Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Is it a bad idea to join the Marine Reserves while in college?  Thats the option Im considering right now because I want to get a college education, but I dont know if it would be a good idea yet.  Also if my reserve unit were to get deployed while I was in college would my parents and I still have to pay college tuition while Im away?  Thanks for any input.

I think "bad idea" is a pretty big stretch. I know two guys (an 0311 and a 0341) that are in 3/25 based out of Akron, Ohio and they go to school when they are home. I don't know specifically if there are any exemptions from payment if you somehow get pulled in the middle of a term, best to call and ask your school(s) of choice.

But as far as it being bad or good, from what I've learned from those guys I mentioned, it's a perfectly feasible way to get your degree. Obviously, and this is probably the most important thing you'll likely want to consider, it's going to take you longer to finish your degree. But that will be offset with the fact that you are fulfilling your wish and serving in the Marines.

Long story short: quick phone call to the school and ask about the tuition thing. Beyond that, which do you want more? Military service or college? Are you willing to do both at the same time in your life? Think on it.

I'm not sure what you mean by "bad idea"?

DH went to college on an Army ROTC scholarship, gave it back after one semester, moved home, enlisted in the Corps and drilled with 2/25 HQBn Garden City NY while completing his degree at SUNY.  The MGIB bill paid his college tuition and bills. He got activated for Panama and Desert Storm.  Post college, voluntarily activated fulltime, was meritoriously promoted to Sgt during the Haitian refugee crisis at Gitmo.  Went to OCC, competed for a flight slot in TBS, was winged and then after a few years lat moved.  Is currently on his third tour to Iraq embedded with an Iraqi division as a Senior military advisor.

Said he would do it again -- Parris Island is no comparison to ROTC, and the experience (he feels) made him a better Officer of Marines.

 

 

 

I am doing exactly what you are considering, edubya.  I am drilling at P BTRY 5/14 while attending college full-time.  I am being mobilized this spring for a tour in Iraq.  BY LAW your school as to refund ALL of your tuition if you are unable to complete a semster due to military activation.  While you are deployed, you will not be enrolled in school, so obviously you will not be paying.  The government has laws in place to protect you from getting financially screwed.  Also, my professors have all said that I will be able to either finish the term early or take an independed study to finish my remaining course work when I return.  So I am not getting screwed by having to take classes one and a half times (professors are unlikely to be so flexable at a state school... I go to a private Christian college, so they work with me quite well).

One thing I need to recomend is NOT doing the 92 day program.  If you don't know, that means you go straight home to school after bootcamp, putting MCT/MOS school off unitl the next summer.  This sounds like a great plan, but I did it and it sucks.  First off, you will not know anything about your job as you drill each month.  I am a field artillery cannoneer, and it sucked my first few firing drills because I knew absolutly nothing.  I had to study my ass of on my own time to get competent. Second, if you unit is deployed before you go to MCT/MOS, you will have to do them before mobilization.  This is happening to me, which means I will do 3 week MCT and 5 (i think) weeks of MOS on top of my deployment.  That's a LONG time away, and even more time I am unable to be in school.

In all, I definatly think doing reserves while in college is a great thing.  I love college, and the weekends I spend on reserve duty are great.  I get to fire 155mm Howitzers while my buddies sit in the dorm dicking around.  And while all my friends are wondering what they will do when the graduate, I know that I have a carrer as a Marine Corps officer ahead of me.

JJA:

I am doing exactly what you are considering, edubya.  I am drilling at P BTRY 5/14 while attending college full-time.  I am being mobilized this spring for a tour in Iraq.  BY LAW your school as to refund ALL of your tuition if you are unable to complete a semster due to military activation.  While you are deployed, you will not be enrolled in school, so obviously you will not be paying.  The government has laws in place to protect you from getting financially screwed.  Also, my professors have all said that I will be able to either finish the term early or take an independed study to finish my remaining course work when I return.  So I am not getting screwed by having to take classes one and a half times (professors are unlikely to be so flexable at a state school... I go to a private Christian college, so they work with me quite well).

One thing I need to recomend is NOT doing the 92 day program.  If you don't know, that means you go straight home to school after bootcamp, putting MCT/MOS school off unitl the next summer.  This sounds like a great plan, but I did it and it sucks.  First off, you will not know anything about your job as you drill each month.  I am a field artillery cannoneer, and it sucked my first few firing drills because I knew absolutly nothing.  I had to study my ass of on my own time to get competent. Second, if you unit is deployed before you go to MCT/MOS, you will have to do them before mobilization.  This is happening to me, which means I will do 3 week MCT and 5 (i think) weeks of MOS on top of my deployment.  That's a LONG time away, and even more time I am unable to be in school.

In all, I definatly think doing reserves while in college is a great thing.  I love college, and the weekends I spend on reserve duty are great.  I get to fire 155mm Howitzers while my buddies sit in the dorm dicking around.  And while all my friends are wondering what they will do when the graduate, I know that I have a carrer as a Marine Corps officer ahead of me.

To be a Marine Corps Officer requires ability to communicate succinctly and effectively, both oral and written.  Know where spell check is, and implement it.  Just today, XO, very grumpy and tired, was trying to wade through a grammar and spelling error-filled document compiled by a JO, and having had enough, demanded that the 1stLt bring in "proof" of his college degree.  Poor 1st Looie, having just checked in, wanted to make an impression...and he did.  Don't be that guy.

Sorry about that.  I usually type informally on internet forums, not worrying too much about spelling/grammar. I just type quickly, as if I am speaking rather than writing.  Being a theology/philosophy major means I write TONS of essays/papers... I know how to write quite well.  I'll be sure to write posts better in the future so they are easier to read.

JJA, thanks for the reply..I pmed you. where are you going to college?

I got your PM.  Small world, eh?  I'd be happy to chat in person after spring break.  Shoot me an e-mail (jadare10) for now... I want to know who you are.  Man, it would be crazy if you were a BJ brother.

 

 

 

I hope you're not from Mac

WOW..this is crazy.  ill probably be in BJ..my bro is in there now