Does Reserves offer a split ops program for college students?

Summer 1 after high school. Boot camp.

Summer 2 School of Infantry

Summer 3 MOS school

Or is condensed into 2 summers and not 3?

What about the GI Bill and Tuition assistance look like for a reservist in full time college?

A couple of months ago, I got sent home from boot camp. I'm going back around February/ March, but I don't really know what it will entail for me. I already know what's coming but I don't know how it will be different for me this time. The thing I'm most unsure about is what to do when I get back to the island. I know I'm not supposed to go through the silver hatches again, but I'm not really sure how to go about telling the receiving DI's.

I ship out on the 27th and I’m getting mixed feelings every time the date gets closer. Sometimes I’m excited or the nerves start to kick in. I know this is a life changing moment for me and I’ve never been in this type of environment before besides my dad being a retired marine I keep telling myself I should be used to this lifestyle be part of a military family but I just don’t feel that mentality yet. But hopefully it all goes good and I don’t get dropped just nervous about swim week and the stairway to heaven.

Hey everyone,

I'm 16 years old, currently living in New Zealand, and planning to enlist in the Marine Corps next year, hopefully shipping to boot camp around June or July 2027.

I've posted here before, but quite a few things have changed since then, so I thought I'd give an update and ask for some more advice.

My dad was born in the US, and I've recently been to the US consulate and had my American citizenship confirmed. My US passport is currently being shipped to me, and I'm also sorting out my Social Security card.

I've also been in contact with a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant recruiter based in Denver, Colorado, where I have family I can stay with. I've spoken to him about my situation and plans, and he's given me an official practice ASVAB test.

I scored in the 69th percentile on the practice test, which I was pretty happy with considering I thought I'd done terribly, especially on the maths and electrical questions. I've got roughly three months to prepare before taking the actual ASVAB, so I'm planning to spend a lot of time improving my maths.

I'm currently completing a Level 3 Mechanical Engineering course here in New Zealand, where I've been learning machining, fabrication, welding and other engineering skills.

Physically, I've started preparing with running, pull-ups and general strength training. I'm definitely not where I want to be yet, but I've got time to improve and I'm taking it seriously.

I'm turning 17 in November and hoping to travel to Denver early next year to begin the enlistment process in person.

A few things I'd really appreciate advice on:

• Is a 69th percentile practice ASVAB score a decent starting point, and how much improvement is realistic in three months?
• For anyone who enlisted at 17, what was your experience with the Delayed Entry Program?
• What should I be doing now to prepare for boot camp, both physically and mentally?
• Is there anything you wish you'd known before joining that a recruiter might not necessarily mention?
• Does anyone have experience enlisting while living overseas, particularly with arranging MEPS and other processing requirements?

I'm not expecting the Marine Corps to be easy or glamorous. I understand there'll be plenty of difficult and boring parts of the job, and I'm trying to go into it with realistic expectations.

I'd especially appreciate hearing from current or former Marines who have been through the process.

I was 124lbs when I went through MEPS (female) then major life events happened. I never ran before so I started running. I worked out a lot so my pull-ups weren’t a problem (9 pull ups) and the plank was fine too but the run was awful (17 mins for 1.5). Well then one of my closest friends was going through a lot and for a while we literally thought they ended it and so it kinda all went south from there. I stopped feeling hungry and my university work kept piling up so I was always busy. Yesterday I felt particularly awful after a run and checked my weight > it dropped to 117lbs… my pull ups are now only 5 and my partner pointed out that I lost “almost all” my muscle mass. I ship in 4 months and honestly do you guys think that’s enough time to lock in and fix everything?

Edit : Should also mention I’m 5’7 so now like 1lb underweight

I can't enlist yet but I know that being a marine is what I want to do. I don't know how to tell my parents. I'm afraid they won't like it and will be scared for me and maybe not let me enlist.

So I signed for aircrew back in September and I’m shipping in December, but my recruiter called me this week and said that they lost my air crew spot and that I have to do my second option, which doesn’t make sense considering they told me there was a spot for aircrew and now It’s just gone?

