I'm thinking about joining the marines.... But i need help on how?

Question

I have asthma and i want to join the marines. I haven't had a asthma attack in about. I think 4-5 years and it's not a big problem i don't even use my inhealer. And I am 15 years old, But i feel like something i must do in life is to join the marines. I want to join the marines when I leave high school. But the thing is I really want to know how. Should I train before I join I have about 3 years left before joining. Should I do push ups, pull ups, and run. I want to be in good shape before i join. I want to make myself a better person. And i heard they make you run alot and workout and then they make you fight someone right after your done working out for 2 hours straight that sounds really hard, But i will try my best to do so. Will they make us jump out of airplanes and stuff? If i just train during these 3 years maybe i might give myself 4 years then i might be able to do it. Any info on how i should train for boot camp? and will they make you become a leader even if you dont want to?? please answer, I want to protect my country :) and you guys. Oh ya i also want to know when i go to the Doc what will they test me for? and how( I know i'm asking to much but this is serious)

Answer 1

Go to college first then join.

It is so much better on that side of the aisle.  Even though it might be a more difficult path to follow at first....

I signed up at 17 and went into the Airwing...6094 F-4 metalsmith etc...3rd maw 11 mag 11 mals 86-90 then married a navy flight commanders daughter and saw how the other half lived...it is night and day difference.

Answer 2

You will be ok to join with asthma as long as you don't have Asthma attacks anymore.  You will need it medically cleared through your doctor and MEPS if you tell the military.  Most recruiters will tell you to just not bring it up and never tell anyone.  On one hand, not telling is a good idea because you won't have to go through all those doctors to make sure you are ok.  But, on the other hand if you don't tell...then when you get to Paris Island or San Diego if you have an Asthma attack and they look in your medical records you can get sent out on fraud for lying to the Government.  I am 18 and joined the Air Force.  I didn't have any medical problems so I didn't need to deal with that but I do have friends that did.  And my two best friends are married marines and it seems that you can just get it cleared through the Med. inspect.  But go to a recruiter and ask them about it.  They will give you books, videos and everything and you can start reading up.  When you are 17 it would be a good idea to go ahead and join DEP - Delayed Entry Program through your recruiter.  You will go to MEPS and process then you will be DEPed in. What you do in DEP is go do activities with other people who are ready to join and go to Boot camp in your area.  You will all work out once a week-once a month depending.  My group has gone to Nascar, played softball, had Barbeque's and everything too. You should start studying for the ASVAB first though.  Your score will last for two years.  So take it now then take it again in a year or two and that second one will be the one that will qualify you for a job, depending on your score.

Your second question - the doctor you first see at MEPS will do a regular physical on you just like at the doctors office at home, they will do height and weight, a colorblind test, a hearing test, vision, a blow test to make sure you aren't drinking, and a drug test.  After they finish your medical you will swear in to the Marines.  There is a MEPS website if you just type it in on google I am sure you can find it. Any other questions you can e-mail me any time - [e-mail]

Answer 3

run, sit-ups, pull-ups and work in some light weights. go see your recruiter they would love to know you may make their difficult qouta one day.

Answer 4

The truth is most military careers are not like an army commercial makes it out to be. As for the training ROTC is always a good option as as tagging along at poolee functions. Just go down to your local recruiter and let him know what your plans are and start from there tell him you would like to go to some poolee functions and he should let you tag along that's a good start. Start gathering some information on what career field you would like to pursue and maybe start by reading some Marine Corps history.

Good Luck and i hope you one day join the ranks of the few and the proud.

Also i would not even raise the issue of your asthma if you can sustain the physical activity without your inhaler i joined with two pins in my hips and was fine plus you have a couple of years to get over it as some people do.

Answer 5

I doubt you will have any problems joining the marine core, since your asthma condition has been gone for so long(though it may come back)

You should try to be fit before you join(if not you will through training). You should run laps, work on upper body strength, and do a little stretching. Yes the marine core makes you exersise and train, alot. thus being the point of sending you to boot camp for 13 months straight. Marines are trained to be the best in all conditions of the field, though most of paratrooping is done by the army's airborne divisions, but im sure if neccesary marines will use parachutes. Ranking up isn't a choice, if you get promoted, you get promoted and must lead a squad, end of story, lol. I am not sure when the military checks you, but when they do they test to see if you are fit and give you medications and etc. As you can see it takes alot to become the best of the best in the worlds military. good luck on your military career if you decide to enlist.  

Answer 6

I'm glad to see young people wanting to serve this great nation of ours!  First you will want to make sure that you do well in school.  You will take a test that will pretty much determine what jobs you qualify for.  Next you want to make sure you are in excellent physical health.  Since you have a history of asthma I would make sure you get regular examines that note on your medical records that state it has not been an issue.  You will want to exercise regularly.  A good regimen would be running, push ups, pull ups, and sit ups.  Run on alternating days.  This way you are already ready for the physical training schedule.  The summer before your senior year, go down to your recruiting office and sign up in what the Army called the DEP (Delayed Entry Program).  This way you know exactly when you ship to boot camp and will have the paper work out of the way so you can focus on your senior year.  I hope this helps some!  

Answer 7

You're 15 if you haven't had an asthma attack since you were 10 or 11 it's considered childhood asthma, you grow out of it, a lot of kids get it you won't be disqualified. Start working out now don't focus all you're attention on the physical aspects though. Pay really close attention in school especially on subjects you're not very good at!

But you should start running and excercising a lot (try to do it with a friend in case you have an asthma attack) and you should definately get checked out by a doc before you start doing really strenuous excercises to make sure you can handle it.

Buy some books about the marines, i strongly suggest "Making Marines" its by thomas e ricks i think thats his name. it follows a platoon of young men from the day they start talking to a recruiter to they day they have they're assigned duty station it will help A LOT!

Also when you turn 16 you may be able to participate in the recruiting stations "poolee training" my local recruiters do rappelling, swimming, paintball, workouts, study sessions, you name it they do it about once a month and usually a good run and workout every weekend.

I think joining the marines is a great decision ad i hope you stick to your plan.

Good luck!  

Answer 8

I dont think they will let you join if you have asthma because during bootcamp they make you run alot and for long distances.

But who knows maybe they will let you join

Answer 9

First and foremost I would like to say Thank-you Sir!

Here are some great web sites to get you started. The first one will help get you prepared for boot camp. The second will answer a lot of questions-book mark this one-you will go back to it a million times.

http://www.prepareforbootcamp.com/?hop=g...

https://secure.military.com/leads/Recrui...

Good Luck to you Sir!