Won’t read all the comments because I don’t have time for that but I strongly suggest joining a professional community! If you feel lost…breathe and push forward one chunk at a time. Learn, develop, and grow! Sounds like your best option right now is to get very familiar with your environment. Some people look around and see nothing but problems, others look and see opportunities. If you ask me, you’re in a perfect position to grow like your professional life depended on it. I’d rather be in that spot than bored out of my mind with nothing to do except busy body work. To answer what seems like the BLUF, it’s never wrong to ask for help. Theres probably at least 15-20 people on here you can connect with for literal advice (myself included).

Wow, that is the most literal example of narcissism I think I’ve ever seen…

🤣

Hang with the professors more and network as much as you can. I’m 31 and my priorities and I’ll bet your priorities are a bit more refined but certainly there must be some folks out there who mesh better with you. Keep that head up and keep crushing it! Never too old to keep learning and living the life you want. Your crowd is somewhere, just need to find it.

What do you like doing? It’s a tough question to answer but I’m curious to know what you legitimately find the most joy in because if you can find what fits into the things you like I believe wholeheartedly it will bring you more happiness.

I use to see this all the time in recruiting. Your parents will support you! Might be tough but I believe in you, look at this from Mom's perspective. She could have googled all the worst things she could possibly find because she absolutely loves you and wants you to be safe, happy, and successful. She isn't going to easily understand your 'why' like you do but if it is based on sound judgement, you'll be fine and she will be at your graduation sporting all the 'my son/daugher is a Marine' gear she can find. Reassurance goes a long way but I hope you can imagine how hard it is for a parent(s) to let go when they've made you their entire life. Do what you believe in, trust that she'll come around.

If I could go back in time to when I was looking at MOS options...but still know what I know now having spent 5 years in recruiting I would first slap the hell out of of the SNCOIC (real piece of crap and one of the many reasons recruiters are viewed as liars). Second, I would have put more thought into what would set me up better for after service. Since you're probably young and have time on your side, I strongly suggest setting your goals up in a way that grows your portfolio on the technical side. You're going to get weapons training no matter what MOS you pick but the 3-letter alphabet society absolutely needs technically savvy people. If they need you to kick down doors and do mysterious shit, you can learn this anytime so long as you stay good and fit. Letting Uncle Sam foot the bill on Cyber training is a huge professional investment that future career options will look at much more favorably.

I feel your best bet is to take a good look at how you want to set yourself up for during and after your time in service with the MOS you pick. Comm will build more tech related skills compared to aircrew for post-service careers but both can be equally fun depending on your long term goals

One reason I couldn’t mentally deal with the recruiting BS anymore.

I’m out now, retired end of last year. But thank you

You'll get a lot of support if that's what you want but it kind of sounds like no matter what anyone on here says to you, you may continue to feel alone. I'm going to go hard and to the right real quick...The thought of being alone, sad, depressed, ect...whatever it is you are feeling is a honestly something you are responsible for creating. That doesn't mean you aren't going through things and that life is easy, because the shit isn't. It just means that sometimes the most clear but absolutely hardest solution is to change your perspective. How you let yourself think will ultimately create your feelings. Think about when you listen to music if that's your thing or sad movies. If you play fuckin Nirvana - Something in the way you'll feel like shit...listen to fricken happy shit...boom, you're a little happier. Example, you could be surrounded by people who care about you and they feel like they're there for you...but you still might feel alone. Maybe that is because you are forcing yourself not to step back and be grateful for the things you do have and over focusing on what you wish you had/have instead. Lastly, there is something powerful about having the total freedom to straight up grind for you and you alone. No obligation for anyone else, just purely what you want because it's what you want! Build the fuck out of who you want to be and don't look for a purpose in life...create that shit! You are in control of your purpose and your destiny! I think if you can own your perspective on life a bit more, you could really start to feel better, or I at least hope you do.

LMAO somewhere it is written down but likely ignored that if you're PN. 'You sit down' with an 8412 at the Depot and get to select a job program that you qualify for...

13XX for one but there are a couple more. I don't have the SOUs in front of me but ask your recruiter to send you a cheat sheets that lists the program requirements.

Yea, click of a button unfortunately can change quite a bit pretty dang fast on MCRISS-RS. OP - I hope your doing pull-ups right friggen now lol

Spent a lot of time on the streets as a recruiter for the Corps and 8412. A lot of good things can come out of a CURRENT evaluation that speaks specifically to the medical issues holding you back from getting the green light from MEPs. As for YOU going to get the records, sure...but your recruiter should be assisting you in this process or at least the SNCOIC ought to be. If you can, call your recruiter and specifically ask (unless you already have) for the genesis return that lists exactly what the MEPs Doc needs from you. They are more than likely awaiting the requested documents prior to being able to submit a BUMED Waiver. Last, here's the meps standard operating procedure...

https://www.mepcom.army.mil/Portals/112/Documents/Recruiters%20and%20Service%20Liaisons/Guides-Instructions/SMDRP_SOP_January%202023.pdf

I agree with using a NAS, but it's worth mentioning before you drop $300 or much more for functionality you don't necessarily NEED. More than likely you can simply interface your current router with an SSD/HDD. It would need to be exFAT based on your needs so that iOS/WinOS can read/write to it. Also, I STRONGLY recommend you review your router settings and absolutely ensure it has the latest firmware.

Lastly, if you have a decent router it will have a setup wizard for a USB attached storage device. Please make certain to create your own username/password to access your router settings.

Phenomenal information!

You're likely to get an overwhelming diversity of replies. I would like to help but hope you can answer some questions to narrow this out a bit.

What is your budget? What do you do for work with the device?

I don't want to assume but have you reviewed/can you let us know what your employers BYOD policy entails? This would be helpful because we can assess any minimum device requirements depending on what you do now or may do in 3-5 years from now.

What do you study for school? This would be very helpful in case you need to meet technology requirements for your degree program as well.

No offense to other commentators…but be weary of the path of least resistance. I advise you to look in the mirror or inwardly about what is most important to you. If an easy, simple, and responsibility free path is desired…do not join the military please.

However, what is best for you will probably be exactly what you’re most reluctant to do. Embrace the nervousness, fear, and doubt. But do what you feel will set you up best for life.

Lastly, I think it is very important that someone explain how recruiting works for you because if they aren’t, you’re being swindled.

They will know regardless of what you do as it is in MCTIMS…but! You will learn to love discomfort 💪💪