Contract Advice

[Renholder]

I met with the SNCOIC and laid my cards out on the table. He said that he would try to get my contract changed, but it will take some effort. Fortunately, a discharge from the DEP would still allow me to pursue other branches. He did try to play on my fear of failure to make me reconsider keeping my contract. It's too bad that I have been doing that daily for the last few months.

I have no idea if my fortitude will hold out, and I won't know until I experience the course for myself. All I can do is show up prepared and do as I'm told.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

If your recruiter or SNCOIC is 1) preying on your FOF in an attempt to manipulate you to do this or that 2) causing you to reconsider based on your FOF and your already questioning yourself, then it sounds like the entire situation is fucked up on many levels. You also seem to be very influenced by the whims of others. This is your enlistment, your contract, figure out what YOU want.
Some things you might want to consider:
-Why is it you're enlisting in the Military? specifically the USMC? specifically trying to get a Recon contract?
-Are you going to continue to bend to the desires of others who won't be in your shoes/boots?
-If you're already doubting yourself and your resolve before you even step foot onto MCRD Parris Island you might want to revisit question #1 and do some serious soul searching.
I'm not trying to tell you to do one thing or another, I'm just offering some questions whose answers might help you sort things out a bit. I genuinely hope this helps.
Best of luck.

 

[TLDR20]

The OP did not ask this but I am curious.

Right now he is at least guaranteed to go infantry, from there he has many opportunities. However, if he fights to go in with a Recon contract and gets it, and then for whatever reason does not make it through, he is at the mercy of the ever changing "needs of the Marine Corps".

100 years ago when I was in, that was a guaranteed trip to supply, admin, or the kitchen.

Just something for the OP to consider as he makes this decision about what to do.

Marines tend to bitch about how much they hate the Corps while they are in, it is 10 times worse if you are in a job you hate.

He would still be an infantryman before goin to Indoc right?

 

[Teufel]

He would still be an infantryman before going to Indoc right?

They used to send Marines on a recon contract through the 0311 course before attending BRPC/BRC. They would then default to 0311 infantryman if they quit or failed the course. It wasn't long before some recruits would sign recon contracts when the recruiter ran out of infantry contracts. They would quit on the first day and move on to an infantry battalion. Now recon contract Marines attend the 03 skills portion of SOI then go to BRPC/BRC. They will go needs of the Marine Corps if they quit or fail.

 

[TLDR20]

They used to send Marines on a recon contract through the 0311 course before attending BRPC/BRC. They would then default to 0311 infantryman if they quit or failed the course. It wasn't long before some recruits would sign recon contracts when the recruiter ran out of infantry contracts. They would quit on the first day and move on to an infantry battalion. Now recon contract Marines attend the 03 skills portion of SOI then go to BRPC/BRC. They will go needs of the Marine Corps if they quit or fail.

So they aren't 03's? Makes sense, I kind of wish the Army would wake up and do the same thing with 18X contracts.

 

[Teufel]

So they aren't 03's? Makes sense, I kind of with the Army would wake up and do the same thing with 18X contracts.

Well they are 03XXs. All infantry Marines attend a two week block of common infantry skills before moving on to their MOS specialities: rifleman, machine gunner, mortarman etc. Marines on a recon contract go through the common skills package before attending the Basic Recon Prep Course. The Marine in this case has not graduated from any of the infantry packages and technically does not have an MOS once he fails out of BRC. I'm sure some Marines are recycled back to the 03 field but I'm not sure how the Marine Corps determines what MOS to send him to at that point.

 

[TLDR20]

Well they are 03XXs. All infantry Marines attend a two week block of common infantry skills before moving on to their MOS specialities: rifleman, machine gunner, mortarman etc. Marines on a recon contract go through the common skills package before attending the Basic Recon Prep Course. The Marine in this case has not graduated from any of the infantry packages and technically does not have an MOS once he fails out of BRC. I'm sure some Marines are recycled back to the 03 field but I'm not sure how the Marine Corps determines what MOS to send him to at that point.

Smart.

 

[Teufel]

Smart.

The Marine Corps will always get theirs!

 

[Derdang]

You can always look into Army Rangers, which would help you in the long run of getting into a better career.

 

[Gunz]

I have no idea if my fortitude will hold out, and I won't know until I experience the course for myself. All I can do is show up prepared and do as I'm told.

...and want it so bad you will love every minute of that tough course and never give up.

 

[Teufel]

You can always look into Army Rangers, which would help you in the long run of getting into a better career.

It depends on what you define as a better career. I'm not saying that the Army Rangers are better or worse than Recon. Every branch and special operations community is different. There is one thing that Marine Recon can offer this young man that the Army Rangers cannot: the title United States Marine. There are some, myself included, who would not trade that title and the brotherhood I've experienced as a Marine for anything.