Our RSS just changed leadership, and their explanation was that apparently they gave me the aircrew contract before the beginning of the new FY and they didn’t have as many aircrew spots as expected.

Which sucks because I really really wanted to try to get 6276 kc130 loadmaster

Just wondering if this has happened to anybody and if there is anything I can do about it, my recruiter says there is nothing they can do.

I’m leaving in one week a few days with some dude from my station. Only problem is this one kid is genuinely dumb. He isn’t even fit which is the real kicker. Any tips? At PT he is always “HUH” / never paying attention. Laughing in gunny face, I already know we as a platoon will be getting real messed up for this one person and who they are. Just they are genuinely stupid. (Shocked they have a high asvab) but what do I do as someone coming from the same station? He consider us friends “family” from the same station. Said he can’t wait to room in the hotel and bus. It’s ganna be a long 13 weeks man I’m scared for him and I

I leave the 27th for Parris Island and I'm nervous as can be. I ran a 10:39 1.5, avg 2:35 min plank, BUT 2 clean chin ups and I flop for another 2 reps. Am I fucked?

Got out of the corps in February with the intent to live a sweet life of civilian military contract work & part time military service. Job pays well & the ARNG is meh but I’m really missing the corps, my contract job also brought about a renewed interest in flying.

If I commission after I graduate, do I still get OE pay? Do I still wear my ribbons & service stripes? I still treated as a prior enlisted devil pup? Anything helps!

I spent around 2 years trying to join the military, but when I went through MEPS, I was denied for a few medical reasons. I even tried speaking with the Army, but no luck. It sucks because I’ve never done drugs or gotten into trouble. I’m 5’8”, 150 pounds, can bench 275, run a sub-7-minute mile, do 20 pull-ups, and scored an 80 on the ASVAB.
Since then, I’ve started community college and am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science, potentially psychology as well. Recently, I saw a post about someone challenging BUMED and contacting their congressman to finally get in, which made me wonder if I gave up too soon. After 2 years and 2 surgeries trying to join, I lost hope and decided to focus on something else.
Honestly, seeing people in the military on Reddit and social media makes me a bit envious. I just turned 24, and I hate wondering what could’ve been. Maybe I should’ve kept fighting, or maybe I’m just beating a dead horse. I’m not sure, so I’d appreciate your thoughts. Should I have kept trying, or was it just not meant to be?

This is gonna be a roller coaster kinda so bear with me. I’ve previously posted on this sub Reddit but I’ll save yall the whole special incase you wanna see the point right off the bat. I got denied from the marines twice and can reapply in 12-24 months. And I got flat out denied from the navy with the message “further resubmission is not warranted”. Is there still hope for me? Can I idk just an idea, contact bumed?? What can I possibly do??

Context:

Ever since I was a child my dream was to join the marine corps and it became an obsession and kinda built my whole life around it growing up. From a young age I’ve always had slight ear issues (plenty of tubes). In 7th grade at the start of COVID I had a mastoid infection in my right which led to surgery and hearing loss. Right from the start of junior year end of sophomore year I attempted to join the marines and went through years of waivers and really never got an actual denial. Fast forward senior year I blow out my ear drum. This was a niche experience. I ended up going to MEPS in August of 24 and failed the hearing test and got denied because I also had a preferated eardrum. I had a really good ENT this time who performed my surgery and even restored a lot of my hearing from what i can tell. I submitted all the waivers n shit and 2 years after did we get a response which was essentially “we can’t wave hearing it self” kinda like a you failed so no luck. Moved on to next step which was out wait my MEPS physical and redo it. Flash forward to August which means my ear has had plenty of time to heal. I go to MEPS and pass the hearing test but the onsite doctor disqualified me because of my ear drum looking preferated. For context my ENT told me my ear will always look irregular to the naked eye and someone who doesn’t know my surgery history. I asked the doctor on site what I can do and he said submit a waiver which will likely get approved. He mentioned that if I got a signed note from my specialist clearing for service I’d have higher chances. So that’s what I did. I went to the specialist and he looked and cleared me wrote the note. Submitted the waiver and well the marines denied me for 12-24 months because of the history of said ear. I ended up spiffing my stuff to the navy and worked with a pretty high recruiter there and this man props to him was trying everything he could. Ultimately I got denied there because there’s too much of a history with my right ear and said “no further resubmissions are warranted”. He said if I bring any other documents he will gladly submit them. But like idk man I’m kinda at a loss right now. Is there a way to even continue fighting this cause like contacting bumed or congress individuals? I mean shit we all know BUMED is a bunch of doctors but the likely hood of them being ENTs who know what they’re on about is slim to none.

