| Before you join the military, ask yourself if you are | | | | infantry training. All Marines must take basic infantry |
| willing to give your life for your Soldiers (or Marines) | | | | training before they are qualified to take any other |
| and your country. If you can say yes to that | | | | Marine specialty training. You will not be given your |
| question, then you are ready to join. Many do not | | | | desired specialty until you prove yourself in your initial |
| consider that question, and then are surprised at the | | | | training. |
| risks they are required to take in time of war. | | | | You can also join the Marines out of college, but the |
| Although, the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq will | | | | path will be more difficult. You will have to go through |
| change and eventually end, enemies of individual | | | | enlisted basic infantry training. If you prove yourself |
| freedom continue to exist all over the world. These | | | | worthy there you can earn the chance to go to |
| fanatics will continue to attack the United States and | | | | Marine Officer Candidate School. Here you earn the |
| her democratic allies, until we change the dynamic of | | | | right to become a Marine second lieutenant. You |
| world-wide poverty and provide opportunity for all. | | | | would already be at this point when you graduate, if |
| Now, if you decide you still want to join the military, | | | | you complete a 2 or more year ROTC program. |
| and you want to be an officer, I recommend you | | | | Unfortunately, you cannot not join the military for a |
| join a reserve officer training program. You can join | | | | few months. If you are commissioned, your |
| anytime during your college education. During one of | | | | commitment is usually at least 3 years duty. If you |
| your summers, you will be required to take a college | | | | accept a scholarship, or a monetary entry bonus of |
| version of basic training for either Army or Navy | | | | some type, your commitment is usually 8 years, |
| ROTC. This will give you the initial training and | | | | mixed between active duty time and reserve time. |
| understanding of the responsibilities of wearing the | | | | The nice thing about trying ROTC is that if you really |
| uniform, as well as some of its rewards. | | | | dislike it, you can turn in your uniforms and stop |
| I am not a Marine officer, so I cannot tell you what it | | | | attending. You would have no binding commitment, |
| is like from a personal perspective. However, my | | | | unless you accept a scholarship of some kind. |
| friends that are Marine officers are very proud of | | | | Please talk to the ROTC program at your college or |
| their service, and expect high standards of behavior | | | | at the university closest to you to get more |
| from themselves and their Marines. | | | | questions answered. There should be an OTC |
| If you choose to be a Marine, you will need to take | | | | program close to you, even if your college does not |
| Navy ROTC, and apply for entry into the Marine | | | | have one. You should be able to join as a member |
| Corps. After you graduate and are commissioned as | | | | for a satellite campus. |
| a Marine second lieutenant, you will take Marine basic | | | | |