I am trying to decide whether i should stay enlisted or go in as an officer. I will have a degree in accounting by the time i am set to leave for boot camp but everyone around me thinks that since i will have a collge degree that i should go in as an officer.

If anyone has any advise for me it would be really appretiated.


Eric

Officer. No real decision there.

Originally posted by SoggyJeep
I am trying to decide whether i should stay enlisted or go in as an officer. I will have a degree in accounting by the time i am set to leave for boot camp but everyone around me thinks that since i will have a collge degree that i should go in as an officer.

If anyone has any advise for me it would be really appretiated.


Eric

:confused:

The reason i am still considering enlisted is because a few Marines have told me that i would have a lot more respect by working up to officer after being enlisted first.

Likewise, we would have more respect for you, if you weren't a newbie, but we're bound to break all the rules here, and NOT blast your newbieness, because you're going into the Marines.

If it was me, I'd go Officer.
The Marines will never respect an accountant anyway.

:flipoff2:

Becoming and officer, once enlisted is almost impossible. At least it was in the Navy. You could become a CWO, but that was about it.

If you use your head, treat people fairly and don't look down on them, you will gain the respect you want. Act like an ass, and you will be treated as one.

Originally posted by SoggyJeep
The reason i am still considering enlisted is because a few Marines have told me that i would have a lot more respect by working up to officer after being enlisted first.


I see you point here. But if you want to be respected more I'll start at the bottom and work my way up. Then if you want the easy way go straight to an officer. It's all you on this decision. Glad to hear you are thinking this over. Good luck.

Go in as an officer, but have respect for your troops and learn from them. You'll still be a boot to them, but they'll respect you more if you respect them :roxy:

Generally, pior enlisted get more respect.
but that is a no brain decision

Go Officer.
let's see $20k a year vs. $60k a year
fried chicken buffet at the E-club vs. Prime rib buffet w/drinks at the O-club.

A guy I went to high school with went enlisted after obtaining a comp-sci degree. Two years later he's mopping floors on shore duty under supervision because he told them "I have been thinking about suicide" In hopes they would let him out.
Nope, just tightened his leash that much more.

Go officer, and good luck at OCS (I don't about the marines, but the Navy OCS is min. 13 weeks of getting your ass and your mind into gear)

Originally posted by SilverZuk
Generally, pior enlisted get more respect.
but that is a no brain decision

Go Officer.
let's see $20k a year vs. $60k a year
fried chicken buffet at the E-club vs. Prime rib buffet w/drinks at the O-club.

A guy I went to high school with went enlisted after obtaining a comp-sci degree. Two years later he's mopping floors on shore duty under supervision because he told them "I have been thinking about suicide" In hopes they would let him out.
Nope, just tightened his leash that much more.

Go officer, and good luck at OCS (I don't about the marines, but the Navy OCS is min. 13 weeks of getting your ass and your mind into gear)

If I'm not mistaken if he already has his degree when he goes in he won't go to OCS...he'll go directly to TBS instead. InfantryYJ will correct me if I'm wrong ;) :roxy:

Enlist, go to college, sign up for the PLC program. You can still drill, just attend OCS for 2 summers. You commission w/ your 0-1E, if I recall, means more pay b/c of the prior service. Going thru the depots will give you some benefit at OCS, but its still a MF. I came from the army into Marine Corps OCS. About 1/2 of our platoon was prior service, mainly reservist, but the active guys, they had there shit together. Contact your schools Marine OSO, a recruiter for the college prgrams. They'll be more than happy to give you more info. Oh yeah, your college degree doesn't mean a whole lot, its all about how you do at the Basic school.

Yup, I can just hear it now...

Marines jogging in formation, yelling:

Debits equal Credits
gimme a "T" account
reverse your accruals
and fix that variable percentage allocation!

:D :laughing:

Thanks for the advise. I talked to the officer recruiter in the area and said that him, my recruiter, and I all need to sit down to discuss things to see if i could even make it in as an officer. Unfortunatly my recruiter is dragging his feet and not really trying hard to set up the appointment.

