job and be there for my Marines when they need me. It's a Warrior's Ethos that I have developed. As far as "signing your life away" it does have some effect on your life, but it is not like you never get time off or can't have any other portion of your life. I personally don't like that phrase. It's too negative IMO. I prefer commitment (it's more positive and empowering, giving myself control as I made the decision). I have made a commitment to the Navy, everyone I work along side of, and to my family and country. 4 years really does go by quick and if at the end you want out, get out. Most people whom I know who hated being in do look back at their time in a romantic light and serving has made me a much stronger and better person in life. I've made some of the closest friends in life and that is saying a lot because I never grew up with many. Seen too many countries to list, some dangerous like Iraq and some straight party fun like Thailand. Have grown as a person, learned more than I ever thought I would, developed immense tools for jobs and life as well. Even when you take away specific skills or trades the leadership and maturity is gold in the civilian sector. Most any job can teach someone the ABC's of a job and have them repeat it daily, but leadership, running a shop, discipline etc are things that are so dynamic they are hard to teach, take a lot of effort and time. Companies and organizations love this stuff. Most of their employees when applying when young have not much experience, but here comes a kid who at 18, 19, whatever was directly in charge of 3, 12, 40 people etc, often times to include their lives and/or were responsible for millions of dollars of equipment. Gold man, just gold. In regards to pay and benefits, it may not seem like much at first when at the lower ranks, but it's still pretty competitive and as you progress gets damn decent. I take home about $2200 every 2 weeks base pay, also get $325 for food monthly, $2200 for housing each month, and in my position and skills collect a pretty penny in special pays. When deployed to a tax free zone? Forget about it. Health and dental are a big bonus... many discount it because they feel they are young and healthy and don't really need it... true, but when young and healthy and you get seriously hurt or ill to the point you need medical care, it is likely pretty big and not something petty. This kind of thing can break someone financially.
Man I can go on forever. If you have anymore questions or thoughts, post them up. I'll get back to you, but it needs to be before Sunday as I will be deploying out of country for awhile. Not too long, about a month. Otherwise I'll check here when I get back and answer them then.
Best of luck man
