I'm currently a couple steps away from fully joining the Army but am having second thoughts due to the fact I really want to go Marines. I'm wondering if anyone knows if the statues (excepting prior service) will change anytime soon? I have a child on the way and was REALLY wanting to be there the first month. now, the thing is that Marines are not shipping again until october. I'm trying to see if i can hold off until january to go to basic, OR will the statues change from excepting prior service to not excepting by 2010?? i know this date is far off and only people with major intel can help me, so if possible please do.

Your an idiot. Your better off in the Army. If you can't make a decision and stick to it you do not belong in the Marines.

quote:

Originally posted by Jakeneller:
Your an idiot. Your better off in the Army. If you can't make a decision and stick to it you do not belong in the Marines.

....... IDIOT? Jake, i'm gonna be optimistic about your post and take it as constructive criticism and ask you why you feel its idiotic to verify what you want to do before you fully do it. Now, just so you know I wanted to become a Marine from the get-go, but at the time it was a no go for me. it being i have a child on the way and i'll die any day to provide for her, i took what was open Army. A short time after that my Marine recruiter called me with good news that some highschool kids punked out and decided not to go through. with that i saw a opening to take, ALL I NEED TO KNOW IS IF THE STATUES FOR PRIOR SERVICE WILL CHANGE SOON. enough said, seems like a simple question. before you speak of someone know the full story friend, good luck if your already in, and thank you for serving. (just ease off your tongue, you never know what the person has been through who you speak ill about).

Okay Numbers, slow down so we can sort this out.

First off that was a well written response without jumping back at someone which shows poise. Also, looking into following through on something you really want when you see an opening is good thinking as well. Overall? I'd say you're showing pretty good maturity so let's see what we can do to help you out.

So who are you, prior service Marine looking to reenlist, prior other service looking to enlist in the Corps or a first time enlistee??? You're question is confusing given your bio page so tell us who you are and what your status is so we know how best to help you.

I'm prior service Navy, was E-4 when i got out but they swiped me to E-3 i guess with the Army. I wanted to join the Corps back in 2005 but fate led me elsewhere, i decided to just get out for a second and cool of, get my head together and see where i want to go. but my wife's 7 months and the income isn't the way i want it. I contacted some Marine people i know to see whats open and at the time there wasn't anything. My father in-law is an officer in the Army and thought it would be a perfect idea to go ahead and enlist for Army now, then crossover again later.... i thought about it and it sound like a plan at first but after meps and getting my mos 19k(abrams crewmember), i got a call from my old pal and he said its a go for october..... and now i am here at a crossroad trying to make a move. I know where i stand, i just need to know if the Marines will be in the same enlisting state in early 2010 as they are now. if not i'll roll out now. i just have itchy feet and want to get back in the action, on the front is where I belong. thanks ahead of time.

Call your Recruiter or at least their office, find out who is the point of contact at Headquarters Marine Corps for Prior Service Enlistments and ask them direct.

If the Recruiters don't know or can't release the name & number, call Pulic Affiars at HQMC or anyone else you can think of to get it.

What have you got to lose by going stright to the decision makers?

By the way, the Corps ALWAYS mans down vets in favor of boots at the end of every war. If you get no love now, try again in 3-5 years and you'll find a very sympathetic Corps eager for experienced folks in whatever field you bring to the table.

Let us know how you made out. We're still here if there's anything else we can do.

Fair winds and following seas Brah.

will do, and thanks for the advice. All i have to do now is cut off my contract with the Army.. wished it didn't have to be like this, but in the end its my word that puts me wherever i am.

quote:

Originally posted by 22362772:
I'm prior service Navy, was E-4 when i got out but they swiped me to E-3 i guess with the Army. I wanted to join the Corps back in 2005 but fate led me elsewhere, i decided to just get out for a second and cool of, get my head together and see where i want to go. but my wife's 7 months and the income isn't the way i want it. I contacted some Marine people i know to see whats open and at the time there wasn't anything. My father in-law is an officer in the Army and thought it would be a perfect idea to go ahead and enlist for Army now, then crossover again later.... i thought about it and it sound like a plan at first but after meps and getting my mos 19k(abrams crewmember), i got a call from my old pal and he said its a go for october..... and now i am here at a crossroad trying to make a move. I know where i stand, i just need to know if the Marines will be in the same enlisting state in early 2010 as they are now. if not i'll roll out now. i just have itchy feet and want to get back in the action, on the front is where I belong. thanks ahead of time.

Just an observation... I'll admit I did underestimate your maturity level (I apologize for that) but I really think you don't know what you want...

"i have a child on the way and i'll die any day to provide for her"

Then...

"i just have itchy feet and want to get back in the action, on the front is where I belong."

I am being fairly critical but none the less that does seem semi-contradictory. Don't you want to spend some time with her before your off for months of training. Just make the right decision. Good luck with whatever happens. If anything something like that is awesome motivation to get you through boot camp.

P.S. I am really going to hold it against you if you go through with being a tanker.

yeah, your right i DO want to spend some time with her before hand. thing is though, is that this economy out here is a (B) on wheels. nobody is hiring. BUT today i struck a lucky cord and got a interview with a decent job. as far as me being semi-contradictive i kinda agree actually. one side of me wants back in it, then the other side wants to be there all the way with my child. all is good though, i got something worked out and i'll be able to spend the first couple months with her. after that i'll leave. question to Denosaur, whats your age limit to join the Marines? and if i was a E-5 or 6 would i be able to retain that rank if i crossed from Army to Marines?