I love those cadences bobzooki...i'll have to remeber those when i go runing this afternoon :D

Originally posted by erich_in_AZ
Becoming and officer, once enlisted is almost impossible. At least it was in the Navy. You could become a CWO, but that was about it.



I knew many officers in the Army that were prior enlisted. It's not that difficult. Prior enlisted were always more respected, because they had seen both sides.

Must be a difference between them and the Navy. Does anyone know any Navy guys that made 'O' from 'E'? :confused:

Originally posted by Buddha's Ghost


I knew many officers in the Army that were prior enlisted. It's not that difficult. Prior enlisted were always more respected, because they had seen both sides.

Yep, thats true. My fathers a mustang, and yes he gets more respect for it. However, I've known several people go in and try and get a commission later only to be denied. If you have the opprotunity to go in with one, all the better for your career. Afterall, respect is earned, not given.

Originally posted by erich_in_AZ
Must be a difference between them and the Navy. Does anyone know any Navy guys that made 'O' from 'E'? :confused:

I have a good friend that is a Naval Officer prior enlisted.

He enlisted got out, went naval reserves and college on the GI Bill, and then went ot OCS. He's now on the USS Harry Truman and getting ready to go to intel school.

Originally posted by SilverZuk


I have a good friend that is a Naval Officer prior enlisted.

He enlisted got out, went naval reserves and college on the GI Bill, and then went ot OCS. He's now on the USS Harry Truman and getting ready to go to intel school.

OK, so he had some civilian time in between. I can see that happening.

Here's what I think,....there are many mustangs that are awesome and there are many mustangs that suck,......there are many plain ole butter bars that are awesome and there are many plain ole butter bars that suck,......it all depends on the individual.

Making the jump from E to O isn't that difficult to do,.....I've known a few Marines that came in "just for the enlisted experience" then made the leap to hyper-promotion.

Personally, I like being on the enlisted side,....it's where the rubber meets the road.

Rox, he would have to go through OCS, then it would be off to TBS, then MOS school,......the majority of the new butter bars want Infantry,.....it's one of the harder things for a zero to get.

Also, unless things have changed since I was on recruiting(94-97) and you are a typical white guy,....chances of getting selected are slim,....they are looking more for minorities and women than the typical white guy. I knew one guy that had to go enlisted then apply for commission because of this.

Pick the OSO's brain,...pick the recruiter's brain and then make a decision,.....go to Military.com (http://www.military.com) and ask questions there.

Originally posted by Bobzooki

The Marines will never respect an accountant anyway.



who the hell respects Marines????:flipoff2:


starting from the bottom is WAY overrated. I was a dumbass and turned down West Point prep early in my career. I made rank really quickly (and lost it quickly too!) and went back and got into OCS. after serving a while and then going back to being treated WORSE than any private in boot camp, I decided to try and feed a TAC NCO the curb. freakin BS, some young punk screaming in your face like your an idiot, "modeling" uniforms every 5 min cause someone has the wrong one on or something out of place.....sure, i could handle it but at that point, why? would it make me a better officer(hell no). just harrassment by someone that can. go officer first, get the BS out of the way, and move out and draw fire! oh yeah, your gonna be an accountant.......forget that last part about drawing fire.:flipoff2:

i'm looking at getting my commission eventually too. i think i'm gonna ride out my enlisted contract first though and see how i like it. then if i want, i can always STAR re-enlist (e5 and up to 45,000 woohoo!) or get out, go to college, get my commission that way. or just stay in service and take advantage of the STA (seaman to admiral) program.

look for enlisted commissioning programs. i don't know if you'll be eligible for one where they send you to college if you've already got your degree.

i'd try out the enlisted side first, but if you know you want officer right now, go ahead and get that.

either way, good luck

Originally posted by erich_in_AZ
Must be a difference between them and the Navy. Does anyone know any Navy guys that made 'O' from 'E'? :confused:
i know 2 chiefs who became officers and one 2nd class who did also

Originally posted by WillyPete
or just stay in service and take advantage of the STA (seaman to admiral) program.

