Joining the Marines

[westin]

Ok, like the title says I plan on joining the Marine Corps after I graduate high school(Junior now), I'll already have an associate's degree out of high school (and after experiencing that, more college and a long career doing that isn't very appealing any more.) Since there is an avid active duty military group here and this is the only forum I belong to I figured I'd ask you guys my question:

After reading all I could online I have gathered that being completely honest on your application form is of high priority which is fine because I hate lying and am a terrible liar anyways...I also read that during the application interviewing process they ask you of any drug history and if you answer yes the only way to get in is via a waiver by some officer up the chain of command. The issue some may face with this is that they have previously recreationally used marijuana. (Say stopping in late Dec. 09 for good) Also by the government standards was more than experimenting(under 15 uses) which seems like of no consequence to your acceptance but they would most likely classify my friend's use as habitual since it was used so much, which really wasn't the case, this person I know didn't need it to function or anything like that, just something that was enjoyed...

So I guess the overall message is that would a potential recruit get rejected or have a tough time getting a waiver if they were confess to moderately heavy usage for ~2.5 years, has anyone heard of anyone being rejected for something like this or should my friend not be worried at all?
Thanks in advance for the input and advice, and mods, if this post is a topic that shouldn't be here please feel free to remove it.

 

[Austin]

Westin thanks for your patriotism. I think honesty is your best bet. Talk to a recruiter at length and find out what your options are in signing up. Good luck.

 

[RBE17]

I'm thinking a heart to heart w/ your recruiter would be in order. They should have the answers to your questions.

 

[sodajerk]

I'm thinking a heart to heart w/ your recruiter would be in order. They should have the answers to your questions.

+1

Congrats, good luck and thank you!!

 

[bvilchez]

Speaking as a former recruiter and knowing how the recession has affected many, The Corps has been VERY picky on who they send down range (MEPS). Just a few years ago we upped our numbers to 210,000 from 184,000. Now that the goal has been met recruiting has come to nearly a standstill with recruiters putting in possibly 2 a month and no more.

Hopefully everything works out in your favor. Like stated above talk to a recruiter and if you'ld like PM me and I can give you the straight talk if you feel the recruiter is feeding you some bull. Remember his job is sales....he sells the Marine Corps.


Good luck with your future endeavors

 

[MoJoe]

I'm thinking a heart to heart w/ your recruiter would be in order. They should have the answers to your questions.

I'm in agreement with this statement. I would imagine that this comes up with recruiters all of the time. I doubt that the Marines is full of folks who have never tried drugs so this is probably a frequent topic of conversation with recruiters. Like any job recruitment, both sides want to get to yes. It may just mean that getting to yes with you takes a few extra conversations with an officer who could sign off on you but that should not be a showstopper.

Good luck and thank you for your service to our country. My father-in-law was a marine and it clearly impacted his life. He had a collection of books about the military but the ones about the marines held a special place in his book case. He would have loved the showing that they made at his funeral. I never served but it was clear to me in watching him for 20 years that when they say there is no such thing as a former marines the statement could not be more true. Semper Fi.

 

[DSB]

Westin thanks for your patriotism. I think honesty is your best bet. Talk to a recruiter at length and find out what your options are in signing up. Good luck.

I think this is excellent advice. Late December '09 is pretty recently (just over two months ago). However, assuming you continue to stay clean, by the time you graduate, and you're ready to enter boot camp, you will have gone a year and a half without using. That's a much stronger message of your maturity and drive than two months clean. Hopefully this is what your recruiter is looking for.

I admire your desire to join the Marine Corps. I hope that you get good news from the recruiter. Best of luck!

 

[The Nid Hog]

I think that you've got some great advice from the members here. You're particularly lucky to have a former recruiter tell it to you straight. Just make sure that this is what you want to do. You're still young and every day brings the realization of new possibilities. Partying in December seemed like a good idea; joining the Marines in March seems like a good idea too. Getting permission or a waiver for past use is one thing. Another is making the permanent change to your life that the Corps requires. Partying just once or twice once you're on active duty could get you in deep trouble--a reduction in rank, an admin discharge or worse. But it can also mean that you won't be there when your buddies need you because you're being processed for something rather than taking your place in formation. So the change isn't just for you. Good luck with your choice, and I wish you all the best with your future.

