Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Hi,

 I'm currently a junior in high school, and I'm thinking about pursuing a career in the Marine and a civilian career at the same time.  I was wondering if anybody here has gone through collage while in the Marines.  Is it hard to do both at the same time?  Would I get sent into combat while I'm in collage?  I've talked to my parents about joining, and they have a different biased perspective towards the Marines Corps.  Frankly, they don't know what their talking about.  I've talked to a recruiter, but they would probably also give a biased opinion.  Can anybody who’s been through collage give me some advice?  

Thanks. 

It depends in what way you go through "collage" while in the Corps.  Do you mean like Marine-option NROTC?  Because as the name implies, that is reserve.  Also, I wouldn't think that your recruiter would lie to you or anything.  You should just ask for facts.  Obviously if you ask him/her opinionated questions, he'll answer with his own opinion (...).  Not that his/her opinion doesn't matter, I would think it does, but I don't think it is possible to bias factual information...

You would more than likely not get a call-up if you were in ROTC. If you were enlisted in the Reserves, you should count on being activated at some point in your studies if the current state of affairs in this world continue. Many people have done this, college just takes a little longer. Any promises or guarantees from your recruiter, get them in writing and keep in mind that these promises or guarantees mean nothing if the needs of the Corps dictates something different. Think long and carefully and decide whether you are dedicated enough to this country and to the Corps to accept any curveballs that might be thrown your way. Also make sure that this is something that yu want to do and is not just a rebellion against your parents and their beliefs.

Thanks for your response.  I've been thinking about this for a few years already, and I still want to join the Marine Corps ROTC program.  I didn't mean that the recruiter would lie, but I would like to know how the program is when in collage.
 

Has anyone ever gone through this while in collage?  I also remember reading on this forum that the ROTC program doesn't work as well since there is less training involved.

 

Thanks, 

First of all the word is college not collage.  You failed to grasp that correction.  Are you going to be as error prone while reading this advice?

IF you are allowed into training as a Marine Officer Candidate there are several programs of training available to you.  You FIRST need to speak with an Officer Selection Officer Team.  Those Marines are the recriters who will have all of the needed special info on officer training.  However, you WILL attend the OCS at Marine Corps Base Quantico and you WILL be trained.  Some programs (PLC comes to mind) break the OCS into two summers and I believe NROTC programs do the same.  Whatever program you might be lucky enough to qualify for you WILL be properly trained.  And, BTW that is from the Corps's perspective not yours.

I am a reservist and a full-time college student, and I love it.  My battery is going to Iraq this summer, but I am not going along because the Corps decided I need to go to OCS.  However, before I graduate I WILL be deployed, that is pretty much a sure thing.  If you want to be a reservist while attending college, be prepared to miss a year (or two) of school for deployments.