You recommend enlisting while in High school?

Question

First of all, this is my first post and i am a senior this year in high school. My marine recruiter recommends me to enlist now then to wait and sign up near the end the my high school career. The jobs available are more likely to be open then later on. And while being enlisted i can be helped into being prepared. How true is this?

I am pretty serious about this and a family member of mine tells me to wait. Her reason were that focusing in school and graduating with high scores would mean that the military could offer me MORE if i then enlist. She also says that if i enlist now and get into a accident, my chances of being discharge are possible. How true is this?

I asked my marine recruiter and he said that there is no such thing as offering MORE if i graduated with higher scores and that an accident has to be outrageous for them to discharge me. How true is this?

I thank you for taking your time to read this and hope to get SERIOUS responses back.

Answer 1

It would be a good thing to wait but not for the reason that your family member told you. It really doesn't matter what your scores are in high school all that matters is that you Graduate. And about enlisting and then getting into an accident, if you "enlist" it's not really a bona fide enlistment, your only obligations to the marines if you "enlist" now will be to the DEP program. The DEP program is just a way for you to prepare you for military life and knowing you stuff when you leave for boot camp. Just remember this, you are not "IN" until the day you ship out and go to MEPS and do the Final oath, sign your paper work, and get on the bus/plane! As for your job choices, it depends mainly on two things, your ASVAB score, and your ship date. The higher your test score, obviously the better the job you will be offered. And, only certain jobs will be available at certain times for your ship date, example, say you want to be in communications, you tell them what kind of job you want, and when you want to leave, and they will tell you if that job is available at that time, if it is not, pick another date!! good luck hope this answers your question

Answer 2

My family is full of military members.

My uncle has been in the army for 14 years. My grandfather is an EX marine (and still acts like hes in charge). my husband and i are in the Air Force, and my other grandfather and another uncle were navy.

I made my decision after a ton of research. talk to people other than recruiters. recruiters will tell you all you want to hear to get you to sign in. and you are still young and impressionable when it comes to a life full of promise.

I wouldnt join the Marines if i were you, but i will say that it will be better than the army. though the army will call them "bullet sponges".

as for the job thing, yes. he is correct. but he is trying to sign you before the year of 2008 is over. they have a yearly quota to meet.

jobs work on a drop system. you can join and take what they give you, or you can wait and wait and wait until your job of choice opens up and then you go to boot camp and tech school. you are essentially waiting for someone to cross train, retire, or get out of the military for you to take their job. generally waiting about 8 months to a year for a good job. you can join instantly without promises. all branches will give you what you want, but hold out. dont sign now.

your family member is partially correct as well, concentrate on learning, because the better your ASVAB score, the better job you will get and the safer they will keep you.

as for offering you more...your pay will be on a scale along with the rest of the enlisted. the only way to get paid more is to go to college and then join as an officer after you graduate. getting a better education MIGHT get you a bigger sign in bonus, but i dont know very much about those. I am Air Force, and we do not have enlistment bonuses. We dont need them.

also, getting into an accident BEFORE going to boot camp? your family member is correct on that in a way.

if you sign, you will not be sent to your MEPS physical until you graduate. If your accident has you in a cast, any scars or such, you will not pass MEPS. so you will need to wait until you can pass the pysical to even go to boot camp. im not sure the time frame you will have, but you will need to be able to pass that pysical within a certain time frame or you can be discharged. though all things like that have loop holes. and after that point you are concidered "prior enlisted", and cannot perform certain jobs in the military. but usually you can re-enlist and go through the process all over again.

I really think you should research EVERYTHING before joining. I wouldnt be joining the MARINES. but its your life, just please be careful.

if you have any additional questions feel free to ask.  

Answer 3

Wait, the recruiter is only trying to boost his numbers of people who sign. Listen to the family member who said to sign and concentrate on school is correct. The better you do in school, the better your choices in the military.

I have been in your position. WAIT! I guarantee that what ever you want out of the military, will still be there when you graduate.

Answer 4

Enlisting now can help you make rank faster.I would go for it.You will be better prepared when it's time to go active.Good luck.

Answer 5

Your recruiter is trying to get you to seal the deal as soon as he can.  You would be wise to wait until you graduate.  I'm assuming you just started your senior year, which means you've got 9 more months or so until you graduate.  You can change your mind a lot within that time.  All the jobs will still be open and you'll have just as good of on opportunity to enlist then, compared to now.

If you really are serious about joining, sign up for JROTC if it's not too late.  That will help you get a little bit of a start when you join.  You'll start out as an E2 and have a little rank on you collar.  But I would seriously take your family's advice and hold out.  There's no pressure right now, irregardless what that recruiter keeps telling you.  Rushing into something never turns out as well as if you wait and take your time.

Email me if you have any other questions, as I'd be happy to answer them for you.