Take a look at the numbers for that program, it's tough as hell.

I've sponsored two CPO's that are Officer's now, a buddy just made Warrant, and I know countless others that are mustangs. In the Navy, it's pretty much the really squared away E-6 and E-7 that are picked up for LDO programs.

I agree with YJ, it's up to the individual officer as to how his troops feel about him. I used to work for an O-3 LDO that forgot everything he ever learned as a CPO.

Go in as an Officer, but listen to & respect your NCO's...they'll learn you right....

One thing to keep in mind is that advancement in the Marines is a lot slower than in the Army or Navy. They don't let their ranks get as top-heavy.

So you may CHOOSE to work your way up, and never advance fast enough to get the stripes you want before going OCS, through no fault of your own.

Originally posted by RE:Todd
Take a look at the numbers for that program, it's tough as hell.

I've sponsored two CPO's that are Officer's now, a buddy just made Warrant, and I know countless others that are mustangs. In the Navy, it's pretty much the really squared away E-6 and E-7 that are picked up for LDO programs.

I agree with YJ, it's up to the individual officer as to how his troops feel about him. I used to work for an O-3 LDO that forgot everything he ever learned as a CPO.

check out the acceptance rate for nukes ;)

Originally posted by SoggyJeep
I am trying to decide whether i should stay enlisted or go in as an officer. I will have a degree in accounting by the time i am set to leave for boot camp but everyone around me thinks that since i will have a collge degree that i should go in as an officer.

If anyone has any advise for me it would be really appretiated.


Eric



im a former marine, go officer man, no one gives a shit about mustangs, anyone can be a dick , anyways as an officer u can always turn your commission in if u dont like the shit, go enlisted get shit on for 4 years, no matter what your always a fawkin boot to someone,, been there done that, u want respect , earn it

One thing to keep in mind is that advancement in the Marines is a lot slower than in the Army or Navy. They don't let their ranks get as top-heavy.

I dunno about that,...over the past 6-8 years, I've been seeing E-5's in under three years on a regular basis,....they're getting their good conduct medal prior to picking up Sgt,....I think it's rediculous. On the board that I was selected to E-6, many of them had been in only 7-9 years. These Marines "caught the wave" and enlisted at the right time.


Originally posted by northpole85


im a former marine, go officer man, no one gives a shit about mustangs, anyone can be a dick , anyways as an officer u can always turn your commission in if u dont like the shit, go enlisted get shit on for 4 years, no matter what your always a fawkin boot to someone,, been there done that, u want respect , earn it

You are sooo wrong about the zero's being able to turn in their commission. That only applies to zero's that have been augmented,....the rest are on a contract just like enlisted are and they generally don't get augmented until their third or fourth year in. Take a look at a butter bar's ID card,...you'll see a EAS,....now take a look at a augmented Capt or above,.....there is no EAS.

Don't think for one minute that a junior officer doesn't get the shit end of the stick,...it may not be as bad as us enlisted,...by in the officer corps, they're hating life. One of the LtCol's that was my Bn Commander would treat 1st and 2nd Lt's like shit, to include having them mop the head on command if they fucked up, dig machine gun pits and mortar pits, this stuff happens, not very often or in the view of the enlisted's, but it happens.

Originally posted by erich_in_AZ
Must be a difference between them and the Navy. Does anyone know any Navy guys that made 'O' from 'E'? :confused:

Yes, I know several. Maybe things were different for us on subs, but most of the people that I know who applied for it were commissioned.

Originally posted by WillyPete


check out the acceptance rate for nukes ;) Doesn't count, you guys are all :rainbow:, especially the Sub guys :D:D:D .

Originally posted by RE:Todd
Doesn't count, you guys are all :rainbow:, especially the Sub guys :D:D:D .

:flipoff2:

(what else can i say?)

