I am considering joining the the marine corps this year as a reservist as I will be graduating college this summer, and am doing my studying and prepping for my desired MOS.

So it's just me and my mom living with eachother, as we don't have anyother relatives. My mom has never stayed away from me and I'm worried about her because she's the only family I have. She's around 45 so I'm pretty concerned about her health as well, as she has a medical background.

Will I be allowed to keep contact with my mother in any way apart from the letters, during boot and later on during MOS. Maybe like a phone call every other week or something?

I didn't consider active duty for the same reason, because I didn't wanna leave my mom alone, atleast while she is with me, but also I didn't wanna chicken out of doing anything for my country.

Me and my brother are enlisted in the marines doing the buddy program, and went to meps and everything already. We were supposed to leave in may because that’s when his college ends and we want to ship out together but apparently one of the poolees tested positive for weed at meps and now they can’t meet their April quota. They’re tying to get us to leave in April now and can’t guarantee we can even ship out together now. What should I say to this guy, like do I even have a say or can I just say no this isn’t happening? My mom called pissed off when they said this the first time and I thought we were good but they went back on their word and can’t guarantee it apparently. I don’t wanna seem like a pussy about this but I’d feel a lot better about going with my brother and this has just been a shitty experience so far with these recruiters. I also wanted to do infantry first, then my recruiter said I shouldn’t and have my 1st pick switched with security forces and I’m trying to get that switched back now after learning more about that MOS. Do I not have a say in this either? Just don’t know what to do or tell them at this point any advice will be helpful thanks

So I’ll be picking the job I want tomorrow with my recruiter before I ship out I qualify for radio operator (0621) and machine gunner (0331) I know if I go infantry it isn’t guaranteed I’ll be a machine gunner but on the other hand comms seems really cool also and it looks like I’ll have more options in civilian life if I go that route. What should I do?

My brother recently got injured and sent my family this long email on how the time in medical, with a severely unoccupied mind, is scarier than his injury. I have been reading that the DI will likely confiscate anything I send that is larger than an envelope but I want to send him a few books, or a series of transcribed podcasts, to keep his mind busy.

Considering he is stuck in medical, for what he said is an unknown amount of time, would this likely still apply to him? If so- what is the largest envelope I could send? Would a yellow envelope be too large?

Thank you for reading this far and any input you would have, if it matters- he is currently @ the San Diego BootCamp.

I was arrested about two years ago on a bad day, I was freshly 18. They were called by my stepdad “for a mental health issue” because I was crying about my breakup (it says that in the documents) and they tried to take me in for a baker act. In turn, pissed me off because it was NOT necessary. I ended up allegedly kicking and spitting on the cop, in which they arrested me and took me in for domestic violence (i threw something at the family member who called) and battery on an officer. I was held for 3 days under a baker act and then released on bond. My step dad works for the sheriffs office and contacted the officer asking him to drop the charges or case or whatever. I ended up NEVER hearing a word about it again but it is all very viewable online. They left it up to the state. I never went back to court, was not once contacted by anyone, but yet I cannot see anywhere online that it was formally dismissed/dropped/closed. But like I said… not a word was told to me about anything after i got bail. I really need help, Im stressing. I did not tell my recruiter because i wasnt charged… Now that I am looking into it more I obviously regret that decision. They want to send me to MEPS next week.

Just want to start off by saying i’m in no way concerningly overweight, but i’d like to drop a few pounds during bootcamp. Some guys have told me they gained weight and others told me they lost weight. I would hope with all the cardio it would help you stay in shape but i’m curious what your experiences were like and what you think the outcome is most of the time, thanks!

I’m actually planning on joining the Marines, infantry. I’m talking to the recruit and studying for the ASVAB test… Question After I finish with Boot Camp, how long realistically will I have to wait to be deployed? One of the only reason why I would choose active duty over reserve is the possibility of being deployed faster.

Hey so I was looking into enlisting and signing a CE contract to hopefully get 0811. I was wondering what life was like in this mos and if you guys enjoyed it. I’m also not the biggest guy and relatively slim so I was wondering how I’d hold up in

Does anyone have any knowledge on how tall you need to be to become aircrew I've been looking around online and can't find any official height requirement to become aircrew in the Marines.

