Question for guys that in the Marines

[Tramble]

Whats the difference of showing up to the recruiter and telling them i have a GED/High school diploma...

also is it a fact that, Recruiters only take a amount of numbers of GED enlist'ers and take unlimited amount of guys who has a diploma..?

[MAJ (Ret) Hayes]

Finish school, get a diploma.

The Marine Corps is in draw-down, which means they are reducing size to something more sustainable after all the wars. Which for the Corps is usually around 165,000 to 185,000. This means they can be more picky. Having a diploma will help but ultimately a lot of it depends on your ASVAB score. So study for the test, or sign up to be a cook, if being a cook is your idea of being in the Marines.

CPT P. Hayes
Former Marine - 1990-94 (Anti-Tank Infantry)

[SGT (Ret) Dennis]

Finish school, get a diploma.

The Marine Corps is in draw-down, which means they are reducing size to something more sustainable after all the wars. Which for the Corps is usually around 165,000 to 185,000. This means they can be more picky. Having a diploma will help but ultimately a lot of it depends on your ASVAB score. So study for the test, or sign up to be a cook, if being a cook is your idea of being in the Marines.

CPT P. Hayes
Former Marine - 1990-94 (Anti-Tank Infantry)

Exact endstrength for the Corps right now is 184,000 with capability of going down to 174,000, no lower. But that is still way down from 202,000, just for perspective.

[De Vries]

I could be wrong but, I believe the Marine Corps is no longer taking people who do not have a High School Diploma. The Army should still take you with a GED though. If you could still get your diploma you should definitely do it, don't settle for a GED just because the military might accept you with one.

[Fraser]

If you could still get your diploma you should definitely do it, don't settle for a GED just because the military might accept you with one.

Seriously, if the only thing you take away from this entire thread is what SGT De Vries just said, then so be it. You have to allow yourself the best selection of opportunities, and not allow yourself to under-achieve. Most people don't join the Marines for a life-career - at least I didn't think so - which means you need to go out and really work things such as diplomas and everything else to open up doors for when/if you decide you want out of the military.

[Coffman]

Get the high school diploma PERIOD. Yes High school might suck but life moves on afterwards. You really hinder the rest of your life by not finishing high school. Not saying its NOT possible but everything else you do you will need to work harder than the guy who got his diploma.

[Tramble]

I could be wrong but, I believe the Marine Corps is no longer taking people who do not have a High School Diploma. The Army should still take you with a GED though. If you could still get your diploma you should definitely do it, don't settle for a GED just because the military might accept you with one.

Where can i look more into this? Personally Marines > Army, the challenge it brings is what i like.

Finish school, get a diploma.

The Marine Corps is in draw-down, which means they are reducing size to something more sustainable after all the wars. Which for the Corps is usually around 165,000 to 185,000. This means they can be more picky. Having a diploma will help but ultimately a lot of it depends on your ASVAB score. So study for the test, or sign up to be a cook, if being a cook is your idea of being in the Marines.

CPT P. Hayes
Former Marine - 1990-94 (Anti-Tank Infantry)

I hope to be a Infantry, but as for choosing a role for the Marine.. Is it based on scores, and give you choices within my score? Or can you retake some tests to enlist as Infantry.. Sitting in the post,cooking in a base isnt me..

[SPC (Ret) Filley]

 As a HS senior myself, I would suggest that you ask yourself, not necessarily what you want to be in the military, but what interests you personally. Ultimately that will determine what you'd like to pursue as a career, and what the military can offer YOU.

And get that Diploma. Closing that door now is only going to make life harder if things don't work out. You want as many options as possible, so that you have as many choices as possible to chose from with what you want to do. It's your life, but the few years in school now will save you from decades of trouble down the road any which way you go.

Welcome to stop by Havoc 1-3-A if you wish to discuss this in more depth.

[SFC (Ret) W. Clark]

You do need a highschool diploma to join the marines. I highly suggest you get your highschool diploma and make sure you pay attention in school so you do good on the ASVAB. The ASVAB determines what jobs you can get in the military. The higher the score the more jobs you can get. I would contact the recruiter for your region to get really good information about the ASVAB and what ever else you may be wondering about. Becareful though from personal experience I can tell you that recruiters are very pushy expecially marine recruiters. Before signing anything make sure you talk to your family and you know exactly what your getting into.

[SPC (Ret) O'Rourke]

Ok the Marine Corps requires you get an additional 15 college credits (100 classes and above EX. ENG 102) with the GED. They have three tiers they categorize Poolies in, Tier 1, 2, and 3. If you have no educational background you are put into tier 3 (basically fuck off). GED holders are in tier 2 and high school diplomas are in Tier 1. The Marine Corps only accepts 5% of its annual recruits as GED holders. So if you drop out of high school you gotta go to college. I'm in the process of enlisting with a GED and its a pain in the fucking ass. Get your diploma. Oh and it doesn't matter what your ASVAB scores are, if you have a GED with no credits you're fucked.

[Tramble]

Ok the Marine Corps requires you get an additional 15 college credits (100 classes and above EX. ENG 102) with the GED. They have three tiers they categorize Poolies in, Tier 1, 2, and 3. If you have no educational background you are put into tier 3 (basically fuck off). GED holders are in tier 2 and high school diplomas are in Tier 1. The Marine Corps only accepts 5% of its annual recruits as GED holders. So if you drop out of high school you gotta go to college. I'm in the process of enlisting with a GED and its a pain in the fucking ass. Get your diploma. Oh and it doesn't matter what your ASVAB scores are, if you have a GED with no credits you're fucked.

Thanks man.. What role will you be enlisting as?

[SPC (Ret) O'Rourke]

0311. I tried enlisting about 2 years ago but the said fuck off because I only had a GED. So I went to college for 2 years (got about 60 credits) more than enough to get in now. But I would have been a Marine by now If I had just got my diploma so, finish high school!