I meant I have experience in that I have talked to 3 separate USMC recruiters who said they should be able to get me in without a problem.

You may be right. But why would these recruiters even waste their time if I most likely wouldn't be able to get in?

An example here, Chemical Ali is a Marine Corps Recruiter from Louisiana, I believe.

LbrtyorDeath
Basic Training
Posted Fri 02 January 2009 01:23 PM

Ok.

I was first contacted by a USMC recruiter about six months ago. At that point, I was well set on joining the National Guard, so I decided not to go with the Marines.

However, what with how long it's taken me to lose weight, all the while watching the economy go downhill, I've decided that Active Duty Marine Corps is the route I want to take. I know the Marines are the best and there's no sense in taking any other way.

So I contacted the Sergeant again. I met him at the recruiting station, and we filled out all of my paperwork that we could. He told me that now all we were waiting on is for me to drop about twenty more pounds, and in the meantime he would get back to me with a list of MOS's that I could get.

Now, I had already explained to this recruiter my entrance issues. I am a GED +15 credits, so I believe this makes me a High School Grad. I also scored a 92 on my ASVAB. But, I have 2 drug paraphernalia charges that are closed. One was SIS, the other was a municipal charge, pled guilty, fine paid, case closed. I have letters from both judges declaring that I am free of any responsibility to the court. The recruiter was like "oh, that won't be a problem at all, man! Just lose the weight, and we'll put you in the Marine Corps."

SO, in the interim, I have repeatedly called his cell phone with various questions and have received no answer, and no calls back. I finally called the station and another recruiter answered. Once he found out who I was, he began asking me all kinds of questions about my criminal history, said he would get back to me, and (you guessed it) no one has called me back. It was almost like I was having to start over again.

I saw on television that the Marines had reached their recruiting goals this year. Could this possibly mean that I am no longer eligible for acceptance?

CHEMICAL_ALI
Member

Posted Fri 02 January 2009 02:54 PM

Well unless there is anything that your not telling me it all sounds gravy on your part not sure why they are not callin ya back where are you located?

LbrtyorDeath
Basic Training
Posted Fri 02 January 2009 03:40 PM

I'm right outside of Kansas City.

I believe I told you everything. 2 paraphernalia misdemeanors, GED +15, 92 ASVAB, gotta lose 21 lbs.

CHEMICAL_ALI
Member

Posted Fri 02 January 2009 08:51 PM

hmmmmm, not sure who runs the show out there, but the only thing i see that is holding anything up would be the weight?? i have a young man here that needed to lose 23 lbs by Mon and this was...yesterday and he has lost 11 so far so hes right where he needs to be! you need to talk to the detachment commander of that station,a Ssgt or GySgt more than likely and get the scoop on what is goin on? if you have any more questions just msg me here and i'll respond

......

So...I figured I would be able to get in. I would hate to have spent all this time memorizing rank and General Orders and whatnot and not be able to get in, lol.

Not hearing back is probably not a good thing, despite the saying no news is good news.

Currently I am gathering court transcripts on my own time and once I have those my waiver is being sent to the General down in Paris Island.

LOL.

Actually, I forgot to conclude the part.

I finally just called the recruiter's office instead of the recruiter's cell phone. Turns out, he was transferred somewhere else. He just never bothered to tell me.

I was set up with another recruiter and everything is going good.

The whole "not-hearing-back" thing was from a while back. I was worried for a while, but my new recruiter said pretty much the same thing the other one did.

He just told me to concentrate on losing the weight and be thinking of people to have fill out character reference sheets. Have you had to fill any of those out?

oh yeah 3 of em.

My superiors don't know how but my waiver has been approved by the General and I am taking my oath tomorrow. SO HELP ME GOD

FJ_2

I totally agree with you. I am currently enlisted and i ship to Parris Island 20090713. I am in high school and I used to smoke but I had quit to join the Corps. If you really want something that much you will do anything to obtain it.

This is not about you and your wife, this is about his issues and getting into the Marines. If he has a prescription for something then it is not illegal, if he doesn't have one then.....

Your son's status has NOTHING to do with his application for enlistment in the Corps. Being a former recruiter, that often made the package suspect as often the waiver went that the parent wanted the kid to join, not the kid himself. In my opinion, he has major problems in that Oxycontin is not a "soft drug" but a narcotic. His other big problem is that he had a broken neck, a major medical issue. If you ask me, you need to get a consult with an orthodpedic and/or neurosurgeon (depending on the injury). Then I would get these consults to the recruiter who can have the MEPS medical team evaluate them without the applicant being there. Remember that the MEPS doctor is usually a retired VA/govt doctor who is on a consulting contract.

I do not know the current recruiting criteria, but from the limited info you provide, the odds are slim.

Its worth a shot, also it would greatly help if you assisted the recruiter and had great ASVAB scores, letters of recommendation, etc.

Good luck!

Semper Fidelis

Currently, I am working on joining the Marine Corps. I have one semester of college to finish up and then I'm off to boot camp.

I require a waiver for drug possession as well and I'm being let in. I also require a waiver for a tattoo on my forearm and that's also been approved. I guess it all depends on the circumstances. My drug charge was 9 years ago and will be ten years ago when I leave. BUT, like another poster touched on, it's up to you to impress your recruiters CO and so on and so forth. I actually had a 30 minute conversation with my recruiters CO over the phone and I had to explain to him the circumstances of the charge, what I've done to better myself and how much I want to serve my country and BE THE BEST!!!

To the poster who started this thread, keep your head up, speak with your recruiter and find out what exactly you have to do to get in if the Marine Corps is really what you want. Also, work/school references work wonders, you have no idea. I truly didn't believe that I was going to get in, but my recruiters CO contacted my boss and one of my college teachers to see what kind of person I am and if I work hard etc, etc. I just can't wait to get this ball rolling.

It's that Officers call if you get in or not. You can alway appeal to his CO of you get turned down, read the other highlighted topic on Tatoo's. The guy that centers around had a drug bust and could get in the Marine's, maybe that might give some insight.

So I don't have any drug violations on my record. But I did admit to using Marijuana a couple times in high school and once in college about two years ago.

I am wondering if this will affect my chances of getting into OCS, the contact I have in the OSO's office said it shouldn't be a problem?

Also my contact in the OSO's office generally takes a really long time getting back to me. Granted I am not planning on going to OCS until January so maybe he's just busy but...I don't. I did fill out the paper work for MEPS??

If you never where caught who is going to know? Use that education you spent or your folks spent all that money on son. It could affect if you get into OCS depending on how full they are at the time...

I'm a little confused as to what constitutes as a necessity for obtaining a drug waiver.

I spoke to a recruiter about joining the Marines and trying for OCS. I told him about past marijuana use in the, but I have no criminal charges or arrests of any kind. Does simply telling a recruiter of prior drug use require a drug waiver? If so, does this null my eligibility to becoming an officer? It would make sense if it does... however unfortunate that may be... When I spoke to him he never mentioned a drug waiver but he definitely sounded disapointed, I didn't want to start my potential career in the Marine Corps on a lie.

Well the cat's out of the bag, if you think they are going to spend thoundsands of dollars to check all the people you ran around with in college then I have land in Florida to sell ya. The good thing is that you entering into a fiscal year and it possible it might not make diffennce that you fessed up. I do know in the past that a was auto goodbye. Post you question again down in the Wannabe section. We have a Ops O from a Main RS that reads posts so he will be able to shead some light on this.