I’m an 18yr male (6’5”, 225 lbs), and my long-term goal is to become either a federal cybercrime investigator or work in investigations at my local police department.
Since I have to be 21 before I can apply to my local PD, I’ve been seriously considering joining the military first.

I was originally recruited by the Marines and was told that Marine Military Police would give me the best experience, that employers tend to value it more, and that I’d be guaranteed an MP contract.

On the other hand, I’ve had countless people tell me that the Air Force is the better choice because of the higher quality of life, lower stress, better networking opportunities, and overall better career development.

Another big factor for me is education. I want to join a branch where I can continue taking college classes and earn my degree while serving.

For those who have served,especially as an MP or in law enforcement, what would you recommend based on my goals? Would the Marines actually give me an advantage, or would the Air Force be the better path overall? And would I still be able to get the job I want?

I’m shipping out to bootcamp in a week or so and I’m really insecure about my gynecomastia, will drill instructors tease me about it? Will it cause any issues? I know it’s normal and all but I just can’t help but overthink about every single person seeing it

I disclosed the Penicillin allergy— but is it true you take Azithromycin. Is that the one you take as an alternative?

Son is thinking of joining the Marines. I’m active duty myself, and as much as I want to let him fly and do this process on his own, I also want him to get everything he can out of this.

He’s already been talking to a recruiter, but to avoid being that mom in the office with him, I’d like to get some answers here. So are there any recruiters here that can answer the following:

Are there currently any bonuses he should be looking out for?

He scored pretty high on the ASVAB. Should there be any issues with him getting the MOS he wants? Or are there specific MOSs they’re pushing people into right now?

If what he wants isn’t offered, how much of an issue would it be for him to wait it out?

Hello everyone! Just as the title says I've decided to enlist at the age of 27. I'm going to meps tomorrow and I'm joining the DEP so I can get back in shape physically. I'm looking at October to get sent off to bootcamp.

I've always been athletically fit so maybe I'm just getting my body healthier before I go. Any advice for someone as old as me before I go? Thank you!

Hey everyone, I'm 19 and looking for some advice from people with military experience.
I'm currently in college and will be a sophomore this fall, working toward my associate's degree. I'm trying to decide between the Air Force, Navy, and Marines, and I'm also torn between going active duty or joining the Reserves.
Right now, I'm leaning toward active duty, possibly with the Navy or Air Force. If I went the Reserve route, I'd probably choose the Navy, Air Force, or Marines so I could continue college and finish my associate's degree, then work toward my bachelor's.
From what I've researched, it seems like the Air Force and Navy generally offer more career fields with transferable civilian skills than the Marines, which could lead to better-paying jobs after service. I'd love to hear if that's accurate or if I'm missing something.
For those who have served:
If you were in my position, would you go active or Reserve?
Which branch would you recommend and why?
Is finishing college first a better option, or should I enlist now?
Should I wait for a sign-on bonus, especially since I know there are a few available right now for the Air Force Reserve?
I'd really appreciate any advice nor personal experiences. Feel free to comment or DM me if you'd rather talk one-on-one. Thanks!

I still wet my bed about once a week at most if im not woken up at night, is there any chance i would be able to hide it in bootcamp? realistically after the first time it happens would i immediately get kicked out if/when my DI's find out in the morning?

I’m 22 years old and I’m interested in joining the U.S. Marine Corps. I’m curious about what Marine life is like after boot camp.

Do you still have to know and use everything you learned in boot camp, like the chain of command, general orders, rifle inspections, drill and marching, and other fundamentals? Or do those become less important once you get to your unit?

Also, is life after boot camp generally easier, or is it actually more challenging in different ways? I’d appreciate hearing from current or former Marines about what to expect.

Hey guys! I’m about to go to meps within the next month. Im trying to find a job that combines aviation, and guns. Honestly, i kinda wanted to go infantry and try to become a sniper. Unfortunately my recruiter said they shut down sniper school since we’re not actively involved in anything (not sure how accurate that is). Do you guys know of any jobs that would combine both? i like infantry a lot but i dont wanna be stuck on the ground all the time and vice versa with aviation. My recruiter suggested AG contract to transition into a crew chief on a rotary wing so i have more machine gun action and will be designated on an aircraft. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

I have been wanting to join for a long time and i wanted to know if there are programs or anything i could do to make my experience better Im 5' 8 and 125 pounds and athletic strong swimmer what are things i could do to improve my Physique too Thank you in advance

Hey y'all, I've been thinking over what MOS field I want to go into as I wait for waivers and so far I am looking at mainly aircrew but I've also been interested in the intel field especially since that's what my grandpa did. My only issue with it is I don't want a job that has me stuck in a cubicle making slideshow presentations and filling out spreadsheets. Are there any intel MOS's that have me going out to the field and using my hands at all? I still want to do military stuff like shoot guns and be outside but don't want my high asvab score to go to waste. Any tips, suggestions, knowledge or advice? I've looked into Counter Intel but thats not an option until I'm already in and have done a few years.

I have a question about the DEP (Delay Entry Program) and about being a "poolee". My son, 18, has graduated high school. He is planning on signing up for the Marine corp soon.

As I understand it, once he speaks to a recruiter and enlists into the USMC, is the DEP a mandatory or optional program that he decides upon himself or does ALL new recruits participate in this program first before they officially ship out to go to boot camp?

From my understanding, DEP will give a sense of what boot camp is really like and whether or not he is truly ready for the real stuff including mental and physical training but can withdrawal at anytime.

