I have been debating whether I should go Army NG or Marines and have talked with both recruiters (from Army NG and Marines). The reason I am having a hard time deciding on this is because I want to go to college while in the military for the first 4 years then go active duty following my graduation. Well the thing is my Recruiter (USMC) is just telling me to go Active Duty, and no one I have talked to over here has ever been in the USMC Reserves. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about being in the Reserves for the USMC or who I could talk to. I just want to know what I am getting into. Also, I live in Oregon and was wondering if the MOS I choose will be limited by the units surrounding my area because I was hoping to be a Forward Observer but by the research I was doing, the closest unit seems to be in California. Any info at all will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Also, I am not worried about money or anything like that. I just want to know what the Reserves are like, anything at all. Thanks Again.

A couple of things you have to realize, this topic has been discussed over and over again. Please use the search feature and if you are still unclear about any thing than ask specific qustions.(Instead of just typing reserves which will give you a million responses, try typing Marine Corps Reserves and or Marine Reserves. There are some really good threads on the reserves) Also realize there are advantages and disadvantages for every choice reguarding the military, reguardless of branch of service or active/reserve duty. And no one can tell you what are the best options are for you, all we can give you are sujestions based off of our own experiences(WE ARE NOT YOU).

To help guide you I will give you some questions you need to ask yourself and be honest with youself.

1. Why do I want to join the military period(Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard).

Are you looking for training, college benifits, pride, dicipline, action, family tradition? (Ask the Marine recruiter about picking tiles if you haven't done it, it is one of the best ways to find out what are you looking for)

2. Am I looking to Make the Military a career, or just do one or two enlistments?

3. Do you believe you are physically qualified to serve (I read about you Knee injury you posted about in the Army Fourm). My sujestion is you get that taken care of before you even try to join the Military. There is a difference between being tough and being an idiot. example at boot camp there was a recruit I knew who had pink eye and didn't want to go to sick call because he didn't want to be a "PU$$Y" so it keep getting worse and worse so on day about a week before graduation he woke up but couldn't open his eyes. He had developed a even severer eye infection along with sinusits(spelling) and he was droped a week before grauduation.

4. DO I have my college totally paid for, i.e. you have a college fund from you parents?, or scholarships from sport or edutcaiton, or your a millionare.

5. Are you on a clock? example I have been told that you have to be and officer and in flight school by age 27 in order to become a pilot for the Marine Corps and you need to finish college as fast as you reasonably can. Or you have so grand life plan where you have you degree in hand bye the time you are X years old.

6.DO you want to be combat arms(infantry, tanks, artillery) or combat suport(motor-t, administaration, or logistics)

also remember if you live over a hundred miles from a unit, it is up to the reserve unit if they want you to be part of that unit. so take a look around your local area(around 60 miles) and see what reserve units are there so you can decide what MOS you would want. My sujestion keep and open mind about MOS's, go to about.com and read there enlisted job discripions for Marines.

In my opinion if you don't have college paid for already, and are not on the clock, I would go active for a enlistment get some life experience. Which may help you in college. And get the active GI BIll. The reserve G.I. Bill suck compared to the active. If you are picking the between the reserves (army, NG, or USMC) for college benifits, pick NG. they normally have the best college assistance amoung the reserve services. The Marine Corps is the worst one to pick for tangible(money suport) college benifits. but the Corps has other advantages over the Army.

Let us know what you decide.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rigger51,

Brent,
Since this was only your third post, we wont crucify you yet.

Click here.

I consolidated a few things to assist in your search. Go through each of the links. It will help us, help you.

Reserve Units in Oregon

Alright thank you both for not getting on me yet. Sorry about that, I did look up Marine Reserves and didn't exactly find what I was looking for. But now looking at it again, I must have just looked over it last night. Thanks for getting all of that info for me, it helped a lot. I got my knee situation taken care of I thought it was going to be a long time so I dropped my contract with the Army but they say my knee will be better by mid June and the Recruiter for the USMC said that I won't ship until October so I thought that was a good deal. Again, Rigger 51 and SCMerle, a lot of help. Thanks.

Also forgot to say I did do those tiles Rigger51 and I know money was the last one. (No I am not rich, I just don't think money is a good top priority in life.) The top 4 were character qualities, discipline and things along those lines. I can't remember because it was about 6 months ago. Anyways, I'm pretty set on the USMC after talking with the Recruiter. Now I just have to decide between Active Duty or Reserves. Thanks for all the help.