 

[x SF med]

There are some, myself included, who would not trade that title and the brotherhood I've experienced as a Marine for anything.

Outstanding, the same should be said by every person in every branch.

 

[LeftFootRightFoot]

-If you're already doubting yourself and your resolve before you even step foot onto MCRD Parris Island you might want to revisit question #1 and do some serious soul searching.
I'm not trying to tell you to do one thing or another, I'm just offering some questions whose answers might help you sort things out a bit. I genuinely hope this helps.
Best of luck.

I disagree with this. I've never considered myself a bad ass or inherently talented, I'm very much an average guy who's just chasing his dreams. That being said I wanted to be a Marine since I was like 13 years old. A scout/sniper to be specific (yea yea, I know) so much so that I even quit hunting to focus more on target shooting and made my own ghillie suit in high school. Even with all this fanaticism, and my two year long journey to go to Parris Island, when I went to that hotel I was filled with anxiety, fear, and self-doubt. All unfounded emotions my imagination was torturing me with. That bus ride felt like a trip to the gallows and plenty of ideas of how to get out of this swirled through my head. I couldn't quit though. Quitting lasts forever and looking back I can't believe I even considered it. To make a long story medium, all that fear was washed away as soon as the DIs came out screaming. Your imagination and fear of the unknown will always be the worst of it.

My point is fear and self-doubt are normal, just recognize them as what they are - false illusions. Everyone is going to have a different personal experience, my advice is to look at what your heart is telling you to do, the dream you know you'll regret having not chased as an old man, and just fucking jump, brother. It's worth it. Nothing is more painful than regretting not following your heart for the rest of your life.

Well they are 03XXs. All infantry Marines attend a two week block of common infantry skills before moving on to their MOS specialities:

I believe it is 4 weeks of 0300 and 5 weeks of MOS specific unless it has changed in the past few years.

 

[Molinaro]

To the original poster, keep chasing your dream. I've never served as a recruiter but I spoke to a close friend of mine who has and he assured me that any recruiter would gladly change your ship date rather than to have you leave the DEP.

 

[Derdang]

It depends on what you define as a better career. I'm not saying that the Army Rangers are better or worse than Recon. Every branch and special operations community is different. There is one thing that Marine Recon can offer this young man that the Army Rangers cannot: the title United States Marine. There are some, myself included, who would not trade that title and the brotherhood I've experienced as a Marine for anything.

When you get to Recon or MARSOC, and you want to keep striving to be the best. It's a lot easier to go to the next level if you are part of the Army then it is if you are a Marine. But if you plan on just staying Recon or MARSOC for rest of your career then you have nothing to worry about and will have a great career.

 

[Teufel]

When you get to Recon or MARSOC, and you want to keep striving to be the best. It's a lot easier to go to the next level if you are part of the Army then it is if you are a Marine. But if you plan on just staying Recon or MARSOC for rest of your career then you have nothing to worry about and will have a great career.

Very few Marines or Soldiers make it to the next level. Recruits are like high school football players and the "next level" is like the NFL. It's not wise to make career choices based on who is slightly more likely to make the pros. Everyone has to pass the same selection and everyone has the same standards. If the original poster fails to make it into recon for whatever reason, he will still be a Marine assuming that he makes it through boot camp. If he fails to make it through the Rangers then he will be a soldier that wishes he was a Marine. Which I guess is all of the Army anyway... or at least that is what @x SF med keeps telling me.

 

[Derdang]

I agree with you. Just adding input to things that I've learned over time. Being in a unit that is a part of SOCOM is nice in two ways. You get better training and assets allocated to you, and it helps in some jobs having been a part of SOCOM. But in my opinion if you're going to join the Marine Corps, that going Recon is the best route then if you want join MARSOC you can do it when your eligible to try out.

 

[Gunz]

I believe it is 4 weeks of 0300 and 5 weeks of MOS specific unless it has changed in the past few years.

It was 4 weeks infantry training and 5 weeks machine gun school (which was essentially advanced infantry training with m60s) when I went thru in ancient times. Then 3 more weeks running up and down hills at Camp Margarita with full rucks.

 

[x SF med]

Very few Marines or Soldiers make it to the next level. Recruits are like high school football players and the "next level" is like the NFL. It's not wise to make career choices based on who is slightly more likely to make the pros. Everyone has to pass the same selection and everyone has the same standards. If the original poster fails to make it into recon for whatever reason, he will still be a Marine assuming that he makes it through boot camp. If he fails to make it through the Rangers then he will be a soldier that wishes he was a Marine. Which I guess is all of the Army anyway... or at least that is what @x SF med keeps telling me.

Well said, Sir... but did you have to use my name in vain? That really hurt my feels, and I'm going to have to report you to POTUS, aren't you part of the kinder gentler RECON?

 

[8654Maine]

You've got feelings?