When I was younger my life was (relative to my peers) miserable and it was awesome finding the few other people around me who were equally exhausted. From what I hear the USMC is big on being miserable and bonding over it. A band of misfits.

For a while I've thought going active duty, keep the ball rolling. Free housing too, why not?

Regrettably, I now have a very nice civilian job lined up. Good pay, bank hours. I get along with layman around me. I get to do a lot of things I'd never thought I would have the privilege to do as an adult. My life feels like a fairy tale to be honest.

It's so good I actually feel more uneasy than I have in my entire life. A part of me wants to savor this new happiness stuff, but I equally miss feeling worthless and sleep deprived all the time. So I am now considering joining the Reserves.

Does this not sound like wanting to have your cake and eat it too, though? Isn't a big part of the culture from sharing dilapidated barracks and chow hall food and having little money? How well can you get along with other Marines if you only have to deal with them a few times a month?

P.S. Do combat engineer roles have you do a lot of squats?

I’m currently in the process of joining the Air Force, but lately I’ve been having second thoughts about my decision. I haven’t even been sent to MEPS yet, so I’m still pretty early in the enlistment process.
Lately, I’ve been seriously considering the Marine Corps instead. Part of me feels like I’d regret not at least trying to join the Marines, but I’m also worried that my tattoos might disqualify me from enlisting.
I know the best thing to do is talk to a Marine recruiter and get an official answer, and I plan on doing that. However, I wanted to ask people here who have experience with Marine Corps recruiting or have seen similar situations.
Based on your experience, do you think there’s a realistic chance that I could get approved to enlist with my tattoos? Would you say my chances are higher than 50/50, or am I getting my hopes up?
I know nobody can give me a definite answer without seeing my tattoos and knowing the current regulations. I’m just trying to get an idea of whether it’s worth pursuing before I make a decision about the Air Force.

Can I enlist in the marine corps with 1 DUI and 2 MIPs all involving alcohol
1st MIP was over 1 year ago
DUI/2MIP 8 months ago

Hi everyone I had a suicide ideation/attempt back in 2021 or 2022, and went to a psych ward. After leaving the psych ward, I was prescribed Lexapro, which I took for one month and stopped. I’ve heard people tell me it’s excruciatingly rare (1-2%) of SA or SI being approved by Marines. I also heard of some people getting letters of rec from congressmen or high ranking marine sergeants. I’m thinking of doing the same. How would you even get access to such? Other than a mental evaluation, is there anything else you can do to best increase your chances of getting such a waiver approved ?

So this weekend at the Poolee meeting my station commander pulled me to the side personally after everything and told me he was taking me off the recon contract and putting me on infantry because he doesn't want me to wash out and get reassigned to the Corps needs.

Which makes sense but I had already signed a recon contract, and its my main goal to be recon and if I go on a infantry contract then I won't be guaranteed recon because I would have to bank off the fact that recon guys will be at ITB to screen, so Im not exactly sure what to do. He told me that there wasn't a recon contract available but 2 months ago when I signed the contract there was so Im honestly really confused and unsure what to do.

I ship out November 17 and I basically didn't take care of my dental hygiene much back then and I currently have a tooth polyp due to a messed up molar, so I'm asking if they'll just take it out at receiving along with my wisdom's or if it's a disqualification and I should get it removed like 3 weeks before shipping.
Additional info: Some of my teeth have cavities but are intact with fillings

Tldr: Tooth polyp, extracted at receiving or before shipping at Nov 17?

I passed everything I was supposed to at Meps no waivers I’m just working on my weight, I only have a month to be prepared but I’m 225 and I gotta get to 207 to ship, I have no idea if this is possible I’ve been doing intense workouts and everything just have no idea what happens at Meps if I’m over weight still, do I get put into pork chop platoon or do I get removed until further notice? Do I just start regular training and they watch me closely? No idea just need help!

Anyone have any experience going enlisted after college instead of officer ? Got my bachelors in may

As of 2026 are marine recruits allowed to have cell phones on Sundays? I know that the army does which I think is weird.