Enlisted then Officer...

LCpl Lamm · 01-22-2005, 03:01 PM

I would like everyone's opinion on this. I want to become an Officer of Marines, but would like to become an Enlisted Marine first. In your opinion, is it worth it, or is a waste of time?
I want to do it because I want to earn the respect of the Marine I lead, to see if I can hack 13 weeks at boot camp, if I do, it'll build my confidence and get me even more ready for OCS/TBS.
Thanks,
Lamm

Garrett · 01-22-2005, 07:15 PM

Im goign stright to PLC. --OR-- Go to the marine reserves AS im going through college, and do plc in the summer moths... there is somthing you could consider. but if ur out of college, yea enlist first.

LCpl Lamm · 01-22-2005, 08:45 PM

But, I run the risk of getting deployed during college, and possibly screwing myself because of it. But, I have been giving it some though. I just posted a thread about an 0311 Marine Reservist in a Non-Infantry Unit.
Thanks for the information,
Lamm

USMCRET6391 · 01-22-2005, 08:59 PM

I'm not sure what the point of listing this as a poll is. Whatever path you chose in the Corps is entirely up to the individual. Some people go in as enlisted and love it; that would be me, I never had any desire to be an officer, I enjoyed working on Aircraft too much even though I was encouraged to apply for the Warrant Officer program several times. Some enter as enlisted and decide that being an officer is the career for them and do some sort of Enlisted Commisioning or go Warrant Officer. And there are those who go to College with the sole purpose of entering the Corps as an Officer.......each Marine has as many different career goals as there are reasons to become a Marine.......All anyone can do is make a choice and hope it is the right one for them.

LCpl Lamm · 01-22-2005, 09:08 PM

I'm looking for points of view and opinions. I know the choice it up to me.
Thanks,
Lamm

USMCRET6391 · 01-23-2005, 08:32 AM

The point I was trying to make is.....you are going to get 15 or 20 different opinions and points of view.....the only one that counts is yours and what you want and expect out of your time in the Corps. And all the opinions in the world arent worth a hill of empty c-rat cans when you come right down to it.

01-23-2005, 09:08 AM

I agree with USMCRET. Even if you were 100% absolutely sure about what you wanted to do in the military, you are going to get 100 different opinions from 100 different people to make you question if what you are doing is right for you. Absorb all that is said and listen objectively. In the end, it doensn't matter what anyone says to you. ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU

333MP · 01-23-2005, 09:45 AM

I don't know if the Marines offer this, but the Army does. If you go ROTC you can go to Basic Training and AIT. Maybe check into that and if it is possible that would be a good solution. You get to do both and can't get deployed in college

LCpl Lamm · 01-23-2005, 10:19 AM

Thanks for the information and advice. Any Marines out there know if I can go to boot camp and SOI before NROTC?
Another drawback I have to going straight into MO NROTC is the college doesn't have the Degree I want, it doesn't have Law Enforcement. I really want that degree too. I don't know what out weighs what, having a scholarship or having the degree of my desire. This is kinda off but, I'm not a rich kid, so I can get college paid for all the way by FAFSA. My brother currently is, but, what about room and board, would FAFSA pay for that too? Also, it doesn't matter what college I go to does it, as far as the amount of money tuiton is, and if its a Jr. or University?
Thanks,
Lamm
Thanks,
Lamm

LCpl Lamm · 01-23-2005, 12:56 PM

Another question, I know that a newly commissioned officer who has over four years enlisted experience will recieve about $2900 a month instead of $2300 a month, starting. Isn't that the same for someone who has been in PLC since their Freshman year of college? Don't they get around $6,000 added onto their salary a year?
Thanks,
Lamm

xSLAYERx · 01-23-2005, 05:50 PM

HEY BRO,

as you know, you adn i are wanting to attain almost the exact same career. i want to go law enforcement with the U.S. marshalls. but i also want to serve the nation as a marine. i was put into a position on how i wanted to do this. as a enlisted or officer. i know myself, i love to lead people as a example. just as i do as a instructor for my martial art classes. i love being able to provide people information and skills they cant get other places. far as i know, i think the officer route will serve me best. but i had heard that marines look up to officers whom have serve enlisted. if you are a good officer, you put ur mens lives before yours, and make sure they get 3 hots and a cot. then they will look up to you, regardless of whether you serve. a good officer i beleive looks out for his men, gives them credit for what they earned. and make sure every damn one of them gets back to their families and homes as best as he can. if thats is what you think, then go nrotc or plc. im going plc so i dont have to deal with nrotc. and i love the competitiveness. also their are good props to being a officer. nicer housing, better pay. i mean hell, its not the reason im going in the corps, but shit its a bonus to the job. and better yet, being a officer looks really good when you apply for jobs outside of the military.

james

p.s. also u can go to the college u want if you go plc. get teh degree u want (im getting a criminal justice). and not have to worry bout deployments till your out of college.

LCpl Lamm · 01-23-2005, 06:14 PM

Roger, I've scraped the NROTC idea, I want a degree in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement. I'll either go in the USMCR, college, and do PLC or jsut do OCS after college. Or college and PLC, or college, enlist then ECP-OCS.
I know I don't need enlisted experience to do my job as an Officer, but I still want the experience. I think it will help me be an Officer of Marines.
Thanks for the advice,
Lamm

Garrett · 01-23-2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xSLAYERx

HEY BRO,

as you know, you adn i are wanting to attain almost the exact same career. i want to go law enforcement with the U.S. marshalls. but i also want to serve the nation as a marine. i was put into a position on how i wanted to do this. as a enlisted or officer. i know myself, i love to lead people as a example. just as i do as a instructor for my martial art classes. i love being able to provide people information and skills they cant get other places. far as i know, i think the officer route will serve me best. but i had heard that marines look up to officers whom have serve enlisted. if you are a good officer, you put ur mens lives before yours, and make sure they get 3 hots and a cot. then they will look up to you, regardless of whether you serve. a good officer i beleive looks out for his men, gives them credit for what they earned. and make sure every damn one of them gets back to their families and homes as best as he can. i

View Poll Results: Is it worth it?
No, if you want to become an Officer of Marines, don't go Enlisted first.	2	28.57%
Yes, becoming an Enlisted Marine then an Officer of Marines is the way to go.	1	14.29%
Choose one or the other.	3	42.86%
Unsure	1	14.29%
Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll