Marines - I need your help

[dcb188]

I don't know but it should be four for five ranks. Just kidding.
I don't think so but I know that we would not have to re-do boot camp if it was within a certain amount of time. That's all I know about it.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[buckeye .45]

Ooops, sorry about that one, Acronyms are a way of life daily, my friends give me wierd looks when I talk too. The others guys seem to of covered it ok while I was workin though.

[dcb188]

Do any of you folks recall "singing someone a hymn"??????? Don't respond with details! Due to a mixed audience here :) Just tell me if you do or not, or if this was a Corps-wide thing or just a few units. I have always been curious. I really have no idea if it was just my unit or not.

[buckeye .45]

Ramrod, from what I have heard Marine boot camp usually takes the place of another branches boot camp in the event of a move to another branch. However the air force tends not to like Marine transfers. Don't know about promotions, although I imagine they probably start out higher than the normal recruit, in the army you can start of as an E-3 or E-4.

Other branches who transfer into the Marines have to do all training inherent to being a Marine, and the highest any Marine enlisted can start off is E-2

[Ram Rod]

Thanks buckeyeLCPL. That's what I was thinking--they fellow in my platoon I think said he would make E-3 when he went to the Army after graduating Marine boot as E-1. It does mean a difference in pay for sure.
P.S. I don't know of any Marine who would think of the Air Force as an option either. LOL!

[2AMomma]

Thank you gentleman, for your service to our country, all of the information, the links, the pm's, and the opportunity to learn more about this aspect of the military.

I have learned so much. If anyone else has something to add, please do!!

[dcb188]

Hi again---in addition to the info we provided, I did a Google search for Marine Corps Officer Selection Office and the results showed a Texas and a Chicago website, full of info which applies nationwide. Also, a Google search for wikipedia showed a big informative article on Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. So, those three resources are full of info.

[2AMomma]

I don't know how it slipped my mind, but I have one more very important question... do flat feet still make you ineligible for service? I thought since the invent of orthotics and such that flat feet wouldn't be an issue, but I can't find any info about it...

[buckeye .45]

They still do check for flat feet and it generally disqualifies you. Having said that I know a guy here with flat feet, it is nearly impossible for him to do the humps (long walks with big packs), and he will probably be getting medically seperated for it sometime in the next year. They check for it when you show up to boot camp and at MEPS, although there are those that find ways around it.

[2AMomma]

Oh no... that is going to break his heart! He has had orthotic insoles since he was 14. We just didn't realize his feet were so flat until he started having trouble in track. After the insoles were in place he could do everything - even grueling drills for high school basketball tryouts(very competitive - run, etc. 'til you puke kind of drills).

I can't believe I forgot to ask this first... *banging head on keyboard*

Thanks buckeyeLCPL!

If anyone knows of a way around this particular obstacle, please PLEASE let me know!

[Kerbouchard]

The Flat-feet DQ was mostly old military, although it can happen now. It is case by case. If your son has been 'diagnosed' by a specialist as having flat feet, he will most likely have to return to that specialist, or another, and discuss suitability for service with his condition. If the specialist will give him a thumbs up, it will most likely get through.

It is not an automatic disqualifier, just as being color-blind is not an automatic disqualifier. It depends on Branch of Service, MOS, etc.

Don't declare anything that isn't in his medical record. I'm not saying lie, but a lot of people get DQ'd by declaring a problem that wasn't even a problem.

I served with several people who had 'flat feet'. And I know of several people who were DQ'd for 'flat feet'.

Also, there are waivers for EVERYTHING. There are waivers for too many waivers. If a waiver won't go through, find somebody of higher rank to sign the waiver.

[2AMomma]

THANK YOU!!! My heart fell through the floor when I read Buckeye's reply... He has never been "diagnosed" per say, our chiropractor checked his feet (because originally we thought it was his knees) and we ordered the special insoles through him...

[Agave]

I have high arches and require orthos or I can't walk. He needs to make sure he gets his orthos to wear at Boot. Mine were originally prescribed by a Navy doctor two years after I joined. If I had known and been wearing them since before I enlisted, I would likely still be in. Going through Boot Camp with the lack of support had almost crippled me and has caused permanent damage to most my large joints below the belt.

[2AMomma]

How can he do that, I thought they took everything when you get to boot camp?

Can you guys tell me about the PLC/OCS training that happens between semesters if he goes to college first? Will he be issued all of his gear and can he put his insoles in his boots/running shoes without any hassle?

[dcb188]

They don't take real medical necessities away from new recruits, no.
The Platoon Leaders course is when he trains summers instead of one continuous Officer Candidate School which is for college graduates. It ends up being the same thing basically but split in two for college STUDENTS as opposed to one long session for GRADUATES.
The gear and insoles etc I have no idea about but in general, in boot camp they do not take away medical necessities.......and be very careful of recruiters. Their job is to bring folks in, not talk them out of it. Most are honest but they do not tell you anything to discourage you from joining.
I have never regretted going in for four. I could have gone for two or three but I wanted four. I went to all the recruiters but had my eye on the Marine Corps and then I thought, well, I know I am going in for four years so I might as well go into the best branch, so I did. No regrets.
But if your son's GPA is so high, he really should look at Marine Corps Officer Selection Office via Google search and it comes up as one in Chicago and one comes up in Texas and another is Google via wikipedia and type in Marine Corps Officer Candidate School.