I don't think there is any hard decision here. If you get picked up to be an O go that route. I did special Op's as a navy helicopter rescue swimmer and had a cool job but would have traded it to be an O any day. The only non prior O's we didn't like came form the military academy's. They all have big heads but know jack. Let's see as an O- more money, treated better,better quality of living, and in the long run these all become more important then being a prior E. If you get out after one contract because you don't like it civilian employers like prior junior officers because they know how to work hard (contrary to popular belief their life isn't that easy) and have management experience and decision making skills. Your reputation comes from how you treat your people and not because you were a prior E. Go O and remember to treat your E's good and they will take good care of you.

Go O I did 4 as E CTT USN

better money

better housing

Better Women

Your choice

Sure they might respect you a little more but then they would smoke the shit out of you for being a dumbass. Go officer. Later

Originally posted by erich_in_AZ
Does anyone know any Navy guys that made 'O' from 'E'? :confused: [/B]


One of my Uncles was Navy and was commissioned out of the Enlisted ranks. Retired after 25+ years as a full Commander. The competition for promotion is demanding at every rank.

The only advantage to the enlisted was a loophole, that 180 days of enlisted service afforded the officer collection of retirement on the day of retirement, without a wait to 55 years old to begin collecting. For a twenty five year old person the loophole was a great advantage to bridge income between public and private careers. This grandfathered retirement policy is probably no longer offered to current entrants to the Armed Services (but it could be written into your enlistment contract, if they want you bad enough, without the enlisted service).

There is no excuse to lower your expectations. You should not let anyone tell you otherwise. If you fail OCS, you have a fallback. Four years after enlistment not one person will care how you achieved the commission, or failed, job performance will be the measure of success.

Happy Trails!

Well everyone has there one views on this. I joined the PLC program, completed OCS, but didn't meet my college grad date. Yeah, they'll want an accurate timeline for graduation. During this time, my OSO was reassigned to the fleet, the new OSO didn't know me, my college is a 3 hr drive, so I only saw him once a semster anyway. The new guy dropped my contract, said I could reapply, return to OCS again. Well, after a summer of basic and 2 summers OCS, I had to say no thanks. I say go to OCS. Anybody that says you'll have no respect b/c of lack of prior service is full of shit. You won't have any respect if you act like a prick. My little brother went through army ROTC, got his commission, and learned to listen to his NCO's. His platoon was actually pissed he left before their deployment. The new 2LT was an idiot. OCS is made to weed out those that can't lead. The Marines send there best DI's to Quantico. They decide if you have what it takes. I saw a 1/4 of my platton dropped b/c they were fuck ups. OCS is a bitch, no lie. The priors said it was physically harder than basic, but the mental stress wasn't as hard. If you have any questions on OCS, let me know. If you're looking to go this summer, I hope you already started training. The shortest run is the PFT, 3 mi. That happens during week one. Also get used to PT in boots. You loose the running shoes after about the 3rd week.

Thank you all very much for your input. I have decided to try to go officer. I knwo it will be a long hard journey and i will have a lot of competition to simply get my application accepted to go to OCS. I have a strong drive to be a Marine and i will not give up until i am one.

I have a disadvantage being a white guy with average grades but i love running and i will push myself harder and harder until my physical fitness is able to be impressive enough to make up for those things.

I have the utmost respect for all who have served in our armed forces. You have all been very helpful and i hope to soon be among you, serving my country proudly.

Eric

Originally posted by SoggyJeep


I have a disadvantage being a white guy with average grades but i love running and i will push myself harder and harder until my physical fitness is able to be impressive enough to make up for those things.


The disadvantage of being a "typical white guy" is not the PT aspect it's the enlistment racial ratios. There doesn't seem to be enough minorities or women enlisting in the officer corps and because of that, they get head of line when being looked at for selection.

I guess it's better to be an "Officer of Marines" rather than nothing at all:flipoff2: (If you make it to the fleet,....you'll find out what that means)