I don’t need the military at all. I got college paid for fully, live a great life (financially) and do plan on medical school if this doesn’t work out, but seeing my brother walk across that parade deck in 2023 really just hit me different. Especially after making it my whole identity in highschool that I’ve wanted to enlist and seeing all my friends enlist and graduate bootcamp. I mean shit I just feel like it’s a missing piece in life and that I’m a failure without it. Unlike most people who make that split decision when graduating, I wanted this straight from the get go in elementary. I mean i really wanna believe there’s hope when that 12-24 months comes. Thanks in advance to those who reply!

Who else is shipping November 3rd too Parris island ? I was supposed too ship out Oct 27th but it got moved again

I’m currently a sophomore in college majoring in computer science, and I’m trying to figure out what direction I want to take my career.

I’ve spent the past two summers lifeguarding at a very busy, heavily populated beach, and I’ve realized how much I enjoy working in an environment where I’m physically active, working with a team, and doing something meaningful. I grew up on the coast, so I’ve always loved the ocean.

I was an avid runner throughout high school, and swimming has been a major part of my life for the past couple of years. I’m in pretty good shape already, but I understand that becoming a Coast Guard rescue swimmer would require me to take my fitness to another level.

I know it’s an extremely demanding job, and that challenge is part of what attracts me to it.
My brother joined the Army National Guard and has been deployed and loves what he’s doing currently. I’ve been talking with him a lot about military careers and my options. Those conversations have gotten me thinking more seriously about this, but I’d like some outside perspectives from people who have firsthand experience.

I genuinely enjoy computer science, but I’m worried about spending my career behind a desk. I want something hands-on, physically challenging, and fulfilling, while still setting myself up for a good civilian career if/when I eventually leave the military.
I’m particularly interested in Coast Guard rescue swimmer (AST), but I’m open to other branches and careers involving rescue, aviation, diving, medicine, engineering, or other technical and operational skills.

A few things I’d love advice on:
\*\*Career options:\*\* What jobs should I look into beyond Coast Guard rescue swimmer?

\*\*Training and lifestyle:\*\* How difficult are selection and training, and what are the day-to-day realities of these jobs?

\*\*Civilian opportunities:\*\* Which military specialties translate into valuable skills, certifications, and careers after service?

\*\*Officer vs. enlisted:\*\* Should I finish my CS degree and pursue OCS, or would enlisting directly in a specialized role make more sense?

\*\*Alternative pathways:\*\* Are there less obvious routes, including National Guard or Reserve opportunities, that I should consider?

\*\*Looking back:\*\* If you were in my position as a college sophomore, what would you research or do over the next couple of years?

I’m not looking for the easiest path or necessarily the highest-paying job. I want to challenge myself, do something worthwhile, and develop skills that will serve me well long-term.

I’d especially appreciate honest advice from people who have done these jobs or transitioned out of the military. I’m still exploring my options, so I’m open to hearing about careers I haven’t even considered.

Thanks!

I (20F) enlisted in the Marines and will be shipping out in a few months. I’ve been thinking of getting into rugby? I’m really tempted to try it, but I get that there’s a fair bit of risk involved because it’s a full-contact sport. Would it be worth it to try and get into rugby before bootcamp?