I'm a 5' female and I'm worried that I would be dropped from the aircrew pipeline if I were to try and become one. I don't think me getting assigned a helicopter would be too much of an issue, but I wear glasses (not a very strong prescription) which according to other posts makes it likely I'd get a C-130 as my airframe. I don't meet the reach requirement that the US Army has for their paratrooper/airborne static lines (for the C-130s I assume).

If I were to be too short for the Marines I'd consider trying to do Navy dry aircrew but if I were to be dropped from them and reassigned another job I don't think I'd enjoy being on a ship for 9+ months.

Hi, my recruiter said I don't have to take all my piercings out for bootcamp but l've heard some people say I need to. From your experience did you? I'm a female and have my ears pierced and nipples

I’m almost through the IMC cycle & I go to IWC after this to be a 0352. Is the fleet as gay as people make it sound? or is it actually better like some people say?

What are things you can be honest about, things you don’t need to say, things you don’t have to say, etc

Thinking about enlisting when I’m 19

I ship out 8 August 2024, I chose 0321 (Recon) as my MOS. I wanted to know what all information I can get on either Bootcamp or BRC. I have been going to the PTs with my recruiter and have lead a few PTs myself. I also I been going to the poolee functions being help by our recruiters and other recruiting stations. Want to be as prepared as possible for both.

Hi, I have a family member who is currently in bootcamp. He called us the Sunday after the Crucible saying graduation was on April 5th, and family day was on April 4th. He said he would be getting his phone back the following Sunday, and he would tell us more details then. However, we did not receive a call, so we are a bit confused on the Family Day and Graduation process. Was there an invitation that was supposed to have been sent out? Also do we just walk in with IDs for Family Day, or was there an invitation for that too? We are just a bit confused. Do we just show up? If anyone is knowledgeable on the process, please let me know. Thanks for the help!

I’m not asking about an alternative or looking for “you got this just keep training” I’m looking for advice on how to get better at pull-ups… quickly. I crush the push up and plank requirement for the IST but I could barely squeeze out two pull-ups. I’m not in insanely good shape but after seeing the other recruits at MEPS I’m definitely not in the worst shape. I do 5ks daily and am relatively well conditioned. I’ve been eating healthy and have lost about 10 pounds in the month and a half since my initial meeting at the office. I’m mentally ready to leave tomorrow and I have my MOSs selected. It’s like everything is there except being able to do pull-ups. It’s insanely frustrating because I know I should be able to crush 10 but I just physically can’t, even with kipping, shit has me perplexed.

My recruiter seems to think I’ll be fine but I feel like a fucking liability. Is there anyway to improve beyond focusing the necessary muscle groups? Could it just be my form? Genuinely just looking for any advice besides “maybe try another branch.” Also, I’m 6’3 225, not sure if height actually plays a factor in it and I’m not using it as an excuse but I just feel like that’s something I should note to best describe my situation. I plan on shedding another 5-10 before I leave anyway.

Edit* I’m also not one of those dudes who’s been out of shape their entire life and started working out a month a few months before basic. I played sports all through highschool and was in pretty good shape then, but I remember still being the only fuckhead on the wrestling team that could barely do pull-ups. I could deas hang for a while and do monkey bars fine, just can’t do pull ups for whatever reason. I won’t lie I let myself go when I graduated, kinda became a burnout loser and I fucking hated college. (These are two of the huge reasons why I joined.) But I never got obese or anything, I just stopped actively working out after graduation since I was going to a community college without a football or wrestling team so I saw no point. Looking back that was a really dumb decision but hindsight is 20/20.

Hi i'm 18 year old graduated HighSchool in June 2023. Around late November I got a call from a Marine Recruiter, and I was so down to join. I went to the office did a practice scored a 43 and took the ASVAB test on late January, I scored very low I was disappointed in myself. Then My recruiter would call me everyday to study again so I can pass it on my 2nd try around Mid February I would stop getting messages and calls from the recruiter so thats when I knew I got ghosted. Right Now I still study so I can pass the ASVAB test. I don't know what to do I really want to Join the Marines

I'm out of shape.. like really out. Before I go in, I'm obviously going to work out but when the time comes and I'm not into shape. Do the DI's train before the fitness test or is it right when I join

Just to note I am a female and plan to try security forces If you recommend a MOS please explain why you recommend it. (I dont want one where i just sit behind a desk)

Also the ones with x’s I choose to ignore and the ?’s were ones i would consider. The dots represent desired job, (starting at UT and ending at CB) I left my asvab score in to show what i may be good at and what others would recommend.

