Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I posted this in the FAQ but someone suggested I move it here... I obviously have never been in the Corps, but I get the general feeling (from conversations with Marines, movies, etc) that offiers who go enlisted-to-officer are more respected than those who never serve as an enlisted man. I am a senior in highschool and right now I am set to ship out to bootcamp in June and then attend college while serving in the USMC reserve. After four years as a reservist at the local reserve artillery battery, I plan to get my officers commission. I also am thinking about going to a state college with Marine-option NROTC. Do the Marines in this forum think that four years of reserve duty would be more beneficial than NROTC? Does it make a differance? I personally think that being a reservist would be more beneficial. I would really like to do my part while I go to college, whereas with NROTC I would never be able to serve until my commission. But on the other hand, I was told during an interview with a Marine officer that NROTC is technically a "higher echelon." Thanks for your feedback.

Talk to your career planner in your reserve unit when you report there after boot camp. Sgt. Wolf

We had about 6 reservists in our battalion and they all DOR'd. Some got deployed but most figured that PLC was just a better option. I think alot had to do with the "I just graduated boot camp and now I have to take orders from Midshipman who don't know **** mindset." I'm not saying that is how you will feel, I'm just making an observation.

For experience about what the "real" Corps is like, there is no comparison between enlisting in the Reserves and NROTC. ROTC is not a good indicator of what life is like in the day-to-day grind.

Realize that college can be interrupted, as it is now, by recall, if you are a reservist or your unit can be activated, as many have been. Sgt. Wolf

Laurie-Anne said it best, no comparison. If I had to choose based on the path you presented. I would go Reserves/PLC. We have several from our unit doing this. As for deployment you are going to 14th Marines, unless something bad goes down, they are out of the deployment loop.