OK, here is my background: I’m currently a senior at Boston College. I have always been interested in joining the military because my father was an ROK Marine and my grandfather was part of the resistance movement during WWII. I was unable to join Army ROTC because of my weight problem freshman year, but I have lost 50 pounds since then.
I am wondering if I would go in as an E-1 if I were to enlist.. I have heard that some college grads can enlist as E-2 or even E-3 because of their education.
For former members of the military, what do you think, should I enlist or go for an officer training program?
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I don’t think you grasp the severity of being an officer. Don’t just be an officer because you are in college. Officers lead people. They follow your orders. That means if someone dies on your watch, his blood is in your hands. That’s why we have so much butterbars in the Marines. Everyone just wants the TITLE of being an officer in the Marines.
Enlist. You can enlist as an E-2. You can go officer as enlisted also. Experience as enlisted will take you far.
That would depend on you and what you want to do. Being enlisted or commissioned have their pro’s and con’s. Think about what you want from the military, career or money, or both. That is correct about enlisting with a higher rank with a college degree, but you can also enlist with a higher rank w/out a degree based on length of service you contract for.
Go talk to one of the marine officers at the local ROTC unit. Bear in mind that if you become an officer, there is a reason you get paid more. If you go enlisted you will wind up with all the crappy jobs for the first few years also. There were times when I wished that I was enlisted, but if I had, I wouldn’t have had so many opportunities open up for me.
If you enlist as a college graduate, you will go in as an E-2. That’s basically nothing because all the E-1s will get promoted like 3 or 4 months after you. So I would go for OCS. If you meet the requirements and you’re willing to work your butt off and give it a try, then go for it. Life as an officer is better in the Marines, take it from me.
If you are a college graduate check with your Marine Corps recruiter about available officer programs.
Former Marine Corps recruiter.
GO OCS
Better pay, and a USMC officer is pretty prestigious by any account.
B.C huh, my home city
not everyone has it in them to be an officer, so like S.T.A said evaluate yourself
officer life is much better though
If you have to ask, then you should enlist.
evaluate yourself and figure out if you are officer or enlisted material..you are either one or the other and not both..i always wonder why there is a huge debate on which to choose..its simple..are you officer material or not?..dont pick officer because you get paid more or any other crap like that and dont choose enlisted because you might get E2 before you get in..those are stupid reasons to enlist..choose the field that you are meant to be in.
a college degree does not mean you will make it as an officer..it only means you are eligible to try to become one..your a senior and you should know now what you are and are not..i dont see why your debating either or as if you can make it in both.