Depending on your age, but your rank will be E-3 at best if you do transfer. The Marine Corps is all about earning things, not giving Rank away. It take most to make Sgt 4-6 years depending on your mos and how the fields levels out along the way. SSGT 6-8 years sometimes longer, When I was in you had to be a SSgt by 13 years in or you where not allowed to re-enlist..

So basically what your saying is it would be a waste of time,money and rank if i made higher than E-4?..... this isn't good news for me at all.

No I did not say that, you did. I just explained to you how things work in the Marine Corps, you earn it. A Sgt in the Army or even Air Force (Sgts in the Air Force are E-4's)have not idea on what it takes to be a Sgt in the Marine Corps. WE ARE A DIFFERENT BRED! Just as you will still have to make it through our Boot Camp. I can promise you that the Army's Boot Camp is a picnic compared the Marine Corps. I'm beginning to get the idea you trying to learn the hard stuff else where and sneak by with us and get off easy. IT DON'T WORK THAT WAY with US.

quote:

Originally posted by TomHansen:
No I did not say that, you did. I just explained to you how things work in the Marine Corps, you earn it. A Sgt in the Army or even Air Force (Sgts in the Air Force are E-4's)have not idea on what it takes to be a Sgt in the Marine Corps. WE ARE A DIFFERENT BRED! Just as you will still have to make it through our Boot Camp. I can promise you that the Army's Boot Camp is a picnic compared the Marine Corps. I'm beginning to get the idea you trying to learn the hard stuff else where and sneak by with us and get off easy. IT DON'T WORK THAT WAY with US.

NO, i'm not wanting to learn the hard stuff elsewhere. In fact i dont believe i could learn it elsewhere BUT in Paris Island, around a lot of Marines. It's just i have a contract WITH the Army as we speak, and i found out the Marines are about to start taking prior service personal again. I got the exact mos i wanted and everything with the Army, but I also know that the Marines have the door open and are waiting. wish it never happened like this, i'm not really one to back out of a contracts but man this is eatin me everyday.

Son, don't ever tell me or another Marine NO again or your out of here (notice the word Moderator)! Your young and stupid, we are not. You here asking us, we are not asking you. You are in our house, we are not in yours. If you have the exact contract with the Army you want then GO and BE All You CAN BE in the Army of One. Just because you got what you want with the Army does not mean you going to get it with us. You dont have to go Army even at this point, until you raise your hand on the day you to play Camp Fire with the Army you can say thanks but no thanks. WE dont take promise's, we take commitments and your not committed....

quote:

Originally posted by TomHansen:
Son, don't ever tell me or another Marine NO again or your out of here (notice the word Moderator)! Your young and stupid, we are not. You here asking us, we are not asking you. You are in our house, we are not in yours. If you have the exact contract with the Army you want then GO and BE All You CAN BE in the Army of One. Just because you got what you want with the Army does not mean you going to get it with us. You dont have to go Army even at this point, until you raise your hand on the day you to play Camp Fire with the Army you can say thanks but no thanks. WE dont take promise's, we take commitments and your not committed....

......well then, Mr TomHansen. I didn't intend to strike up any hard feelings OR disrespect actually, just wanted to state i'm All for earning things too. and as far as me being young and stupid.. well... I'll respect you for your view on newbies. truth is, i served my fair share of time also, just not with the branch and brothers of my picking. Moderator or Newbie, all those who serve get respect for me. ESPECIALLY those who served where it counts. so then, i'd like to apologize to you if your hurt by my (NO)....... I know your not hurt, but still... i fully understand the reason for your chewing. I'm here to learn from people, not shove them around or shut them down.

quote:

You dont have to go Army even at this point, until you raise your hand on the day you to play Camp Fire with the Army you can say thanks but no thanks.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Why not take this avenue? Have you not done your research enough on this forum? Seems like your being hard headed to people that are trying to help.

But I will tell you that saying things like "wish it never happened like this" will not "wish" away the situation. If you need to back out of the contract with the Army then do it. You won't be the first or last. And if your "not really one to back out of contracts" then your wasting your time on here asking questions.

I've summed up the following from statements you have made.
1. you want to spend time with your daughter.
2. you want to be on the front lines (or something a long those lines)
3. you don't back out of contracts.
4. you got the exact MOS you wanted from the Army.

You can spend time with your daughter after training. Good luck being a tanker on the front lines (does anyone even know what a tank is anymore). You already have a contract with the Army with the MOS you want. It seems to me like you have already set yourself up perfectly with the Army and should be in the Army wannabe forum asking questions about how to be successful in boot camp and tanker school.

I'll end with this... When I was in boot camp we had a kid who changed his mind the first week. Know what he wanted/though was possible to do. Go be a cook in the Army.
You need to be very strong to get through the first 2 weeks of boot camp.

Got you Jake, a lot has changed since this whole post was started by me. when i get my results back on my request I will see where it stands. as far as a cook, not my cup-o-tea. Army or Marines I know Combat is my interest. but being prior service knocks a lot of slots out the choice for me, this aint a easy choice. but i'll make it soon enough. my reason for being here is to see what may be open to prior service (IF ANYONE KNOWS) and to get a look into both sides of the turf.

quote:

Originally posted by TomHansen:
Your young and stupid

*You're

Im sorry but you should spell correctly before calling anyone stupid.

quote:

Originally posted by john9945:
...Im sorry but you should spell correctly before calling anyone stupid.

This should be good.....

Where you at Tom??