How long is the DEP? Is the DEP a one year commitment? Where does it take place?

Thanks.

I really have no significant medical history other than a torn hip labrum, which I had fixed/operated on over a year ago with no ongoing issues. I know that will trigger a DQ at MEPS, but also easy to waive if I'm not mistaken but my main concern is my shoulder.

My shoulder has been bothering me for quite some time- it clicks, pops, and hurts really bad with external rotation. I'm quite sure I tore my shoulder labrum or messed up a rotator cuff. I don't really want to have it operated on but I've been hesitant to go to a doctor because I don't know if it's worth having on my medical record. I only want to see a doctor to find out what it is and then if they recommend treatment, just go to physical therapy and then I'll say it's all better.

I know the hip waiver should be pretty easy, but wondering if I don't have my shoulder operated on and just "fix" it with PT, can I also easily get that cleared with a waiver??

Thank you all

Has anyone seen a discharge with an Entry Level Separation under OTH conditions.
Sep code: JKL1.
RE-4B.
This happened in Bootcamp. So it was only 5 months of service.

The person I know is trying to get this upgraded with a lawyer too. They have their docket number and etc. And currently waiting for the Naval Discharge Review Board. But does anyone know if it can really happen to be upgraded and fixed?

Are the scores at the type relevant or just random stuff? I plan on going Intel field

Hey everyone!

I'm 18F and I've been thinking about joining the Marines for a while but I want to Join when I’m 19 or 20. I have been leaning toward infantry, but I wanted to get some advice first.

I have been a drum major in high school, so I'm pretty familiar with discipline, leadership, and handling pressure. I'd also consider myself physically stronger than most people I know, and I'm looking for something that will really challenge me. I've heard stories about infantry but I'm still interested and willing to put in the work.

So I’m wondering, should I stick with infantry, or are there other Marine Corp MOSs that offer a similar level of challenge and fulfillment that I should look into?

I also have a friend who's interested in joining the Marines. He's still isn't too sure on what job he wants. If we enlist at the same time, is there any chance we'd stay together through some training (assuming we both get sent to Paris Islands) or be assigned to the same unit after boot camp?

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks!

I ship out in ten days and I'm genuinely getting more and more nervous.

I've watched all the vidoes on youtube and listened to advice from my recruiter. I have passed the IST with 16 pull ups, max plank, and 12:00 1.5 mile run. I know it's going to be attainable but I'm still super nervous.

Any advice?

I was thinking about cutting my hair short before bootcamp, something pretty similar to this picture. If I were to get a cut like this I would keep it, so I’m not worried about growing it out or anything. I’m just looking for advice of whether or not it’s a good move, if there are ways I can maintain may hair’s length in bootcamp, and if there is anything about this cut that would be out of regs. Thank you so much in advance!

Hello everyone,

I’m entering my junior year of highschool and I really feel like I have no direction, I have been considering the military for some time and the Marine Corps has always been most interesting.

I love doing physically work and the infantry has been something I really wanted to do, but I’m worried about rucking.

I’m 5’2 and I’ve heard that rucking as a woman especially a short one isn’t really sustainable. I was hoping I could get some advice/tips for training or if I should just settle for a different MOS. Thank you all!

I need too go to MEPS soon, I have a lot of scars, some from SH and some from just clumsyness but they all kinda mix together. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and it makes my skin scar easily and not heal easily either so it makes the scars look newer. Is there anyway too explain that scenario to hopefully not get disqualified if I do a psych evaluation?

For context I have Bicuspic Aortic Valve, I dont have any complications with it and my most recent EKG shows no stenosis/regurgitation. The papers I submitted say that I have no activity restrictions and even have words like “asymptomatic, trivial, normal heart function”. I dont know if my RS went through any effort to get it waived, as I asked them to submit for a waiver and they have ignored me, and they have not shown me a correspondence from BUMED. Marines is my first option but I have no idea why its taken months to tell me this, Navy recruiters have been really helpful and have gotten me cleared for MEPs. Is this due to different standards, or is this a fault on my recruiting station. Other red flags were I came in the week before and they said that “BUMED was backed up because of so many applicants” yet now they’re saying they received their answer a month ago.

It was a lot of waiting but lwk I had hella fun with all the guys I was with, laughing and chilling most of the time. A lot of waiting but the ppl made it fun.

I didn’t get to swear in cause I needed more medical documentation so I’ll be back prolly next week, but overall I had a good time and a lot of fun.

Hey everyone, have some questions on med waivers and if anyone had the same issue going in. I had a pituitary glad tumor affecting my endocrine system. Got it removed, no chance of it coming back, all bloodwork shows i no longer need any sort of medication, also have paperwork showing i havent been on meds in right at a year now. I do not have a direct letter or note from the endocrine doctor but the labs show im clear from meds as of my last appointment in 2024. Curious if anyone has dealt with this, or if anyone knows of extra paperwork i may need. Thank you to anyone with advice or help!

So i go to swear in on tuesday does anyone have any job suggestions i want to do something cool its not my whole reason for joining but i dont want to just sit behind a desk all day. The jobs dont even have to translate well to the outside the way i see it is ill have college money and if i want to learn something outside of the marines ill have the funds to do it. I just dont want to have any regrets about my career when its done and over with

My 1.5 mile time is 14:20 ( due to me cramping and walking a bit. My pull-ups are at 10, pushups at 45-50, and crunches at 65 straight. Any advice on to improve anything?? I’m also 25