I didn’t know how to word the title but I don’t actually regret signing my contract. My concern is that originally I was joining the Army National guard because I was a junior. Long story short they were lying to me I got pissed went to active duty recruiter. He was really chill and I liked him a lot. But me and my buddy are doing buddy program with marine corps (active duty). I went to MEPS back in april of this year and had waivers. They got approved this month and then I signed on and said oath on October 8. I ship in August. My regret is that I was joining the Army for Airborne and helicopter operations within the infantry even though I wanted to be a Marine my whole life. My swimming will pass me through bootcamp and combat water survival but by a narrow margin so I know for a fact I can’t do Recon. Is there any way I can do something like airborne or heli ops within infantry in marine corps or is it restricted primarily to Recon and MARSOC?

Me (24) and my bf (25)have been together for almost 5 years, and he just recently joined the Marines. Before he left, we talked about getting married while he was still in MOS school, then it was after MOS school because his higher ups kept telling all the new Marines not to get married! Now he’s got his orders and we’re planning to do so after he graduates! How long will it take for me to be put as his dependent and move with him?

Just signed for Combat support what job do you think I’ll end up with? Is it based on fitness scores out of bootcamp and mct? Asvab? Or is it literally whatever is open for the marines at the time of school house. Any insight if so what they need the most?

I am currently in the DEP and I’m planning in the future to LAT move to Recon but my assigned mos is Electronics Maintenance. Am I at a real disadvantage to become recon if I don’t enlist as an infantryman, or will I be at the same level as the infantryman that are trying to go recon as well?

Thank you so much

I’m 35 years old, and I’ve always dreamed of joining the Marine Corps. Honestly, the Marines are the only branch of the military I’ve ever really wanted to join.

I went to speak with a recruiter the other day but was turned away because of my age. I was under the impression that the age limit had recently been raised to 42.

Does anyone know if there’s a way to get an age waiver at 35? Would it be worth speaking with another recruiter, or is there someone higher up I could contact?

I know I’m older than the typical recruit, but this has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’d hate to give up on it without exploring every possible option.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Who do I reach out to on Camp Pendleton to request tuition assistance? Just got back from deployment and it’s time to start grinding out the degree. Asked my chain of command about it and they clearly couldn’t give half a shit less about it. Any phone numbers I can call to set up an appointment with a guy who can help set me up? Not much info about this on the internet.

Since meeting my recruiter, going to Meps and now joining the DEP, I feel so alone. I don’t have many friends and almost all of them have shown some sort of adversity to me leaving or deciding to join. My best friend used to entertain the idea of going to the gym together to help me get fit for boot camp and every single time I offer/ask to go I get a new excuse.. so I end up going alone. My friends all tell me they’re gonna distance themselves as time gets closer and it makes me feel like any support system I had has just vanished. I’m 24 so yeah I’m entering a little later in life (wanted to try life out before deciding to go military). I’m not the most social person but also not the most closed off. It’s been hard to make friends as I’ve always been an “old soul” kind of person. I’m excited to start a new life for myself and put my all into it but it feels like I’ve lost about everything before I’ve even left.

Has anyone else gone through this? How’d you push through it?

When I say tips and tricks some real not basic advice like something you found out while you where there and wish you knew sooner

As the title eludes too, some of the tendons got inflamed in my wrist a month ago. I've been stretching and icing, avoiding lifting, anything to aggravate it. It's improved plenty as of today, shipping soon and just wondering about some of the implications in notifying my recruiter and pushing the date back. Will I potentially lose my discussed MOS of interest, will I have to be re -cleared by MEPS. If anyone can offer advice, I'd appreciate it.

I’m 18 (I turn 19 in a few days) Going to graduate bootcamp as an E-2, I plan on staying in the barracks and utilizing the chow hall for as long as possible. Going to open a TSP and ROTH IRA and put 5% of my paycheck into each. My plan for my first 4 years is only pay for vehicle insurance and WiFi. After that, depending on where I’m stationed, I might buy a house to live in. Down the road I plan on buying a couple of duplexes to rent them out for that sweet sweet passive income. I want to retire as a marine, and want to stay in as long as possible.

Any financial or general advice I could get would be very much appreciated.