Thanks in advance! (Also thanks to the guy that posted something likes this as well. Reminded me to do the same)

How long does job school last for 2800 I’ve been told it can be 9 months to a year

Been going to the gym for little over a year now, just started to work on my cardio since last month. I am running the 1.5 miles in about 17:30 and the 3 miles in 37 mins (needs lot of work ofc). To get better I am running 3 miles 3 days out of the week, currently not focusing on time but building endurance.

Question is… been thinking of leaving the gym and for my workouts just focusing on calisthenics (push ups, sit ups, planks and maybe few dumbbell exercises) does this sound like a good idea?

Tying to leave before the year is over, does this sound realistic with my running time?

I’m going to talk with my recruiter on wed I need to know the best possible things that helped you guys to get the most out of the marine corps.

I plan on going MP so either schools, or things I can ask for on my contract or ask for in general to help me get the most out of the marine corps.

Im shipping out to boot April 15th and my daughter currently lives in the Los Angeles area. Me and her mom don’t have any court order or child support order so we pretty much have a blank slate and one can hope that we can work things out. I’m enlisting as a 0100 (on purpose lol.) and wanted to know what to expect going in? Visiting her, living situations, leave, and BAH ect… Can she I potentially live off base and have her live with me sometimes? I hoping I can get stationed at Camp Pendleton and I willing to work hard to be the highest student there if that even has any impact on choice. Please include the good and the bad. Even if it’s all bad.

I ship out in 2 weeks from today and I just got all my options for my MOS, I was pre selected for AJ but it doesn’t interest me a whole ton. I’d like to do something hands on and if mechanic related more on the physical side rather than the support systems. Just curious if anybody here had any insights on any of these MOSs

so, i’m 24 years old and i have 2 misdemeanors on my record and some tattoos barely past my wrist bones. i spoke to a recruiter and he said that i need my record clean and some tattoos lasered off at the cut off line and some removed because they could be considered gang affiliated (they’re not). i read somewhere that blackouts aren’t allowed either. i just want to know all my options around this because other branches said my situation is no problem but in all honesty, i’m dead set on the USMC.

I submitted all my paperwork for MEPS and was originally cleared until something came back regarding my mental health. Throughout Highschool I occasionally reached out to psychiatric services regarding counseling and therapy, I hated Highschool and had a shitty time. I was never diagnosed with anything nor was a prescribed medication, should I be concerned about getting denied?

I take my IST in two days and need help! I’m consistantly running a 8:30-9:30 mile but after the mile i’m gassed and exhausted even tho i could do the last .5 in 3-4 minutes i don’t want to put myself in a situation of sprinting half the time. What did you all do to help with the running? i need advice. Anything will help im just worried about not passing. what will happen if i dont pass the running part?

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So I’ve done a lot of digging after learning that your Cyber score actually matters. Something my recruiters either failed to mention or didn’t know themselves.

Preferably, I really wanted to get 2621, go to a Radio Battalion and hopefully go Radio Reconnaissance, but when I went to MEPS I scored over a 60 on the Cyber Test. And after reading a bit on Reddit, if you qualify for Cyber, you’re going fucking cyber. My recruiter didn’t tell me what score exactly, but as much as I can find online, the requirement for 17xx is 55-60 as passing. So I passed and I really don’t want 17xx.

Which leads me to a dilemma that once my recruiters find out when I’m taking DLAB, do I try my hardest for the best score possible to at least get Linguist or is there still I chance my cyber score is low enough and I purposefully fail DLAB and hope to get one of the other 26xx jobs. It’s a big Hail Mary, probably don’t want to roll the dice on if I don’t find out my exact job until I go to my schoolhouse, which most likely isn’t until next year.

I did a lot of digging in this Reddit and read the whole SIGINT megathread. Linguist doesn’t sound too bad. At least I still get to go to a Radio Battalion. But I’m just kind of stuck on if I should try hard on this DLAB test or not.

Any well-formed feedback from former/current SIGINT marines/recruiters? Also from people who know what they scored on these tests and what job they got out of it?

hey guys my bf is going bootcamp soon but he going reserves which he said he going come back which my question is that true and would he come back for college? but i don't mind him going marines but I'm sad he leaving for 13 weeks but that doesn't mean i would leave him but i just have bad anxiety but it his life and cant control it but i understand he gets good benefits for him and our future :) ( why yall hating on my comment is not like im leaving him yall suck)