 

[ouch]

Nota Bene:

While I applaud the young man's enthusiasm, honesty, and patriotism, I would recommend to the young man that that isn't something you really want to put in writing on the internet. Should you find military life not to your liking, the potential employers in your career of second choice may not be as understanding as some of the gentlemen you'll find here.

You may want to edit your thread.

 

[Sullybob]

Speaking as a former recruiter and knowing how the recession has affected many, The Corps has been VERY picky on who they send down range (MEPS). Just a few years ago we upped our numbers to 210,000 from 184,000. Now that the goal has been met recruiting has come to nearly a standstill with recruiters putting in possibly 2 a month and no more.

Hopefully everything works out in your favor. Like stated above talk to a recruiter and if you'ld like PM me and I can give you the straight talk if you feel the recruiter is feeding you some bull. Remember his job is sales....he sells the Marine Corps.


Good luck with your future endeavors

I can tell you as a former recruiter myself, this is great advice.

You can also PM me if you have any questions or concerns.

 

[westin]

With the advice of another member the original post was changed as to not self incriminate. Also thanks for the comments, I plan to talk to a recruiter this summer as I'm still a junior so I have a bit of time. As to the partying and such, I'm done with that, I had my fun while it lasted but I've moved on to bigger and better things and have grown up a bit, at least in my mind, and realized what's a bit more important to me in the long run. And about the recruiting standstill I don't know if the Marines are in the same boat now but my brother is in the DEP for the Air Force and if the recruits don't answer back every 2nd week I think it is they're being kicked out due to overwhelming numbers.

 

[KarthVader]

OP, I applaud you for your determination. There seems to be few people in our generation (Gen Y/Millenials) that are willing to give up part of their lives for the common defense of our nation.

As for recruiting, it sounds like the tight recruiting methods are the same that took place in 2004-05. I was in AFROTC at the time and got cut because the Air Force was over saturated with personnel. The Dept. of the AF was going as far as offering commissions in the Army to alleviate this overpopulation.

Not to deter you, but have you thought about going to college for a couple years or getting a technical degree? What do you want to do as a Marine? I don't forsee the economy recovering for another 5 years, regardless of who is in the White House, but job security once you are done serving should be a concern of yours.

I wish you the best of luck in your decisions and endeavors.

 

[westin]

When I graduate high school I'll have an Associate's as a Draftsman. I've thought about going into an 03 MOS...and after I've thought about getting a degree in Fire Science to become a firefighter, as my dad's lifelong career was in the fire service and I think it's something I'd enjoy.

 

[Frank7580]

Hey Westin,

I just wanted to lend my voice of support and encouragement to your desire to serve in our armed forces. I admire you for this pursuit.

I'd also echo the sentiments to be completely up-front and honest from the point of your initial contact with a recruiter. Honesty and integrity are character traits that are ALWAYS admired... also they're traits that are not as common as you might think.

A strong commitment to honest communication with any potential employer will set you apart from a lot of your competition. Good Luck!

 

[toucanlamp]

Well I was in the Canadian military for several years and I was honest about my drug use when I was a teenager and they didn't seem to care really, they were realistic, they know it was youth.

But, the US is a lot different, really rabidly anti-drug, ie. pre-employment drug testing which isn't legal in Canada, I remember reading that if a person admits to ever having used marijuana in their life they are automatically removed from consideration for a pretty big list of government jobs.

But if that's the case, then all they are doing is saying that the people they want for their organization are the ones who can lie the best. You just have to be honest and see what happens.

 

[westin]

But if that's the case, then all they are doing is saying that the people they want for their organization are the ones who can lie the best. You just have to be honest and see what happens.

Haha very well put, we have a lot of wierd/irrelevant government policies...

 

[TheScalpel]

...I would be suprised if there are any recruits out there today that have NOT tried any recreational drugs.. so I would suggest just being honest..

and if you go military, goto college first, ROTC and officer!

 

[Paris]

I completely agree with the above - if you plan on making the Marines a career I would advise you to get a college degree and become an officer. It is simply a better way to go. I was an enlisted Marine a long time ago.